After completing an 8 day multi-adventure trip with Explorer Chick Adventure Company, I continued my exploration of Croatia on my own in September 2025. The Explore Chick tour explored the capital of Zagreb, the Istrian Peninsula, Plitvice Lakes, Paklenica, and Kornati National Parks, and the coastal city of Split. I had booked an additional 4 night stay in Dubrovnik, also known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Unbeknownst to me, so did one of my fellow Explorer Chicks, Debbie. We had booked different lodging and different activities, but chose to travel from Split to Dubrovnik together. I enjoy balancing my trips with an organized tour portion as well as a few days exploring on my own.
Day 1 Dubrovnik Old Town and Mt Srd
Debbie and I met up after breakfast and made our way down to the port, where we caught our 10:30 AM Flixbus to Dubrovnik. We had purchased our tickets separately, so we were assigned seats apart from one another — Debbie ended up on the upper deck, while I was seated on the lower deck aisle, which unfortunately made it difficult to capture any photos of the stunning mountain scenery along the way.
About two hours into the journey, we stopped for a 20-minute break in Raba. By law, tour bus drivers in Croatia must take a 20- to 30-minute rest after every two hours of driving. During our stop, one passenger failed to return in time, and the bus departed without him. To everyone’s surprise, he managed to hitch a ride and catch up with us about 15 minutes later — only for a heated argument to break out between him and the driver once he reboarded. One of the highlights of the drive was crossing the Pelješac Bridge, a major infrastructure project completed in 2022. The bridge links mainland Croatia with the Pelješac Peninsula, eliminating the need to pass through Bosnia and Herzegovina — a detour that previously required border control checks and added significant time to the journey from Split to Dubrovnik.
We arrived ahead of schedule at Dubrovnik’s main bus terminal. Since Debbie and I were staying in different parts of the city, we parted ways to catch separate local buses. I had already purchased the Dubrovnik Pass, which included public transportation as well as entry to numerous museums and discounts on local attractions. From the stop across the street from the terminal, I took the 1A bus to the Pile Gate, the main entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. From there, I navigated the pedestrian-only streets to reach my Airbnb, located within the city’s medieval walls. (Vehicles are only permitted inside the Old Town during the early morning hours, when garbage collection and deliveries take place.) My apartment was tucked away on Između polača 18, a narrow alleyway just off the bustling main thoroughfare, Stradun (or Placa). My host, Ana, had sent clear self-check-in instructions the day before, which made the arrival seamless. After I messaged her to confirm I had arrived, she stopped by in person to greet me, collect my passport details, and share a wealth of local recommendations.
The apartment was on the fourth floor, accessible by a steep and narrow staircase, and part of a six-unit building. It was exactly as pictured online — cozy, bright, and perfectly located — and I was thrilled with my choice.
Later that afternoon, Debbie and I reunited to explore the Old Town together, wandering its labyrinth of limestone streets and stopping for a refreshing gelato as we got our bearings. Around 6 PM, we exited the city through the Buža Gate (the northern gate) and made our way to the Dubrovnik Cable Car station.
The cable car carried us to the summit of Mount Srđ (1,352 ft), a low peak in the Dinaric Alps that rises directly behind the city. From the top, we were treated to breathtaking views of Dubrovnik’s terracotta rooftops, the island of Lokrum, and the glittering Adriatic Sea. Capturing the scenery on camera was a bit challenging due to the cable car lines obstructing many angles, and the only unobstructed viewpoint was from a paid observation platform, which we decided to skip. Instead, we found a small path just below the summit, where we were able to photograph the sunset casting a golden glow over the Elaphiti Islands.
As we made our way back to the cable car station, the sky suddenly erupted into a spectacular display of color — deep oranges, purples, and pinks — just as the city lights began to twinkle below. I snapped one final photo, capturing Dubrovnik illuminated beneath the fiery sky. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful evening — and a breathtaking first glimpse of this storied city by the sea.
Day 2 Exploring the Old Town City Walls
At 9:15 a.m., I met Debbie outside the Pile Gate, in front of the Nautika Restaurant, for our guided experience: Dubrovnik City Walls, Old Town Walking Tour, and Adriatic View. Our guide, Romana, was a thirty-year-old Dubrovnik native who has lived here all her life, born just after the Croatian War of Independence came to an end.
Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, traces its origins back to the 7th century. From the 14th to the 19th centuries, it flourished as an independent republic renowned for its wealth and masterful diplomacy. A devastating earthquake in 1667 destroyed much of the city and claimed 3,000 of its 6,000 residents. More recently, during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991, Dubrovnik endured a seven-month siege by the Yugoslav People’s Army and sustained heavy shelling — scars of which remain visible today.
