With everyone flocking to Spain, Italy, France and Portugal, me and mum decided to spend 10 days exploring Dubrovnik and the surrounding area. Partly because it’s different but also to avoid the crowds (more on this later). In this blog I will share how I would do a long weekend in Dubrovnik in the hopes of helping you plan your trip.

Transport

In most cases you will fly into Dubrovnik Airport however if you’re coming from Italy, there is a ferry crossing from Bari. From the airport you can either get a bus, a normal taxi or an Uber. I found Uber to be around 50% cheaper than a regular taxi however if you’re coming from a major western city, the prices overall are less than what you’re used to. Make sure to sit on the left side to see amazing views as you head down into town. Also make sure to have a window seat on the plane as the views are great.

When you arrive in Dubrovnik I suggest getting a Dubrovnik pass. You can get it for 5 days and it gives you unlimited public bus journeys and entrance to most museums and the city wall. This is a bargain and will save you a fair amount. You can get it from their website here.

As for general getting around, I suggest using busses, taxis and boats considering the short stay. If you were staying for longer, I suggest hiring a car. If you wish to cycle, keep in mind there are a fair few hills and in the summer the heat is brutal.

Accommodation

We stayed in a quiet area called Lapad, about a 20 minute bus ride from the old town. Although you can stay in the old town, you will most likely get fed up. Lapad is very quiet and has an amazing beach with a handful of small restaurants and a couple local supermarkets. I suggest staying near Lapad beach so you can go for a swim before or after your day out.

Visiting

We visited in the middle of summer and the heat was substantial with daily temperatures not going below 30C. On the other hand winters can be stormy and pretty cold. As always with these locations shoulder season (May and September) is a good time to come although I imagine water will still be a little fresh in May. Dubrovnik is small enough for a city break however if you wish to stay longer, there are ample islands for you to explore. Personally I think a long weekend (Friday - Monday) is sufficient to get a taste of this place.

Other Info

Croatia is now part of the European Schengen area meaning if you’re visiting the continent, it will count towards your visa allowance. This was a recent change so make sure you have enough days. The currency is in Euros and although card is being accepted in more places, I would suggest having at least 50EUR on you at all times in cash. The internet can be slow so I suggest having locally downloaded maps and translations. English is widely spoken among younger people but those who are older might not be as proficient.

Day 1 - Old Town

We will start with the most intensive day first and then things will progressively chill out as the trip continues. The first day will be dedicated to the Old Town and it will have to be an early start. The first stop will be to walk the wall which opens at around 8am. Usually by 9-10am the streets are packed with cruise ship tourists and the wall can become unbearable. I suggest starting at 8am and giving yourself 2-3 hours to complete the whole walk, or longer if you plan on stopping at one of many small bars along the route. This is a must activity so get it out of the way first.

After that go for a wander round the old town and explore all the tight and steep streets. The main street runs at the bottom and will be the busiest, however the higher up you go, the less people you will encounter. There are a ton of museums, galleries and shops for you to see and by the time you’ve had lunch, stopped for coffee, had an ice cream and chilled out for a bit, don’t be surprised to see most of the day has disappeared.

Don’t forget to also pop into Fort Lovrijenac for an amazing viewpoint of the town and the wall. For food I suggest popping to Heritage of Dubrovnik for a traditional, simple and healthy meal. I had fish and grilled veggies, it was delicious. For ice cream I suggest visiting Peppino’s Gelato Garden. If you fancy a really cool bar, head to Buza Bar (cliff side bar). One last note, bring good trainers with some grip as the polished stone can be a tad slippery to walk on.

Day 2 - Lokrum + Finish Old Town

On the second day head back into the Old Town as early as you can however this time, go to the other side and get a ferry to Lokrum. Make sure to buy a return ticket and jump on the next available boat. Lokrum is a small island a mere 20 minutes from the Old Town. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you will find some familiar locations, however it’s not the highlight of the island at all. This is a nature reserve with a ton of hiking routes, salt lake, botanical gardens and old architecture. It’s a great way to escape the city for a bit. The reason I suggested to come as early as possible is to have less people and less heat. You only really need 4-5 hours max before heading back. When you get back, spend the rest of the day catching up on anything you’ve missed in the Old Town.

Day 3 - Sipan

Day 3 will be spent on a small secluded island that for some reason only gets a fraction of the tourists. This could be partly because it’s out of reach for day trippers but also because there isn’t much infrastructure there. With that said, this was by far our favourite spot to visit. First head to Dubrovnik Port (the main one that’s located near Lapad) and get return tickets from the booth. We got the 10am ferry however check the timetable before going. The ferry will make a few stops with the penultimate one being where most people get off. As you get to Sipan, you will see a small bus waiting outside. This bus will take you to the village on the other side of the island. I suggest doing that first so that you don’t rush back for the ferry later. Also make sure to take a photo of the time table and remember that this bus only runs a few times a day. If you do miss it, worry not as it’s only a 5-7km walk to the other side with designated paths.

When you get to the other side, spend some time walking along the harbour, stopping at the market, having a local coffee and taking things slow. Don’t be surprised if you hardly see anyone else there. There are also plenty of secluded beaches here, so don’t forget your towel and swimwear. I also suggest having some goggles because the sea is clear and there is plenty of wildlife to see. Before heading back, pop into the local supermarket and grab some snacks and drinks, as depends on the time, you might struggle to find food. Once you’re done, either walk back or take the bus and repeat the same but on the other side before taking the ferry home.

Day 4 - Lapad

For the final day we will stay local and have some downtime while also exploring Lapad. There isn’t anything specific other than Lapad Beach and the Dubrovnik Port area to explore. This is more of a rest / beach day. Please keep in mind that these are not sand beaches so walking / lying on them can be a little different to what you’re used to.

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