Dubrovnik

Right in the south of Dalmatia, on Croatia's last spur, lies Dubrovnik, the former Ragusa, which does bear the epithet "Croatia's Athens" but would rather hear Athens called "Greece's Dubrovnik". Among the 50,000 inhabitants there are, and have been, an astonishing number of poets, artists, natural scientists, philosophers and scholars. Here, in the former city republic, the famous music and theatre festival takes place every year. Then classical and rock music resounds in the UNESCO-protected old town, and the actors in their imaginative costumes mingle with the equally colourful audience.

Dubrovnik is most easily reached by aeroplane. Several German airlines fly directly to the terminal in the south of Croatia from Cologne/Bonn, Hanover, Stuttgart and Munich, but flights via Zagreb are often still cheaper than covering the whole distance in your own car. From the airport you get comfortably into the city centre by public transport, and anyone wanting a car of their own can rent one on the spot. The new motorway is expected to be extended as far as Dubrovnik by 2008, so that day trips to the north will then be even less complicated and more entertaining than they already are.

Dubrovnik has a town harbour, the port of Gruž and the Dubrovnik marina. The old town harbour is protected by the Porporella breakwater; yachts with a draught of up to 3 m can dock here; smaller vessels anchor in Gornja Bočina bay. Gruž is a commercial port, situated 2.5 km north-west of old Dubrovnik. The Dubrovnik marina is in Komolac on Rijeka dubrovačka bay, about 4 km from the entrance to the port of Gruž. Dubrovnik's airport is in Čilipi.

A beach like a beach club: the most beautiful people of Dubrovnik lounge in the deckchairs, along with all those who want to become so. Now and then one rises unhurriedly to order a new cocktail - pardon: to "order" one. Afterwards one goes on enjoying the view of the old town through enormous sunglasses and half-closed lids.

Dubrovnik's practical town beach is popular with more than just the residents of the four adjoining hotel complexes. Precisely because you can get the children enthusiastic about the playgrounds for a change, and because here there is sand instead of pebbles, Lapad bay is thronged with young families. People meet between snack bars and tennis court before heading home, happy and tired, through the pedestrian zone at sunset.

Next to the cathedral, a flight of steps leads directly to Buža beach, situated by the town wall. Opposite the island of Lokrum. Here the blue sea and large slabs of rock meet, as do coffee lovers wanting a hot drink at the beach bar and stressed business people wanting to draw fresh strength from a short plunge into the sea during their lunch break.

The Copacabana in Dubrovnik tries to emulate its great model - there is already enough sun and enough sport on offer here. In some stretches, though, this beach is not accessible to the public. There the loungers are reserved exclusively for guests of the Hotel Babin Kuk. But the changing huts and showers may be used by visitors from outside as well.

East of the old town lies the gravel beach of Sv. Jakov, frequented especially by the local population. Sunshades and deckchairs are available here for a rental fee, the view of the old town comes free, and anyone who is very lucky may board one of the private boats passing by and be taken along on a little exploratory trip.