Croatia is the country on everyone’s lips, and rightly so. With crystal clear water, idyllic islands and a Central European location, it’s the perfect travel destination! In Europe’s current unstable climate, Croatia is also very safe.
Dubrovnik, otherwise known as the real-life King’s Landing (for Game of Thrones fans!), sits at the southern end of country. As one of the main coastal cities, it’s full of stunning sights, fabulous fare and a beautiful waterfront, making it a popular destination for visitors every year. However, it’s also the ideal spot to explore the surrounding countryside, crossing borders and getting out onto the water. Here are Mosaic Travel’s top 5 day trips from Dubrovnik.
Looking back on Ston from our oyster boat!
Peljesac Peninsula
A long, narrow piece of land an hour from Dubrovnik, the Peljesac Peninsula is home to a number of vineyards, wineries and small cellar doors, clustered into small villages. The Plavac Mali grape is the most common, a variety closely related to Californian Zinfandel.
One of those villages is Ston, which holds an interesting history. There have been salt pans here since Roman times, and to protect them, Ston has 5 kilometres of stone walls; the 2nd longest in the world after China. It’s also home to some of the freshest oysters going round –hop on a boat and pluck them straight from the source! They’re best washed down with a glass of the local wine.
Lovely little Perast, Montenegro.
Lokrum Island
A short ferry trip away from Dubrovnik Harbour, Lokrum Island was previously the quarantine location for people before they were allowed to enter Dubrovnik. These days, you’ll find picturesque beaches, forests and a multitude of olive trees. The botanical gardens on site feature a large cacti section, while there’s also a ruined Medieval Benedictine monastery worth exploring. Removed from the hustle and bustle of the larger city, it’s a lovely spot to while away a lazy afternoon.
Clear water on Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik
Elaphiti Islands
Fancy getting out on the water for a day? You can do just this with a trip to Elaphiti Islands, a collection of 13 mostly uninhabited pieces of land. You’ll need to hire a boat or hop on a group tour to visit – there’s no regular ferry service. However, once you get here, expect to be rewarded with land dotted with pines, olive groves, fig and citrus trees and grape vines, as well as a few 16th century churches. If you’ve brought your walking shoes, hike up to the Church of St Ivana – you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view.
After lots of swimming and a long, lazy lunch, a boat like this can cruise you back to Dubrovnik.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by Kolocep for lunch at Rosie’s favourite restaurant, Villa Ruza. Housed in a terrace built by a wealthy merchant as a symbol of love for his wife, it’s perched on the edge of the Adriatic and dishes up delectable seafood dishes.
Mostar, Bosnia
A world heritage-listed city, Mostar lies in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. You may recognise its most famous landmark, the arched Mostar bridge from which daring divers leap into the sea.
The gorgeous little town of Mostar, with it’s famous bridge.
The old bazaar and Turkish house are also worth seeing, while the craft shops selling artisan wares are likely to have something worth taking home. As one of the more recent sites of warfare, you can also learn about the after-effects of the Homeland War in the 1990s.
The best part about this collection of day trips is three out of the five are already part of the itinerary on Mosaic Travel’s Magnificent Croatia tour. With a flexible schedule and local tips and tricks, the other two also aren’t far off!
For more information about Mosaic Travel’s Croatia tours in June and September 2017, click here.
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