Dubrovnik’s Maritime Museum

Dubrovnik’s Maritime Museum tells the sea story of the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) from antiquity to modern times. It sits inside St. John’s Fortress (Fort St. Ivana) on the Old Port, and its exhibits spread over the first and second floors of the fortress. Expect ship models, nautical charts, navigation instruments, paintings, and documents that trace trade routes and naval life across centuries.

Top Tickets & Tours

• Single-site ticket (at the door): Buy at the museum entrance in Fort St. John.
• “10 Museums” combined ticket (great value): One ticket covers Maritime Museum + Rector’s Palace + Ethnographic (Rupe) + Archaeological exhibitions + several city galleries; valid 7 days from first use. You can buy e-tickets via the official Dubrovnik Museums link.
• Dubrovnik Pass (1/3/7-day): Includes city walls, public buses, and free entry to city museums/galleries (including the Maritime Museum). If you’re doing the Walls plus at least one museum, the Pass usually wins on price.

Tickets & Passes

•  Maritime Museum ticket: Adults €10, students €7, family €25 (up to two adults + children ≤14). Pay cashless at any Dubrovnik Museums ticket office.
• 10 Museums combined ticket: Adults €20, students €10, family €45; valid 7 days, one entry per site. Buy online (official “BUY E-TICKETS”) or at museum desks.
• Dubrovnik Pass: Digital pass covering the City Walls and a portfolio of museums/galleries; buy online and show the QR code at entry.

Tip: If you’ll do City Walls + Rector’s Palace + Maritime Museum in one day, the 1-day Dubrovnik Pass is typically the simplest and best value; for a slower pace across the week, the 10 Museums ticket gives flexibility.

Opening Hours & Seasonal Schedule

• Summer (approx. Apr–Oct): 09:00–18:00, closed Wednesdays.
• Winter (Nov–Mar): 09:00–16:00, closed Wednesdays.
• Public holidays: Dubrovnik Museums are closed on Christmas (25 Dec), New Year (1 Jan) and Feast of St. Blaise (3 Feb); open 09:00–12:00 on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before closing so you have time to see both levels; desks may stop selling a little earlier.

Best Time to Visit

• Quietest windows: Before 11:00 or after 16:00 on cruise-heavy days.
• Weather backup: The fortress galleries are cool in summer and sheltered in rain, so it’s a smart stop when the Walls are too hot or windy.
• Pair smart: Visit right after the City Walls (Ploče/Old Port end) or between Old Town sights to break up outdoor time.

How Much Time to Budget

• Express (30–40 min): A swift loop through both floors to catch models, charts, and sailor-life displays.
• Standard (60–75 min): Read labels, follow the Ragusan trade story, and compare ship types.
• In-depth (90+ min): Study chart details, paintings, and instruments, and photograph exhibits (no flash).

Entrances & How to Reach

• Where it is: St. John’s Fortress on the Old Port (southeast corner of the Old Town). Follow the quay to the fortress entrance; museum stairs lead up inside.
• From Ploče Gate (east): 3–5 minutes’ walk via the Old Port.
• From Pile Gate (west): 10–12 minutes along Stradun, then right to the Old Port.
• Cruise travelers: Many shuttles and buses drop at Pile Gate; the port authority notes frequent buses taking 10–15 minutes to Pile. From there, walk into the Old Town.

Accessibility & Step Count

St. John’s is a historic stone fortress with interior stairs; the museum occupies upper floors and there is no elevator. Wheelchair users and strollers will face multiple stair runs and narrow passages; mobility-impaired visitors may prefer a quick look at the Old Port and the ground-level Aquarium (separate venue in the same fortress) if steps are a concern. Handrails are present on main flights.

What You’ll See Inside

The collection spans Ragusa’s merchant navy, shipbuilding, navigation, and life at sea. Expect scale ship models, compasses and sextants, oil paintings, documents and logbooks, and a strong cartographic section that helps you trace Adriatic and Mediterranean trade routes across centuries.

Signature Highlights & Must-Sees

• Nautical charts collection: 500+ items (17th–20th c.) including Coronelli and Sanson maps, plus Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav naval charts of the Adriatic.
• Ship models & gear: Merchantmen, galleys and steam-age craft, with instruments and uniforms from different eras.
• Paintings & documents: Scenes of harbors, regattas, and ceremonies, plus merchant records that put Dubrovnik’s wealth in context.

Temporary Exhibitions & Events

The museum regularly mounts thematic and temporary shows (e.g., lighthouses, shipwreck research, shipwright tools). Check the current exhibition listings on the Dubrovnik Museums website before you go.

Family & Kids Tips

• Turn the visit into a “spot-it” game: count anchors, find the oldest chart date, or sketch your favorite ship model.
• Quiet corners: The upstairs galleries are usually calmer; take breaks by the windows overlooking the harbor.
• Pair with the Aquarium downstairs for a balanced history + sea-life hour.

Viewpoints & Photography Tips

• Best views: Peek through fortress windows toward the Old Port, Porporela breakwater, and Lokrum channel.
• Photo settings: Indoors is low light—use a higher ISO and no flash; focus on chart textures and model details.
• Outside angles: Step back on the pier to frame the fortress with boats for classic Dubrovnik shots.

Facilities & Visitor Services

• Restrooms: Available within the museum/fortress complex during opening hours.
• Water & cafés: No café inside; plenty of cafés and kiosks line the Old Port and Luža area—refillable tap water is safe city-wide.
• Tickets & payments: Dubrovnik Museums operate cashless card payments at ticket offices.

Visitor Etiquette & Rules

• No flash, no tripods, and no food/drink in galleries.
• Keep backpacks small around models and glass cases; don’t touch exhibits.
• Speak softly—rooms are compact and echo.

Safety & Practical Tips

• Footwear: Polished stone can be slippery in wet weather; wear grippy soles and use handrails on stairs.
• Heat & wind: The fortress stays cooler than the streets; on hot, windy days, this is a good midday stop.
• Kids: Hold hands on stairs and near display edges.

Nearby Attractions & Easy Combos

• Dubrovnik Aquarium: Ground floor of the same fortress—easy 30–45 min add-on.
• City Walls: One walls entrance sits by St. John’s Fortress/Old Port, handy for starting or finishing your circuit.
• Rector’s Palace (Cultural History Museum): 3–5 minutes away—excellent to pair on the 10 Museums or Dubrovnik Pass.
• Old Port boats: Lokrum ferries and harbor cruises depart just outside; time them around your museum slot.

Suggested Tours & Experiences

• Old Town essentials + maritime focus: Many guides weave Ragusa’s trading past into a route that includes Rector’s Palace and the Maritime Museum.
• Harbor cruise or kayak add-on: Seeing the port from the water right after the museum brings the charts and models to life. Recent destination features highlight the museum among Dubrovnik’s top cultural stops.

Map: Entrance, Ticket Desk & Floor Plan

• Entrance: Walk to the Old Port and follow signs into St. John’s Fortress; the museum entrance is inside the fort with stairs up to Level 1.
• Sequence: Do Level 1 → Level 2, then exit back toward the Old Port (ideal for Aquarium, Walls, or port-side cafés).
• Wayfinding tip: If you reach the Porporela lighthouse, you’ve gone too far—turn back toward the fort’s inner doorway.

FAQs