Stradun (Placa) — Dubrovnik's main street

About

Quick facts: Sunlight skitters across the polished limestone, turning a leisurely walk into a parade of reflections and lively chatter. Nighttime fills the street with music and footsteps, and the stones have been smoothed so thoroughly by generations of wear that they gleam like a mirror underfoot.

Highlights: At dawn the 300-meter-long limestone street takes on a warm rose hue as the first light hits the slabs, and centuries of footsteps have polished each stone so smoothly your shoe soles whisper against the surface. On February 3rd locals still honor the old Saint Blaise procession by walking in near-silent lines carrying a single candle each, a tradition locals say has been kept alive for over 150 years and makes the pale pavement glow with hundreds of tiny flames.

Insider tips

• Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes, the polished limestone gets slick when damp.
• Get a symmetrical photo beneath the Bell Tower or from the top of the City Walls for the best perspective.
• Avoid late morning on cruise-ship arrival days; aim for sunrise or after 6 pm to escape the biggest crowds.
• Skip expensive cafés on Stradun and head down the side streets for cheaper, better local food.

Practical info

Directions

More attractions in Dubrovnik

Walls of Dubrovnik (City Walls)

Fort Lovrijenac (St. Lawrence Fortress)

Mount Srđ and Dubrovnik Cable Car

Lokrum Island