We visited the Defenders of Dubrovnik Memorial inside the Sponza Palace, dedicated to those who lost their lives protecting the city during the war. It was deeply moving — and heartbreaking — to watch archival footage of Dubrovnik under siege, knowing we were standing in those very same places on such a beautiful, tranquil day.
St. Blaise, the city’s patron saint, watches over Dubrovnik from statues above each of the city gates. We visited the church dedicated to him, one of Dubrovnik’s most significant landmarks, before stopping at the Franciscan Monastery — home to the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in the world — and the Rector’s Palace.
Our tour continued atop the magnificent city walls, which require a separate ticket (thankfully included with our Dubrovnik Pass). The walls can become quite crowded, and the sun is relentless with little shade, but the sweeping views of the terracotta rooftops and shimmering Adriatic Sea are absolutely breathtaking. Our final stop was the Minčeta Tower, the highest point along the ramparts and famously used as the exterior of the House of the Undying in Qarth for Game of Thrones.
After the tour, we followed a recommendation from Ana, my Airbnb host, and had lunch outdoors at Dúbravka 1836, a charming restaurant and café just outside the Pile Gate. We shared a Quattro Formaggio pizza with side salads — and it was, without exaggeration, the most delicious pizza I’ve ever tasted. Topped with mozzarella, smoked mozzarella, gorgonzola, and Grana Padano, plus Kalamata olives and a delicate sprinkle of lavender, it was truly sublime. As we lingered over lunch, we planned our afternoon: revisiting some of the museums Romana had mentioned, all included in our Dubrovnik Pass.
Our first stop was Fort Lovrijenac (St. Lawrence Fortress), perched outside the city walls. Historically vital in resisting Venetian domination, it also famously appeared as the Red Keep in Game of Thrones. Next, we returned to the Franciscan Monastery, where we admired the serene cloistered courtyard and explored a fascinating museum showcasing centuries-old pharmacy tools and manuscripts used by the monks. (Photography was prohibited — though I only noticed the sign after I had already taken a few pictures.) Inside the adjoining church, the monks’ choral singing provided an unexpectedly moving soundtrack to our visit.
Our final stop was the Rector’s Palace, once the seat of power in the Republic of Ragusa from the 14th century until 1808. In an ingenious safeguard against corruption, the Rector served a term of only one month, during which he was not permitted to leave the palace except for official duties. Each night the city gates were locked, and the Rector alone held the keys.
After parting ways with Debbie, I returned to my Airbnb to rest before heading out again around 6:15 p.m. to catch the sunset at Danče Beach — a local favorite just a short walk beyond the Old Town walls and a spot Romana had recommended. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting golden light across the Adriatic, I sat quietly by the water, savoring the peaceful end to a full and unforgettable day.
Day 3 Day Trip to Montenegro
The day began bright and early, as I had to meet my tour guide at 6:30 a.m. The streets of Dubrovnik were still quiet at that hour, and I managed to capture a few lovely photographs of the Old Town before the crowds descended. I met my group outside the Grand Imperial Hilton Hotel for a full-day excursion to Montenegro — a Bay of Kotor, Perast, Kotor, and Budva Tour with Dubrovnik Smile. Our small group consisted of eight people: myself, a Filipino family of seven, and our Croatian guide, Stipan.
We departed Dubrovnik and followed the scenic coastal road south before turning inland and winding our way through the mountains toward the Montenegro border. Because Montenegro is not part of the Schengen Zone, we had to pass through border control on both sides — but the reward was two new stamps in my passport. We then continued along the picturesque shores of the Bay of Kotor, eventually arriving at the charming village of Perast about two hours later.
Perast is celebrated for its beautifully preserved Baroque architecture and its two iconic islets: Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George’s Island. For €10, I took a brief water taxi across the bay to Our Lady of the Rocks, a man-made island crowned with a church and museum — though neither was open during my visit. The island was created over centuries by local seafarers who, according to legend, would place a stone in the bay after each safe return from the sea. Old ships, laden with rocks, were deliberately sunk to help form the foundation, and gradually the island emerged. After about twenty minutes exploring, the water taxi returned us to Perast’s Old Town, where I stopped by the post office to mail two postcards home.
From Perast, we continued our journey with a thirty-minute drive along the bay to the town of Kotor, another fortified city. Two cruise ships were in port, and although the town is much smaller than Dubrovnik, it felt overwhelmingly crowded. Seeking an escape from the throngs of tourists, I followed signs leading up to the Kotor Fortress. After paying the €15 entrance fee, I began the steep ascent — unaware that the path involved climbing 1,350 stone steps. I was hardly dressed for such a climb, wearing only a Ripskirt and docksiders, but thankfully I had water in my backpack. The views along the way were breathtaking, with sweeping panoramas of the bay below. I made it back down in record time, nearly jogging to ensure I met my group at our scheduled 11:35 a.m. departure.
