Living in the UK and travelling within Europe means you can sit on a flight on a plane for a little longer than two hours and pop up somewhere completely different, with polar opposite weather and a new language and culture to explore. That’s where an impromptu summer holiday led me, to a new place that had bright sunshine and a language almost unintelligible to me.
However, it wasn’t Dubrovnik’s cuisine or idiosyncrasy that surprised me the most, although I must say my first time trying Noah’s Arcs in my seafood pasta was a bit of a shock. It was the polished look and cleanliness of its old town and surrounding Blue Flag beaches, despite being almost overrun by tourists. In fact, Dubrovnik tends to rank high among European cities with the cleanest seawater, and spots like Lapad promenade and Copacabana Beach are proof of that.
Another great perk of this city is its proximity to the Balkan bucket list-worthy Kotor Bay, in Montenegro, and Mostar, in Bosnia.
There are only four or five notable excursions departing from Dubrovnik, including three boat tours of the surrounding islands, beaches, and caves.
However, day tours to Kotor Bay and Mostar are musts, as these ancient towns—besides being obviously beautiful—can help better understand the region’s historical context and cultural uniqueness.
Other than the usual attractions, the food in Dubrovnik can be incredible – but only if you know where to go.
Tourist traps are everywhere, and they don’t always look like the typical promenade three-star-rated restaurant with picture-filled menus and poorly translated dish names.
Instead of falling for the majority of traditional-looking restaurants promising stunning views over the harbour, I try to eat like a local, and more often than not, I succeed.
One of the best meals I had in Dubrovnik was at an unassuming spot with a cute little patio called Restaurant Maskeron. Another top choice in a similar style was Restoran Madonna. Neither is located near a body of water.
Funnily enough, the best meal I had there was from a local bakery at the top of Bellevue Beach. There’s nothing quite like fresh burek and drinkable yoghurt before a day of doing nothing by the sea.