Dominican Monastery
Ulica Svetog Dominika 4, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, 20000
Resembling a fortress from the outside but revealing a church, cloisters, and museum inside, the Dominican Monastery in Old Dubrovnik is often missed by time-crunched travelers. Yet this wonderful 14th-century complex is more than worth seeking out for its ethereal Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, religious art, and peaceful cloistered garden.
The basics
Numerous Old Dubrovnik walking tours cover the monastery, mostly as an exterior stop. Some walking tours also include a cable car ride up Mt. Srd for panoramic Old Town views. The monastery also features on many Dubrovnik Game of Thrones walking tours—the lanes around it doubled as the King’s Landing marketplace in the cult TV show. Other tour options include self-guided audio tours and family-friendly tours that bring Dubrovnik’s history to life for kids.
Things to know before you go
The Dominican Monastery will appeal to history, architecture, religion, and art buffs.
Plan to spend about 30-60 minutes here.
The complex is inaccessible to wheelchair users due to its numerous steps.
Dress conservatively when visiting: it’s respectful to ensure knees and shoulders are covered.
How to get there
Located at 4, Ul. Svetog Dominika between Old Dubrovnik’s Ploče Gate and Sponza Palace, the only way to access the Dominican Monastery is on foot. To get here, enter the city via Ploče and bear left until you reach the church steps, or, from the Sponza Palace, turn left after passing through the arch toward the Old Port. Regular #8 buses link Ploče Gate and Gruz Port, while frequent ferries run to the Old Port from places like Gruz and Cavtat between May and October.
When to get there
The monastery is typically open daily 9am-6pm May through October, and between 9am-5pm during other months. Be aware that masses are held daily at 7am and 7pm, and additionally at 8:30am and 11am Sundays, which may restrict visitor access. The monastery tends to be quiet, even during summer, so the chances are you’ll enjoy a crowd-free visit irrespective of timings.
Highlights of the Dominican Monastery
The monastery bursts with art and architectural treasures. Standouts include Titian’s Mary Magdalene in the museum and a painted crucifix by Paolo Veneziano above the church altar But these aren’t the only must-sees: the serene tree-shaded cloister boasts a still-functioning 14th-century well, which served as a rare source of water for locals during the 1991 Siege of Dubrovnik.
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