Croatia was stop number one on our European vacation. This kicked off our two week honeymoon trip. In total we traveled from the United States to Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and back. I’ll be sharing what we did, where we stayed and what we loved along with tips we learned throughout our travels!
Croatia Itinerary
Croatia is a stunning country, known as the land of 1,000 islands. It is home to some great beaches, National Parks, historic landmarks and more.
We flew from Chicago, IL with a layover in Frankfurt, Germany and ultimately landed in Dubrovnik, Croatia. We flew through the night for most of it and it wasn’t a bad trip!
We made our home base in Dubrovnik, which is along the Adriatic sea on the southern edge of the Dalmatian region. For Game of Thrones fans out there it might also look familiar as it is loosely the setting of King’s Landing in the HBO show Game of Thrones.
Although there is a language barrier we had no problem getting around using just English. Most locals speak English as a secondary language to their native Croatian. At hotels, restaurants and shops English was spoken and understood making Croatia an easy tourist option for Americans.
Tip: We visited in late May and the weather was perfect and we were very comfortable in tee shirts and jeans! Pack your walking shoes and throw in a light jacket and hat and you’ll be set!
Where We Stayed
- Hotel More Dubrovnik
- (Ulica Kardinala Stepinca 33, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-NERETVA, 20000 Croatia)
- 3 nights / booked through expedia
- This hotel was great. We had a large space with a bathroom, living room, bedroom, and balcony. And the views from the balcony in the morning were amazing!
- The hotel also had it’s own restaurant where we enjoyed impressive breakfast spreads as well as a dinner. The had a melting chocolate lava dessert that left an impression on me to this day!
- Another unique attribute of the hotel was a bar inside of a cave! It was so cool! We enjoyed some regional red wine in there and it was awesome!
Exploring Old Town Dubrovnik
On our first full day in Dubrovnik we jumped right into exploring the town. A short cab ride from our hotel dropped us right in the hustle and bustle of it all. Along with just walking around here we also did some structured activities in town:
- Walked the City Walls
- Guided Game of Thrones & History Tour
- Ferry to Lokrum Island
Walking the City Walls
Some of the most spectacular views of both city and sea can be seen from walking the ‘city wall’s which serve as a perimeter around the city. These served as protective barriers and lookouts and they tower over old town.
From the walls you can see the iconic orange roofs and lay of the city as well as curve along the coastline. In the distance you can spot Lokrum island across the sea. Walking the walls is a must do in old town!
Guided Game of Thrones & History Walking Tour
On this tour we visited iconic filming locations from Game of Thrones. If you are a fan of the show I highly recommend it! The tour guides mix in both local history and fun facts about the filming locations from the show. You see beautiful locations and learn some true and imaginary tales of the city.
Ferry to Lokrum Island
Just a short ferry ride away, about 15 minutes, off the coast of Dubruvnik sits a the Island of Lokrum. It is a small island that is uninhabited by people.
While people are just visitors the wildlife flourishes on the island. Lokrum has a booming bunny rabbit population and a great deal of wild peacocks. While there we saw many of both bunnies and peacocks, including peacocks showing off their feathers and posturing vibrantly.
We explored the natural beauty and hiked the remains of an old fortress. Also while there you can sit on the “Iron Throne” from Game of Thrones as well for a fun photo opportunity.
It was a quick and fun excursion to Lokrum Island and definitely worth the short ferry ride!
Where to Eat & Drink
You’ll have no problem finding great little cafes a restaurants while meandering old town but here are other gems we loved outside of town:
- Panorama: The name says it all! Up here you can see views of the city, ocean, and country side. We had dinner here at sunset and oh my was it amazing! Cannot recommend this restaurant enough!
- Tip: We took a cab to this restaurant above the city. In the summer time this can be accessed by cable car as well. On our ride up we passed wild donkeys grazing in the wildflowers. We dined at sunset with a perfect view all around and the food and service were just impeccable.
- Cave Bar @ Hotel More: As the name indicates, this a bar inside of a cave! Such a unique spot within an actual cliff side.
- You can sip by the sea at outdoor tables while the suns still up or grab a night cap in the cave!
Day Trip to Mljet Island
On our second morning we took a trip by ferry from Dubruvnik to Mljet Island. As Croatia is the land of 1,000 islands we picked this one somewhat at random as a less traveled option and it became one of our favorites parts of the trip!
Mljet is a peaceful and less touristy area. It is inhabited by a few, but the population is only 80 people! It is nicknamed “The Green Island,” and it lived up to its name! Another thing Mljet is known for is having an island within an island, as you can take an additional ferry within the island to a monestary out on the lake.
After about an hour ferry ride we arrived in Mljet where we rented a scooter on which to explore the island. Riding the scooter around with my husband proved to be one of my favorite things. As we were one of the few vehicles on the island we could roam as we pleased. We moved at our own pace and stopped along the way to take in the scenery. It was relaxing, beautiful and ended up being a highlight of our entire two week honeymoon trip.
I dream of taking our family back there someday and staying overnight on that quiet island. Time seemed to stand still there. If you are looking for a quiet, beautiful and calm island to explore then Mljet should be on your list!
Is Croatia for You?
Even on a rainy day, Croatia is beautiful. If you love a mix of adventure, history, and coastal views Croatia is a great destination for you! With so many islands to explore, historical sites and National parks there’s something for everyone. We thought it was a perfect first stop on our European honeymoon!
For the second and third legs of our European trip to Montenegro and Greece follow along with the blog for more travel tips!
