In the last few years Dubrovnik has gained a great reputation in the travel world especially that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the direct flights from London, it became very accessible. It was even used as the set for the very popular TV show Game of Thrones. The city mixes culture, history, sunshine and beaches beautifully.
Since I started my trip from the capital Zagreb and stopped in Plitvice Lakes National Park and Split, I arrived around 10ish pm to Dubrovnik by bus. Thankfully the hostel was very close to the gate. It was located on the top of an ally in the third floor with two more sets of narrow steep spiral stairs. Getting there with a mini bag was a little bit of a struggle, but that was the best option we found. If I go to Dubrovnik again, I wouldn't even bother to stay within the city walls. Their bus system is quiet good, cheap and drops you off right in front of the city gate.
Dubrovnik's beauty matched its reputation and there were SO many things to see and do in that little city, but it was the most crowded place EVER! I went the first week of September and it was heaving with tourists.
Basically, the whole old city is catered for tourists and most locals had to move out because of the very expensive rates.
PS. Everyone I ran into in the country spoke English. I had no problems communicating with anyone. Plus people were very friendly.
Read on for the activities I did there and my top tips in Croatia.
The things I did in my two days and a half in Dubrovnik:
- City Walls Walk ( I did it without a tour guide, but you can hire one if you really want to)
- Tasting the food in town ( I tried a few random restaurants & they were all yummy)
- Ice Cream! Omg that was my favourite thing I did there. Ice cream in the sunshine while looking at beautiful old Architecture!
- Exploring the city and the Museums. You are really spoiled for choice, but none of them really stood out to me. I just enjoyed walking around and going in to whatever Museum happened to be in front of me.
- Day trip to Lokrum Island and dip in the Dead Sea there! (full Lokrum post here).
Top Tips for Dubrovnik/Croatia:
- If you want a better, cheaper accommodation, stay outside the city walls and take the bus to the old city.
- Buy the three day Museums/walk pass if you are planning to visit a number of museums because that works out cheaper. The pass also includes a bus trip. You can get it from the old city's tourism information office or at some of the Museums.
- If you want to stay connected (3G) get the tourists internet sim card from the airport. It gave me great internet for the week I spent in Croatia.
- There is only one restaurant that serves halal meat in the old city of Dubrovnik called Taj Mahal, but make sure to make a booking because they only have limited halal meat. It's easy to get vegetarian food though, so there will be plenty to eat!