Dubrovnik // the pearl of the Adriatic - Postcards from The Intrepid Soul

Dubrovnik was my third stop in my road trip through the Balkans. I had already visited Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I had visited Croatia previously but stayed up in the north around Zagreb. This was my first, long-awaited visit to Dubrovnik. And I really do not think I knew what to expect.

Pearl of the Adriatic, boats a way of life in Dubrovnik — *A popular spot for tourists during the summer months and it’s not hard to see why.*

A little history //

Being so far south does not mean Dubrovnik escaped the conflict during the break-up of Yugoslavia. In 1991 Dubrovnik was besieged by Serbian and Montenegrin soldiers of the Yugoslav People’s Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling.

But after extensive restoration and repair, today it is a prominent tourist attraction. With the beautifully restored walled city located on the clear blue Adriatic Sea, it is popular with visiting cruise liners and young travellers alike.

Adding to its popularity it has now become a cult destination for Game of Thrones fans as a lot of the filming for King’s Landing was done right in the walled city of Dubrovnik.

Beautiful Dubrovnik views from the city walls — *Magnificent views looking towards the Fortress from the high walls of the old town.*

My top five sights //

Here are my five things to do in Dubrovnik.

1// Walk the Walls

I did not realise how large the walls of the old town actually were! A UNESCO listed site, the walls were built between the 7th and 17th century, are up to 25m high and in some places can be 6m wide.

Large towers — *Watching the sun set beyond the tall tower that sit on the corner of the walled city.*

This was a real highlight for me. Standing on top of the walls, you could see how photogenic this city was. Looking over the old town, with orange tiled roofs, almost like a mosaic. Or turn around and you have views over the deep blue sea.

Dubrovnik view of the old town — *The orange tiles make the old city look like a mosaic from atop the wall.*

The walls surrounding the historical city are around 2km long and it take about 2 hours to walk all the way round. There are a couple of small cafes / bars along the way so you can make the best of the views.

High cliffs down into the Adriatic Sea when standing atop the City Walls — *Or longer than 2 hours if you stop every five minutes for a photo stop 🙂*

2 // Take a boat to Lokrum Island

A short boat ride from the wharf in Dubrovnik and you can visit the island of Lokrum. The island is a popular spot in summer to escape the city crowds. It is like being on a nature paradise. The island is a Natural Reserve and is home to over 500 different kinds of exotic plants.

Lokrum Island is an island paradise, just a short boat trip from Dubrovnik — *Lokrum – an island nature paradise.*

There are plenty of spots to lay on the grass, have a picnic or find a rocky spot to take a dip in the sea. There is no accommodation on the island but I highly recommend a mini day trip.

3 // Visit Fort Lovrijenac

Fort Lovrijenac is a fortress outside the western wall of the city. It sits 37 metres above sea level and is famous for its importance in resisting Venetian rule in the early 11^th century.

The fort overlooking Dubrovnik — *The famous Fort Lovrijenac and a famous scene GoT fans would recognise.*

Today, it’s popular for tourists to visit with magnificent views back over to the city. Try and arrive early in the morning to beat the Game of Thrones tour groups.

4 // Go on a Game of Thrones tour

Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m not a huge Game of Thrones fan. But I do love walking the paths of celebrities. So I jumped on a Game of Thrones tour. It was actually really fascinating. And there are plenty of location stops along the way, including the locations for Blackwater Bay, the Purple Wedding, the Walk of Shame and many locations around King’s Landing

Many games of thrones locations throughout Dubrovnik — *Which locations can you recognise?*

5 // Just enjoy wandering….and eating!

This is a simple one, just enjoy wandering around the old town. There are many lively squares and hidden narrow streets to explore. There are markets to browse through. You can wander around the outside of the wall, where you can! Walk up to Gradac Park.

Wandering around the lanes of Dubrovnik old town

Or just people watch. The old town is full of wonderful sights. And lots of opportunity to prop yourself in a café, drink wine, or coffee, or even eat gelato as you watch the world go by.

On the Ground Snapshot //

How to get to Dubrovnik: I arrived into Dubrovnik by car from Bosnia. But there are many ways to arrive into Dubrovnik as it is a key sea port and also has an international airport.

Best time to visit:

I visited during May and the temperature was perfect for walking around and exploring!

Getting a visa:

As an Aussie I didn’t need a visa for a tourist stay.

Getting around:

I stayed in the old town and it was super easy to walk to everywhere I needed. There are some great island hop cruises you can take as well if you want to get out onto the water.

*The best way to get around is by walking….or by boat.*

Where to exchange money:

The currency used is the Croatian Kuna. I just used an ATM to withdraw cash once I arrived.

Is Dubrovnik safe?

Yes, Dubrovnik is safe to travel. Obviously with the number of tourists just be mindful of your belongings. I didn’t have any issues during my visit but it felt like an ideal place for pick pockets.

Food and Drink:

Being close to the sea, seafood is obviously popular here. I don’t eat seafood so I stuck with a lot more of the Mediterranean small plates and lots of gelato….and wine.

Have you been to Dubrovnik or other areas of Croatia? I’d love to hear your stories.