In the summer of 2019, I embarked on a vacation to Croatia that far exceeded my expectations. Within this blog, I’m sharing a few highlights of my trip! Add Dubrovnik (and Croatia) to your travel bucket list!
THINGS TO DO:
Explore the Walls of Dubrovnik (1/2 Day): Walking the Walls of Dubrovnik was perhaps my favorite activity. Enter the main gate off the street of Ul. Iza Grada and turn right; there will be a ticket office where you can purchase your ticket that also includes fort Lovrijenac. The views from the wall were unrivaled and made for some of my favorite photos and memories of Croatia. The stormy weather brought out the rich colors of the water, rocks, and red rooftops! There are places to grab waters and drinks along the way! You can read about their history here.
Explore Fort Lovrijenac (1.5 h): As mentioned above, you can purchase a ticket that includes both the Walls of Dubrovnik and the Fort; I believe you have a few days to see them once the ticket is purchased. You could easily walk the walls and see the Fort in the same day, but can also see them separately! Both offer amazing views of the cities and both are worth a visit!
Tour around the Pakleni Islands (1 Day): My boyfriend planned an amazing “surprise” day date for us where he hired a private skipper to take us around the Pakleni islands. We would recommend Adriatic Explore. In the morning, we saw unrivaled coast lines and stopped off at Lopud for gelato and to explore the monastery and Djordic Mayneri Park. Around noon, we had lunch at BOWA (more on this below). Hiring a private skipper or a group tour is an amazing way to explore more islands off the beaten path!
Lunch and lounge at BOWA (1/2 Day to full Day): One of the standout experiences of our trip was having lunch and lounging at BOWA on the island of Sipan. Book a lunch reservation with BOWA and then relax on their private beach as you enjoy the sparkling water, the boats passing by, and cocktails. Spicy mojitos = just do it. I provided this recommendation to a couple going on a honeymoon in Croatia, and they absolutely loved their day there as well! BOWA has private cabanas for rent, although they aren’t needed for an incredible experience. As noted above, we had a private skipper (via Adriatic Explore) take us on a tour of the Pakleni islands before dropping us off at BOWA. It’s also easy to grab a water taxi from Dubrovnik; BOWA has suggested ways of arriving to the restaurant on their website.
Day Trip to Other Islands / Wine Country (1 Day): For one day, we traversed Croatia via a small tour bus. It was a very cool experience to see the rural towns in Croatia. We first stopped in the small town of Ston known for it’s salt flats, followed by more driving through the countryside and then took a ferry to Korcula. We explored Korcula for about two hours by climbing to the top of the bell tower, sampling local cuisine, and walking along the boardwalk. On the way back to Dubrovnik, we drove through the Peljesac Peninsula and stopped at the the Matusko winery and enjoyed a delicious wine tasting and brought back a bottle of the Dingac Reserve. Overall, we loved seeing the countryside, Ston, and wine tasting, but think that Korcula isn’t a must-see if you’re limited by time.
Panoramic view of Dubrovnik (2.5h): If you’re a rooftop, cityscape lover like me, then it’s worth a visit to Panorama, a restaurant and bar atop the hill of Srd. This requires a car ride on narrow, one lane roads (we took an Uber), but is worth it for the view. Expect mediocre food, but you’ll have the best bird’s eye view of Dubrovnik!
Other things to do not listed above, as I did not have these experiences: 1) Beach day at your hotel, 2) Beach day at Banje Beach Club, 3) Day trip to Mostrar
WHERE TO EAT:
Fancy and Unique: Nautika is the place you want to go! Although not a Michelin star restaurant, the experience feels like one. In 2008, Conde Nast Traveler ranked it as the sixth most romantic restaurant in the world. Their dishes are exquisitely prepared with superb wine pairings, the service is excellent, and the views are the best in Dubrovnik. If you’re between this and Restaurant 360, go with Nautika! As a bonus, if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, the terrace overlooks the Old Town walls where the Battle of Blackwater Bay was filmed.
Delicious and Classic: Proto is just outside of the City Walls and their ambience, service, and food is excellent.
For something other than seafood: Taj Mahal is a spot within Old Town Dubrovnik that offers hearty Bosnian cuisine. I believe this was my first time having Bosnian cuisine!
WHERE TO DRINK:
D’Vino Wine Bar: A homey spot on the main street of Old Town Dubrovnik, you can catch locals and travelers alike hanging out here. We met a lovely couple from South Africa and exchanged stories.
Buza Bar: Literally a packed bar, on a cliffside, with not much railing. If you have rambunctious kids, I suggest to skip this spot. Try the Ozujsko beer – Croatian beer doesn’t disappoint!
WHERE TO STAY:
Hotel Bellevue was a dream come true. The hotel is absolutely beautiful: stunning room views, private beach, outdoor patio overlooking the ocean, and a gorgeous bar and indoor dining area. It is about a 15 minute walk from the hotel to Old Town Dubrovnik where the restaurants, bars, and activities are. The road is a bit narrow and I believe in some areas you walked on the roadway, but I personally loved walking through the neighborhood and having time to walk off our meals.
Check out my Hvar travel guide HERE!
Disclaimer: Within my blogs such as this one, I selectively share the experiences that I loved and/or would recommend. The experiences, food, etc. I choose not to share are because others may enjoy them, but they wouldn’t personally be my recommendations. As such, know that these posts are selectively curated for you, my friends and family, and myself 🙂
