This quote from playwright George Bernard Shaw sums up Dubrovnik nicely: “If you want to see paradise on Earth, come to Dubrovnik.”
The first time you set eyes on the Ancient City Walls of the Old Town, you will be in awe. From Pile Gate, you enter over the drawbridge into the Old Town itself and stroll leisurely down the limestone cobbled Stradun (the main street) admiring the stunning architecture of century old buildings. As you wander past the many restaurants inside these walls the smell of grilled fresh fish or local beef simmering in red wine wafts past. It’s lunchtime, who can resist a chilled glass of white wine whilst enjoying such local cuisine?
Sun Gardens Dubrovnik Resort
Just 15 minutes from the old town is the luxurious resort of Sun Gardens, Dubrovnik. In 2017 Sun Gardens joined the Leading Hotels of the World group and it certainly has earned its right to be amongst the elite hotels of the world.
Spread over 22 acres, Sun Gardens boast gardens of palms and pine trees, three swimming pools (two family pools, each with a separate children’s pool and one adults only) and a promenade that spans the length of the beach.
The accommodation is made up of 201 rooms and suites as well as 207 one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units that either have garden or ocean views.
If you were planning a luxurious week we would recommend staying in the Club Rooms and Suites. With a double-sized balcony, the largest bathroom we have ever experienced, and the most comfortable bed and lounge area, we did not want to leave. Enjoy a chilled glass of wine at the Club Lounge and do not miss the breakfast on the rooftop.
You will need a week to enjoy the 18 restaurants and bars that are available and to take time out from sightseeing to enjoy the Spa by OCCO for various soothing treatments, indoor pool, spa, sauna and sun terrace where you can enjoy vitality juices.
Panorama Restaurant, Dubrovnik
To reach this restaurant you can travel by road but why not take the chairlift to get that extra exhilaration? At the top of Mount Srđ is the Panorama Restaurant situated 415m above Dubrovnik. It is worth booking in advance to get a table at the front and we recommend reserving it for around 4pm so that you can enjoy the sunset.
The Panorama Restaurant employs local chefs and pride themselves on using recipes that have been passed down from their grandmothers. Local seasonal produce is sourced from the surrounding countryside and fish are from the local fishermen who go out for three days at a time returning around midnight with their catch.
Bugenvila Restaurant Cavtat
Cavtat can be reached by road from Dubrovnik in 30 minutes, or you can take a sea shuttle (available through May to October) that departs every 30 minutes from the Old Town that drops you at the front of the Bugenvila Restaurant. The setting is superb, on the waterfront under a vine-covered veranda. We love the following quote from the owner:
“There are days here in Cavtat when nature looks so pure and one can feel the happiness in the air. We want to transfer this serenity on our plates. In order to do that, we constantly have to fight for the quality of ingredients and learn how to process them to get the best out of them!” – Lukasz Widomski, head chef and co-owner.
The menu is unique and the food is outstanding.
Walk the city walls
It is best to plan your walk first thing in the morning when they open around 8.30am (times vary according to the season). The Walls were constructed during the 11th and 15th centuries and are 1,940m in length. They are the biggest and best preserved walls in Europe. Set aside two hours, at least, for the walk around and enjoy a cup of coffee and refreshments along the route. The views are outstanding. Don’t forget to take sun protection with you.
Half-day wine tour
Join Ana Bitanga Jukic co-owner of Insider Holidays for a half day wine tour of the Peljesac Peninsula. You are in knowledgeable hands as Ana is an international sommelier and takes you to the best local boutique wineries. Have you wondered why you have never seen Croatian wines anywhere in the world? What they make is locally consumed by the tourists who visit. Do not miss an opportunity to try the local Plavac Mali, a local red wine.
A day trip to Mostar in Bosnia
Tour company Adriatic Explore has a full day visit to Mostar in the Balkan country of Bosnia Herzegovina. Be sure to take your passport, as you will cross through three border controls each way. You will visit Pocitelj, a fortified medieval town 30km outside Mostar and enjoy a 50-minute walking tour on your arrival into Mostar. The rest of the time is left for you to enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants, wander through the Old Town with its cobble-stoned streets or you may even manage to witness the famous jumpers from the Stari Most – Mostar’s famous bridge.