Even in a city as photogenic as Dubrovnik, it’s not every day that a stork steals the spotlight. But that’s exactly what happened this week when a reader of The Dubrovnik Times sent in these striking photos — showing a large white stork calmly perched atop a van in the Lidl car park. 

The unlikely visitor stood tall and still, unfazed by the rows of cars or the curious glances of passers-by. With the blue sky and limestone backdrop behind it, the scene looked almost surreal — a moment of quiet grace in the midst of everyday bustle.

The stork was spotted in the car park of the Lidl shopping centre, apparently taking a well-earned rest on its journey south. Every autumn, these elegant migratory birds travel thousands of kilometres from Central and Eastern Europe to warmer African climates, often following familiar routes along the Adriatic coast. It’s rare, however, for one to touch down so close to Dubrovnik’s city centre — and even rarer to see it posing so photogenically for the camera.

Locals who saw the bird say it appeared healthy, occasionally preening its feathers and gazing serenely toward the mountains above. “It looked completely at ease,” said one bystander. “Like it had picked the best parking spot in town.”

Wildlife experts note that such sightings are not unheard of, especially in mild autumns when birds extend their migration breaks. The stork’s presence is also seen as a positive omen in many cultures — a symbol of renewal, good fortune, and safe journeys.

The Old City will soon glow in a whole new light as the fifth edition of the LUMIART Festival of Light takes over Dubrovnik from November 7 to 9. This year’s theme, “Underwater City,” will transform Stradun, Sponza Palace, and historic landmarks into a luminous marine world through breathtaking projections, 3D mapping, sound installations, and interactive displays.

Organized by the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and Pixel Design, with the support of the City of Dubrovnik, the festival was officially presented today at Lazareti. The conference featured Ana Hrnić (Dubrovnik Tourist Board), Julijana Antić Brautović (City Department for Culture, Heritage and Tourism), Tomo Nadramija (Pixel Design), and Katarina Milat Kralj (Dubrovnik Heritage), moderated by Zrinka Lucianović.

This anniversary edition also brings a new collaboration with the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak Festival, combining light and sound in a unique cultural fusion.

Festival Highlights

The opening ceremony will take place on Friday, November 7, at 6:30 p.m. in front of Sponza Palace, featuring Pixel Design’s audiovisual performance “Genesis” — a magical journey of light and music marking the start of three nights of wonder.

On Saturday, November 8, audiences can enjoy the “Jazz & Light Fusion” concert with Uršula Najev and the celebrated jazz ensemble Black Coffee, also in front of Sponza Palace (7:30–8:30 p.m.), accompanied by spectacular light projections.

Throughout the festival, visitors can explore the Dubrovnik Aquarium, which will host open days from November 7–9, including the immersive sound installation “The Sound of Salt” by artist Vana Gaćina.

Every evening from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Stradun, city squares, palaces, and ramparts will become a glowing art space filled with light, sound, and interactive installations by international multimedia artists. From Hungary’s Night Projection and FényHangÁr to Romanian artist Radu Ignat’s “Portal” and local 3D mapping showcases, the city will shimmer like a living “underwater” dreamscape.

A special festival food and drinks offer will also be available at participating restaurants and cafés across the Old City from November 7–9 — details can be found here.

A Celebration of Light, Heritage, and Imagination

“LUMIART is more than an art festival — it’s an invitation to see Dubrovnik through a new lens,” said Ana Hrnić, director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board. “This year’s ‘Underwater City’ theme connects the beauty of the sea with the city’s heritage, bringing art, music, and light together in a magical way.”

The event is supported by a wide range of partners, including Dubrovnik Riviera – Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board, Croatian National Tourist Board, Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, Adriatic Luxury Hotels, Dubrovnik Airport, Dubrovnik Aquarium, Natural History Museum Dubrovnik, State Archives, and numerous local businesses and artists.

