Hotels near Stradun

The Stradun (also called Placa) is Dubrovnik's main street and the pulsing artery of the Old Town. Running 300 metres from Pile Gate to the Clock Tower at Luza Square, this broad limestone boulevard was paved in 1468 and has been polished to a mirror-like sheen by centuries of foot traffic. It was originally a marshy channel separating two settlements before being filled in during the 12th century.

The Stradun is flanked by uniform Baroque townhouses - all rebuilt to the same design after the catastrophic 1667 earthquake. At the Pile Gate end, the Onofrio's Large Fountain (1438) provides a popular meeting point and a cool drink from its 16 carved masks. At the opposite end, the Clock Tower, Sponza Palace, and Orlando's Column mark Luza Square, once the commercial heart of the Republic of Ragusa. Today the Stradun fills with visitors during the day and locals in the evening, when the cafes come alive.

Pro Tip: Walk the Stradun at dawn (before 07:00) or after 21:00 in summer to experience it without the crowds. The polished limestone reflects the streetlights beautifully at night, and you can hear your own footsteps echo off the stone facades.