13 Best Sights in Southern Dalmatia, Croatia

Dubrovnik's city walls define the Old Town and are one of the world's most stunning architectural achievements. A walk along the top is the ultimate Dubrovnik must-do for the magnificent views of the sea outside the walls and the terra-cotta rooftops and gleaming white streets within. Most of the original construction took place during the 13th century, though the walls were further reinforced with towers and bastions over the next 400 years. The walls completely encircle the Old Town as part of a fortification system that also includes the Pile Gate (still the main entrance into the Old Town) and Ploče Gate (the main entrance coming from the east); both have drawbridges that used to be raised each night so no one could come in or out—the keys were given to the Rector. There are also six fortresses, including freestanding Fort Lovrijenac to the west and Minčeta Tower to the north (the highest point in the Old Town). On average, the walls are 80 feet high and 2 km (1¼ miles) long, 10 feet thick on the seaward side, and 20 feet thick on the inland side. The inland walls are thicker because when they were constructed, the largest threat came from the Turks who might attack from that direction. (Ironically they got the direction right, but not the source: it was Napoléon, attacking from the inland fortress atop Mt. Srđ, who finally conquered the Republic.)

The entire circuit takes a couple of hours. Tickets can be purchased at the main entrance inside the Pile or Ploče Gate or at a quieter entrance beside the Maritime Museum. Note that the walk can be strenuous, especially in the heat, and involves many stairs with very little shade, so bring water and sunscreen; there are a couple of shops along the way if you need refreshments. In summer months it gets crowded from around 11 am to 3 pm, so it is best done first thing in the morning or later in the day.

Originally built in 1969 and reopened in 2010 after being destroyed in the siege, this is one of the top experiences in Dubrovnik. The ultramodern cable car whisks you up to the top of Mt. Srđ for the best view over the Old Town, Lokrum, and the Elafiti Islands. You can also join an hour-long buggy tour of the area, go for a hike, have a cocktail at the smart Panorama Restaurant, or just grab a seat and enjoy the view. At the top you'll also find the Imperial Fort, built between 1806 and 1812 by Napoléon during his short rule of the city and now home to the Homeland War Museum.

To reach the cable car, follow the signs from the Pile or Ploče Gate along the outside of the wall or climb the steps from the Stradun toward the mountain and exit via the Buža Gate. Buses from Gruž will drop you off right outside the entrance, where tickets can be purchased. If possible, try and plan your visit for sunset, when the views are magnificent and the line is shorter.

Korčula Town is often called "mini-Dubrovnik" for the high fortified walls that surround its stone streets and the circular fortresses jutting out into the sparkling sea. But to constantly compare it to Dubrovnik is to sell it short; Korčula Town is an architectural achievement in its own right and one of the most stunning locations along the Adriatic Coast.

Within tiny Korčula Town, you'll find a treasure trove of Gothic and Renaissance churches, palaces, and piazzas. These important buildings, as well as the town's fortified walls and towers, were mostly built by the Venetians who ruled the town between the 13th and 15th centuries, the island's golden age. One of the most interesting aspects—and the main physical difference between Korčula and Dubrovnik—is the design of its streets, which are laid out in a fishbone pattern. The main road stretches right through the town like a spine; the streets on the western side are straight to allow a breeze to circulate in summer, while the streets on the eastern side are curved to prevent cold northeastern winds from whistling unimpeded through town in the winter ("medieval air-conditioning" as the tour guides like to say). The other main difference is that while Dubrovnik's Old Town heaves with visitors throughout the summer, Korčula Town is car-free, compact, and relaxed. You can spend a pleasant few hours browsing through its myriad boutiques, then settle in at one of the excellent restaurants along the periphery of town to admire the views of the Adriatic and the Pelješac Peninsula beyond.

Perched on a hill overlooking Trstenica Beach, award-winning Korta Katarina is a sophisticated venue to try Pelješac wines and the most accessible winery from Orebić. Korta is the name for the typical courtyards outside sea captains' homes around town, while Katarina is the daughter of the American couple, Lee and Penny Anderson, who traveled to Croatia in 2001, fell in love with it, and opened the winery. A winery tour, tasting, and optional food pairings, which range from gourmet tapas to a divine five-course pairing menu, can be arranged in advance. For an immersive winery experience, the five-star Villa Korta Katerina next door, a Relais & Chateaux member, has eight luxury rooms available to rent.

Some of Dubrovnik's most natural and peaceful beaches can be found on Lokrum, the island just off Dubrovnik's Old Town. It's a wonderful place to spend a day spotting peacocks (a Hapsburg legacy), feeding wild rabbits, or just enjoying the fresh air among the pines.

Tiny Lokrum has swirled with legend and mystery ever since Richard the Lionheart was supposedly cast ashore there in 1191 upon returning from the Crusades. The story goes that when the Benedictine monks who owned the island at the time were expelled to make room for aristocrats in the 19th century, they left behind a curse on any future owners of the land, including Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I, who was executed in Mexico just eight years after he turned the monastery into his summer residence. To this day, it is considered bad luck to stay overnight on the island, though many a pair of romantics have tried.