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Major improvement works are currently underway on the 2.76-kilometre stretch of road connecting Imperial Fortress on Mount Srđ with the village of Bosanka. The project involves upgrading the existing gravel road — including excavation, grading, and full asphalting — transforming one of Dubrovnik’s most scenic but bumpy routes into a safer and smoother drive.

At present, workers are completing the gravel base layer, with asphalting expected to begin next week. The reconstructed section starts approximately 175 metres west of Imperial Fortress and extends all the way to the outskirts of Bosanka.

The goal of the project is to improve traffic flow and safety on the currently narrow and uneven route. Once completed, vehicles travelling from Bosanka and Srđ to Imperial Fortress will be able to continue in a one-way direction down toward Bosanka and into the city, reducing pressure on the existing two-way section of the Bosanka–Srđ road.

The upgraded road will be widened from an average of 2.9 metres to 3.2 metres, structurally reinforced, and equipped with a new asphalt surface to ensure a more comfortable and secure ride for both residents and visitors.

The works are being carried out by ATIS Dubrovnik d.o.o., with Adria Tehno j.d.o.o. overseeing professional supervision. The total project value is €331,109.38 (including VAT).

Once completed, this new link will not only improve access to the Imperial Fortress and Srđ viewpoint but also ease traffic congestion and enhance safety for vehicles using one of Dubrovnik’s most popular mountain routes.

Ryanair has announced that it will abolish printed boarding passes from Wednesday, November 12, 2025, requiring all passengers to present digital boarding passes for check-in and boarding. The Irish low-cost carrier, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, confirmed the move as part of its plan to become the first fully paperless airline in the world. 

The familiar small slip of paper — printed with a passenger’s name, seat number, and QR code — will soon be a thing of the past. While some travellers have criticised the change, Ryanair says the shift will prevent more than 300 tonnes of paper waste annually. Competing airlines, for now, still allow customers to choose between digital and printed options.

All Through the Ryanair App

Under the new system, all boarding passes must be generated via the “myRyanair” mobile app, which will serve as the airline’s central digital platform. Passengers booking through third-party websites will also be required to access their boarding passes through the app before travel.

Without a digital boarding pass, passengers will not be able to pass airport security or board the aircraft. However, Ryanair says more than 80 percent of its travellers already use mobile technology, making the transition relatively smooth.

While the app is not mandatory for every individual passenger — one person can store multiple boarding passes for a group or forward them to fellow travellers — the airline strongly encourages everyone to complete online check-in. Ryanair also promises free assistance at airports for those who have already checked in online but face technical issues.

“If your phone battery dies or there’s a problem, we’ll still have your seat number at the gate after online check-in, so no one needs to worry,” a company spokesperson told German media.

Those without smartphones are advised to seek help from friends or family to complete online check-in before arriving at the airport.

Paper Boarding Pass? Only at a Price

Travellers who ignore repeated reminders to check in online will still be able to get a printed boarding pass at the airport — but at a cost. Fees range from €30 in Spain, €40 in Austria, to €55 in other EU countries and the UK per passenger, per flight segment.

On the other hand, Ryanair will abolish the previous €20 fee for reprinting an already issued boarding pass.

Ryanair’s Growing European Network

Ryanair, headquartered in Dublin, operates nearly all its routes within Europe, with some connections to Morocco and the Middle East. It remains Europe’s largest airline, carrying 152 million passengers in 2019.

In Germany, the airline serves major airports including Berlin, Frankfurt-Hahn, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, and Nuremberg, among others. Ryanair has also announced plans to add Friedrichshafen and Saarbrücken to its network in spring 2026.

As of June 2024, Ryanair operates from 95 airports designated as bases or hubs, each hosting at least one permanently stationed aircraft and crew.

Soprano Marija Vidović and the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra (DSO), under the baton of Ivan Hut, will perform a special concert this Thursday, November 6, at the Marin Držić Theatre. The performance begins at 8 p.m.

Titled “Ususret Musikvereinu” (“Towards the Musikverein”), the concert serves as a prelude to the orchestra’s upcoming performance this Saturday, November 8, at Vienna’s legendary Golden Hall of the Musikverein — one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world.

