Things to do in Dubrovnik: Croatia

D U B R O V N I K

We were a group of 8 for this trip which can sometimes be a challenge when ensuring everyone has equal say in what to do. However, we managed to find multiple amazing things to do which everyone could agree on. Yay!

An absolute ‘must-do’ is the boat trip to Lokrum Island. It’s only a 20 minute trip from the port of the old town but it’s the best 20 minutes you can spend. Croatia is clearly famous for its crystal clear waters but wow, Lokrum was a great choice. We were here in August and it was incredibly hot and humid but having the chance to jump into this water was a dream!

Game of Thrones was also filmed in Dubrovnik so if you are a fan, you can do one of many GoT tours. If you prefer to save your money, you can put on your walking shoes and head towards the hill where they filmed many scenes; most notoriously where King Joffrey died.

For incredible food, we had a bit of mega-touristy–hit-and-miss food but on the plus side, the biggest stand out was Pantarul. It was a 10 minute taxi drive out of the city (not expensive to get there by cab) but it has to be up there as some of the best food I’ve eaten. Foodie central! It’s also got glowing reviews on Tripadvisor so do check them out.
Buza Bar is an amazing bar built inside the walls of the old town. You walk through a rocky cave and come out to the outer fortress where the bar is. Go before sunset, jump from the bar into the water and come back for sunset, order a cocktail and chill out while enjoying the sea breeze.

Some little tips:

Croatia, in general, is now super touristy in summer. This was the only downer for me – the crowds. (This is why I LOVE travelling in shoulder season or off-peak season.) But Croatia’s temperatures, long days and sparkling water really make it a must-see destination. I’d be intrigued to go back in a less touristy month, to see if it has a slightly different feel.

Try not to eat inside the old town walls – all restaurants will be pretty overpriced. We ate at some fantastic spots outside of the old town and we walked away feeling very impressed.

Be sure to watch which water you jump into as Croatia’s waters are teeming with black sea urchins. It’s okay if you jump from a rock straight into deep enough water but if you are a wuss (like me), just invest in urchin-safe-swimming-shoes. I didn’t do this and spent a lot of the time in the water searching for urchins. It consumed my every thought. Eventually, I borrowed my friend’s swimming goggles and saw that they were only stuck to rocks and the floor of the seabed so as long as you are in the water, it’s all good!