Olya
An idyllic summer destination in Europe, Croatia will charm you with its one of a kind medieval towns, beautiful islands, amazing food scene and culture. While going through a list of all trendy European vacations, my friends and I decided on Croatia for our annual get together. It turned out to be our very lucky pick because we loved absolutely everything about this country. We planned a trip for nine days that included four days in Dubrovnik, a road trip up the coast line to Split and four days in Hvar. Here’s a list of our favorite things to do in Dubrovnik and Hvar:
THINGS TO DO IN DUBROVNIK
EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN
Proclaimed a UNESCO World heritage site, the old town of Dubrovnik is one of the most stunning medieval towns in Europe. Exploring its narrow streets, old buildings and historical sites will leave you fascinated with this town. As fans of slow travel, we really appreciated having four days in Dubrovnik, it was just enough time to immerse ourselves in a new town, spend quality time at a new beach every day and also enjoy a great nightlife scene of Dubrovnik.
GO BEACH HOPPING
A rugged coastline of Dubrovnik boasts numerous scenic beaches that will make a perfect backdrop for holiday photos. Sulic beach deserves a special mention being an attraction site for Game of Thrones fans in search of King’s Landing.
GO ON A KAYAKING EXPERIENCE TO LOKRUM ISLAND
Kayaking to Lokrum island is such a fun experience to be had while in Dubrovnik. Once you leave the shores of the old town, you’ll be headed to a cave beach first followed by Lokrum island. Watching a sun set from a kayak with old sailing ships passing by and a medieval town in the background is truly special.
VISIT LOCAL VINEYARDS
Another great way to spend an afternoon in Dubrovnik is going for a drive to local vineyards. We came across a small family run vineyard where we enjoyed tasting wines and even got a few bottles to sneak into our hotel room. The countryside is picturesque and peaceful, it feels like a great escape from the crowds in Dubrovnik.
GO TO OYSTER FARMS
If you love oysters, then small oyster farms on the way from Dubrovnik to Split make perfect pit stops. The oyster farm that we spotted was a very small deck with a few tables where oysters would get pulled out of the sea right in front of you.
THINGS TO DO IN HVAR
EXPLORE THE ISLAND BY CAR
If you’re taking a car on a ferry to Hvar, you’re in for one wild drive from the East end of the island where the car ferry arrives to the West side where the old town of Hvar is located. It’s 60 km of a winding road sometimes going through beautiful fields and other times taking you to the edge of the cliff. It was a bit scary at times but also breathtaking and unforgettable.
GO BEACH HOPPING
There are so many interesting beaches in Hvar that I highly recommend renting a car to have freedom to explore every corner of this beautiful island.
EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN
The old town of Hvar is stunning and has a rich history of its own. There are so many beautiful old streets where you can find yourself lost walking past cozy restaurants, cafes and shops.
TAKE A BOAT TO NEARBY ISLANDS
Everyone, including teens, seems to know how to operate small motor boats here. In daytime, the sea is dotted with multiple small boats and yachts headed to nearby islands. You may also see divers hunting for octopus here. The water around these islands is sky blue.
WHERE TO STAY
WHERE TO STAY IN DUBROVNIK
For our stay in Dubrovnik, we chose Rixos hotel with its beautiful private beach and spa. Their breakfast and dinner buffets were to die for. Rixos is a perfect escape from crowds right outside the old town.
WHERE TO STAY IN HVAR
While in Hvar, we stayed at an old apartment right off the main piazza that used to be a home to a local poet Hanibal Lucic from the 15th century. It had two floors and gorgeous view of the old town.
FOOD
*Special mention:
IN HVAR
RESTAURANT PARK HVAR (for breakfast buffet) – We loved coming to this restaurant for a delicious breakfast buffet. Located right by the harbor in the old town, the restaurant offers a beautiful setting with a garden feel and chandeliers hanging off the trees.
