What we loved about Dubrovnik

Old Town Dubrovnik is indescribable. The city walls and bastions are spectacular, and you’ll give your camera a workout. Everywhere you look makes you feel like you’re in a medieval movie – or, of course, Game of Thrones, as that’s where it was filmed. Sapphire blue water, imposing cliffs and those red tile roofs make for a uniquely beautiful nest.

This city is packed with history, both old and new. While it’s sobering to hear the recent stories of the Homeland war, we were able to glean insights from the people here and understand the history so much better.

We love our apartment here. It’s the best one we’ve had yet on a nest. We’ve got a beautiful garden terrace and views of the Adriatic. While you have to reserve early to nest here, there are some very nice options for places to stay.

Dubrovnik is a great place for day-tripping. You will need to rent a car, but you can do day trips to Mostar, Kotor Bay in Montenegro and visit wine country both north and south. You can take ferries to islands all around Dubrovnik, from a full day to just a ten minute trip. And if you want a fascinating overnight, you can even make it to Sarajevo.

What we didn’t like about Dubrovnik

It’s inevitable that a city this spectacular would be discovered by tourists. But between it’s incredible beauty and the popularity of Game of Thrones, it’s sometimes overwhelmingly crowded. The Old Town of Dubrovnik is only 34 acres, and some days there are up to six cruise ships and countless tour buses that pull up to her gates. The city will be regulating the amount of people who can enter next year (2020) but that might even make it feel more touristic. It’s absolutely crucial that you come here on a shoulder season! Even so, know that you’ll be dodging crowds of people following tourguides, seeing shops full of tacky souvenirs and dealing with overpriced restaurants, especially in the Old City.

Stairs! There’s a good thing about all the stairs in Dubrovnik – my legs have never been so toned! But there’s not a flat place in the entire city. If you have any mobility problems at all, don’t consider nesting here. From the Pile Gate of the city to the front door of our apartment, we had to climb over 200 stairs, and that’s not uncommon at all. At least you’re rewarded by spectacular views as you’re huffing it up the hill with your groceries.

Dubrovnik is a great place to take in the scenery, but quite frankly, it’s easy to run out of things to do in the city itself. The museums and cultural sights are mostly still recovering from the effects of the war. It’s also not a very large city, so it’s a good thing there’s so many great day trips. We had gotten a rhythm of working half a day and then popping out and see a sight, but that doesn’t work here, at least not after the first few weeks. It’s a better base to make short trips from than a place to keep you busy for three months with just things to do in the city itself. A downside to Dubrovnik day trips is that there is no train here, but there is a car rental not far from the Old Town by the public car park that is a good starting point for adventure.