Lush and fertile, Lokrum is home to the ruins of the abandoned 11th-century monastery, which is set among exotic botanical gardens. At the top of the island is a star-shaped fortress built by Napoléon's troops during French occupation and later used by the Austrian army. Footpaths leads down to the rocky shoreline, past the "dead sea" lake, where there are cliffs to jump from, coves to bathe in, and a small stretch of coast reserved for nudists. You can also visit a small Game of Thrones museum with the original Iron Throne (Lokrum was one of many filming locations around town).

To reach Lokrum, take a taxi-boat from the Old Port (€7); tickets can be purchased at the tourist information center beneath the Bell Tower on the Stradun. Boats run every half hour from April through November, and the ride takes approximately 15 minutes.

A counterpart to the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb—except with happier endings—this delightful museum a short walk outside the Pile Gate is a simple life-affirming celebration of romance spread over four floors. Each room has a different theme, from Croatia-specific tales and local lore to celebrity love stories to an exhibit about the movies and series filmed in Dubrovnik (yes, Game of Thrones is represented). The top floors are perhaps the most moving, with items sent in from real people and notes scribbled on heart-shaped Post-its tacked all over the "love wall." 

Most people come to Mljet to visit the peaceful national park that covers the entire western part of the island and encompasses the towns of Pomena and Polače. It has miles of dense pine forests, shady biking and walking trails, and two interconnected bright-blue saltwater lakes, Malo jezero (Little Lake) and Veliko jezero (Big Lake). The Benedictine monks who owned the island from 1191 to 1410 dug a transport channel to the coast through the lakes, which turned them from freshwater to saltwater. In the middle of Veliko Jezero is the Isle of St. Mary, with its charming 12th-century monastery, now a small restaurant. You can reach the Isle of St. Mary by boat or kayak from the small bridge, Mali Most. Mountain bikes are also available to rent at Mali Most or from Hotel Odisej in Pomena. The section of the park that includes the lakes and the monastery is ticketed; park entrances are within walking distance from the ports in Polače or Pomena. Malo jezero is a short walk from the entrance in Pomena.

There are idyllic swimming spots all around Mljet, but the village of Babino Polje in the center of the island is home to the most magical of all. Greek legend has it that when the hero Odysseus was shipwrecked off the island known as Ogygia, he swam into a cave where he was met by a nymph called Calypso; he was so bewitched that he stayed with her for the next seven years. The cave is tricky to reach so there are never any crowds, which adds to its mystique.

You can get there directly by boat or, if you're traveling by road, park at the Tommy market in Babino Polje and follow the signs through the olive groves on foot. The walk takes around an hour and includes a steep downhill section and uneven rocks, so make sure to wear decent shoes and bring water. Once you arrive, you can jump off the rocks and swim through a short tunnel into the cave; aim to arrive around noon, when the sun is high and the water is aquamarine. There is a makeshift café perched on the rocks above the cave; there may or may not be someone working there, but it makes a great place to stop for a break.

Located in an industrial factory in Gruž, the Red History Museum tells the story of the rise and fall of communism in Croatia. Founded by a young group of entrepreneurs in 2019, among them a designer, a historian, and a couple who worked on film sets, it is a fun and fresh museum designed to be touched and explored. Taking a steadfastly neutral approach, the exhibits focus largely on everyday life under communism, from the clothing of the era to kitchen sets to sex education, with historical information weaved effortlessly throughout the colorful displays.

There are records of salt being collected by Romans in this area dating back to 167 B.C, but it was the Republic of Dubrovnik that fully recognized the economic potential of the salt pans. In 1333, they founded the towns of Ston and Mali Ston and built a fortified wall to protect them. Eventually sea salt became the Republic's most valuable product, generating a third of its wealth. You can tour the massive salt pans—the oldest in Europe—to learn about the ancient collecting process, still in use today: the pans fill with seawater, which evaporates in the sun, and the salt that remains is shoveled out. If the salt pans are closed when you arrive, ask at Vila Koruna restaurant in Mali Ston (whose owners also operate the salt pans) about organizing a tour. You can buy small souvenir bags of sea salt around Mali Ston, which make an excellent culinary gift from the region.

In order to protect the enormously valuable Ston salt pans, in 1333 the Republic of Dubrovnik built a 7-km (4½-mile) fortified wall (purportedly second in length only to the Great Wall of China), effectively controlling land access to the peninsula. The stretch of wall that remains is 5½ km (3½ miles) long, and you can walk atop it from Ston to Mali Ston, which takes about 40 minutes and offers incredible views of the channel and the salt pans. It's a strenuous walk, so good shoes and a moderate level of fitness are recommended.

The Placa, commonly referred to as the Stradun, is the main street and the beating heart of Dubrovnik's Old Town. Stretching 300 meters from the Pile Gate to Luža Square and the Bell Tower, it was once the shallow sea channel separating the island of Laus from the mainland; although it was filled in during the 12th century, it continued to divide the city socially for several centuries, with the nobility living in the area to the south and commoners living on the hillside to the north. Today, the Stradun is the best people-watching promenade in town, with enough cafés, gelaterias, and boutiques to keep you busy for days.

One of Croatia's best sandy beaches, this swath of white sand backed by pine forests, with a couple of unobtrusive bars and restaurants, is worth the 2½ km (1½ mile) trek across Lopud. The path is quite hilly in both directions, so you might want to hail a golf cart to get there or back—you'll see them driving around the island's main promenade in the morning and parked along the road just above the beach later in the day, waiting to bring people back to town.