When I look back at this photo of Dubrovnik, Croatia and the Old City Wall and Old Harbour, I remember a warm spring day and ice cream. It’s funny how favourite trips and memorable moments (for me anyway) involve all the senses – the sights, the smells, and food.
We were visiting Dubrovnik as cruise port stop during our Norwegian Cruise Line voyage and one of our favourite stops on the itinerary. One of the good things about having to take a tender boat into port versus actually having to dock the entire cruise ship are moments like this. If we had anchored, we would have been on the other side of the old city (new city?) with the other giant cruise ships which is a very long hot walk (or a bus ride) to this view. Being on a tender boat, you can sail right into this lovely harbour. (You can see the tender leaving the shore, it has the red roof).
The old town of Dubrovnik, Croatia, is absolutely gorgeous. With stone walkways, walls, history, friendly, welcoming people and food – oh the food! It’s a mixture of European meats and Italian flavours, due in part to their Roman history and proximity to Italy. You can enjoy a meal in the restaurants that line the streets – dining alfresco – on a warm spring day or better yet, dine in a patio along the shore for some added scenic views. Cars are not allowed in the old city – making it the perfect place to tour on foot.
After a stroll through the city, we returned to the harbour to sit by the water’s edge. With the wall at our back shielding us from the hot afternoon summer sun, we enjoyed some apricot ice cream and watched the locals catch fish.
We passed the remainder of our day and our first visit to Dubrovnik, Croatia, with some good company. It was a great day.
I reached out to a few friends and asked them to share their favourite memory of Dubrovnik. Here’s what they shared:
Enjoy Dubrovnik’s Traditional Cakes
Contributed by Elisa from World in Paris.
One of the things we loved most of Dubrovnik was its cakes. Croatians love cakes, and a day without anything sweet is not a joyful day. The city has a wide variety of traditional cakes, and it is a good idea to try all of them until you find your favourite one. Because the cakes complement the coffee perfectly, some bakeries in Dubrovnik propose both, and it is fabulous if they have some chairs and tables outside because the combination of cakes, coffee and sun in a place like Dubrovnik is heaven.
If you are looking for a suggestion, make sure you try the Dubrovnik prijesnac cheese pastry as well as orange and olive cake. Then there is also the oh so typical burek and apple strudel (strudel od jabuka) or the cinnamon bread (povitica). You can eat these cakes for breakfast or during the day when you need a sightseeing break.
Ride the Dubrovnik Cable Car
Contributed by Jan at Budget Travel Talk
The signature orange cabins of Dubrovnik Cable Car have been whisking visitors to the summit of Mt. Srd since 1969. Mount Srd, the 400-metre tall backdrop of Dubrovnik Croatia is a view stealer, so take a seat in the back of the cabin and enjoy the ride.
The cable car, built in 1969, was destroyed during the war in the 1990s. Fortunately, in 2010, it was re-built and has grown in popularity ever since.
Panorama Restaurant near the summit cable car terminus is a deservedly popular venue. On a sunny day, there is nothing better than lingering over a meal with friends on the restaurant’s terrace. The restaurant offers a mix of authentic food from the Dubrovnik region, international dishes and casual burgers and cold dishes. True to its name, Panorama Restaurant & Bar also has lovely views of Dubrovnik and her islands.
After lunch join a Buggy Safari departing on the hour from the rear of the terminal. This escorted safari takes in minefields and Homeland War fortresses while 4-wheeling through unique terrain to see the views.
The best experience on Mt. Srd is the Homeland War Museum, just a short walk from Panorama Restaurant. Housed in an Imperial Fort built by Napoleon Boneparte, this small museum plays fascinating real-life footage from the war. The Museum rooftop is the best place to photograph the sun setting over Dubrovnik.
A short ride on a Dubrovnik cable car delivers big time and is one of the best things to do in Dubrovnik.
Enjoy the Food and Drink in Dubrovnik
Contributed by Sharon at Daily Dream 360
There so many places to eat and drink in Dubrovnik, that the challenge you’ll have is how to choose just one. An excellent way to start your search is along the Placa-Stradun, which is the main walkway within the old city. There are many restaurants and bars hidden along the narrow alleyways which feed off from this street.
You’ll also find a handful of popular restaurants grouped in the Gundulic’s Square, known as the Green Market Square. This area is known for its open-air farmer’s market but is also home to patio seating of numerous Dubrovnik restaurants.
If you are looking for more of a grab and go bite, I recommend TuttoBene Pizzeria & Fast Food. They have everything from pizza slices, burgers to kebabs and salads. I grabbed my pizza and found some steps in an alleyway to enjoy a quick bite.
A couple of doors down from TuttoBene, you will find excellent Gelato at a place called Peppino’s. Although you will discover as you stroll through the streets of the city, there is no shortage of Gelato places.
If you love history and find yourself climbing the steep stairs to the famous Dubrovnik City Walls Walk attraction, keep an eye out for Petra’s Café. There you can grab a coffee while overlooking the Lovrijenac Fortress one of the Game of Thrones filming locations standing in as the King’s Landing Castle.
While there is much to see in Dubrovnik, I recommend sitting back and enjoying a cold drink on one of the many bar patios. There is plenty of people watching to do, and your feet will need the break after all the walking.
Walking the Old City Walls of Dubrovnik
Contributed by Cate at InternationalDessertsBlog.com
One of our favourite things we discovered while visiting Dubrovnik was to walk the old city wall. The view from the Dubrovnik walls was spectacular! At the beginning of the walk, we were in awe of the sparkling Adriatic Sea and spent some time just watching boats and groups of kayakers in the water. We caught glimpses into an elementary school whose basketball court was right below where we stood on the wall. We also saw into backyard gardens and cats enjoying the morning sun from their window perches. Every few feet of our journey, we stopped to get a closer look at the architectural details of the houses we walked by or to take in the beautiful sea and mountain views. Later we passed the marina and then were treated to sweeping views of the entire old town. Gorgeous! We started our wall walk early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler, and it isn’t as crowded. Strolling at a leisurely pace and stopping often, it took us a good 2.5-3 hours to walk the entire wall; however, we did walk a bit faster towards the end due to the hotter temperatures and lack of shade. I recommend starting early in the day, bring water, a snack, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
