Dubrovnik without the crowds (for cruise ship visitors)

Hi everybody..

Would like to offer you some personal experience regarding the crowds the cruise ship passengers experience in my city of Dubrovnik.

Now, Dubrovnik is not put on tourist map because of fillming that took place recently. But this, along with cheaper flights and cruise ship numbers, taxi applications, airbnb surges and others surly made the city more crowded during turist season.

Cruise ship passengers are maybe (along with locals) the first to experience city during crowds. As they also come mostly all together...This can lead them to negative feeling and deprive them of the option to enjoy really huge cultural, historical and other heretige of the city. In order to prevent such negative outcome, these are some tips to make the best of your day visit to UNESCO protected Old town area as cruise ship passenger.

Hopefully this would also result in some of the readers to like the place, visit again for several days and then enjoy the city (and area)

Tip 1

Maybe if you manage to be out of the ship by 8.30, and go directly to Old city, you have an hour or hour and a half for nice walk around the city before all the tourist crowds arrive.

Tip 2

If you dont feel like Tip 1, maybe Tip 2 is for you. Mostly people come because of old city, UNESCO protected place. But, consider visiting Lapad first and then head for Old City. Lapad is residential area and most interesting part would be The bay of Lapad, with promenade by the sea going from Lapad beach and Hotel Kompas to Hotel President. You can have a breakfast there, or just enjoy great seaside walk (or even a splash) and THEN go to Old city after first wave of tour groups are already on the ship (after noon).

This is maybe an option more for second time visitors that are more into nice, secluded, private, off the beaten track spots, and into getting more local.

Tip 3

Please consider no crowd months for your cruising. This is part of the bigger story, and maybe is not a tip for someone already polishing final details for purchased trip. If you are still thinking about your cruising time, March, April, May, late September, October are interesting option.

This is a link to Port of Dubrovnik schedule for cruise ships.

Tip 4

Stradun (local name for the main street), Luža (central or main square in Stradun), Od puča street ( street parrallel to Stradun) are jam packed. Just go further away from the main street and you will see much less crowds

Map of Old city to show you the crowds (red - jam packed, orange - lot of crowds, green - much better crowds level)

Tip 5

Think about going on the private panoramic boat. Some people go to panoramic points outside the city. Very popular is also cable car and mountin top above the city. While beautiful, very very crowded places. Now, here is an interesting alternative, even more thrilling. Organize in advance, or go to the harbor of Old town, and take a short 45 minutes boat ride outside the Old town walls

Tips 6&7

Had to give this tip 2 places, two tips in one. That is how it is important Have a nice coffee. Sit, order caffelatte, or espresso, or macchiatto and watch the people, crowds, vibe.. Might make a blog post about some hidden coffee bars around the city. And about the role of having a coffee for local vibe. Enjoy.

Tip 8

Learn about the local customs and history. I know most of turists do use some kind of a group (or private) tour, where they get to know some facts. But it goes far beyond facts. You need sort of local insight, local approch, view of things that locals have.

Please check my Private tour Dubrovnik without the crowd if something like this interests you.

Tip 9

Stay a bit in the city. You are maybe a bit tired, or you have your afternoon regular nap on the ship. If you stay after most of the people go back (and lot of groups come and go around the same time)

Tip 10

Get in touch! This is a great usefull tip. Do not be shy in contacting. Would like to get your feedback on these info, are they usefull at all? If there is something you need, or can serve you with any kind of information

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