Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful place I have ever been. The first time I saw Dubrovnik - I was bamboozled by its preserved and pristine condition.  George Bernard Shaw named it as the "Paradise on Earth". I expected Dubrovnik to be a little bit rough to explore but it was not. Gorgeous scenery, beautiful, friendly and happy people, good food, and  a nice beach too.  Although  it;s tough to live  up to such adulation, a stroll through the torch-lit winding lanes of the Old Town (Stari Grad) and a sunset look into the sea front the city walls certainly justify Dubrovnik's reputation as Croatia's top tourist destination.

How to get to Dubrovnik. If you are coming from Spain, France, Portugal, UK. Germany, Italy there is a cheap flight from Clickair. This is a discount airline from Europe. Flight to Dubrovnik from these European countries is very cheap when you book it early ( at least two months in advance). You can get a flight for 50 euros when booking early. If you are coming from Italy and want  a taste of the Mediterranean Sea breeze, take  the Jadrolinja Ferry from Bari, Italy. It will cost you 40-55 euros and takes 8 hours. I would recommend taking a flight from Clickair because it is faster and you don't wanna miss any minute exploring Dubrovnik.
 Where to Sleep Cheap in Dubrovnik. I recommend not to stay in  a hotel in Dubrovnik because it can get too expensive. I would recommend taking hostel accommodation. It is very cheap, clean, free breakfast and they will wash your clothes for a small fee. These are the hostels that I highly recommend:
Villa Klaic (left picture) -  situated in a peaceful area 15 minutes from the old town. It’s an ideal choice for modern back packers! The guesthouse is also available for groups and families. 25- 30 euros per day. We stayed in this house for 4 days and absolutely no problem at all. Miro (the owner) is very helpful and he even pick and dropped us to the airport.
Danica Guesthouse Radnicka 33, Dubrovnik, Croatia 20000 - private family run hostel-overlooking port Gruz. Just 5 minutes walk to bus (connection to airport) and ferry terminals. 20 minutes walk to the heart of the old city with bus stop directly outside the door. Just 1 min on city side of Dubrovnik Bridge if arriving by car from Split.

On your first day in Dubrovnik, visit the old town and tour the city wall (gradske zidine). Opens daily 8am-7:30pm. 50 korunas. This is the most exhilarating part of your Dubrovnik experience. Here, you can see the clusters of traditional red-rooftops and church spires, the narrow cobblestones, the Adriatic Sea landscape, the beautiful birds-eye-view of the Stradun and the Onofrio's Fountain, and many other surprises. You can also stop and have some refreshments during your walkabout along the city walls.  The Onofrio's Fountain (picture below) was erected in 1438so that people entering inside the city could wash to prevent bringing the plague in this noble city of the Adriatic.

Inside the Old town you will see the oldest pharmacy in the world, the 7th-century baroque Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the "Spanish Steps" (almost the same as the one in Rome), small alleyways that will lead you to your own new discoveries, and many more beautiful sights.

Outside the Old town  are a number of rock shelves popular for sun-bathing and swimming. To reach a beautiful but crowded  pebble beach from the Placa's end, turn left on Svetog Dominika, bear right after the footbridge, and continue on Frana Supila. Don't forget to bring your swimming suit because once your are in this place you cannot afford not to swim on the waters of the Dalmatian Coast. Spend the rest of the day here by watching the sunset. Missing out on the sunset of the Dalmatian coast is like you miss the splendour of the city of Dubrovnik.