And I thought Norway and Switzerland were expensive. This wide street that crosses the Old Town from east to west between the two city gates is known as the Stradun or Placa. It was constructed in the 12th century by draining and filling in the marshy channel that separated the island of Ragusa from the mainland. This street was rebuilt in the current, much more straightforward style after the 1667 earthquake. We entered through the Pile Gate and encountered the Big Onofrio’s fountain at one end and the Sponza palace at the other. Even though the shops and restaurants were expensive, it was definitely worth a stroll and probably one of the few free things you can do in Dubrovnik. Along with shops there were a number of points of interest along the street including Onofrio’s Fountain, Saint Saviour's Church, Statue of Marin Drzic and the Bell Tower. It is a pedestrian only street and undoubtedly the most important pedestrian axis of the city from where all the steep alleys begin to one side, and others towards the sea with a slight slope. The best way to enjoy the Stradun is to walk up and down the street – get there early, as it can get extremely crowded once all the cruise ships arrive. Another nice place to enjoy views of the street is to get to the top of Dubrovnik Old Town Walls from where you can see the Stradun (as well as the rest of the town) from a bird’s -eye perspective.

This is the main street in the walled city of Dubrovnik and of course a must see. In fact, it is probably impossible to visit Dubrovnik and not see it. There are churches, a bell tower, many souvenir shops, some restaurants and ice cream stores along this main street. It is quite beautiful with the large, polished stones, likely polished from millions of people walking on them over hundreds of years. There are many stairways up on the left side (if your back is to Pile Gate). Be sure to walk up several flights to reach one walkway that is filled with restaurants side to side for almost the entire length of the walkway. On the right side of Stradun are more churches, many other restaurants, souvenir shops and other places to see. It is fun to just walk through the winding streets and staircases and explore.

Stradun, the main street in Old Town Dubrovnik, starts as you enter through the Pile Gate and runs all the way to the harbor. At the start of the street is a square with a fountain, the old Franciscan Monastery, and stairs which access the walkway on top of the walls. (We actually took a walk around the walls, which offered a fantastic view of the city, before we explored the town.) There are churches, museums, candy shops, ice-cream shops, clothing shops, souvenir shops, bakeries, open-air cafes, and bars on both sides of the street. The street is only about a quarter of a mile long and the crowd of people can be very heavy at times during the day when the cruise ships are in. Streets to the right or left take you to more restaurants and charming shops, but it seems most tourists just stay on the main walkway and window shop. Fortunately, the street is very wide. Looking closely, you might see the chips in the walls of the buildings from the war in the 1990s. (PaM)

My strolls up and down Stradun in Old Town Dubrovnik were exciting and meaningful. It’s the main artery from which the many quaint alleys of the town stem. There was a bit of construction when I visited in March, but despite it, I would still extremely recommend traveling here in March when the crowds are fewer. Access Stradun by entering the walled city via Pile Gate or the marina on the city’s east side.

The main street of Dubrovnik Old Town which you enter from the Harbour or via Pile Gate is impressive. The street gives such a feeling of history and the power of impressive architecture and you feel like you've stepped back in time. From the cobbled street to the bell tower, the church's architecture is stunning. Even though a majority of the buildings are now cafes & shops you still get a feeling of how it used to be. I understand that this was also used as the backdrop for Game of Thrones so it dies attract a lot of attention for that reason too. As you walk down you have to look up at the buildings as well as down the streets leading off to see how the old town was the main dominating powerful street of the city.

Stradun is one of the finest “main streets” in any city I have visited across Europe. While is is very commercialised in terms of gift shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours, it is full of charm. I would strongly recommend rambling into the tiny side streets and allow yourself to get lost.

This is the wide main street of the old city and a place you will want to visit. At night it is floodlit and gorgeous. During the day it is clogged with tour groups and somewhat unpleasantly crowded. There are restaurants along the way, a fountain, some statues.

Nice selection of shops and bars line this street. Lots of side streets to explore and a great spot for people watching. Nearly slipped a few times on the polished surface. Look closely and you'll spot security enforcers making sure the dress code of no swimwear, no tops off, no littering or stopping to eat food and a few other rules are adhered to. The town is immaculate and photogenic. Look out for the water fountain, tourist information and the head you're challenged to stand on!

Such a unique area. The ground is shiny and looks so different compared to anything I’ve ever seen before. Lots of little streets and shops. Souvenir shops, retail, restaurants, and more. Historical sites line it as well. Very cool place in Dubrovnik!

A large Main Street in old town within the walls. Everything you would want to eat and shop for is available. As the main drag you can just people watch all day. The main gates all connect here.