I want to share with you my new favourite city! Dubrovnik is an absolute dreamland and has so easily become one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited.
We spent five days exploring, eating, relaxing and making the most of everything Dubrovnik had to offer, and I already know I’ll be going back. Dubrovnik is full of beautiful hidden coves and stunning cobblestone streets, and there is a new landscape or incredible view around every corner you take.
There’s a reason Croatia is such a popular country, and Dubrovnik combines the perfect mix of architecture, history, beautiful landscapes, beaches, crystal-clear water, a fabulous atmosphere and, of course, some great food options. I’ll be recommending Dubrovnik to so many of you!
Why We Chose Lapad
Now, location is so important when it comes to Dubrovnik because although you’re going to want to spend most of your days in the Old Town exploring, I’d recommend staying in an area called Lapad. Lapad is about a 15-minute bus ride from the Old Town, so it’s easily accessible while still giving you a lovely area to come back to after a busy day of exploring.
We stayed at The Grand Park Hotel in Lapad, and this was a fabulous, budget-friendly hotel. I would highly recommend this hotel for its location — it’s just a 3-minute walk to a beautiful and very popular sunset beach. There’s also a great strip of restaurants, bars and fabulous ice-cream options… perfect for that must-have evening sweet treat. The hotel also has an amazing breakfast selection. I’m always impressed when eggs are cooked in over eight different ways on a buffet! They even had a real honeycomb and unlimited pancakes, which was definitely my favourite part.
The best part about Lapad is that you can walk the whole coastline, which takes around two hours if you’re walking slowly, dipping in the sea along the way, and eventually brings you back to the hotel. The location of Lapad wasn’t only perfect, but it had its own vibe too, and I’d go back in a heartbeat!
My Top Tips for Dubrovnik
My top tips! I’d highly recommend anyone planning to spend time in Dubrovnik to buy the Dubrovnik Pass. The pass costs between €40–€60, depending on which option you choose and how many days you want it to cover. You can buy a pass either online before you travel or while you’re there. I’m a planner, so I bought ours a couple of weeks ahead of our holiday to save time once we arrived. The Dubrovnik Pass covers the cost of walking the city walls, which costs €40 alone per person, as well as any buses you take in Dubrovnik and most of the main tourist attractions.
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, which myself and my partner are, I’d highly recommend visiting the fort — it’s absolutely gorgeous and so picturesque. The city walls are also one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I’d say go for it! The views are stunning everywhere you turn, and you can see the whole of beautiful Dubrovnik and all its little cobblestone streets from up there. There are also some great little bars along the way where you can stop for a cheeky Aperol Spritz. But, word of warning, it does get so hot up there, and there’s very little shade, so I’d avoid going in the late afternoon when the sun is at its strongest.
Another top tip from me would be to wear your swimmers and bring a towel when exploring the Old Town. You’ll be surprised by how many quiet and inviting little coves you’ll find along the way, with crystal-clear waters and even steps leading straight into the sea. A lot of them also have showers with fresh water, so you can rinse off afterwards — perfect for a spontaneous swim!
Where to eat in Dubrovnik
Food! Who doesn’t love talking about food? Firstly, the restaurants we did pre-book were definitely worth booking ahead for, especially as we wanted to get the best views. Panorama Restaurant was right up on the mountain, where you have a view of the whole of stunning Dubrovnik in all her glory. The steak sandwiches here are to die for — highly recommend! You have the option to take the cable car up the mountain or go on a bit of a hike to the viewpoint, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.
We also pre-booked Dubravka 1836, which was a great little spot with views of the fort and the stunning crystal-clear waters, making it a perfect place to sit back and people-watch. Lastly, we pre-booked Restaurant More in Lapad, which was a fabulous romantic sunset dinner. They served fresh seafood and lamb chops, and it was honestly such a special and delicious meal.
I also have to mention the Cave Bar, because this had to be one of my favourite little date-night spots. It has such a fantastic atmosphere and is so pretty inside. We tried their own Hotel More red wine, and it was absolutely divine, with such a beautiful, rich, oaky flavour.
There are so many amazing options when it comes to dining in Dubrovnik, and don’t be fooled — although people say it’s expensive, I really don’t think it’s awful. Just be savvy with where you choose to eat, and there are plenty of great options to suit different budgets!
Our Pirate Ship Excursion
Another honourable mention is the pirate ship excursion that we managed to book. This excursion took us to the Elaphiti Islands around Dubrovnik, which was such a cool experience. The ship was only about a 20-minute walk from our hotel in Lapad, so it was really easy to find. The ship itself was huge and really impressive, with ample space for our group. There were only about 20-odd people on the whole tour, so it felt exclusive and personal.
During our full-day trip, we were taken to try olive oil, honey, alcohol and wine tasting, with every ingredient being completely fresh and locally produced. Word of warning, the Croatian people LOVE to feed you freshly cooked focaccia, so you will feel like an actual dough ball after all of these tastings! It was such a cool experience learning about how the families farmed on the islands and hearing about their way of life. The funniest part was hearing that because the population was so low on the island, they had to go to the mainland to find their partners, since everyone on some level was pretty much related — haha!
Once we had explored and finished up on our tours, we spent the last two hours on a white-sand beach, dipping in and out of the ocean and soaking up the sunshine. Both myself and my partner absolutely adored this day, and it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
I could go on all day about this memorable trip… Dubrovnik, you’ve got a new favourite visitor.
Dreaming of this Dubrovnik Itinerary?
If you want your very own Dubrovnik adventure or simply want to know more about this amazing destination – get in touch! I’d love to help you have your very own trip to cherish.