Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Maritime Museum
Contracts, maps, paintings, and models from Dubrovnik's days
as a maritime power and shipbuilding center.
Hours:
Flex with demand, usually
March-Oct Tue-Sun9:00-18:00,until16:00inNov-Feb,closedMonyear-round.See
Aquarium
Tanks of local sea life housed in huge, shady old fort.
Hours:
Daily July-
Aug 9:00-21:00, progressively shorter hours off-season until 9:00-16:00 Nov-March.
If you're sleeping in or near the Old Town,
parking
is tricky. The handiest place to park
long-term is the Old Town garage, which you'll pass on the right as you head toward the
Old Town (10 kn/hour, 170 kn/day, cheaper Oct-May). From here, it's about a 10-minute
downhill walk to the Old Town—and a much steeper, 20-minute hike back up. If you'd like
to be closer to the Old Town, you can take your chances on finding a spot—on the street
directly behind and above the City Walls (pay at meter), or in one of the convenient but
often-crammed pay lots: “the tennis court,” right up against the wall, or the lot between the
wall and the cable car (all options: 10 kn/hour, 170 kn/day). If you're desperate, the priciest
option is the lot just behind the DM pharmacy near the Pile Gate (a hefty 30 kn/hour or 360
kn/day). Another option is to drive to this area near the Old Town to unload your bags, then
leave your car at the Old Town garage (or at a cheaper, more distant one) for the duration of
your visit. When in doubt, ask your
soba
host or hotel for parking tips.
If you're sleeping at Boninovo Bay, you'll have an easier time finding parking at or near
your hotel—ask.
Festivals:
Dubrovnik is most crowded during its Summer Festival, a month and a half
of theater and musical performances held annually from July 10 to August 25
(
www.dubrovnik-festival.hr
). This is quickly followed by the Late Summer Festival,
designed to continue the festivities into September. For other options, see “Entertain-
ment in Dubrovnik,” later.
Crowd-Beating Tips:
Dubrovnik has been discovered—especially by cruise ships (nearly
800 of which visit each year, bringing a total of around 900,000 passengers—in 2013,
one September day brought 16,000 passengers on six ships). Cruise-ship crowds des-
cend on the Old Town roughly between 8:30 and 14:00 (the streets are most crowded
9:00-13:00). On busy days, try to avoid the big sights—especially walking around the
wall—duringthesepeaktimes,andhitthebeachortakeasiestamidday,whenthetown
is hottest and most crowded.