Plan a trip to Dubrovnik

Getting there 

Travelling Europe by train? Just out these Eurail options. Or book a flight from anywhere in Europe using EasyJet.

Where to stay

Staying in Dubrovnik itself can be fairly pricey so you may want to check out the surrounding area for a more affordable place to stay. We stayed in Mlini at Villa New York. Mlini is just a short drive out of Dubrovnik and close to some really lovely swimming spots. Our apartment overlooked the quaint harbour and was just metres away from the Adriatic sea.

When to go

Summer along the coast is always the best, however, July and August can be very busy times for the park. I would recommend going in June or September to avoid the European summer holidays.

Top things to do in Dubrovnik

Have a swim in the Adriatic 

Walk Dubrovnik Walls encasing the Old City

Enjoy a gelato in the Old City while exploring the cobbled streets (be sure to walk along The Stradun which is one of the filming locations for Star Wars episode XI)

Take the cable car up to get a bird’s eye view of Dubrovnik

Game of Thrones fans will enjoy checking out the whole city of Dubrovnik, the film location of King’s Landing. Check out this Game of Thrones Tour.

Take a day trip to the gorgeous beach orientated town of Cavtat

 

Dubrovnik

We bid our farewell to the magical lakes of Plitvice and made the long journey down south to the coast of Croatia. After six long hours we arrived at our accommodation, Villa New York which is in a small town called Mlini which is just outside of Dubrovnik. Our apartment overlooked the quant harbour and was just metres away from the Adriatic sea.

We rushed to the beach and plunged into the heavenly waters after struggling to walk gracefully on the pebbled beach. We rejoiced at reaching the ocean but our fun was short lived as the dipping sun beckoned us inside.

We then set out to Dubrovnik with the intention of walking the walls that encased the Old City. Dubrovnik is named the ‘Jewel of the Adriatic’ and quite rightfully so with its terracotta roofs contrasting with the rich blue ocean in the background. It truly is stunning and the walls give you an elevated and panoramic view of both the Old City and the sea. The walk around the walls was beautiful and tireless but Nic and I didn’t deny an ice cream at the bottom. I ate my red orange flavoured gelato with relish.

We then walked around the Old City’s cobbled streets in search of a restaurant at which to dine. We found one that sat close to the harbour and so served some scrumptious seafood. We ate calamari, mussels and pizza. It wasn’t the cheapest of meals but you are paying for the location.

We went home satisfied and filled with excitement for the day that lay ahead of us.

Rising out of bed and slipping into my bikini, I made my way with sleepy eyes to the harbour across the road from our apartment. The chilling water woke me up and I was left refreshed for the day ahead.

We then found a small haven not far from our apartment and chose it as our relaxation point for the better part of the day. We lay on the pebbled beach and browned ourselves in the warm rays of the sun. This water was the best water to swim in. It was crystal clear and not too hot and thus still refreshed us. The turquoise depths allowed for long periods of splashing about in the flat ocean.

We ate lunch at a restaurant just off the beach and enjoyed the short relief from the sun. We ate grilled squid, burgers and a traditional meat dish of cevapcici. This was followed by a stroll along the promenade to the most sought after place in temperatures such as these: the ice cream shop. We had sugar cones filled with chocolate and cookie flavoured gelato.

We drove to the small beach orientated town of Cavtat and swam and sunned ourselves there in the late afternoon. It was blissful swimming in the cool turquoise waters which soothed our slightly sunburnt skin.

We had sundowners on the harbour wall when we got back to our neighbourhood and just enjoyed the peaceful view of the ocean and the boats. We were then forced to go inside and put on some warmer clothes as the sun disappeared. We sat out at our terrace, snacking on olives and chips. The ocean was still in full view and we managed to see the hustle and bustle of people as they made their comings and goings. There was much going on yet there was an undeniable sense of stillness filled to the brim with peace and contentment.

Dubrovnik did not disappoint and left us with a hunger for more.

Planning a trip to Croatia? Check out my blogs on the Plitvice Lakes, Hvar Island and Rovinj to help with planning your trip.