Croatia was the second of our "big 3" Mediterranean trips this summer. The scenery was amazing and I highly recommend the trip. Unless you see otherwise, I recommend everything that we did! Loved our time!
Day 1: Split
Diocletian's Palace: The entire city is the palace! Walk around and see amazing old architecture - notable stops included:
- Bell Tower (views are amazing)
- Basement (lots of Game of Thrones scenes were filmed here)
Sunset Cruise: Lots of options for this! We found one (that can't remember the company) and took a 90 minute cruise around the peninsula to take in the sunset and views
Zifandel Wine and Food Bar: This little spot tucked into town was a gem - the wine was inexpensive and the food was beautifully presented. Highly recommend this spot!
Day 2: Split
Kasuni Beach: It was easy to grab an Uber to get to this beach just outside of town. We rented lounge chairs and enjoyed the beach for most of the day. There is a nice little snack bar that will bring drinks and light snacks to your table. The water is cold, but perfectly clear and surrounded by beautiful pine forests
Bene Beach: We ended up at Bene Beach accidentally - we were supposed to take a kayak tour but the tour was cancelled at the last minute due to tides. We ended up relaxing on the shaded public beach here. This beach was ok...but not quite as nice as Kasuni - the water wasn't as clear and there were many rocks in the ocean.
Brasserie on 7: This spot had a beautiful view of the ocean - right on the main ocean-side lane. The food was decent, if a bit bland and expensive. But worth stopping here for a drink or dessert for a nice view!
Day 3: Split / Korcula
Jadrolinija Ferry: We booked our tickets online and took an easy 2.5 hour ferry to the island of Korcula. Easy trip there with some beautiful scenery.
Marko Polo Hotel / Pool: We arrived at our hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon lounging at the hotel pool which had a stunning view of the harbor of Korcula. This hotel was fantastic - check out our room's view below. Highly recommend upgrading to ocean view - they are truly spectacular!
Aterina: This tucked away tavern had fantastic food and wine - with a lovely view of the Korcula sunset. P had some amazing "drunken octopus" and we had a beautiful, beautiful appetizer platter - highly recommend
Day 4: Korcula Sailing
Korcula Explorer: We booked the sailing and wine tour with Korcula Explorer and absolutely loved it! We had a fantastic guide - Rachel - who showed us around via boat - her trusty captain Mario stopped around various spots for swimming and snorkeling - and even collected fresh sea urchin to try. The highlight was a stop at:
- Korta Katerina: This may be the most beautiful winery I have every visited. We tasted 3 lovely wines with a stunning tasting plate and expansive ocean views.
This tour was expensive, but worth every penny!
Radiona: This was probably the best meal I had in Croatia - we actually ate here twice (once for lunch, one for dinner!) Their rib eye and fries were fantastic. The view is over the harbor - just stunning. Highly recommend!
Day 5: Korcula
Lumbarda: We took a water taxi to the town of Lumbarda on the other side of Korcula. There, we stopped at two different Grk wineries where we were able to taste and enjoy wine - then we made our way to a beautiful sandy beach. This was a highlight...and another life dream I got to accomplish - paddle boarding.
Kanoba Mareta: Another lovely tavern in town - this spot had the best service of any restaurant on the trip! Decent food and crazy fast service
Day 6: Korcula / Dubrovnik
Krilo Ferry: This ferry worked just as well as the other (this is private - the other is state run). It was about a two hour trip from Korcula to Dubrovnik, but it was painless and a beautiful ride
Cable Car: After checking in and wondering around a bit, we went up the Dubrovnik cable car for a stunning view of the city. Recommend if you have time - sunset is the best time!
Pucic Hotel: This is one of two hotels inside the old city of Dubrovnik. A five star hotel - and experience - very expensive, but the location and service was unbeatable. Highly highly recommend, but be prepared to splurge big time.
Gatsby Wine and Food Bar: This spot has some fantastic steaks and a plethora of wine selections. Recommend!
Day 7: Dubronik
This was probably our favorite day of the trip.
Pro tip: Buy the One Day Dubrovnik pass to save $ and see everything!
Rector's Palace: Similar to Doge's Palace in Venice, this has an amazing silver collection (and many Game of Throne scenes)
Fort Lovrijenac: The best photo spot in town, this offered some incredible views of Dubrovnik in the mid-morning. The lighting was perfect and you could see the perfect calm water below and the imposing walls of the city. A long walk up the stairs, but totally worth it!
Konoba Dubrava: Recommended by the New York Times, this crazy restaurant is tucked high atop a mountain - the views outside the village are stunning and this was probably my favorite meal of the trip. Highly recommend the meat platter...if you book early enough, their specialty is meat under a bell cooked for 3 hours! We didn't do this option, but it did look awesome. Totally worth the uber!
Sea Kayaking: We then came down into the hot city and took a kayak around the city - amazing views and some great snaps from our waterproof camera - more to come on that! Note that we just rented them right outside the city and paddled around ourselves...we did not do an organized tour.
Wall Walk: The most famous thing to do in Dubrovnik is the wall walk - a continuous 1.2 mile loop around the city - sunset is the perfect time to go for cooler temperatures and nice lighting. We loved this walk - though do wear comfortable shoes (there are a few steep spots!)
Buza Bar: AKA - Hole in the Wall - come here at sunset for an amazing view and to watch the locals jump off the high cliffs / rocks. P got some amazing photos and I enjoyed an Aperol Spritz
