Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

amounts to the attic that Ana inhabits with her son. But don’t judge a book by its cover: the close quarters build community. Or, on second thought, it might be the free alcohol that Ana provides. Regardless, a night spent around the wooden table drinking homemade rakija with newfound friends is reason enough to stay here.

       i Dorms 185 kn; reservation recommended; Wi-Fi; kitchen available

       HOSTEL CITY WALLS ($$)

      Svetog Simuna 15; 917 992 086; www.citywallshostel.com; reception open 8am-10pm

      Bright blue walls await you at this hostel located next to the old city walls. A far walk from both the attractions of downtown as well as the Ploce and Pile gates, the hostel is typical of Dubrovnik options. The rooms are overpriced, but we all need a place to crash, we guess—probably a better plan than sleeping in a public park to the west of town to save money. For all it’s worth, though, the lobby is a nice space to hang out.

       i Dorms from 245 kn; reservation recommended; Wi-Fi

       OLD TOWN HOSTEL ($$$)

      Ul. od Sigurate 7; 20 322 007; www.dubrovnikoldtownhostel.com; reception open 8am-11pm

      Sometimes you splurge unnecessarily. Sometimes you splurge on basic necessities. Old Town Hostel fits into the latter category. This place is kind of like paying extra for organic milk when it tastes exactly the same as the pumped-full-of-artificial-hormones full-fat store brand. But at least the Old Town location is ideal and the exposed stone walls and wooden floors are a nice touch. Console yourself for overpaying while gorging yourself on the free breakfast.

       i Dorms from 300 kn; reservation recommended; Wi-Fi; breakfast included

       SIGHTS

      CULTURE

       LAZARETI

      Ul. Frana Supila 1

      In order to prevent the spread of disease, the Lazareti was established as a quarantine for foreigners and goods passing through the city. Today, the complex has been converted into a restaurant, several shops, and a nightclub. Pro tip: for one of the best (read: most romantic) views of the city, head down the staircase in the middle to the rocks by the water.

       i Prices vary; limited wheelchair accessibility

       STRADUN

      Stradun; open daily 24hr

      This is the street in Dubrovnik. See and be seen on this expensive and tourist-infested stretch of stone-paved glory that crosses town to connect the Ploče and Pile gates. On the Pile side is Onofrio’s Fountain, one of the city’s most important landmarks (with potable water!). The street is flanked on the other end by the City Hall Bell Tower, which is home to two sculpted copper boys who strike the bells every hour.

       i Free; wheelchair accessible

      LANDMARKS

       CITY WALLS

      Gunduliceva Poljana 2; 020 324 641; open daily Jan 1-Feb 28 10am-3pm, Mar 1-Mar 31 9am-3pm, Apr 1-May 31 9am-6:30pm, June 1-July 31 8am-7:30pm, Aug 1-Sept 15 8am-7pm, Sept 15-Oct 31 9am-6pm, Nov 1-Dec 31 9am-3pm

      From the window to the two-kilometer walls, there is plenty of walking to do here. Forget swashbuckling pirates or armies though; these days the walls only protect Dubrovnik against thousands of cruise-ship tourists. There’s really nowhere else in Europe like this. The city walls are still almost entirely intact, completely encircling the city. With the number of steps, if you don’t bring water you’ll surely die—if not from dehydration, then from the absurd prices that the bars in the walls charge.

       i Admission 20 kn; no wheelchair accessibility

       CATHEDRAL OF DUBROVNIK

      Ul. kneza Damjana Jude 1; open Apr 4-Nov 1 M-F 9am-5pm, Sa 11am-5pm, winter M-Sa 10am-noon and 3pm-5pm, Su 11am-noon and 3pm-5pm

      While you won’t see Sean Connery or Robin Hood, the Cathedral of Dubrovnik was founded by Richard the Lionheart himself, according to legend. Whether or not you believe in the legend, however, the since-renovated cathedral is a must-see sight in Dubrovnik due to the Titian polyptych located above the main altar. The church was constructed in Baroque style and occupies a prominent place with piazzas on three sides. At night, the illuminated dome of the church is particularly beautiful.

       i Free

       CHURCH OF ST. IGNATIUS

      Poljana Rudera Boškovića 7; 020 323 500; open daily 8am-7pm

      As any Georgetown student will tell you, the Jesuits don’t mess around. So, it’s not really a surprise that their church occupies one of the most prominent vantage points in the Old City. The church is based on earlier Jesuit churches in Rome, but we can forgive the plagiarism for the innovative Lourdes Grotto. To us heathens, that basically means there’s a manmade cave with a statue of the Virgin Mary that was built in the late seventeenth century.

       i Free

       FORT LOVRIJENAC

      Ul. od Tabakarije 29; open daily 8am-7pm

      This is the sans-CGI Red Keep from Game of Thrones, and it might be a bit less impressive than the show. But it’s also less expensive than the City Walls, and the views are not to be missed. There is a small internal courtyard with three stories worth of steps, cannons, and ramparts. Beware that if you stay past closing time, you will get locked inside (we speak from experience). After closing time, the steps outside make a nice spot for a BYO drink.

       i Admission 50 kn; no wheelchair accessibility

      MUSEUMS

       DOMINICAN MUSEUM

      Ul. Svetog Dominika 4; open daily summer 9am-6pm, winter 9am-5pm

      Slightly more off the beaten path than the Franciscan Pharmacy is the

      Dominican Monastery, home to the best religious art collection in Dubrovnik. The church is currently closed to the public, as it is undergoing renovations, but the small museum with a Titian painting of St. Mary Magdalene makes up for the church’s closing. Smack dab in the center of it all is the cloister, objectively the most beautiful in the city.

       i Admission 30 kn, students 20 kn

       AQUARIUM

      Kneza Damjana Jude 12; 020 0323 978; open daily 9am-8pm

      Sure, you’ve been to aquariums before. Sure, you’ve been to medieval towers before. Sure, you’ve been to modern art museums before. But have you been to a combination of all three? That’s right, you haven’t. Painfully fork over that 60 kn and saunter through this pretty piscatorial place. What the museum lacks in size, it makes up for in ambience. The stone walls are impressive, especially with the projections and reflections of the water. Be sure to say “hi” to the dancing octopus and sea turtles for us. We miss them already.

       i Admission 60 kn

       FRANCISCAN MONASTERY AND PHARMACY

      Placa 2; open daily summer 9am-6pm, winter 9am-5pm

      This is the seventeenth-century version of CVS. Forget endless aisles and industrial