This is the last destination of my backpacking trip: Split -> Plitvice (Sixteen Lakes) -> Korcula -> Dubrovnik (click to see my earlier posts!)
Top Tips Before You Visit Dubrovnik
1. In Dubrovnik, stairs count as streets. We had to climb up a LOT of stairs to find our hostel.
2. How to get to the Airport- Dubrovnik shuttle bus should cost 40 Kunas. Buy your ticket from the bus driver or at the ticket dispenser. More bus information here.
3. Don’t fall for tourist traps. The best restaurants don’t require people to stand outside and invite you in. Research all your food spots first or see my post below on where to eat in Dubrovnik.
4. There are a lot of hidden places in Dubrovnik , make sure you find Buza Bar for amazing views and find the Private beach (read more to know more)!
5. Try to live near the Old City. The airport bus will bring you to the bus station which is another 15 minutes (by bus 8) from the old town. We stayed halfway between the bus station and old town so we had to take the bus. Hotels near the Old City are more expensive though.
6. Bus costs 12 Kunas one way
7. Don’t get the Dubrovnik card unless you want to visit more than 3 places on their list of attractions…we just visited the city walls and it cost 100 Kunas.
How to get from Split to Dubrovnik
Take the ferry from Split, island hop to Korcula and then take the bus to Dubrovnik. If you take the afternoon ferry from Split, you will arrive in Korcula at night and spend the time. Take the morning bus to Dubrovnik. If you are visiting during July and August, there is a ferry from Korcula to Dubrovnik.
Ferry schedules
Where to live in Korcula: Guest House Leon (highly recommended) on booking.com I was able to get a room for 50 euros/night. The owner is very helpful and friendly and made this stay wonderful even though it was just an overnight trip.
By car it is a very LONG drive which I don’t recommend taking. Rather, I decided that we should skip between another city on the way over. So we decided to go from Split -> Korcula Town -> Dubrovnik
Spend some time in the Old City of Dubrovnik. Climbing the City Walls is highly recommended and it was one of the highlights of the trip. Leave ample time to walk the 2km wall as you will be stopping frequently to take photos. Get lost in the streets of Dubrovnik– don’t use a map. There’s always something interesting to see in every corner. Walk along the steps as well. When you’re tired, head to Buza Bar for awesome Adriatic Ocean views and a drink.
When hungry, head for Barba, a small seafood and burger bar with great reviews. I enjoyed it and got an octopus sandwich for dinner (49 kunas). Seats are limited so be careful! The restaurant is a little hidden so remember to use Google Maps!
If you’re wondering whether Dubrovnik has any beaches where you can just lie and relax, near the Old City toward the East Side is Bellevue Beach. It’s a short walk from the Old City, you can either walk or take the bus.
If you’re ready to ditch the sand and head for the waters jumping off the city walls (kidding, not really) then try to find the Private Beach. It’s a little hard to find, but the best way to find it is by walking along the southern walls. Keep an eye out for the left wall, if you see any doors, just swing in and check it out. There are no signs at all.
I found the door because I saw a lot of people just coming in and out of a door. It’s a small beach (it says Private) but it really isn’t and people like to jump off the small cliff and sunbathe on the rocks.
Dubrovnik is great for photos during the day, at night, and even on stormy weather days. Serious. During the three days I visited Dubrovnik, the third day was a gloomy an stormy day. But that made it even more exciting. Remember when Stannis rode through a storm with his fleet trying to sail to King’s Landing?