The adventure started with a bus ride from Split, Croatia to the well known Game of Thrones Town of Dubrovnik. It was a 5 hour trip with multiple stops and a quick journey through Bosnia, but well worth seeing the sites of the Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik first hand.
We finally arrive at the old town and exactly as you would expect, you see an old medieval town surrounded by high, thick walls of stone. The entrance to the city is over a draw bridge and through the Pile gate.
First stop is to check in to the fabulous St. Joseph’s Boutique Hotel. It is situated just off the main pedestrian street in the old town down a quiet, picturesque alleyway. Book Now!
St. Joesph’s Hotel left nothing to be desired when renovating the historic building. Every detail and comfort has been thought of with the guest in mind. The story of the building and how the hotel has come to be is remarkable.
You are located just steps from everything old town has to offer with views of the famous red rooftops of Dubrovnik. The rooms are decorated and constructed of natural, soothing materials that bring you into the experience of the old city while maintaining every level of need for a relaxing holiday. After a wonderful dinner at the famous Taj Mahal Restaurant it was time to rest for the next day’s adventure.
We awoke to a delicious breakfast including a healthy green smoothie delivered to our room. It was then time to head out and explore the sites and sounds of this historic city with Dubrovnik Sightseeing. We started outside the city walls at a small marina housing kayaks for rent and then climbed the many steps to Fort Lovrijenac where Khaleesi stored her dragons and also viewed the site of Joffrey’s wedding and ultimate death.
From the top of Fort Lovrijenac you have a great view of the city, its walls and Fort Bokar surrounded by rocks and water. This is Kings Landing in Game of Thrones and a great photography spot.
Next we walked through the streets of old town. The entire city within the walls is for pedestrians only which makes exploring that much more pleasurable. We visited some of the many churches,shops and cafes that line the narrow streets that make up the walled town.
A drink at Busa Bar is a must. You will find it through a small opening in the wall and where you will be provided with an amazing viewpoint along the outside walls and the water. Veritas restaurant is another great stop for local oysters and a drink in a small square. The owner was pleased with our stop here as I have veritas, the name of the place tattooed on my arm. Free oysters anyone?
Be in this square at exactly noon any day but Sunday and you will be treated to a surprise. The local pigeons are trained to know when feeding time is by the chimes of the church bells. I suggest taking cover to watch the spectacle. View the video below
After another comfortable nights sleep and delicious breakfast we headed off to the old town port and caught a ferry over to Lokrum Island. This was a quiet, nature getaway for people of the old world city and is still true today. The island is filled with trails, beach walks, wildlife and even fitness amenities. You could spend hours exploring the woods or relax on the beautiful slabs of rock along the coastline. This island was also used for Game of Thrones.
After returning to the old city we moved to a hotel outside the city. Dubrovnik Palace Hotel is a resort style hotel located about 10 minutes outside the old city with full service amenities and an amazing view of the nearby islands. You don’t get the old world charm in this hotel but what you do get is 5 star luxury. Large, spacious rooms with huge patios with remarkable views of the sea.
The hotel provide multiple bars and restaurants, tennis courts, health and wellness center with a fitness room, indoor and outdoor pools and even a diving center right at the hotel. A bonus is the local bus stop is right in front of the lobby to get to old town with ease.
After checking in at the hotel it was out to walk the perimeter of old town atop the ancient city walls. This is a must while in Dubrovnik. So many photo worthy spots along the 1.5 hour trek around the city. There are quite a few stairs along the route but worth every calorie burned. There are a few cafes along the wall to sit and relax if needed. At every new angle of the city from the walls you realize why this place draws so many people. Many scenes from the GOT series were shot within these walls.
With the city wall walk finished it was time to head to the old French fort nestled high on the hill overlooking the city. You can either trek to the top by foot or take the gondola. At the top you will see a panoramic view of the the old town, the islands and the coastline.
There is a restaurant and bar at the top to relax for a great sunset experience. You can even rent dune buggy’s to explore the area behind the viewpoint. After sunset it was time for a meal in old town and relaxation back at Dubrovnik Palace Hotel.
The next morning we made use of the fitness center before heading to breakfast. A full buffet was offered at the hotel and was quite satisfying. After a swim, hot tub and sauna, it was off on another tour from Dubrovnik Sightseeing.
We headed south of Dubrovnik to a small marina town called Cavtat for an iced coffee and to people watch. Then headed to Konavle Valley and hiked though the forest and long the river exploring old mills and stone waterways. A beautiful nature setting and great photography area. We then ate lunch at a family owned restaurant. It was a small local place with delicious food, a perfect end to our tour.
On our final morning we did a gorgeous hike through the woods and along the cliff side with amazing views of the sea and coastline. You follow the trail above the tennis courts and veer off to the right quickly. It will bring you to a great viewpoint for photography of the coastline below and beautiful wild flowers along the trail. Watch your step as you are very close to the cliff side. A wrong step could lead to disaster.
After a quick shower it was time to leave this magical area of Dubrovnik. If you are planning to visit Croatia, be sure to put Dubrovnik on you list of places to see. Whether you are a fan of Game of Thrones or not, you will not be disappointed!
World Traveling Blogger, Social Media Expert and Nerd who has a passion for Adventure and Fitness.
Here is another couple links about our time in Croatia as well. We stayed at a very unique boutique hotel in the old town. It has a great back story.
http://www.livedreamdiscover.com/dubrovnik-croatia-so-much-more-to-love-than-game-of-thrones/
http://www.livedreamdiscover.com/why-we-chose-split-over-dubrovnik-for-our-time-in-croatia/
Such a beautiful part of the world. The GoT part is merely a bonus. Can’t wait until our trip next year. We are working out accommodation at the moment. Places to accommodate kids. Thanks for tweeting the link.