Croatia has been on the top of my bucket list for a couple of years now. So, it’s fair to say that I went to Dubrovnik with high expectations. I’d been warned that it was touristy and crowded. But once you’ve been to Dubrovnik, you’ll understand that its popularity is well-earned.

Long story short: Dubrovnik is beautiful, charming and unique, and everyone should go once.

Cat and I went to Dubrovnik for four days on our annual getaway (last year we went to Istanbul). We’re both active tourists, but we also love to just relax. Dubrovnik is perfect for both those holiday goals.

Game of Thrones fans will instantly recognise Dubrovnik’s orange-roofed old city as King’s Landing. The distinctive-looking Old Town, encircled by massive stone walls, is definitely the city’s biggest attraction. The narrow, charming marble streets are unlike any place I’ve ever visited before.

We were staying at an airbnb at one of the highest points in Old Town. Quite the uphill journey to get back home every evening, but the views from our place were worth it.

Just a five minute stroll away from our apartment was Cafe Buza. This cliffside bar has two locations overlooking the Adriatic. Not ashamed to admit that we spent a lot of our time there – sipping drinks, chatting with other tourists, people watching, and going for an occasional dip to cool down.

Day or night – Bar Buza is the place to be.

But fair warning: Dubrovnik does get very hot and very crowded, which can make your holiday unpleasant, especially if you were looking for some solitude. Here are my top tips for visitors:
– Walk the city walls either first thing in the morning, or after 5pm (but definitely do walk them) to avoid the scorching heat and the cruise ship tourists.
– Choose a hotel with a beach over a public beach; there are a couple of options on either side of Old Town.
– You’ll spot people kayaking around the Old City. It’s not a piece of cake, especially in sweltering heat, we were told. I’ll publicly admit it – I’m glad Cat vetoed this idea of mine.

Dubrovnik is one of those city which instantly makes me hate my shellfish allergy. The seafood just looked divine. Old Town is especially lovely once it’s a bit cooler in the evening, so find yourself an outdoor table for dinner. The best meal we had while we were there was definitely at Azur. You’ll need to reserve ahead of time though.

Croatia impressed me, and I’m already looking forward to exploring more of this stunning country. Split next year, maybe?