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Since Dubrovnik’s debut in the second series of Game of Thrones, the city has seen a huge influx in the number of tourists to its Medieval heart.
According to a report published in June, Dubrovnik is among the most touristed cities in Europe. Although the city only has a population of 41,000 people, it welcomed 1.5 million tourists in 2019.
This huge number of people descending on the city can make living in Dubrovnik difficult for locals.
In a bid to combat the associated noise pollution, the Mayor of the city has introduced new measures preventing tourists from wheeling suitcases down its cobbled streets.
Tourists and residents alike are no longer permitted to pull noisy wheeled suitcases along the cobbled streets of the oldest part of the city.
But if you’re due to visit Dubrovnik, don’t worry. You don’t need to throw out your luggage and buy a backpack!
Despite what has been widely reported in the mainstream media, this is not a suitcase ban. Here’s why:
Why Isn’t This a Suitcase Ban?
Firstly, tourists are not being banned from bringing suitcases to Dubrovnik. They are not even being banned from bringing wheeled suitcases to Dubrovnik.
All that is asked is that if your suitcase does have wheels, you choose to carry it rather than use them in certain parts of the city.
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This rule will also only apply to the cobbled streets of Dubrovnik’s Medieval city (known as the Old Town) rather than to the whole of the wider city. So, for many travelers heading to Dubrovnik this year and staying outside the walls of the old town, these rules won’t apply at all.
If you do choose to wheel your suitcase in this area, though, then you will be subject to a 265 euro ($290 USD) fine.
A Bigger Picture Plan
The new rule preventing tourists from wheeling their suitcases in certain parts of Dubrovnik is part of a bigger plan announced by the Mayor of the city.
This will prevent tourists from needing to carry any suitcases in Dubrovnik and will make the common site of tourists struggling over the cobbles and blocking the sidewalks with their cumbersome luggage a thing of the past.
Instead, from November, the local government in Dubrovnik plans to implement a scheme where travelers deposit their bags in lockers or drop-off points outside the city. Their bags will then be transported directly to their chosen hotel or other address by courier.
This will only enhance the traveler experience in Dubrovnik, making it easier to explore without carrying cumbersome bags. No further details have been released about how this scheme will work or how much it will cost.
The measure comes as part of the “Respect the City” program, introduced by the Dubrovnik Tourist Office.
So, What Is Banned in Dubrovnik?
While bringing wheeled suitcases to Dubrovnik has not been banned, getting naked in the street has.
When Cersei Lannister walked naked through the streets of Dubrovnik in Game of Thrones, many visitors to the city, and fans of the show, wanted to follow in her footsteps. Literally.
To combat this, the local government in Dubrovnik banned visitors from exploring the old city both topless or wearing a bikini. Exploring completely naked was already banned by national decency laws.
Anyone caught breaking this rule can be fined up to 150 euros ($163 USD).
Tourists in Dubrovnik and elsewhere in Croatia can also be subjected to a fine of up to 4,000 euros ($4358 USD) for any act that is considered to cause “disturbances to public order”. This includes but is not limited to, being visibly drunk in public or playing music in public at an excessive volume.
Climbing monuments or falling asleep in public areas are also prevented under this new rule.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com