Although we are ‘Game of Thrones’ fans, we didn’t make one of those tours (maybe they are fun, we don’t know). But that was one reason, the city was on our bucket list. The series is omnipresent in the city, by the way.
Other reasons to come here include the Old Town, its buildings and lanes, the wall, the history, food, wine, ice cream and an amazing atmosphere. The city’s very picturesque and is part of the UNESCO world heritage (this seems to do good to many places).
Best travel time: May/June and September/October
We would recommend Dubrovnik when it’s warm enough to sit outside in the evenings. From May on this should be possible. It would be a pity, not being able to enjoy ice cream, havging a glass of wine and listening to the street musicians outside. Dubrovnik is kind of a dream!
You’re never alone in Dubrovnik (maybe in the morning, but seriously: who wants to get up so early?). But in July and August it’s likely to be really crowded. We knew we wouldn’t be the only ones to visit former Republic of Ragusa.
There were many tourists, but we weren’t annoyed. Around noon it would have been to hot and too crowded. That’s why we arrived in Old Town only in the afternoons.
In low season, prices might be lower. But probably many restaurants are closed.
Dubrovnik is expensive!
The Croatian coast is almost as expensive as in Germany. Most Croatians cannot afford that.
Dubrovnik is even worse. Many restaurants are very expensive. We often couldn’t see, why.
Similarly to the Amalfi Coast, many Americans are here and don’t care about prices while on holiday. Or they are just rich. Many Asians act similarly.
Of course, they can do it. But comparing prices would lead to more competition and maybe to lower prices. Maybe even Croatians could come then (those who don’t work here). Whatever, let’s get back to more beautiful things.
By the way: Why are Asians always doing pics like this? I don’t know, but i really wanted to have taken one, too. I love ‘Asian pics’.
Taverna ‚Kamenica‘
We had a really good and ‚cheap‘ (relatively) dinner at ‚Kamenica‘. The tavern offers delicious seafood and meat dishes. Portions are very rich. We can definitely recommend this. Near the port, there’s also a cheap restaurant: Lokanda Peskarija.
What should you do in Dubrovnik?
City walls of Dubrovnik
Really a must do. Two kilometres on the wall: The sea on the one side, houses on the other side. In the middle there’s a small café.
The wall is the best preserved in Europe and circles the Old Town. It’s up to 25 metres high.
Why did they need such a wall? Ragusa (how Dubrovnik used to be called) was Venice’s rival between 1538 and 1808. They fought about the dominance in the Adriatic Sea. The wall protected the city.
Entrance fee in June: 100 Kuna (cheaper for children).
Viewpoint from Srd mountain
East of Dubrovnik, Srd mountain offers a fabulous view over the bay and the city. We drove up with our car. You can also take ‘Dubrovnik Cable Car’ from the Old Town (15€ for return tickets).
There’s a large cross. Next to it you can have lunch in the café/restaurant. Or do it like we did: we had a picnic in the cross’s shadow with Dalmatian antipasti (it’s worth trying them).
Dubrovnik Old Town
It’s best, just to walk around. After entering through Pile Gate, you see the Onofrio fountain. The most famous street, Stradun, starts here.
It’s always crowded along Stradun. The farther left and right, the more you see non-touristy places in the old town.
The end of the Stradun leads to Dubrovnik’s most beautiful place, surrounded by the cathedral, the palace, St. Blasius’ church, Sponza palace, clock tower and Orlando’s statue.
There are several places filled with restaurants and cafés. Spanish Steps are perfect for enjoying ice cream. There are countless spots where you would love to spend hours.
Buza Bar
This bar is just amazing. Why? Just look at the pictures.
How to get there and what to do here: Pass Pile gate and Stradun and turn right after some blocks. Go until you reach the wall and look for the ‘Cold drinks’ sign. The you go through the door in the wall, sit down at a table, order drinks and enjoy the view. And: Get to know South Koreans, who took this picture of us. Thanks, Yeong!
The original bar was hidden, but you can find it. Firstly we saw Buza II. Prices were OK for the great location.
How long should you stay?
Depends on your plans. If you just like to see the Old Town, one afternoon (plus one evening maybe) can be enough. We had two afternoons and two evenings. We would definitely come back to this fairytale city.
You need more time to discover the area around the city. There are day trips to Korcula, Lokum or Kotor. For those interested, there are also water activities and ‘Game of Thrones’ tours.
