The sun’s glare reflects off white limestone walls and patchwork paving as you stroll down the pedestrianised Placa linking the gates of Pile and Ploce. This is Dubrovnik: famed for fortifications, Franciscan monasteries, Gothic-Renaissance palaces and hexadecagon-shaped fountains. Oh, and the walls. Can’t forget the walls. Ironically, the walls of Dubrovnik offer a glimpse at what else is out there. The pine forests and saltwater lakes of Mljet National Park; the flower-festooned villages, summer houses and secret coves of the Elaphiti Islands; the Benedictine abbey and botanical gardens of car-free Lokrum Island. Strain your gaze south and the rural trails of Konavle Valley lie beyond. To the north, from Ston, the vineyards and oyster beds of the Pelješac Peninsula create a gastronomic delight for cyclists. The twinkling Adriatic is crying out for kayaking, snorkelling and wading in crystal clear shallows in search of sand-free sanctuary without crowds, and, sometimes, without clothes.

Find out more in our Dubrovnik travel guide.

Occupying the skinnier southern section of Dalmatia, Dubrovnik–Neretva County captures the islands and mainland coastal districts surrounding the city of Dubrovnik. Stretching southwards from Hvar Island and the seaside village of Drvenik to the borders with Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubrovnik–Neretva also includes the Pelješac Peninsula and the southernmost region of Konavle. The Elaphiti Islands, Korcula Island and Mljet National Park all feature within the county limits and there are numerous ferries, catamarans and water taxis operating out of Dubrovnik with seasonal timetables and prices to match: Oct to May is low season, June to Sept is high season.