by the slice and small local bars to high-end cocktail lounges, there is a great mix of options. If you are a seafood lover, you’ ll find great fresh catch options.
One last recommendation for Hvar would be to visit the rooftop lounge at the Adriana Hotel. This place has the best view of the harbor and is a great place to have lunch or a cocktail. The balcony is beautiful and relaxing.
Dubrovnik
Our final stop on this trip was a last-minute addition. The ferry for our planned trip to Brac Island was canceled due to weather, so we pivoted and decided to make the drive to Dubrovnik. In all honesty, it was further than we wanted to drive. It was a sixhour round trip to get back for our flight, but it was a great chance to see the country. We drove through the Biokovo mountain range and along the coast. We also noticed countless roadside stands where you could buy vegetables, sauces and jams. We ended up stopping for what turned out to be a top-notch jar of pasta sauce. After the three-hour trip, we finally made it to our destination.
Dubrovnik is probably the most recognizable town in Croatia.“ Game of Thrones” fans may recognize it as King’ s Landing and, if you are inclined, you can tour many of the spots that are filmed in the series. Old town Dubrovnik is a beautiful medieval town that is certainly worth seeing, but beware: the popularity of the show has caused tourism to explode. It will be crowded, and you have to be patient to get around.
The most common activity is a tour of the city wall. You can walk atop the wall that runs around the old city, and it gives you a great chance to see old fortifications, a stunning sea view and the beautiful old orange slate roofs you will recognize from TV. For a less well-known treat, look for a hole in the city wall on the seaside. If you pay close enough attention, you will find Buza Bar, which translates to hole in the wall. Down some steps you will find a cliffside bar to enjoy a beer or
wine and appreciate the beauty.
If you bring a swimsuit, the stairs will lead to the sea, and if you are adventurous, you can try some cliffside diving. It’ s cash only, so bring some euros. If you break away from old town, you’ ll see the crowds fade away and find a wonderful restaurant named Fratello’ s. Whether you want a full dinner or just a snack, they will take great care of you. After the heat and the crowds of old town Dubrovnik, an Aperol Spritz and a plate of olives on the patio at Fratello’ s overlooking the Adriatic is just what you need to unwind.
We didn’ t know what to expect when we decided to venture to Croatia, but we quickly fell in love with it. It’ s clean and beautiful, and the people were warm and welcoming. We thrived on suggestions from locals and were pleasantly surprised to learn most of the people speak flawless English. We’ ve been fortunate enough to explore several places, and would have to put Croatia at the top of the favorites list. •
Nyhavn waterfront district and canal in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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