Beat the crowds, visit Dubrovnik in springtime

Spring is the time of awakening, for nature, people, and destinations alike. After a relaxed winter, the city of Dubrovnik is picking up again, locals are opening their restaurants and shops, markets are brimming with produce, and visitors are arriving in greater numbers day by day. The Easter holidays are traditionally seen as the official start of the tourist season, but this early period remains far less busy than the summer.

Visiting at this time has many perks. Everything is pretty and in bloom. There are fewer travelers around, which means no queues for dining, city walls, or tours, so it is easier to indulge in spontaneity. With a new season just starting, the locals are excited and relaxed. Altogether, spring is a great time to visit Dubrovnik and make the best of its quintessential experiences.

1. Walk the city walls

In high summer, a visit to the walls must be timed carefully to avoid the heat and the crowds. In the spring, you can go whenever you feel like putting in some steps. In April, the walls are open from 8 AM to 6 PM; the closing hour gets extended as the days grow longer. The closing hour is the last access to the walls, meaning you still have another 30 minutes past that before you need to get off. Just perfect for seeing the sunset!

2. Tour the Old Town

In the early season, the Old Town feels very authentic. Locals are sipping on their sun-splashed coffees, the kids are roaming the streets, and laundry is drying on the lines that crisscross the side streets. If there is a cruise ship in, the main street of Stradun may get busy, but quietude awaits in the side streets. This is also the time to realize the magnitude of work that goes into maintaining the Old Town’s good looks. While jackhammer sounds and closed-off areas might not be too appealing, try to appreciate that this ancient city remains a lived-in whole that is greatly cared for by its residents.

3. Enjoy a spectacular sunset from the top of Srđ hill

Spring sunsets are special, as they come just in time to make for a grand and romantic overture to dinner. The best sunset viewing spots are always the highest points around, and in Dubrovnik, that is the peak of Srđ hill at 418 meters. To get there, you can take the cable car, or hike up the Path of the Cross, a series of switchbacks that takes around 45 minutes. Alternatively, hop in to a limousine to the top and enjoy the sunset over a glass of bubbles.

4. If the weather tricks you, head into the museums

Spring weather can surprise with moody clouds and sudden showers. If that happens, head into the museums that make for a lovely hideout with great insights into Dubrovnik. For the best value, consider buying a one-day Dubrovnik Pass that packs access to the city walls and eight museums for the price of one entrance ticket to the city walls.  Don’t miss the majestic Rector’s Palace or the stunning cloister and the historic pharmacy at the Franciscan Monastery. Art lovers should head to the MOMA and the Dulčić Masle Pulitika Gallery; history buffs will enjoy the Ethnographic Museum Rupe and the Archeological exhibit at Fort Revelin. If you have kids in tow, fun awaits at the Maritime and the Natural History museums.