With its long history as a republic and its beautiful romantic architecture and stunning seaside setting, it is easy to see why Dubrovnik is a major Mediterranean tourist destination.

A good place for tourists to get their bearings is to climb, drive or take a cable car up Srd Hill. At the top, visitors can take in the romantic views of the old city set amidst the turquoise waters of the Adriatic.

The main tourist attraction in Dubrovnik is the Old Town. Dubrovnik’s historic old quarter is so beautiful that UNESCO has inscribed it on its World Heritage list. Here, visitors will find narrow lanes, stone houses and old fortifications that hark back to the days of the Republic of Ragusa.

Apart from for Dubrovnik’s historic sites, people also come to this Mediterranean destination because of its beaches. Right outside the Old Town’s eastern gate is the neighbourhood of Ploce. This area has some of Dubrovnik’s most upscale hotels as it is where the main public beach in the city, Banje Beach, is found. Located only two miles from the Old Town, Lapad Beach, is another beach which tourists like to visit as it is complete with restaurants and wide areas for sunbathing.

The island of Lokrum, just 10 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik, is a good place to find peace and calm as the island is a preserved nature park. It is also home to a monastery, gardens and nudist beaches.

Visitors to Dubrovnik will find it easy to fill their itineraries with historical attractions and religious landmarks. Most of these sites are in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, the entirety of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visitors can begin by climbing and walking on the City Walls, which span 1.2 miles. Here, visitors are offered dramatic vistas of the city and sea.

One of the most beautiful landmarks in the city is Minceta Fort, one of the many fortifications which used to guard this Mediterranean capital. Built in 1463, the fort features an imposing round stone tower which signifies the former wealth and power of Dubrovnik.

Sponza Palace might be worth a look as it contains relics and exhibitions from Dubrovnik’s rich, sometimes sombre, past. This former customs house is now home to a memorial to the city’s defenders during the 1991 Siege of Dubrovnik.

While the heart of Dubrovnik is the Old Town, the heart of the Old Town is Stradun, the main thoroughfare that snakes through the old quarter. The cafés, shops and restaurants which line this street are sure to ensnare tourists one way or another.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the main religious landmark in the city. It is said that the English King Richard the Lionheart donated the money to build this Roman Baroque cathedral during the Third Crusade.

Another must-see religious site in Dubrovnik is the Jewish Synagogue, said to be the second oldest synagogue in Europe that is still in use. The synagogue is also the site of a museum which features the history of the city’s Jewish community.

Nightlife in Dubrovnik, while not as lively or as exciting as in many other Mediterranean destinations, can still provide visitors a good time. Most tourists begin their evenings with a meal at any of the Old Town's fine restaurants, capping off their meal with a walk around the district with an ice cream cone in hand. Bars, clubs, live music venues and even theatre take care of after-dinner entertainment.

A concentration of watering holes can be found in a tiny square near the Ploce gate. Pubs and bars make up the establishments in the square and some offer outdoor seating, drinks―especially cocktails―and live music. Several establishments can be accessed via Pile gate as well.

A recommended place, especially on summer evenings, is Cafe Buža. The café's tables and chairs are set out on the cliff side, and are the perfect place to see the sunset. Another recommended place for live music is the Dubrovnik nightlife institution Troubadour Hard Jazz Café, which offers relaxed, pub-style drinking and jazz and blues bands most nights.

Those looking for a night out that is a bit livelier can head to any one of Dubrovnik's dance clubs, most of which can be found right outside the Old Town. Located in Banje Beach, EastWest is a beachside party venue that plays all kinds of music. Meanwhile, young tourists like to head to Latino Club Fuego, located right outside Pile gate.

For the more sophisticated traveller, Dubrovnik has Rector's Palace, a well-known venue for classical concerts, especially in the summer, and the Marin Držič Theatre for dramatic performances.

Although there are many restaurants in the Old Town, tourists will find that much the same fare is served at most of them. However, this is not to say that Dubrovnik is bereft of good food. In this part of the world, pasta, grilled meats and especially seafood are the stars of the dining table. Dining out tends to be expensive in and around the Old Town.

Dubrovnik cuisine tends to favour the traditional over the modern. Thus, tourists will most likely be offered menus with simple, traditional fare. The popular dishes are those typically eaten in the Dalmatian region of Croatia, with influences from Dubrovnik’s neighbours across the Adriatic, the Italians.

Visitors can order a brujet, also called a brudet or brodetto, which is basically a fish casserole with tomatoes and onions thrown in. The dish has a version made with pasta and beans called pasta-fazol na brujet, a speciality from the island of Vis. Crni rizot is a risotto dish that is particularly interesting because it uses cuttlefish ink, which lends it a jet black colour.

Meat dishes here are basic but still very good. Visitors can try janjetina s raznja, which is lamb roasted on a spit over an open-wood fire, pasticada, a meat sauce made with red wine and usually served with vegetables or the Italian soft dumplings called gnocchi.

As for dessert, it does not get any better than dubrovacka rozata, a Dalmatian version of crème caramel or flan, a widely popular custard dessert.