Luxury holidays in Dubrovnik
Literary types from Byron to Bernard Shaw have lost their hearts to Dubrovnik: the former called it the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’; for the latter, it was ‘paradise’. Once an independent city-state sustained by trading, the evidence of the city’s ancient wealth is everywhere to see. The bustling main street of Placa is the perfect place for a morning stroll or an evening drink in Gradska Kavana, a prime people-watching spot. Sampling the fresh fish brought in from the Adriatic is a must, especially when it's accompanied by a view over the old harbour. Travelling out of Dubrovnik, the Dalmatian coast earns its spots for the islands of Ston (famed for its oysters) and Mjlet (visited for its lakes and monasteries), which are only a short ferry ride away.
When to go
The Old Town set against the sea looks best in the sun but July to August is sizzlingly hot: 30 degrees and above is the norm. In the spring or autumn the temperatures hover around the 20s, but April has the added bonus of being when the countryside blooms.