Whether you are a Game of Thrones fan or not, the southern Croatian city of Dubrovnik is a great place to visit and experience any time of year.

While wandering through the quaint medieval streets of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, it is hard to imagine that from 1991 to 1992 it was under a devastating siege by the Yugoslav army with 80% of the town being almost destroyed. Thanks to a major UNESCO-coordinated restoration program, the Pearl of the Adriatic as George Bernard Shaw called it, is now miraculously back to its former glory and has even recently become the setting of the fictional King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms realm, in the highly popular TV series Game of Thrones.

No need however to be a fan of the HBO hit production to be enchanted by this stunning city that became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. A simple glance at its Renaissance fountains, baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, marble-paved squares or narrow cobblestone streets is enough to make you fall under its spell. As Shaw himself said “…Those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik.”

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Probably one of the best way to appreciate the beauty of the city is to walk its sturdy stone walls, built between the 11th and 17th centuries, which surround the historic centre. And after that, if you still do no have your fill of breathtaking views, you can take the cable car up to Mount Srd, the mountain that looms over the city.

Dubrovnik is much more than just a magnificent place, it is also a vibrant and bustling city, a perfect place to enjoy the Mediterranean climate and its joyous art-de-vivre. While walking along Stradum, the main street, or exploring the little alleys, you will find lots of little stores, wine shops and restaurants, where you will find nice hand-made jewelry, taste some distilled-products from the Dalmatian region or enjoy seafood, cured hams or truffles.

While the city is a year-round destination, its clear blue sea, pristine beaches and quaint islands make it the ideal destination for the summer months. The only downside is that it can get extremely busy with the scores of tourists literally flooding the streets of the Old Town.

Dubrovnik home to the Game of Thrones © Florence Dubosc

Croatia Airlines offers direct flights from Nice to Dubrovnik until the 2nd of November, 2015.

 

Lead image © Experience Dubrovnik on Flickr; All Rights Reserved; all other photos © Florence Dubosc

 

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