Everything you need to know about Dubrovnik
Where is Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik is situated in the South of Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea.
How can you get there?
You can fly to Dubrovnik airport, which is a 25 minute drive from the old city center.
I took the bus from Split. The ride takes about 4 hours since the bus passes the Bosnian border (passport control) and stops a few times on the way. You can take a taxi from the main bus station or call your guesthouse to pick you up. It takes about 15 minutes by car to get to the old city center from the bus station. Reserve your bus tickets here.
Where & how long should you stay?
Dubrovnik is packed with apartments and guesthouses. Locals flee from the old town because of the massive tourism and rent out their houses and apartments. I stayed at Apartment Lucic in Peline Street 13 with the best view in town (I’m not kidding!).
The accomodations were basic and the private bathroom was across the hall (and really hot), but I didn’t care. Everything I needed was there. The apartment consisted of a living area with a kitchen and a double bed and a bedroom with another double bed. The beds were very comfortable and the apartment was clean. Wifi functioned perfectly and the air conditioning kept the apartment cool!
Toni, the owner of the apartment was super nice and picked me up at the Dubrovnik bus station. He dragged the suitcases all the way up the stairs, which I appreciated very much! You can also ask him to bring you to the airport.
What I loved most about the apartment was the private terrace with an absolutely breath taking view. The first time I saw it, tears rolled down my cheeks. Apartment Lucic is situated in the highest street; Peline, so I could see the complete old town beneath me. I really enjoyed afternoons and evenings sitting on the terrace and admiring the panoramic view of the old town of Dubrovnik.
I stayed in Dubrovnik for 5 nights and this was perfect. It gives you the chance to explore the city at a slow pace so you can really appreciate everything it has to offer, you can take time to relax and you can do trips outside the city as well.
When is the best time to go?
To be able to enjoy the sea I recommend visiting Dubrovnik during Spring and Summer. In May and June temperatures are already warm. I visited Dubrovnik at the end of June and it was already 35°C! I would avoid July and August since the tourist crowds are the worst then.
How to experience Dubrovnik at its best?
An important thing to know is that Dubrovnik is a very popular cruise destination. Every day 5000 to 7000 cruise ship people come to visit the old town. The ships arrive in the morning and leave in the evening. This means from 10 am to 4 pm Dubrovnik is at its busiest. Avoid visiting monuments during that period. Find more quiet places to have lunch and wander the narrow streets a little further away from the shops and restaurants to get lost. You can go to the beach or do a kayak tour to escape from the crowds. The port of Dubrovnik knows a year in advance which ships will arrive and publishes this on their website. To prepare yourself you can take a look at this document. It states which ships will dock when and how many passengers there are on board. (you can do a search per month)
What to see and do in Dubrovnik?
Admire the architecture
Dubrovnik is filled with architectural pearls. As soon as you arrive at Luza Square, the city’s most popular meeting point, you are overwhelmed by all its beauty. The square is surrounded by Dubrovnik’s most magnificent landmarks. You can admire the Renaissance Sponza Palace, the 15th century Clock Tower, the Gothic Rector’s Palace, the cathedral, the baroque St Blaise church all at once. Dubrovnik’s main street Stradun starts here, which leads you to the West side of the city, where you can find the large Onofrio Fountain, the Franciscan Monastery and Pile Gate.
Walk the walls
The best way to explore this medieval treasure by the sea is by climbing its walls. This way you can admire Dubrovnik from every perspective. You’ll get a closer look at its many towers and domes and you can witness the waves splashing against the city walls. I took a lot of pictures from here. The views are absolutely incredible. I advise you to climb the walls early in the morning before the crowds arrive and sun gets burning hot.
Enjoy a swim & drinks at Buza Bar
Buza Bar is a cliff bar, hidden outside of the walls of Dubrovnik. You can reach it by walking through a “hole in the wall” (=Buza). It’s the perfect place to relax, sun bath, enjoy a swim and drink a cocktail while you enjoy the sound of the waves and the view of the many ships passing by.
Fort Lovrijenac
This fort was used in Game of Thrones and offers an astonishing view on Dubrovnik’s old town surrounded by the city walls and its old harbor. It’s located outside the walls.
Take the Cable Car to Srđ & get cocktails at Panorama Bar
You can take the yellow cable car to the top of mount Srđ to enjoy the most terrific view of Dubrovnik. Most people stay at the cable car platform, but if you leave the tourist area and you walk a little further to the left side of the cable car, you’ll find a more rocky path which offers a way better view and more opportunities to take great photos.
If you want to admire the view a little longer, you can get a cocktail at the Panorama Bar. They are delicious and you’ll never get bored of the view.
Explore the narrow streets
The old town only consists of narrow streets and stairs. There are no cars and it’s super fun to get lost in the maze of the alleyways. Don’t hesitate to just turn into the next alley not knowing where you’re going to end up. You’ll find yourself back in time or you’ll feel as if you’re actually in King”s Landing. By night the atmosphere is even better and don’t be afraid, because crime almost doesn’t exist here.
Grab a table at Kavana Dubravka
On the first evening after my arrival I was looking for a place to eat while exploring the streets for the first time. I ended up at a square right after passing Pile Gate. The square is always packed with tourists waiting for their bus to arrive, but if you walk to the border of the square overlooking the old harbor with Fort Bokar on the left side and Fort Lovrijenac at the other side, it gets more quiet. On both sides of the square are restaurants. The prices of Restaurant Nautika are ridiculously expensive but the prices of Kavana Dubravka aren’t. They are very reasonable and the food is very good. The waiters always make the effort to get you a table with the best view (if available). So I only recommend having dinner at this place while you can take in the beauty of the walls, Fort Bokar and Fort Lovrijenac.
Visit the ports
The ports of Dubrovnik are super romantic and fun to explore. Especially during the evening I loved how everything looked, covered in the last rays of the sun and the lights that started to glow. Ships returning to their resting place and people getting off, satisfied and filled with new memories of what the day has brought. The old harbor in the West doesn’t dock ships any more, but it’s used a lot in movies and series because of the nice views on the quay, the old city walls and the forts surrounding it.
Go on a boat trip
You can’t go to Croatia and not do a boat trip. It’s just part of the culture (a lot of Croatians by the sea have their own boat) and one of the most fun things to do. I took the ferry to Mljet island, one of the most beautiful Croatian islands. Read all about it here.
Watch the making of a movie or series
Dubrovnik often features in movies or TV series. So the chance being witness of a recording is rather big. When I was in Dubrovnik last June, I watched a new series being made, titled Knightfall. I took a lot of photos of the actors, but I didn’t seem to recognize one. Maybe they were just stand ins to practice the shots, maybe they will be famous after the release of the series… We’ll see!
Where to eat & drink?
I already mentioned Buza Bar, Panorama Bar and Kavana Dubravka, but there is still one restaurant that deserves recognition; Segreto Pasta & Grill. I had dinner at this place 3 times out of 5. Their dishes are delicious! They make their own pasta and the desserts were amazing. You must try the risotto, the ravioli di scampi and the tiger prawns and avocado salad. For dessert I loved the fresh strawberries with mascarpone cream and crispy filo! The staff was extremely friendly. Address: Cvijete Zuzorić 5
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