Thursday 24 August 2017

Dubrovnik: Three Beautiful Sweaty Days in Kings Landing

View from the wall of the Old Town

After a brief stopover in London, the first port of call on our Croatian Adventure was the city of Dubrovnik. Binging through HBO's Game of Thrones certainly peaked my interest in this majestic walled city, but is by no means a prerequisite for a visit.


Situated on the Adriatic Sea, in the region of Dalmatia, Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city itself experienced it's fair share of troubles in 1991 when it was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army following the break-up of Yugoslavia. After some serious restoration, it has since emerged as one of the top tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. 


Should you visit Dubrovnik? 

The crowds were something we were prepared for, but certainly not a perk. As a teacher, travelling in the heat of summer during peak travel times, is my reality, so it wasn't the first time I've swarmed a city surrounded by thousands of cruise ship passengers. The temperatures were hot, so we did most of our exploring in the early morning, then attempted to find some real estate near cold water or air conditioning to cool ourselves in the afternoon. After returning, I read THIS article, and witnessed first hand the truth behind it. All this being said, the city is beautiful, and despite the heat and crowds, there is no denying it's appeal. 48 hours in Dubrovnik is enough time to explore the Old Town, and after that point, I'd do as we did, and hop on a boat and head for the islands.

The wall surrounding the city is 4-6 meters thick and 2 km long. We started early, and by 10am, the wall was packed with tourists and selfie sticks.

The Wall of the Old Town in Dubrovnik Croatia


Where to stay in Dubrovnik:

Our airbnb was cute (below), but very small, and quite a trek from the old town up the hill. This was fine in the evening, but there were points in the heat of the day, that we found ourselves in hysterics just trying to make it home. I won't go into to detail about arrival and departure day when we were doing the same, but with laden with large suitcases. Should you be planning an adventure, book ahead, and find a spot in the Old Town, you'll be glad you did. Airbnb's book up quickly in Croatia, so start your planning months in advance.

Our patio was lovely, with a nice breeze, and had a great view of the Adriatic (below). If you are venturing to Croatia in the summer, I would definitely recommend booking accommodation with air conditioning. This was a welcome feature to return home to.



This was our view as we strolled down the winding roads from our apartment to the old town. 



A View from the Harbour in Dubrovnik Croatia



The views from the wall are outstanding, and give you a nice idea of the layout.


A Basketball Court with a view in Dubrovnik, Croatia




Houses in the Old Town, Dubrovnik, Croatia



A bonus to our Dubrovnik itinerary was meeting a lovely group of Irish Londoners who were seated in the row in front of us on our Easy jet flight from London. They invited us over to their airbnb, and things were looking up. Needless to say, the three of them had a little more space. 


We lounged by the pool, and then were treated to an amazing dinner in the Old Town at 360 Restaurant. Have a look at their website, and you'll see why this was such a memorable experience. We lucked into the best table in the house, situated up on the battlements overlooking the entire harbour. It was definitely a night Jamey and I won't forget.



A Table with a view. 360 Restaurant, Dubrovnik Croatia. Fine Dining


As our evening came to a close, we headed into the Old Town for a night cap. You'll notice it looks like it recently rained. There was no rain for days. This was the shiny marble streets glistening. Dubrovnik absolutely sparkles.



Have you been to Dubrovnik? I'd love to hear your experiences. Leave a comment below. 

Next Stop, Korçula!


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