Dubrovnik has been around since the 7th century when the Greeks fled north to escape the barbarian invasions. They built walls around their settlement and established trade and a port which, for the next thousand years, would be known as Ragusa. It wasn't until the fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire that the city changed it's name and built an industry around tourism. In recent times the city was senselessly bombed by the Yugoslav army in 1991 but recovered to earn UNESCO World Heritage status and become one of the most iconic spots on the Adriatic Sea. It is absolutely beautiful, very similar but much bigger than Kotor but many. many more tourists. Too many for my liking.
The bus from Kotor in Montenegro took about two and a half hours to reach Dubrovnik with stunning views of the Adriatic for the last thirty minutes or so. We were deposited near the cruise ship terminal but quickly got a taxi to Srebreno beach and our apartment for the next few nights. While it would have been great to stay within the old city walls, there is a ferry from Srebreno beach to the 'Porat' entrance to Dubrovnik.
GAME OF THRONES TOURISM
The best way to see the city and take in the location and views is to walk around the city from the ramparts above. The views are stunning and there are plenty of places to stop for photos and grab a drink and something to eat. The best way to explore the city is to get lost in the streets and alleys below. There are a bunch of 'Game of Thrones' themed tours but we opted instead to explore without a map or guide - and to be honest that's the best way to do it. We stopped frequently for ice cream, or beer or food and even more frequently for photos.
For me one full day in Dubrovnik was enough for me. Although the photos may not show it, the place was teeming with tourists and at times I was worried about getting separated from the kids. This was one of the few places where we organized a meeting point (the clock tower) should we lose each other during the day, but thankfully it never came to that.
Tomorrow is Sunday. We're scheduled to pick up a Sixt rental car from the city which we're going to drive all the way to Zagreb in the north. Along the way we're catching a car ferry to a Croatian island, but before then we're headed to Mostar and Sarajevo for a slide of history tour in Bosnia. I can't wait.
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