Dubrovnik is one of the most popular destinations to visit in Croatia with numerous unique things to see and do. Whether you want to wander its well-preserved historic old town, or relax and sunbathe on the beach, Dubrovnik offers something for everyone.
Earlier this year, my boyfriend and I did a mini travel around Croatia & Italy. We set off in May and our first stop was Dubrovnik. I’d say this is the perfect time of year to visit Dubrovnik, as the weather is just starting to get warm yet the crowds aren’t too big.
We had three days / two evenings which I’d say was more than enough time to explore the old town, new town and the nearby Island of Lokrum.
1. Top Restaurant
Pizzeria Castro was highly recommended to us by our Airbnb host, so we ate here on our first day. It’s located in a small square, not far from the Jesuit Stairs. This small family-run pizzeria offer a great choice of pizza toppings, all served on a thin crispy base.
We sat outside in the sun, and enjoyed the local beer whilst tucking in to what is probably the best pizza I’ve ever had.
2. Top Snack
Although we stayed in the old town, we decided to have a walk over to the new town on our last day. It’s about an hour and a half walk there and back but it was totally worth it for the little gelato shop we found – Koogla. There were lots of flavours to choose from – most of which were gluten and dairy free which is fairly hard to come by!
3. Top Drink
Just to the left of the famous clocktower is Congo Bar. We went here on a couple of occasions for cocktails after our evening meals. They’ve got a great choice of drinks, all reasonably priced for the location.
On an evening this bar has a lovely atmosphere. Sit outside with the beautiful view of the clocktower and listen to the sound of live music.
4. Top Sight-See
The sights of Dubrovnik are just breathtaking! I was in awe as I walked through the entrance walls of the old town and spotted the clocktower in the distance.
If you’re a huge Game of Thrones fan like myself, you’ll know that Dubrovnik is known for being the main location of King’s Landing. There are lots of sights that you’ll most probably recognise, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to start finding them straight away.
There is the option to go on a guided Game of Thrones tour, but we just did a bit of googling and constructed our own! If you fancy doing the same, check out the links in the list below to help track down the biggies…
Jesuit stairs aka “Walk of Shame”
Lovrijenac Fort aka “The Red Keep”
Dubrovnik’s West Harbour aka “Blackwater Bay”
5. Top Hidden Gem
My favourite hidden gem of Dubrovnik was definitely Buža Bar, located on the south side of the old town. In the old Dubrovnik dialect, buža means “hole”, which all becomes clear when you are literally walking through a hole in the city walls to get to this stunning bar.
We actually found Buža Bar by accident whilst wandering through the back streets of the old town. We spotted a sign which read “cold drinks with the most beautiful view” and followed it (as you would) to find a small doorway in the city walls. As we walked through, we found ourselves at the edge of a cliff with a breathtaking view of the Adriatic sea.
Many people head to Buža Bar in an evening for the beautiful sunset views, whilst others prefer to go earlier on in the day to sunbathe, swim and even cliff jump! Whatever suits you better, I’d recommend visiting this unique bar.