DUBROVNIK
Cool Noons in Dubrovnik: technology meets climate change
The Pearl of the Adriatic: challenges of tourism and heatwaves
Dubrovnik, known worldwide as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its majestic stone walls, medieval streets, and timeless coastal beauty.
Nestled along Croatia’s southern coast, the city attracts millions of visitors each year who come to experience its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural surroundings.
From iconic landmarks like the Stradun promenade and Sponza Palace portico to quiet corners shaded by pine trees and small gardens, Dubrovnik offers an experience that blends culture, leisure, and exploration.
Dubrovnik’s climate challenge: managing popularity and adapting to heat
With a Mediterranean climate marked by long, sun-drenched summers and mild, pleasant winters, Dubrovnik has traditionally been a year-round destination. However, in recent years, the increasing intensity of summer heat has affected both visitors and residents.
Tourism is central to Dubrovnik’s identity and economy, but the city also faces the unique challenges of managing its popularity while preserving its heritage: rising temperatures and prolonged periods of extreme heat have made it harder for visitors to fully enjoy outdoor spaces, particularly during peak midday hours.
Cool Noons solutions in Dubrovnik
In Dubrovnik, Cool Noons is about rethinking how visitors and locals experience the city during the hottest hours of the day. Rather than avoiding cultural and outdoor activities when temperatures rise, the project encourages smarter, more comfortable ways to explore the city.
By developing personalized Cool Paths and enhancing cultural visits with interactive technologies, Cool Noons aims to help people enjoy Dubrovnik’s treasures in a way that is adaptive, accessible, and informed. This pilot is not about large-scale infrastructure changes but about shifting behaviors, leveraging technology, and designing better visitor experiences for a hotter future.
Cool Paths
The core of Dubrovnik’s pilot is the development of a digital platform that will feature seven distinct Cool Paths identified through the focus groups. These paths will offer different options — such as shorter or longer routes, or routes with more green spaces — allowing users to choose according to their preferences.
Technology to improve visitors’ experience
Dubrovnik explores an alternative approach to addressing heat stress in tourism-oriented urban environments: rather than modifying outdoor public spaces, it uses digital cultural enrichment to encourage visitors to move into naturally cooler indoor spaces during the hottest hours of the day.
The solution reduces outdoor heat exposure indirectly by creating a compelling reason to visit a thermally comfortable indoor venue: the Dubrovnik Maritime Museum, hosted among the thick walls of the Fort St. John, the 14th-century fortress guarding the entrance to the Old Town port.
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A mobile application with audio guide and augmented reality (AR) content
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Cool Noons solutions in Dubrovnik
Cool Noons in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, known worldwide as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," is a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its majestic stone walls, medieval streets, and timeless coastal beauty. Nestled along Croatia’s southern coast, the city attracts millions of visitors each year...
Dubrovnik, where technology meets heritage to tackle urban heat
Technology serving historyIn the heart of the stunning Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the Cool Noons project has encountered both a challenge and a great opportunity: to improve thermal comfort without altering the city’s...
Dubrovnik and Climate Change: New Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Dubrovnik, overlooking the Adriatic Sea, is renowned for its historic Old Town surrounded by ancient stone walls. With its Mediterranean climate—featuring dry summers and temperatures ranging from 25 to 35°C—managing heat is essential to preserving its architectural...
Dubrovnik and the Cool Noons Project: Refreshing Paths Through Nature and Culture
Dubrovnik, overlooking the Adriatic Sea and famous for its historic Old Town surrounded by ancient stone walls, is one of the Mediterranean's most captivating and visited tourist destinations. Managing urban heat is essential not only to preserve its precious...
Dubrovink pilot partner
DURA Dubrovnik Development Agency is the partner responsible for Dubrovnik as pilot city.
Learn more about DURA Dubrovnik Development Agency on the official website:
