Cruise Guide > Europe > Croatia > Dubrovnik


Dubrovnik

Time Zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Saturday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Currency
Kuna (K) = 100 Lipa.

Language
Croat, written in the Latin alphabet.

Sightseeing
Often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik was once considered to be the most beautiful city in Croatia with its medieval walls and palaces. The most famous sights are the Franciscan Friars Minor Monastery in the west, which houses one of the three oldest pharmacies in Europe, the 15th-century Dominican Monastery, located in the east of the city, and the 17th-century cathedral. The Dubrovnik Museum housed in the splendid Rector’s Palace is also worth a visit. Many of Dubrovnik’s monuments have been painstakingly restored since the great earthquake of 1667 and Croatia’s struggle for independence in 1991; the city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Dubrovnik is surrounded by the deep blue waters of the Adriatic and has a distinctly laid-back, Mediterranean feel, with many cafés and fish restaurants lining the cobbled streets. Every summer, from mid-July until the end of August, the city hosts the colourful Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

Shopping
Traditional handicrafts like embroidery, woodcarvings and ceramics make good souvenirs. Tourists can reclaim VAT for expenditure of more than K500. Visitors should ensure that all receipts are retained after any purchase is made, as financial police do have the power to fine visitors without relevant documents. This is to prevent VAT evasion by shopkeepers.

Eating Out
The Adriatic coast is renowned for its variety of seafood dishes, including scampi, prstaci (shellfish) and brodet (mixed fish stewed with rice), all cooked in olive oil and served with vegetables. Regional wines are good. Italian espresso is also popular and cheap.

Country
Croatia

Region
Europe and Mediterranean


   
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