Attraction
City Walls of Dubrovnik
Almost two kilometres of medieval ramparts wrapped around Dubrovnik's Old Town, walkable in a full circuit with views over terracotta roofs and the open Adriatic.
Trsteno Arboretum
A Renaissance country estate north-west of Dubrovnik, now an arboretum of the Croatian Academy, with formal gardens, a Neptune fountain and 500-year-old plane trees.
At a glance
- Type
- Renaissance garden and arboretum
- Area
- Trsteno, Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Official site
- info.hazu.hr
Good to know
- Gardens
- Historic summer house
- Sea views
Why we recommend it
Trsteno Arboretum is the best surviving example of the country estates that Dubrovnik's noble families built along the coast during the Republic's golden age. It lies in the village of Trsteno, roughly 20 kilometres north-west of the city, and makes an easy half-day trip by bus or car, or by boat as part of an excursion from the Old Port.
The estate belonged to the Gučetić, or Gozze, family, whose summer house was built between 1494 and 1502. A garden is documented here as early as 1492, and family members are said to have asked ship captains to bring back seeds and plants from their voyages. Over five centuries the garden grew through Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic phases while keeping its original single-axis layout, and it is the only Dubrovnik garden of its kind to have evolved continuously in this way. Highlights include the Neptune fountain and grotto, fed by a 15th-century aqueduct that still irrigates the grounds, and two giant oriental plane trees on the village square, each more than 500 years old.
In 1948 the estate was nationalised and declared a protected natural rarity, and since the early 1950s it has been managed by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts as an arboretum for research, education and visitors. Today it covers 28 hectares, including gardens, old olive groves and natural woodland, with around 400 plant species. The arboretum was badly damaged in October 1991, when it was shelled by Yugoslav forces, and again by a forest fire in 2000; much has since been restored. Fans of Game of Thrones may recognise the gardens as the setting for scenes in the palace gardens of King's Landing.
Allow one and a half to two hours. Paths are gravel and uneven with some steps, so wear comfortable shoes; pushchairs will manage the main avenues but not every terrace. Bring water in summer, although the old trees give plenty of shade. Opening hours vary with the season, so contact the arboretum by phone or email before travelling in winter.
The official Lokrum reserve also runs a combined Trsteno and Lokrum boat trip from Dubrovnik in season.
Trsteno Arboretum FAQs
How far is Trsteno from Dubrovnik?
Roughly 20 kilometres along the coast to the north-west; the academy describes it as about 25 kilometres west of the city.
Who manages the arboretum?
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, which has run it since the early 1950s.
How old is the garden?
A garden is documented here from 1492, and the Gučetić summer house was built between 1494 and 1502.
Was it used in Game of Thrones?
Yes. The gardens appeared as the palace gardens of King's Landing.
How long should I allow?
About one and a half to two hours to explore the gardens and the estate.
Can I visit by boat?
The Lokrum nature reserve runs a seasonal boat trip from Dubrovnik that combines Trsteno and Lokrum.
Is it open in winter?
Hours change with the season, so check with the arboretum by phone or at [email protected] before visiting outside summer.
What are the old plane trees?
Two oriental plane trees on Trsteno's village square that are more than 500 years old.