There are numerous legends about the city and its past. One of the most famous is the one about an Illyrian princess, a beautiful young girl who had two suitors but loved only one of them. Her father decided to marry the one who brings the most benefit to the city. The young man she loved built an aqueduct and brought fresh water to the city, and another set sail to bring the best goods from the East. Unfortunately, his ship sank and he barely managed to escape, which is why he was declared a loser. He could not bear the defeat so he put the snake in a new aqueduct. The snake bit the princess and she died. In this way, young love was interrupted and Cavtat received a water supply.

Today, Cavtat is a unique place on the Adriatic, an old town on the hill of the wooded peninsula of Rat, with new settlements along the coast, all overgrown with Mediterranean vegetation with evergreen pines and cypresses. More than 7 km of shallow coastline, clear sea, sandy beaches and bays, beautiful new deluxe hotels have made Cavtat one of the most sought after and most visited tourist destinations in the Dubrovnik area.