The city of Dubrovnik is a lovely place to enjoy a beach holiday, as it has plenty of attractions that appeal to families, couples and groups of friends. However, the vibrancy and frenetic pace of the city means it can be tricky not to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to do there.
Dubrovnik
As a solution, why not take a trip up Mount Srd? The mountain offers spectacular views across Dubrovnik and out to the Adriatic Sea, so is the perfect foil to the hustle and bustle of the main town.
Read on to find out more about the majestic summit and what you can see from its heights. Beware: you may be tempted to book a holiday to Croatia in the next five minutes!
Go for a hike
There are two different ways of getting to the top of Mount Srd: you can take the cable car and gently glide up to your destination, or you can do it the hard way and walk. Be warned: it is quite a challenging climb to the 413-metre summit and would take a fairly fit walker around 90 minutes to complete. That being said, it is such a reward when you arrive at the top and can look back to see your progress.
To get up there, walkers must first tackle several hundred steps in order to access the base of the mountain. The trail itself is not marked, so keep your eyes peeled for it once you get there. Follow the zig-zag path up and take a breather every so often at the Stations of the Cross, which are little shrines featuring a cross and offerings left by passersby.
Stop at Napoleon’s Fort just before the summit to take in the war museum. On certain days it is free to enter and you will learn plenty about the military history of Dubrovnik and the rest of Croatia. The fort itself played a significant role during the 1990s conflict and helped prevent the city below from being occupied by invading forces.
What to see
On the other hand, if you prefer to conserve your energy, take the three-minute cable car ride up the mountain. It can be taken from the Old Town by the fire station, which is located at the end of Buža Street. Tickets to ride cost ten euros per person and you can purchase either single or return trips.
Once you arrive, take an hour or so just moving around the summit and drinking up the different views. On a clear day you can see across the Old Town and spot the islands in the bay – including Lockrum, which has its own Napoleonic fort and some old monastery ruins. You might even be able to see across the border into Bosnia, where a Croatian flag stands flying in the wind to mark the divide.
If you are feeling peckish, there is an outdoor restaurant at the mountaintop station serving up Croatian cuisine and fantastic views. It is well worth bagging a table there just to enjoy the cool mountain breeze and the birds-eye perspective of Dubrovnik.
