2013 Dubrovnik Summer Festival Tickets

The 64^th annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival will kick off in Dubrovnik’s Old Town on July 10^th and run through August 25^th.  The festival will feature a wide range of events including theatre, classical music, traditional Croatian music, and a special appearance by international performer Rufus Wainwright. 

Tickets for limited performances are currently available online at https://www.ulaznice.com.hr/paganini/app/web_v2/ctl_evt.jsp?act=priredbe&p=t&t=4&lang=ENG, with more to be added closer to the beginning of the festival.  For a full schedule of events and locations, visit the festival website: http://www.dubrovnik-festival.hr/Default.aspx.
 

Dubrovnik to Mljet Catamaran

A great day trip from Dubrovnik is to the island of Mljet. However, many visitors to Dubrovnik have difficulty finding information about how to get there. There is a daily catamaran to the port of Sobra on Mljet named “Nona Ana” that operates year round. The timetable varies depending on the month and during the peak season of July & August it also continues on to Korcula and Lastovo. The full schedule can be viewed online here: Dubrovnik - Mljet Catamaran.       

Croatia Expected to Join EU in July 2013

If all goes as planned, Croatia is expected to become a full member of the European Union on the 1st of July 2013. This will lead to increased freedom for Croatians to travel, study, and work abroad and for goods to move freely across borders. However, not all Croatians are convinced that joining the EU is a good thing for Croatia.

A new study done by the Eurobarometer organization showed that 32% of Croatians think joining the EU will be a negative step for the country. Only 31% are looking forward to the entry, and the remaining 37% are indifferent to it. Only 21% of Croatians polled expect that their lives will be better during the next 12 months, while 27% expect that they will be worse, and 49% don’t expect them to change.

Only time will tell if EU membership is a good thing for Croatia. Visitors to Croatia will not likely see any immediate changes and the local currency will remain the Kuna. While the EU has some control over many laws at a state level, many bureaucratic rules and requirements are set at a local level and will likely be slow to liberalize.

2013 Croatian Ferry Schedules

Those planning their trips to Croatia this year will need to consult ferry schedules when creating their island hopping itineraries. Unfortunately, Jadrolinija, the Croatian national ferry company, has not yet published their schedules for their coastal and local routes in 2013. Most likely they will continue their local daily service between the mainland and most islands, but it is unknown if the coastal ferry that runs from Rijeka to Dubrovnik via Split, Hvar, Korcula, and Mljet will operate.

For now, the only 2013 schedules to be published are the international routes between Italy and Croatia. The following are links to those schedules online:

Ancona to Zadar

Ancona to Split, via Stari Grad, Hvar

Bari to Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Christmas Fair

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board, together with the City of Dubrovnik, is hosting a Christmas fair in Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It will start on Saturday, 1 December and go through Sunday, 6 January, and be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. It will be located at the entrance to the cinema in the Luza building, just off of the Stradun. For sale at the fair will be Christmas decorations, advent wreathes, candles, embroidery, glass works, and ceramics.

Self-Service Laundry near Dubrovnik's Old Town

For those that need to wash clothes while in Dubrovnik, look no further than Sanja & Rosie’s Launderette. It is located at Put Od Bosanke 2, just outside the Ploce Gate entrance to Old Town. There are several professional washing machines and dryers available and they accept Kuna coins and notes. One washing cycle costs 50 Kuna and dryers are priced at 10 Kuna for 10 minutes. The Laundromat has a funky, retro vibe and is open daily from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm.

Sanja & Rosie’s Launderette is very convenient for those staying in private apartments and villas in and around the Old Town. For more information please visit their website, www.DubrovnikLaundry.com.

A Small Escape

A great way to escape the crowds of the Old Town and the high prices of its restaurants is to have dinner in one of the small villages along the coast just outside of the city.  A perfect venue for such a meal is Konoba King, a small family-operated restaurant in Plat (a small village just 20 minutes from Dubrovnik by car). The restaurant sits on a small residential street leading down to the sea and one of the area’s best beaches.

Upon arrival at the restaurant diners climb a flight of stairs to a charming, peaceful terrace with views of the sea (and, unfortunately, an abandoned hotel in ruins just across the street). They are greeted by the friendly waitstaff, all of whom are members of the family. The patriarch can be seen at the end of the terrace, preparing large platters of meat and fresh seafood on an open grill. The menu is simple (grilled meat, grilled fish, salads, and a few pasta dishes), but the quality of the food is high and the prices are low. Stand-outs include the mixed grill and grilled squids, both served with a large plate of grilled vegetables and a generous serving of French fries. Everything is presented attractively and there is plenty of good local wine to enliven the already jovial atmosphere.

Konoba King is open from 19:00 to 23:00, 7 days per week during the warmer months only.