Dubrovnik

The Pearl of the Adriatic — ancient walls, emerald sea and stunning sunsets.

Dubrovnik is one of the most dramatically beautiful cities in the world — the "Pearl of the Adriatic," as Byron called it, a perfectly preserved medieval walled city on a limestone promontory above the impossibly blue Adriatic Sea. Its walls, towers, marble-paved streets and Renaissance architecture make it extraordinary under any circumstances; the light and setting elevate it to something almost unreasonable. Walking the 2-kilometre City Walls (a full circuit takes about 2 hours) is the defining Dubrovnik experience — views from the walls look down over terracotta rooftops to the sea on one side and the limestone Dinaric Alps on the other. The Stradun (Placa), the main street running through the old city, is flanked by Baroque palaces, churches and cafés. The Rector's Palace, Sponza Palace, Dominican Monastery with its Gothic cloister and the Franciscan Monastery (with its 14th-century pharmacy, one of Europe's oldest) are all worth entering. Game of Thrones filming (Dubrovnik was King's Landing) has significantly increased visitor numbers — cable car queues and the walls can be very crowded in July and August. The off-season (October–May) is dramatically better for experiencing the city's genuine magic. The Elafiti Islands, Lokrum (a short ferry ride) and the Pelješac Peninsula wine region (excellent Dingač and Pošip) are all excellent nearby destinations. Cable car to Mount Srđ for panoramic views is essential.