Dubrovnik, Croatia is home to beautiful views, kind people and the historic Old Town which is famously known as King’s Landing on Game of Thrones (excuse me while I fangirl). The city is considered the pearl of the Adriatic and it’s no secret why; with limestone streets, gothic architecture and hidden gems sprinkled throughout, the city is simply spectacular.
My cousin and I spent a total of 3 nights and 4 days in Dubrovnik which was the perfect amount of time!
STAY:
Hotel Vis: We decided on Hotel Vis due to its location and budget friendly price point. The property, located 10 minutes from Old Town, was in a cul de sac that housed sail boats, a sprawling beach, bars, restaurants and shops. The hotel was on a public bus line, so it was easy to get to Old Town and other tourist attractions.
Hotel Vis is a 3 star hotel and a very simple accommodation, so if you’re looking for a spot with frills this isn’t it. The hotel is perfect if you’re on the market for a home base that’s budget friendly and in a centralized location. The hotel does include breakfast and has a great little restaurant with outdoor seating. The room also has all the essentials that you’ll need (hair dryer, towels, air conditioning, Wi-Fi) and includes a patio with ocean or park views.
If Hotel Vis is booked, but you like the area, then Hotel More and Artisan Hotel are great options as well.
Side note: The beach is a pebble beach, not sand, and you do have to pay for your beach chair. It’s about $8 per day, per person.
EAT/DRINK:
Cava Bar More: This bar is located in Hotel More and spans three levels with both indoor and outdoor seating areas that overlook the ocean. Just as the name says, the bar is located inside of a natural cave and has a patio that is to die for! If you’re in the area, then this is the perfect place to grab a drink before heading out to dinner.
Panorama Restaurant and Bar: I have to hold my hands up and say that this is one of my top 10 finds ever. If you’re in Dubrovnik, this is a memorable wining and dining experience that you won’t want to miss. The restaurant and its adjacent viewing area are located on top of Srd Hill and overlook Old Town, the Islands and the Adriatic Sea. As you can guess, the view at sunset is absolutely breathtaking.
Since the restaurant is perched up above the city, you will need to take a cable car to get there. You can also grab a cab, but the view from the cable car is half the experience. If you’re riding it on a clear night, you can see up to 37 miles away.
The cable car station is located 10 minutes from Old Town (very walkable) and a round trip ticket for an adult is about $25. Be warned that there is typically a line for the cable car, so if you’re going up for sunset make sure you give yourself enough time to grab a ticket and wait.
If you want to grab dinner at Panorama, you’ll need to make a reservation. You can do so on their website and, once they have you in the books, you’ll receive an email confirmation. You’re able to include a message in the reservation and I would recommend reserving a corner table. The view can’t be beat and it’s an incredible photo opp.
If you want to check out the view, but don’t want to do Panorama for dinner, you have that option as well. You can always book a table and just grab a glass of wine or a cheese plate, or you can just head up there, explore and head back down.
Buža Bar: Buža translates to “hole in the wall” and that’s exactly what this bar is. We stumbled upon it and ventured in on a whim. It is the only bar located on the sea side of the Old Town city walls and it houses cliff-side seating and an outdoor bar with cocktails and snacks. You’ll witness locals and tourists cliff jumping into the crystal waters and sunbathing on the many rocks boarding the space. It’s a great spot for a cold drink and a relaxing change of scenery.
SEE:
Old Town: You can’t go to Dubrovnik and not see Old Town. Old Town is one of the world’s most perfectly preserved medieval cities. Within its walls are monuments, churches, monasteries, palaces, restaurants/shops, the harbor and more. Once entering Old Town, you can spend hours in there just walking and exploring–it’s the perfect place to get “lost.” There’s also an option to walk on top of the walls which I would highly recommend. You’ll see the city from a whole new angle and also discover some hidden gems you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The city wall walk takes about two and a half hours, but you have the ability to head down around the halfway mark.
Island Hopping: It’s a thing and it’s so much fun! The Elaphite Islands include several small islands stretching northwest of Dubrovnik. The three largest are Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan and they have very few cars (if any) and are connected to the mainland by Ferry or Taxi Boat. These three islands have beaches, hiking trails, small shops and a rich historical heritage.
There is a ferry that runs throughout the day between the three locations, but if you can, do a private or group boat tour. We found a group tour through a local vendor that brought you around and allowed for 2-3 hours on each island. It also included lunch and some great commentary throughout the day.
There are tons of options for local companies and you really don’t need to book more than a day or two in advance. Here is a suggestion for a boat company and here is the ferry info in case you wanted to go that route.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Dubrovnik is a must see stop if you’re planning a trip to Croatia. Croatia Airlines flies between many of the major cities and they have buses and trains as well. You can easily and inexpensively hop around and explore everything the country has to offer. No matter how you get there, make sure you block off a few days to explore, relax and enjoy!
