Dubrovnik in Croatia is a top tourist destination, so what is there to do in a few days?
Dubrovnik is known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” It’s a beautiful walled city surrounded by the sea, with islands dotting the horizon. Its popularity has soared in recent years, no doubt helped by Game of Thrones. With a large influx of both land and cruise ship visitors, it’s a destination worth seeing now.
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Why I went
I was moving house in 2018. I waited ages for my flat to be ready, and put off travelling because I didn’t know when the move would happen. It took 7 months in the end! When I finally completed the sale and purchase, I just had to get away.
I’ve been to Croatia before (to Split and Hvar), and had wanted to see their more famous sister city. My parents came here in July 2018 and said it was heaving with tourists. I’ve always been a fan of Game of Thrones. With so much of it filmed in this city, I looked at flights for late September (to help avoid the crowds). I had three and a half days to fill, and the city did not disappoint.
The adventure ahead
Get the aerial view
Pictures of Dubrovnik always show the iconic, compact city as seen from above. The orange roofed buildings, packed into semi-sprawling lines, all encompassed by the steadfast walls.
On my first day, I arrived from the airport by bu,s and made my way inside the fortified city through Pile gate. Once I’d dropped my luggage at the apartment I was staying in, I wasted no time before heading straight out.
There are no cars inside the walls (there’s barely enough room for people, let alone vehicles) so it’s easy to get around. I like to explore on foot wherever possible; it’s easier to go anywhere you like and change your direction at a moments notice. You can also stop as often as you like and enjoy the view. I’d looked at TripAdvisor and Pinterest for things to do in Dubrovnik.
One of the top suggestions is to take the cable car to the top of Mount Srd. I understand why – the walking route up is tough! It’s uneven and steep, but I was so pleased I chose this method to see the city from above. The cable car ticket was around £17.50 for a return trip (September 2019 prices).
Hike to the top
I’d seen there was a hiking trail that takes you to the top. When you look at it on Google Maps, it zig zags back and forth! Just be aware that if your’re heading up from the city centre, you have to climb a lot of stairs – even before you get to the trail. If you’re in reasonable health I’d really recommend it. I’m certainly not a fit person, but I took my time, and thoroughly enjoyed the hike.
It was just before 4:00pm that I set off, passing the queue for the cable car, and started my climb. I made sure I was wearing comfortable and supportive trainers (a must) and enjoyed the sunny weather as I went back and forth, getting higher with each step.
I was overtaken by a few people, who all looked like professional hikers in comparison to me, nevertheless I was chuffed with myself when I reached the top! It was about about 5:30pm, as the sun was slowly lowering. I had just enough time for a quick look around, with photos. Sadly all the ones with me in front of the view have my hair blown across my face as it gets windy up there! I then headed back down the same rocky decline, getting to see the sun turn pink as it set behind the Elaphiti islands.
Explore on foot
I like to take a walking tour, preferably run by locals, as you’re then supporting the residents. Walking tours are a good option if you like to be active, and the guides have a wealth of knowledge. I opted to book with Game of Thrones Dubrovnik Tour, who has guides that were extras in the show! They keep small groups (ours was about 15) so it’s easier to manage with how congested the streets can get.
Doing this tour was a key reason for my visit. I can now say to my boyfriend “I’ve been there” every time we watch the show! I don’t think he’ll get annoyed at all…
To see these sites in person, where the actors had stood themselves, was pretty cool. If GOT isn’t your thing, there are other tours that show you the city. There’s ones that focus on the historical side, or you could enjoy a food lovers tour. The seafood is meant to be awesome – but I can’t tell you about that!!! There’s even a ghosts and mystery walking tour!
With the city being compact, it was easy to see a lot of the filming points in a few hours. On my second day here, I took the “Ultimate Tour”, which lasted the whole day. Antun, the guide, was enthusiastic, spoke good English, and put forward some interesting theories of who’ll end up on the throne.
Immerse yourself in Kings Landing
Fort Lovrijenac is the first stop, and the tour group were shown images from the show in front of the places that were featured. You could see where they had enhanced places with CGI, but a lot was left as is. Antun then took us through the streets, stopping and explaining that some of the places are actually much further away from each other than how it’s shown in the series.
One added bonus was that these guys provide props. I held Needle and Long Claw! I held a Dothraki Arakh and rang a bell at the top of the Walk of Shame stairs – remaining fully clothed! It was an added bonus with this tour group.
We were then given a 45 minute break for lunch, before out other guide Kreso took 5 of us by car to the sites that are too far to get to on foot. This included the Arboretun Trsteno, a scenic 15th century parkland, which was the setting for the gardens of Kings Landing. This takes you north of the city away from the football club location used for “The Mountain and the Viper” episode.
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Tick an extra country off your list
As I’d seen a lot of Dubrovnik from the Game of Thrones tour, and I still had a full day to spare, I chose to add in a side trip. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are popular options, but there are day trips to other Croatian islands available as well.
I found a company Amico Tours within the city walls that had good reviews on TripAdvisor and had availability at short notice to join a small group tour. There are plenty of different day trip options, but I chose the waterfall and city tour in Bosnia and Herzegovina so I could tick another country off my list!
The trip has an early 7:00am start, but you get a comfortable bus ride throughout. The tour accommodated 16 of us, all armed with passports for the 3 border crossings!
You stop off initially at Kravice waterfall, around 2.5 hrs from Dubrovnik. The area is nationally protected, and the falls are around 28 metres high, cascading down into clear pools. You can swim in the pools or just sit and relax whilst enjoying a cold drink from the bar.
After this stop, you head to Mostar where you get a tour of the city from a resident, learn the history of the arched Stari Most (“Old Bridge”). If you donate to the locals (or wait for others to), you could see someone jumping into the river below – a drop of around 12 metres.
