Croatia: Dubrovnik
Welcome to the Pearl of the Adriatic, also known as the city of Dubrovnik. The southernmost region of Croatia has seen an extreme rise in tourism over the past decade, perhaps in part thanks to fame gained from the HBO series Game of Thrones (of which we have seen exactly zero episodes - gasp!) With a color palate of clear blue sea mixed with red-tiled roofs and dark green Cyprus trees, Dubrovnik does not disappoint when it comes to picturesque views. Lucky for us, we visited in the "off" season, and discovered there are certain advantages to visiting Dubrovnik in the winter. They include:
1. Freedom to roam about the walled-in Old Town for as long as we want without shuffling alongside other tourists as if inside a can of sardines. In the summer months there can be as many as 6 cruise ships docking in Dubrovnik a day, bringing in 20,000 visitors who all want to see the same attractions within the same time frame. The Old Town has a maximum capacity of 8,000 people, so during peak season that means waiting just to enter the Old Town, and then having a four-hour limit once inside.
2. Space atop the city walls to stop and enjoy the views. There can be as many as 11,000 people walking on the city walls at any given time in the summer months. On a sunny winter Saturday we had plenty of room to walk without elbowing any fellow tourists.
3. Highly discounted lodging with these views from our balcony. We are talking half price, people.
4. Easy border crossing for side trips to places like Kotor, Montenegro and Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Peak season brings more tourists, more traffic, and therefore more time spent waiting at border crossings. This time can really add up, especially considering there are 6 border crossings just to go from Dubrovnik to Mostar.
5. Seeing the locals in action as they celebrate festivals, such as the feast of St. Blaise, patron saint of Dubrovnik. We watched choirs singing, musicians playing as others danced along, an interesting flag ceremony, and even a dove release, all in the heart of the Old Town.
6. Mild temperatures allowing for many enjoyable hikes around the city. I'll take a sunny 60 degrees over a scorching 100 degrees any day. Some days were quite windy (up to 60 mph!), but still, I'll take it. We were warned about the south winds that come across the sea from Italy. Rumor has it that these winds can cause headaches and poor judgment, therefore it is frowned upon to make important decisions when there are south winds.
7. Spotting feline friends in every corner of the city. Some days we saw more cats strolling about than people. Walking through any part of Dubrovnik felt like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold coins we found kitties. In the summer months with more tourists around I would think that they stay hidden.
For these reasons, we think visiting Dubrovnik in the winter is, indeed, the cat's whiskers. To see more kitty pictures and spectacular views, find our photo album here.
2. Space atop the city walls to stop and enjoy the views. There can be as many as 11,000 people walking on the city walls at any given time in the summer months. On a sunny winter Saturday we had plenty of room to walk without elbowing any fellow tourists.
3. Highly discounted lodging with these views from our balcony. We are talking half price, people.
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| Europe's southernmost fjord in Kotor, just a 90km drive south of Dubrovnik. |
4. Easy border crossing for side trips to places like Kotor, Montenegro and Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Peak season brings more tourists, more traffic, and therefore more time spent waiting at border crossings. This time can really add up, especially considering there are 6 border crossings just to go from Dubrovnik to Mostar.
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| To see the video click on the link at the bottom of this post. |
5. Seeing the locals in action as they celebrate festivals, such as the feast of St. Blaise, patron saint of Dubrovnik. We watched choirs singing, musicians playing as others danced along, an interesting flag ceremony, and even a dove release, all in the heart of the Old Town.
6. Mild temperatures allowing for many enjoyable hikes around the city. I'll take a sunny 60 degrees over a scorching 100 degrees any day. Some days were quite windy (up to 60 mph!), but still, I'll take it. We were warned about the south winds that come across the sea from Italy. Rumor has it that these winds can cause headaches and poor judgment, therefore it is frowned upon to make important decisions when there are south winds.
7. Spotting feline friends in every corner of the city. Some days we saw more cats strolling about than people. Walking through any part of Dubrovnik felt like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold coins we found kitties. In the summer months with more tourists around I would think that they stay hidden.
For these reasons, we think visiting Dubrovnik in the winter is, indeed, the cat's whiskers. To see more kitty pictures and spectacular views, find our photo album here.
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