A little slice of paradise in Dubrovnik

 

Everyone has a special travel memory they hold close, one that fills them with warm happy feelings and makes them want to pack their bags to go back immediately. For me, one of those places is Dubrovnik.

When my sister announced she had to go to Croatia for work for a week, I immediately offered to come with her. I mean, who wouldn't?

In my geeky mind, I was thinking about all the Game of Thrones locations I could see but the pretty sea, terracotta roofs and charm of the old town won me over.

The medieval city sits on Croatia's Dalmatian coast and it's hands down the prettiest place I've visited. If you're a fan of the show, Game of Thrones, you will no doubt be familiar with Dubrovnik as the home to Kings Landing and Qarth.

Hello Blackwater Bay!

One of the places at the top of our list to visit was the old town with its majestic white stone walls. The city walls run a lengthy 2km (1.24 miles) and are sure to give your legs a workout. If you are in Dubrovnik, this is a must on the activity list. However busy it may be with tourists, the views from the top are like no other.

Just remember to pack plenty of water as there's limited shade while walking along the walls. It's quite a trek. 

Aged terracotta roofs follow you round the walls, with the clear blue Adriatic sea in the distance. It's so damn pretty and photogenic.

It's easy to spend days getting lost in the old town, meandering down the cobbled streets and stopping in one of the many restaurants to give your feet a rest and a chance to cool down. There were plenty of ice cream shops dotted around, which we definitely weren't complaining about.

They also have a Christmas shop too, which we loved. You can even get items personalised then and there too.

One of our favourite places to eat was Pizzeria and Spaghetteria Storia. It's a little Italian restaurant tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the high street and it's great value for money too. The food was delicious (I recommend the pizzas, obviously) and it's not too busy either.

It's worth mentioning, that if you wanted to buy a Croatian bottle of wine for someone back home, prices are much cheaper in shops outside the walls. We learned this the hard way, after buying a nice dry white for Dad, only to find it much much cheaper just a 2 minute walk outside. 

Also look out for a photo postcard machine at the end of the high street, Stradrun! It makes for a perfect souvenir to send home and make everyone envious. 

I won't lie, I did kind of feel like Queen Cersei was going to pop round the corner at any minute. Not to sound too cheesy, but you really do feel like you've just stepped into the world of Game of Thrones. Except no one is riding around on dragons.

On one of our last days in Dubrovnik, we took off on a short boat ride from the marina to the oh-so-pretty Lokrum Island. It's the perfect place for a day trip and I highly recommend it. The island offers peaceful beaches, forests to explore, a lagoon to take a dip in and monasteries to discover. There’s even a cactus botanical garden hidden in the forest!

Stepping away from the busy old town, Lokrum Island was the perfect place to unwind, with only the sounds of the waves and the birds chirping to keep your mind busy. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Peacocks too! And remember your swimsuit! (We made the mistake of forgetting ours and went for a paddle instead)

It’s also home to the clearest waters you will even step foot in. Seriously. They are what all of your instagram dreams are made of. With slightly burnt shoulders and big smiles, we climbed back onto the boat and said goodbye to our little oasis. 

Dubrovnik is a little piece of paradise and one of my most treasured travel memories. I would go back in a heartbeat and spend all day floating in the clear salty water, bathing in the sunshine and eating my fill of ice cream and pizza.

Have you been to Dubrovnik? Let me know your favourite holiday memory!