There’s a few hours of free time in Mostar, where you can explore the shops and wares, visit a mosque or just wander the cobbled streets taking in the atmosphere. If you’re feeling a bit peckish you’ll have plenty of restaurants to choose from, many with a good view of the river.
On the way back to Dubrovnik there is one final stop at Počitelj village, where there is the Kula – a fort overlooking the village. This stop is also famed for a domed mosque with great acoustics.
Before long you’ll be heading back to Dubrovnik to enjoy dinner and the city at night.
Experience the top rated attractions
On my final morning, as I didn’t have to be at the airport until mid-afternoon, so had planned two things to fill my time. The first would be walking the city walls, followed by a boat trip over to Lokrum island.
The weather had other ideas and thwarted my plans! I’d had great weather (sunshine, blue skies and 20°C heat) up until my last night. I was woken around 2 am by flashes of light – a thunderstorm was drenching the city. The water was cascading down the narrow alleyway and pooling in the main streets!
I headed out as planned, but stopped first to ask what times the boats to Lokrum would head out. The ticket booth explained that due to the storm and cloudy, windy weather, the boats wouldn’t run until it cleared up. I headed to the ancient city walls with my fingers crossed that the clouds disappeared fast.
The route along the walls is made easier by the fact it’s all one way. It had not long opened so there were few others around as I meandered along, taking photos of the churned up sea and sullen sky. Having already completed the walking tour, it was nice to see the city from a different perspective.
As I came to the end of the walled route, still seeing Game of Thrones sites, I knew that the weather hadn’t improved enough for me to make it there. Instead I headed to the GOT official merchandise shop where there is a second replica Iron Throne. With my dream of sitting on the Iron Throne at last, I gave my best regal pose for the camera!!
With only a few more hours to spare, and the weather still overcast, I found a great massage place Touch of Thai Boutique inside the city walls. Prices are reasonable for the central location and the wait time was less than 20 minutes. A perfect treat for my feet after all the walking during the weekend.
Where to stay
There are many options for lodgings in Dubrovnik. A key decision will be whether you want to stay within the city walls, or not. A big benefit of being inside the fortress city is that you are in the middle of everything. Food, shops and attractions are all within a few minutes walk. It’s true the centre does get crowded, particularly during the day, so weigh up your options.
I chose to stay in a small apartment I found on booking.com. It was right off Stradun, the main street that ends up at Pile gate. It was ideal for three nights, as I was out and about for most of the time. The cost of accommodation in peak season (mid June through to mid September) will be significantly more. Consider booking early if you’ll be travelling at this time of year.
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Top five tips
- Sensible shoes are a must. The streets are cobbled and slippery. You’ll do a lot of walking around to see the sites. No one likes walking around when their feet hurt, so it’s wise to bring sensible shoes or trainers for most of the time.
- Beware the crowds. In the peak season (Jun-Sep) there can be as many as five cruise ships stopping in the harbour. Yes five! All of those people swarming in the narrow streets, on top the city walls, with the summertime heat, will make for a very uncomfortable combination! If you do come in summer, consider exploring inside the walls either early in the day, or late afternoon when the ships are departing.
- There’s more than just the walled part. Dubrovnik, whilst famed for being a well preserved, medieval walled city, has so much more to offer beyond the gates. There are day trips to different countries (such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) that you could visit by car or on an organised trip. Alternatively there are other nearby Croatian islands you can explore by boat, or if you hire a car you could go further up or down the coast.
- See the city from above. The view from Mount Srd is often featured when you see any pictures of Dubrovnik. It really is a stunning view, especially at sunset, and whether you hike up the trail, or take the cable car you’ll be rewarded when you get to the top.
- Visit the beaches. Whilst I didn’t have time to visit them myself, I know from others who have been that the beaches are great. I’m a sucker for anywhere that has a great sea view, and the waters here are crystal clear.
Why you should go
Dubrovnik is a beautiful coastal city, full of culture and history. A well preserved and compact walled city, it’s easy to explore and wander around. The atmosphere is easy going, it has a lot of attractions and site which are interesting, and with good weather most of the year, Dubrovnik makes for a great place to come and enjoy for at least a few days.
Good to know
- If you’re visiting Dubrovnik and live in a EU country, you won’t need a visa to visit. Check out this website for other entry requirements.
- Dubrovnik’s airport is 13 miles east of the walled city. There is a bus that goes from the airport to Pile Gate. The return ticket is around £5 (40 Kuna) – just be aware that the area by Pile Gate is on a one -way road system so you’ll need to head to the bus stop y the cable car for your journey back to the airport.
- The currency used in Dubrovnik is Croatian Kuna. I found most places took cards but cash was useful for tipping guides and smaller purchases (like ice cream).
- The plug you’ll need for any appliances or chargers is the European 2 round pins.
- Many people speak very good English as well as Croatian – if you want to have a go at the local language, here are some key phrases (although I know my pronunciation is awful!)
- If you have an emergency (fire, police or ambulance required) dial 112.
- Please buy travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip. It’s good practice to cover yourself and be ready for anything that might happen.
A quote to sum it all up
I’m always looking at travel quotes and memes, as a way to continue the feeling of travelling, when I’m not actually travelling.
“It is a big and beautiful world. Most of us live and die in the same corner where we were born and never get to see any of it. I don’t want to be most of us.”
Oberyn Martell, Game of Thrones
This was a solo trip that I really enjoyed. I’d been waiting so many months to be able to travel again, and just being away, in a different city, made me feel well. The quote, aptly from Game of Thrones, reminds me to keep exploring. There is so much to see out in the world – make sure you see as much as you can!
What are your thoughts on Dubrovnik? If you’ve been would you recommend it? If you haven’t been is it on your travel bucket list? Let me know…
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