My husband and I will be in Croatia first part of March, specifically Dubrovnik and Split. Any Dopers have suggestions on what to do there? We hope to take a day trip to Montenegro while we are there, too.
Hi there, great that you are going to the Dalmatian coast! It’s one of my favourite places in the world. I would say that you shouldn’t spend too much time in Split itself, as it is a somewhta larger city and hasn’t got many beaches. i don’t know how you will be travelling but I would really recommend you to start from split and slowly go down south to Dubrovnik. If you are by car, the total trip will take about 5 hours, so if you split this up and spend some time at places like Vodice and Kotor (both nice), it shouldn’t be too much of a drag. These are coastal roads by the way, so there is a lot of turns and shaking your head at the locals who seem to be out to kill themselves.
If you are not by car (this also possible with a car, but would cost you more) you should definatly island hop your way down. Jadrolinija (company name) has boats going to islands every day (you may want to book in advance if you’re travelling in the high season); especially from Split. Personally I think the Islands are the best bit of Croatia, except for Dubrovnik, Korcula and Hvar are simply stunning. Some of the northern islands are nice as well, but these would be somewhat out of the way.
Also make sure you have enough time in Dubrovnik, there are very few places in the world like it. Be sure to have a drink at the bar that ‘hangs’ outside the city wall. This requires a bit of searching, but it’s worth it; it is located at the end of the Stradun (main street), if you enter through the main city entrance you should walk to the end and then go right and follow the city wall.
Going to montenegro can be fun, but I would recommend you take a guided tour organised from Dubrovnik. The last time I went it was still part of Serbia& Montenegro and we actually got an observer from the state riding with us in the bus. Also the roads you will be driving on are just insane, better to leave the driving to people who do it on a daily basis. An extra bonus of doing this is that the drive south from Dubrovnik gives you the best view possible of the City. If you come from the north, you miss this view entirely. I always make sure to head south, even if it is just to have a look at the view and go back afterwards.
Hope you will enjoy yor time there!
Well I’ve been beaten to it. I second just about everything previously said. I took a whole day to travel from Dubrovnik to Split by ferry and it was great - wish I’d had time to stop off at some of the islands. Spotted dolphins in the distance at one stage.
Best meal in Dubrovnik was at a little place which also had rooms just outside the city walls just off a street called “Od Tabakarije”.
Personally I felt Dubrovnik was a tad museum like and preferred the buzz in Split, would love to go back there. The atmosphere on the Dalmatian coast is surprisingly (or unsurprisingly depending on your awareness of mediterranean history) Italian in feel. If you want a taste of more “Central Europe” there’s no need to change country just take an overnight train from Split to Zagreb (in itself an experience) which feels much more akin to places like Bratislava, Krakow etc.
I was there in 2001 and found folk more at ease speaking German than English but that may have changed.
The road between Split and Dubrovnik, along the coast, is gorgeous, though. And Split might not be as exceptional as Dubrovnik, but I certainly doesn’t regret having stayed there.
I’m not going to give any advice, though, since I went there so long ago that anything I could say would be stunningly outdated (The country I visited was called Yugoslavia).
I was in Dubrovnik and Split last summer (actually, we traveled all over, from Slovakia, Slovenia and then into Zagreb then down the Dalmatian coast to Dubrovnik—Dubrovnik was easily the highlight of the trip).
You’ll spend a whole day just walking around the old town of Dubrovnik. We arrived at night, and crossing the footbridge, through the walls, into the old town was an amazing sight (it looks like a movie set, the fact that people still live and work there is astounding). Further, walking the walls takes an afternoon, and is well worth it.
The beaches immediately around Dubrovnik are all pebble beaches. This has the advantage that the water is especially clear, but it’s not to everybody’s tastes. We took a boat trip out to one of the Elephantine islands, about three quarters of an hour away from the main coast. These are small islands with sand beaches (take sandals) and there really isn’t much to do there, but they’re exceptionally picturesque. Our main regret was that we never got to go out to one of the main islands, like Korcula and Hvar, which are supposed to be really good. (The boats all leave from the main harbour, thirty minute walk north of the old town, not the little harbour around the back of the old town where the fishing boats are).
Split is also extremely impressive. The old town there consists mostly of Diocletian’s retirement palace, and is in quite good condition. There really isn’t all that much to do in Split though, compared to Dubrovnik.
I also recommend taking the coastal road from Split to Dubrovnik if possible. The views are magnificent, with mountains sweeping down to the sea and islands laying off the coast. You also have to pass through Bosnia (two border crossing five minute drives apart), which is worth it for bragging rights.
Also, this may sound strange, but try the ice cream. It’s better than anything we can get in the UK (probably the Italian influence).
Thanks!