A Weekend in Dubrovnik

The Croatian city of Dubrovnik has gained popularity with tourists due to its connection to medieval drama Game of Thrones. Whether you are a fan, or not, the city is well worth a visit, and offers direct proximity to the deep blue Adriatic Sea as well as a stunning Old Town, surrounded by giant stone walls dating back to the 16^th century. In 2010, to mark the end of my time in the sixth form and as a distraction from the looming A-level results, my boyfriend and I hopped aboard a plane and spent a weekend in Dubrovnik.

On arrival, I instantly fell in love with the picturesque town. The fortified Old Town was immaculately kept, the locals were incredibly friendly and the whole place was surprisingly well-preserved considering its age.

Our sweet little apartment was located right in the centre of the town, only minutes from the main sights and waterfront, and just footsteps away from many great restaurants.

If you have a weekend in Dubrovnik planned, or even if you don’t (I guarantee by the end of reading this post you’ll be tempted to book one up) keep reading, as I’ll share with you my guide of what to see and do during your stay.

Day One

Start your day at the grand Pile Gate, the city’s entrance gate that dates back to 1537. The gate once used to be raised each and every night, locked and bolted, and the key handed over the prince, in order to keep the city safe from intruders. Nowadays however, the Pile Gate is the gateway for the hundreds of tourists who visit the city every day.

Tip: Look up! You’ll find a statue of St Blaise (Sveti Vlaho), the patron saint of the city who overlooks the crowds of tourists coming and going.

As you leave the Pile Gate behind you, you will emerge onto the city’s gorgeous promenade, the Stradun, which seems permanently drenched in sunshine and is lined with tall stone houses, many of which now accommodate luxury boutiques and souvenir shops.

Walk down to the Onofrio Fountain and have a sip. Don’t worry, the water is safe to drink and has been serving Dubrovnik’s inhabitants as far back as 1438!

Next stop is the Franciscan Monastery and Museum.

Tip: Another statue to look out for above the doorway! This is the work of Petar and Leonard Andrijic, two legendary local sculptors.

Although most of the interior décor was destroyed during the devastating earthquake in 1667, the 14^th century cloister still remains. Further inside you will find one of Europe’s oldest working pharmacies dating back to 1391!

Nearby is the city’s synagogue, which is in fact the second oldest in Europe, full of religious artefacts as well as WW2 items. The synagogue is however easy to miss – just a small building tucked away down one of the many Old Town’s narrow streets.

Images courtesy of Shandos Cleaver from Travelnuity

Stepping back onto the busy Stradun, continue down to the pretty clock tower at the far end of the promenade. Just a short walk from there is the spectacular Sponza Palace which is well worth a visit. Check out the gothic-renaissance decorated State Archives and the Memorial Room of the Defenders of Dubrovnik.

Stop for a bite to eat around the corner, overlooking the harbour – try Lokanda Peskarija, the best budget seafood eatery in the city where the waiters wear stripy naval shirts.

Once you are feeling suitably refreshed, visit the most important church in Dubrovnik – St Blaise’s (Crkva Svetog Vlahe). The original building was also destroyed in the 1667 earthquake but the 18^th century replacement certainly fills its place, despite looking a little out of place next to its medieval neighbours.

Visit the ornately sculptured Rector’s Palace, just across the street. The palace’s atrium is often used for performances during the city’s Summer Festival and the building itself holds a museum devoted to Dubrovnik’s history.

Mark the end of the day with drinks at Café Buza, located outside the city walls and watch the sunset over the placid Adriatic.

Day Two

If you’re up early, peruse the lush green market on Gundulic Square. You will find all sorts of fresh vegetables, fruits, traditional homemade liquors and a whole host of other specialities.

Whilst the day is still relatively cool, head to the mighty city walls, built to keep enemies out and the inhabitants inside safe. The original walls, built in the 13^th century were added to and strengthened over the following years, induced by the threat of Ottoman invasions.

Tip: You can enter the city walls in three locations; on the Stradun by Pile gate, by Fort Saint John’s and by the Custom’s House gate.

The impressive walls are over two kilometres in length and tower 25 metres above the terracotta roofed buildings within. Even more impressively, the walls are still intact today, and the perfect place for a morning’s walk.

Bokar Fort Dubrovnik — Bokar Fort – image from Google

Tip: Don’t miss the four protective towers; Minceta to the north, Lovrjenac to the west, Bokar to the south and Revelin to the east.

After successfully completely the walk around the walls and after a spot of lunch at one of Dubrovnik’s many eateries, make your way to Banje Beach just passed the Ploce Gate. Grab a lounger and spend a few hours relaxing in the sunshine.

In the evening, consider taking the cable car up to Mount Srd to enjoy the spectacular views and if you’re lucky, the sunset.

Alternatively, head to Fort Lovrijenac, a short walk from the Pile Gate. This huge fort rises 37 metres out of the sea, perched high upon a chunk of jagged rock.

Tip: Keep your ticket from the city walls as this gives you free entry into the fort.

Fort Lovrijenac Dubrovnik — Image courtesy of Shandos Cleaver from Travelnuity – find Shandos on Facebook here

Day Three

If you fancy something different and can tear yourself away from the mainland, hop aboard one of the boats from the harbour and explore Lokrum, just a short sail off the coast.

The island of Lokrum is a UNESCO national park and offers visitors the possibility to wander around its botanic gardens, Benedictine monastery, old castle and experience a very popular nudist beach, if you are into that kind of thing. If not, you’ll be pleased to know that you can still enjoy the island’s waterfront/ beaches – just avoid the south-easterly coast!!

If you’re not the beachy type, take a short bus ride (or another ferry) down the coast to the pretty coastal town of Cavtat. There, you will find a multitude of cafes and restaurants, a lovely waterfront. You can also eye up the luxury yachts moored up in the town’s marina.

Image by Diego Delso

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.

Accommodation

Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.

Things I can’t travel without

As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my

Canon EOS M3
GoPro Hero5 Black
I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro

Travel Insurance

It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.

A Weekend in Dubrovnik