What You Need To Know Before Your First Trip To Dubrovnik

If you’ve never been to Dubrovnik and are hoping to visit in the next few months, you’ve come to the right place. This guide provides some essential tips to be aware of before you travel to one of the most beautiful cities in Croatia.

When you’ve never been to a destination before, you may feel hesitant about visiting, as you aren’t quite sure what to expect once you arrive. We have put together some useful tips to take into consideration to help during the planning stages of your trip to Dubrovnik.

What do you need to know before your first trip to Dubrovnik?

Be Aware Of The Crowds

Dubrovnik has grown in popularity dramatically over recent years, which means you’re bound to encounter huge crowds when exploring. The crowds in Dubrovnik are usually at their worst during cruise season (between July and August), however, you’re guaranteed to get the best weather during these months.

One of the best tips would be to wake up early and get out and about to see the best of the city before the crowds hit in the early afternoon. Most of these crowds are predominantly tourists who wish to see all the main sights and attractions, so don’t leave it too late in the day to do what you had planned.

Due to this, it’s best to book your trip as early as possible to make sure you can stay in the best and most central accommodation, especially during peak season. Dubrovnik has plenty of villas to accommodate all those in your party, but they can get booked quickly. It would be best to start browsing for 2020 Summer Holidays in Dubrovnik as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Allow Plenty Of Time

If you only have a limited time in Dubrovnik then try and plan your visit to ensure you get the most city. Realistically, Dubrovnik is a city you should try and explore over at least a couple of days or even a week, so you can see the amazing historical sights and beauty of the location in its full glory.

If you plan on staying in Dubrovnik for some time, be sure to visit other locations around the city including the likes of Sipan, Lopud, Kolocep, and Korcula.

Explore Dubrovnik’s History

If you’re very much into cultural holidays, then Dubrovnik will certainly be a destination to tick off your bucket list. One of the most famous landmarks in the city are the iconic walls, however, there are also fortresses, ministries, cathedrals and palaces to discover.

If the city walls are an attraction you may be interested in, it would be best to visit in the morning for two reasons. Firstly, as it is one of the main attractions in Dubrovnik, it can become flooded with tourists from midday and beyond and secondly, it can get extremely hot in the afternoon, as there is nowhere to shelter from the sun. Do be sure to take care in the extreme heat.

One of the best ways to see the city’s sights and attractions would be to buy a Dubrovnik Card. It’s known to be a fairly expensive city, so seeing all of the best attractions can come at a cost. This card allows you to see nine of the best attractions in the city, as well as complimentary use of public transport.

Getting Around

Driving in Dubrovnik wouldn’t be the best idea as the roads can be busy and getting a parking space is near enough impossible. With that being said, there are a number of limited parking facilities on offer but the daily fees can be extortionate.

Unfortunately, there are no trains that run into Dubrovnik if you do plan on staying a little further out, but there are frequent buses you can catch that take you to the centre of the city.

Don’t Miss Out On The Beaches

As Dubrovnik is a city, many tourists don’t realise that there’s plenty of beaches nearby where you can take time out from the hustle and bustle.

The closest beach to visit is Banje Beach which can be easily reached from the centre of the city. Here, you can take a dip in the ocean or simply admire the jaw-dropping views.

You can also venture a little further afield by heading out to Lokrum Island or even the Elaphiti Islands. You don’t have to try and get to these islands alone, as there are organised tours you can join for a small charge.