The Dubrovnik audience will have the privilege of hearing much of the same programme that will soon grace the Viennese stage, including a Međimurje folk song arranged for soprano and orchestra, as well as works by Luka Sorkočević and Boris Papandopulo.

The programme symbolically unites the north and south of Croatia, celebrating the country’s rich and diverse musical heritage. It also marks a fitting conclusion to the DSO’s milestone anniversary year, highlighting the orchestra’s growing international acclaim.

Tickets for the Dubrovnik concert are available at the Marin Držić Theatre box office and online via ulaznice.hr.

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Starting Saturday, November 1, 2025, Dubrovnik Museums have introduced their winter schedule, adjusting opening times across the city’s main cultural institutions.

The Cultural-Historical Museum (Rector’s Palace) will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on Mondays. The Maritime Museum (St. John’s Fortress) keeps the same hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but will be closed on Wednesdays.

The Ethnographic Museum (Rupe Granary) will also operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing Tuesdays. Meanwhile, archaeological exhibitions at Revelin Fortress will welcome visitors Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., remaining closed on Wednesdays.

All Dubrovnik Museums will be closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and the Feast of St. Blaise. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the museums will open for shorter hours, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

@janicelouisetravels Ethnographic Museum Rupe | Dubrovnik, Croatia | #janicelouisetravels #travel #traveltiktok #croatia #dubrovnik ♬ Pieces of Memory - Carlos Carty

Dubrovnik has once again shone on the international stage, winning two major awards from the renowned British travel magazine Wanderlust. The city was recognised with the Editor’s Special Award for Sustainable Tourism and voted the second most desirable European city in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2025.

The ceremony, now in its 24th year, took place on Wednesday, November 5, at London’s iconic National Gallery, in partnership with the World Travel Market. Hosted by well-known British TV travel presenter Simon Reeve, the event brought together over 500 guests — including media representatives, tour operators, airlines, and tourism boards from around the globe.

Dubrovnik was nominated among Europe’s top destinations in the “Most Desirable City” category, where Wanderlust readers voted it into second place. The Dubrovnik region also ranked among Europe’s Top 10 most desirable regions, while Croatia itself was named the second most desirable country on the continent — confirming the country’s growing international appeal and tourism diversity.

The Editor’s Special Award, presented by Wanderlust editor-in-chief George Kipouros, was a highlight of the evening. It recognised Dubrovnik’s remarkable achievements in sustainable tourism management — from regulating visitor numbers and cruise ship arrivals to supporting the return of residents to the Old City and maintaining a high quality of life for locals. These initiatives have turned Dubrovnik into a benchmark for responsible tourism and a leading example of transformation from overtourism to balance and sustainability.

Accepting the award on behalf of Dubrovnik, Miro Drašković, Director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, said:

“This prestigious recognition confirms that Dubrovnik’s long-term sustainability strategies are being acknowledged and respected internationally. It is a great honour to meet expectations in such a competitive and important market as the United Kingdom — and this serves as a strong motivation to continue positioning Dubrovnik as a leading Mediterranean destination.”

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It may be November, but Dubrovnik’s coastline still looks like a scene from a summer postcard. Locals were surprised yesterday morning to spot a sleek luxury yacht anchored between Lokrum and the Old City — the Moonshot, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

The 39.3-metre superyacht, built by Tansu Yachts in Turkey and launched in 2017, is designed for both style and performance. With accommodation for eight guests and five crew members, including the captain, Moonshot blends contemporary design with classic craftsmanship — featuring a distinctive wooden hull and superstructure.

While it ranks a modest 2,647th on the global list of the world’s largest superyachts, it holds the title of being the third-largest vessel ever built by Tansu Yachts.

@dubrovnik_times Yes, it really is November in Dubrovnik #travel #traveltiktok #dubrovnik #croatia ♬ original sound - The Dubrovnik Times