Our final destination of the day was Budva, a sun-soaked Adriatic seaside town often referred to as the Budva Riviera. With its beautifully preserved medieval old town, sandy beaches, and a harbor filled with sleek luxury yachts, Budva exudes a cosmopolitan charm. I stopped for lunch at Jadran Kod Krsta, though the service was disappointingly unfriendly — perhaps the least welcoming experience of my trip. In hindsight, I wished I had skipped the meal and spent more time exploring the harbor and wandering the narrow streets.
On our return journey to Dubrovnik, we crossed the Verige Channel by taking the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry, saving us two hours of driving around the bay. We arrived back in the city around 5:00 p.m., pleasantly tired after a long and full day.
Later that evening, at around 7:15 p.m., I met up with Debbie just after she returned from a sunset kayaking trip. It was her final night in Dubrovnik before flying home early the next morning. We treated ourselves to gelato — I chose Nutella and salted caramel — and lingered over our cones before saying our goodbyes.
Day 4 Lokrum Island
My final full day in Croatia unfolded at an unhurried pace. I allowed myself a leisurely morning before catching the 10:00 AM ferry to Lokrum Island from the Dubrovnik Old Town Port. Just a short ride from the city’s ancient walls, Lokrum is a lush, forested island rich with history and natural beauty. Crisscrossed by scenic walking trails, it is home to a centuries-old monastery, a botanical garden, a hilltop fort, and a rugged shoreline perfect for basking by the sea. Ferries run continuously from Dubrovnik every half hour, making it an easy and spontaneous escape from the bustle of the city.
I spent about four hours exploring the island, making sure to visit all seventeen of its designated points of interest. Among them was a small Game of Thrones exhibit featuring video interviews with the cast reflecting on their time filming in Dubrovnik. Later, I took a refreshing swim in the Adriatic. Though Lokrum lacks sandy beaches, sturdy ladders anchored to the rocky shore make access to the water remarkably simple.
After returning to my Airbnb, I relaxed for a while before beginning the inevitable process of reorganizing and repacking for the journey home. That evening, I ventured back into the Old Town for an early dinner at Mea Culpa, where I enjoyed a comforting chicken risotto paired with a crisp Moscow Mule. As the day drew to a close, I made my way once more to Danče Beach to witness one final Croatian sunset — a breathtaking display of color that felt like a fitting farewell. On my walk back, I treated myself to one last gelato, savoring a bright scoop of lemon alongside a delicate lavender flavor, a sweet ending to my time along the Adriatic.
Return Home Dubrovnik to Boston
I checked out of my Airbnb at 8:30 AM and began the short but steep 10-minute walk — up countless stone steps — to the airport shuttle stop near the Dubrovnik cable car station. The bus arrived promptly at 9:15 AM, and we set off on a scenic 20-minute coastal drive to the airport, the Adriatic glittering beside us as a final farewell.
Unfortunately, British Airways’ system is incompatible with Dubrovnik Airport’s, so I had been unable to check in online ahead of time. Check-in counters opened two and a half hours before departure, but just as I was preparing to drop my bag, the dreaded notification appeared: my flight had been delayed by one hour and forty minutes. My original two-hour-and-thirty-five-minute layover at Heathrow was suddenly looking precariously short. We eventually departed Dubrovnik at 2:40 PM. Many passengers had already resigned themselves to missed connections — to New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle — and the prospect of overnighting in London. During the flight, we passed over the Dolomites, their jagged peaks easily recognizable from above, a spectacular parting view of southern Europe.
Upon landing at Heathrow, I had only 40 minutes to make my connection to Boston. A minor mishap at security — I had forgotten an unopened bottle of water from the plane in my bag — cost me precious minutes. I reached the gate just as boarding was underway and was among the last to step onto the aircraft.
The transatlantic flight itself was uneventful. I passed the time watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, two films that felt fittingly adventurous for the journey’s end. We touched down in Boston on schedule, my checked bag arrived without issue, and I caught the Logan Express bus to Braintree. By 10:15 PM, I was back home. As I reflected on the trip, I felt deeply grateful for the experience. I had met wonderful new friends, tried activities outside my comfort zone, marveled at breathtaking landscapes, and savored countless memorable meals. Croatia had exceeded every expectation — and it most certainly did not disappoint.