My visit to Croatia was beyond my wildest dreams. I’d heard about the old town charm of Dubrovnik, I’d seen the picturesque crystal clear waters of the Plitvices Lakes and I’d read about the great food, wine and culture of Croatia but what I experienced was way more magical than I had expected. If you haven’t been yet, go Go GO!
Where to start???
I had two weeks to spend so I focused my itinerary around the coast of Croatia and her islands. If I had longer I would have checked out Zagreb, Pula and neighboring Montenegro.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a small hilly and coastal town on the Adriatic Sea in the southern tip of Croatia. I stayed a short distance outside of old town Dubrovnik at the Hotel Excelsior ($$). It has a great view of old town Dubvronik you can enjoy during breakfast or at sunset and you can swim right off the sea level patio or in their pool. It’s a short walk to old town and is a great spot if you’re looking to get out side of old town and relax by the sea.
I liked this hotel very much because of the location, price and friendly staff. It’s not much to look at from the exterior if you’re looking to stay somewhere charming and quaint like Old Town Dubrovnik. I’d recommend Villa Argentina nearby if you’re looking for a place with more character. I liked the boutique hotel feeling of the Excelsior and their seaside swim area.
Restaurants
Restaurant 360 – (Mediterranean, European, Croatian) $$$$
Nautika – (Seafood, Croatian, European) $$$$ be sure to make a reservation. Great food, drinks and food.
Peppino’s – (Gelato) $
Nishta – (Indian, Mediterranean, European, Vegetarian) $$
Konoba Komarda – (Seafood, Mediterranean) $$ we had our first meal here. Go for the view at lunch or dinner. Food is okay to average.
Buza Bar – A bit hidden and away from the noise of Stradun. Great views of the sea, sunset and unique spot for a drink.
Things to Do
Besides relaxing, strolling around Old Town, shopping and going for swims here are some ideas on things to do and check out when visiting Dubrovnik.
The Red Keep
Museum of Croatian War of Independence
Lokrum Island (swim, monastery, lunch, botanical garden)
I’d recommend 3-4 full days in Dubrovnik if time allows. I definitely preferred it over Split, but Split should definitely be experienced and is a good base to visit the Plitvices Lakes from.
After exploring Dubrovnik I took the ferry (located outside of Old Town) to Hvar. Please check out my blog post on Hvar, Split and Plitvices Lakes to see my tips and recommendations for those locations.
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