Dubrovnik, Croatia-suggestions??

[LLD]

Anybody have suggestions about this port? Is there anything nearby the ship? Any "must-see" places of interest you can recommend? Any info would be appreciated.

[Andee]

The old city is very interesting--cathedral, museums, etc.

 

We loved walking the city walls with the audio guide.

[Andym]

The old city is enough with lots to do to pass the time, as said by Andee above. Don't waste your money on anything else.

 

Andy

[itsjb1]

Walk the walls of the old city. Then get lunch at one of the local restaurants and walk around the town, and maybe do some souvenir shopping.

[edinburgher]

We did the "walls walk" and for us it was the absolute best part of our day.

 

We did it first thing just as it opened and did the steepest part first while the day was still not too hot and we were "fresh"! After that it was more or less level or sloping downwards. We spent ages up there and it was getting pretty busy by the time we reached the opposite end.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed it and in fact preferred it to exploring at "street level". Attractive as the heart of the city is, we felt that there was a "sameness" to much of it. Maybe it was just us, but we didnt think we got the feel for it that we have experienced elsewhere.

 

You can put in your time here with no difficulty at all. You dont need to go anywhere else and its a very easy DIY day.

 

Enjoy.

[LLD]

Thank you everybody. I have made my mind up to my own thing that day and be an explorer! I love to do things at my own pace and just saok in the atmosphere.

[caryba]

Can anyone tell me how far the ship is docked from Pile Gate? In other words....is it easy to get to the Old City and the wall?

[Andee]

What ship?

 

On the Oceania Insignia last October, we tendered right to the Old Town, about a 10 minute walk from Pile Gate. During the day, the seas got rough, and to get back to the ship, we were bussed from the Pile gate to another port, where the ship was also tendered.

[itsjb1]

Can anyone tell me how far the ship is docked from Pile Gate? In other words....is it easy to get to the Old City and the wall?

 

 

On the Brilliance last year RCCL offered a shuttle from the pier to the gate. I seem to recall that the cost was $4 each way.

[caryba]

Ooops Sorry - I will be sailing on the Millie....

[KlassyKathy]

We have not been to Dubronik yet but we will be there in late October as one of our stops on the Prinsendam cruise from Venice to Lisbon...

Here are some notes I pulled together -- mainly from the website at the end...

Currency: Kuna ~ 7 kunas to the dollars/euros. At Gruz Harbor, some have free shuttles to the old city -- 15 minutes. Bus outside gates: 1a, 1b & 8. Fare = 10 kuna, Cab = 50 kuna

Historic Stuff: Begin at the entrance to the walled city - the Pile Gate. Among the highlights include the circa-14th century Franciscan Monastery (Placa 2). Check out the adjoining pharmacy - opened in 1391, 3d oldest. The Dominican Monastery(Sveti Dvorom 4). dates back to the same century. The Rector's Palace (Pred Dvorom 3) was the government seat in the 15th century; now you'll find a museum with Baroque paintings and historic artifacts. The Synagogue (Zudioska 5) is Europe's second-oldest Sephardic synagogue. Other highlights include the city's cathedral (Poljana M. Orzica) and the Fort of St. John Maritime Museum and Aquarium (Ul Od Margarite & the waterfront).

 

Walking the Wall: The stone walls that completely encircle the city - as much as 81 ft. high and 1.5 miles around - have stairs at two points. The asiest to navigate is just inside the Pile Gate, on the left. Views are breathtaking; admire the expanse of the mighty Adriatic, the over-the-terracotta rooftop town, and even peek into the backyards of some of the private homes and apartments that line the edges of the walled city. Note: Steep climbing and numerous stair steps is involved. It's a great workout.

 

You really do not need a guide for Dubrovnik. Spend your day in the old walled city which is small, closed to traffic, and very easy to see on your own with a guide book. There is one main (marble) street(Placa) that runs from the Ploce Gate to the Pile Gate and much of what you'll want to see is there or very close. Things I'd suggest to see: Franciscan Monastery and cloister, Sponza Palace, Rectors Palace, St. Blaize's church, Cathedral of the Assumption. You really can just start at one gate and walk down the Placa stopping at these (or turning off a street or two to catch what you want to see) Also, a must is a walk around the top of the wall-wonderful views of the sea and of the old tile roofs of the town. (Entrance near the Pile Gate.) On the side streets off the Placa are lots of good sidewalk cafes for lunch. This is a little jewel of a city and you can see a lot of it in one day by yourself. Don't expect to shop here. And do get a book to read about what you are looking at-the history fascinating!

http://web.tzdubrovnik.hr/Hope this helps!!

[Andym]

You cannot depend on knowing where the ship will dock. Last year the Millennium docked a short bus ride north of the city (free shuttle provided). This year we anchored outside the south of the city and tendered in (absolute disaster, only 2 tenders, it took us 2hours 30 minutes to get off the ship. 1 out of 10 for Celebrity here). I have just spotted on the webcam, that the latest visit has the ship tendering to the dock north of the city, which will include a tender and a shuttle bus.

 

TOP TIP...

 

If the line for the wall is long by the pile gate, walk through the town to the sea gate, the line here is rarely any length at all.

 

Andy

[Skeewe]

But I they are building new large dock just near the city so no more shuttles,boats and busses will be used.

[SuziClue]

We've been to Dubrovnik three times and I echo other suggestions in recommending you walk the wall. It's just an exquisite experience -- good exercise, great views. But another really fun thing to do (and you can do both in a full day) -- especially if the weather is warm -- is to swim in the sea! We found a spot while walking the wall the first time -- it's on the Adriatic side (there's info on exactly how to get there in Cruise Critic's port profile) -- in season there's a little country club like atmosphere (I exaggerate) -- on an cement area just outside the wall, locals lay down their towels and swim in the most gorgeous and crisp blue velvet water. We did it in July and there was a little bar set up and after swimming we sat at a waterfront table and drank local beer.

 

I tried to swim there once in October. The weather was warm enough but the water was too rough (and the bar was gone, alas).

 

Re docking, we've only ever docked at the main cruise dock which is outside the city and almost under the famous suspension bridge. Usually there's a shuttle provided by the city (no charge). In July we saw Windstar and Brilliance of the Seas anchoring near town...that looks like the best place to be!

 

Suzi