Christmas holidays at the Dubrovnik Winter Festival
Dubrovnik is the main city of southern Dalmatia and the capital of the Dubrovnik-Neretan region of Croatia. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, it is called the “Pearl of the Adriatic” thanks to the historic center (Old Ragusa, Cavtat in Croatian) which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city is in fact surrounded by 1,940 meters of medieval walls, but that’s not all: walking through the center we find towers, bastions, alleys, palaces, churches and museums, as well as the Stradun, the fascinating main artery that connects the two gates of the city.
The Christmas holidays represent a magical period for citizens and tourists: the Dubrovnik Winter Festival, in fact, makes it one of the most beautiful places to visit at Christmas in Europe, ideal for a family trip. From the end of November to the beginning of January, special events for both adults and children, entertainment, free guided tours and lots of culture and gastronomy are scheduled.
How to get to Dubrovnik by ferry from Italy
An alternative way to get to Dubrovnik from Italy, which is an alternative to flying and which allows you to easily reach the city even with your own vehicle, is by sea, at least for a good stretch of the route. In the low season, unfortunately, there are no direct active lines for Dubrovnik, but the Ancona – Split ferries can represent a comfortable opportunity to disembark in Croatia and save driving kilometres; they take about eleven hours to travel the sea route after which, from Split, you have to drive for 237 kilometers via the E65 and D8 highways or take a Flixbus which takes four and a half hours.
Book a ferry
The program of the Dubrovnik Winter Festival
On the program, from the end of November to Epiphany, there is a rich program of musical, entertainment, gastronomic and children’s events, with many surprises. The highlight of the festival will be the spectacular New Year celebrations on the open-air stage, with live concert and fireworks display.
More than thirty Christmas trees, stalls, group Christmas carols and the many scheduled events warm up the atmosphere of the city: everyone exchanges Christmas greetings on the Stradun.
The opening will be marked not only by the traditional lighting of candles, but also by a concert by a very popular Dalmatian group. During the month of December in the main streets and squares there will be concerts of Croatian pop stars. Do not miss the Christmas concert on 23 December.
The rich gastronomic offer of the festival stands at different locations in the city is an inevitable part of the winter festival atmosphere, as are the “cod days” in local restaurants.
At the Christmas Fair, amidst Christmas carols and concerts, you can taste the traditional dishes, sweets and drinks of the Christmas festivities, such as the typical Dalmatian dish “bakalar” (cod), biscuits, toasted candied almonds, candied orange peel, cheese of quince “kontonjata”, typical of the city, and other delicacies.
Furthermore, the fair features local artisans who exhibit their handicrafts: Christmas decorations, candles, toys, glassware, embroidery, ceramics and porcelain, and everything that artists make by hand for the holidays.
Children’s activities include setting up the “North Pole Station” in Lazareti, colorful winter in Lapad Bay with a special train to reach the place, an ice rink and events also organized in the city suburb (Mokošica).
The free Christmas train will operate in Lapad Bay every day from 10am to 4pm. Santa’s bus and his elves will also delight the little ones with songs and gifts.
Special exhibitions, theatrical performances for all generations, guided tours to discover the city and the “cake festival” will enliven the holidays even more, together with the inevitable Christmas decorations and lighting that emphasize the timeless beauty of the city.
