Who, what, when, where and how! We have the answers to all your questions about Dubrovnik from one of the leading tour guides in the city – Ivan Vukovic.

If you have ever had a guided tour of Dubrovnik there is a good chance that you have bumped into Ivan Vukovic. For the past decade Ivan has been leading visitors around Dubrovnik, thousands and thousands of guests have been captivated by his local insight and wealth of knowledge. From Game of Thrones to walking tours and even Star Wars tours Vukovic is always thinking ahead of the game. You can find more information on Ivan Vukovic and his tours at his website - dubrovnik-tourist-guides.com

Send your questions to Ivan and “Ask the Guide” at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the social media accounts of The Dubrovnik Times...if you don’t ask you will never know. 

Can you recommend some good places to go hiking?

We have a great hiking trail which starts at the Adriatic coastal road and goes up to the top of Srd hill where it finally reaches the Imperial Fortress. It will take you around thirty minutes to make the walk and I would certainly suggest taking a hat, good walking shoes and a bottle, or two, of water. The views from the top are great so maybe a camera is also a good idea.

What are the two forts are outside of the city walls of Dubrovnik?

Yes, there are two fortresses that are part of the Dubrovnik defensive system but are outside of the city walls complex. The first is the Lovrjenac fort which stands on a 37 metres high rock to the west of the city and the other is the Revelin fort which is located to the east on the Ploce gate, this fort is now used as a night club.

For whom the bell tolled in Dubrovnik?

There is a death bell which tolled during the funeral ceremonies in the times of the Republic of Dubrovnik. The square in the part of the city by the convent of St. Mary is named after this very bell.

What currency was used in the Republic of Dubrovnik?

The government of Republic never allowed goldsmiths to mint any money with a low purity of silver and gold inside. The coins were as valuable as the Swiss Franck is today. They controlled the purity of these coins very strictly; every coin produced by the mint went through a rigorous process. The currency of the Republic had various names, such as Libertina, perper, and dinar.

How did Dubrovnik become such a rich city state?

The foundation of the power of the Republic of Dubrovnik was based in its merchant trade and maritime power. It was a very small state but had one of the largest maritime fleets in Europe at the time. It also had great craftsmen, some of the most renowned in the world, and powerful diplomacy. The Republic had consulates all over Europe.

Can you tell me a few interesting facts about the former Rector of Dubrovnik?

The Rector of the Republic of Dubrovnik was the head of state, the most important person in the city. However this was an unpaid job, he didn’t receive any salary for doing his job, it was an honour to be the Rector and seen as a great honour to be chosen. The Rector rules for a month and he had to be at least 50 years old, as he was considered much wiser at that age. The Rectors wasn’t allowed the leave the Rectors Palace without his guards, it was a very important role. Also the Rector had to come from a noble family from Dubrovnik; you could say that he was the first amongst equals.