Mediterranean Trip Day 2: Dive into Dubrovnik

Have only a day in the city? Here is what I did with only one day in Dubrovnik as a history buff and Game of Thrones fan!

I started off the morning with a light breakfast before taking a short drive to the Trsteno Arboretum just outside of Dubrovnik. Many scenes from the Game of Thrones HBO series were shot at this arboretum, but even if you aren't a fan of the show, it was incredibly beautiful and peaceful. If you are into plants like I am, then you would love to learn about all of the locally grown plants and fruits like olives, dates, grapes, and carob.

After visiting the arboretum, I took the short drive back into Dubrovnik and began my city day by the harbor where of course more Game of Thrones was filmed, but you can also rent out a kayak or view a fort just outside of the city walls.

The historical city of Dubrovnik was and still is fully encapsulated in tall stone walls, so it is already the perfect setting for Kings Landing in GOT even without CGI movie magic. Once within the walls, we saw a few more Game of Thrones film spots and took a stop at the city fountain which has cool drinkable water before taking a stroll through the shop-lined streets. There were jewelry shops full of Croatia's signature red coral jewelry, restaurants, Game of Thrones merchandise sellers, and plenty of cute coffee shops.

After window shopping, we went to a Franciscan Monastery, Franjevački Samostan Mala Braća, which is still an active monastery today. Inside, it features beautiful cloister gardens, the only painting of Dubrovnik before the destructive 1667 earthquake, and a pharmacy that was opened by the Franciscan Monks back in 1317 and is still operational today. You can even visit the small museum inside the monastery which has some original handwritten pharmaceutical recipe books and herb jars.

Continuing on, we popped into a beautiful church on our way to the stairs used in the infamous 'walk of shame' scene in Game of thrones. Then it was time to escape the heat with some lovely gelato from Gianni's ice cream and pastry shop before climbing up the city walls. Although it was extremely hot, the city walls offer the best views of Dubrovnik and the bay. I would highly recommend doing this if you are in the city. A ticket is required, but they are easy to purchase at an information center.

After walking the walls, we stopped for lunch at Gradska Kavana Arsenal which sits right on the harbor and has quite good food. After a brief lunch we caught the ferry, which leaves every 30 minutes, to the nearby island of Lokrum. Lokrum immediately has a relaxed energy and seems to be a favorite day trip spot for locals. On the island there are some ruins, a garden, a monastery, a museum, some beach bars, and numerous great swimming spots.

While I was there, I first visited the monastery which is still used by monks today and was briefly the home of the potentially cursed Maximillian I of Mexico. The monastery and its serene gardens were another filming location for Game of Thrones and just behind the monastery are some strangely beautiful ruins. Walking along, I spotted some adorable baby peacocks in the large garden Lokrum supports which features oak trees, an olive grove, cacti, herbs, and more. I then briefly walked along the stunning shore before taking the ferry back to Dubrovnik and making a short walk back to our hotel to cool off.

For the rest of the evening, I enjoyed a light dinner in the hotel and the beautiful views of the city and the sea.

Tips for your day in Dubrovnik:

1. Make sure you have a Dubrovnik Card - you can buy them online or in the city. it gives you access to the top attractions and has good value for the price.

2. Wear your walking shoes - the historical city is not very accessible by car so you will do a lot of walking and potentially stair climbing on sometimes slippery stone streets.

3. Prepare for the weather - I went in July, and it was much hotter than I anticipated because of the humidity from the ocean.

4. Plan to stay out most of the day - Dubrovnik is quite a small city and easily do-able in a day, but to fully enjoy it, I would dedicate a full day to get the most out of the city without being rushed.

I hope you have found some of this information fun or helpful in planning your day in Dubrovnik! See you next time as I continue through the Mediterranean!

Always,

Paris