Dubrovnik makes New York Times’ “Places to Go in 2012” List

The New York Times’ travel section recently released their list of “Places to Go in 2012”. Dubrovnik made the list as number 36 of 45 destinations. The author of the list refers to Dubrovnik as “the St.-Tropez of the Balkans”, a comparison often made by journalists and travel writers. The article highlights the newly renovated cable car above the Old Town, the French-fusion restaurant Gils, and the Croatian tapas restaurant Lucin Kantun.

For the entire list, visit the New York Times travel section website: New York Times.

Christmas in Dubrovnik

The holiday season is a great time to visit Dubrovnik. It is a time when the Old Town fills with locals gathering to celebrate and spread holiday cheer. A festive atmosphere abounds at the café bars lining the Stradun and the city is dressed up with decorations and sparking lights. There are seasonal events such as small Christmas markets, concerts, carolers, and Christmas parties. The festivities begin on December 6th, which is recognized as St. Nicholas’s day, and continue on through the start of the New Year. Flights and accommodation are also very reasonably priced this time of year and the weather is almost certain to be much better than in most of Europe or North America.

High Tea in Dubrovnik

A great way to warm up this winter is to have afternoon tea at the Hilton Hotel, located just outside of the Old Town’s Pile Gate. The Hilton is running a winter promotion called “Imperial Afternoon”. Every day from 15:00 – 19:00 guests can enjoy a wide selection of cakes with a coffee or tea for only 45 kuna. They can be enjoyed in the confines of the Hilton’s warm, luxurious lobby bar and are accompanied by piano performances on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Cakes are mostly of the Viennese variety with traditional apple strudel, Sacher tort, and Esterhazy cake (chocolate butter cream sandwiched between sponge cake) making appearances on the buffet. For guests with a car, the hotel provides 3 hours of free parking.

Winter in Dubrovnik

Winter in Dubrovnik can be a very rewarding time to visit if you manage your expectations. The weather can range from warm and sunny to cool and rainy. Whatever the weather, it is almost certain to be warmer than in most European and North American cities.

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is quiet and visitors often feel like they have it to themselves. Most sights of interest are open, but with limited hours owing to the shorter days. Many restaurants in Dubrovnik close during the winter months, but some of the better restaurants that cater to locals as well as tourists remain open through the winter. Cold winter days are also a great time to relax with a book and a coffee or hot chocolate in one of Dubrovnik’s cozy cafes, with the grand Austrian-style GradsKavana being a top choice.

The winter in Dubrovnik also offers good value. Accommodation is readily available and inexpensive. Flights are diminished, but so are the ticket prices. Even prices at restaurants and cafes sometimes fall during the winter months. Keep an eye out for winter specials such as “High Tea” at the Hilton hotel, which offers a coffee or tea and an all-you-can-eat buffet of cakes and sweets for just 45 kuna.

For those seeking sun and long days at the beach, Dubrovnik is not a winter destination. However, for those that want to see the sights and have this centuries-old architecturally-wonderful city to themselves, the winter can be the perfect time for a short visit.

Additions to Dubrovnik Restaurant Guide

Some time ago we shared a Dubrovnik Restaurant Guide through a series of posts on this blog. Since then several new restaurants have opened in the Dubrovnik area and we would like to add a few of those to the list:

Restaurant Dubrovnik, Marojice Kaboge 5 Croatian fare with an Italian twist. Bacon-wrapped pork medallions, homemade pasta with truffle sauce, and squid stuffed with goat cheese are some of the standouts, and the first-floor terrace dining area is lovely. It is more expensive than most restaurants in Old Town, but worth it for the romantic and elegant setting, attentive service, and imaginative food.

Komarda, Frana Supila This casual restaurant (located just outside of the Ploce Gate) serves mid-priced local fare (meat, seafood, pasta, salads), but the real reason for coming here is the pleasant seaside setting that gives diners a postcard-worthy view of the Old Town’s port. It’s a great spot to while away a few daytime or evening hours.

Orsan Yacht Club, Ivana Zajca 2, Lapad Lovely seaside restaurant that serves the standard Dalmatian menu with an emphasis on fish and seafood. It’s a bit pricey and parking can be a problem, but the picturesque harborside seating and tranquil atmosphere can’t be beat. On a budget? Go at lunch time and ask the waiter about the “Marende”, a daily lunch special offered at a low price, usually 35-45 kuna.

King Konoba, Plat (below the main road, turn off is at the Plat bus stop) Off-the-beaten-path family restaurant with a pleasant covered terrace dining area. 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.

Restaurant Dalmacija, Trumbicev put 9, Cavtat Dalmatian fare served on a covered terrace with sea views. Try the “Steak Dalmacija” served on a sizzling cast-iron plate. They also have a nice dessert list.

Cruise Ships in Croatia

The cruise ship industry makes up a major part of Croatian tourism, often to the dismay of other visitors and local business owners. It was recently announced that Croatia expects 1.2 million visitors from cruise ships this year, but each passenger spends only 43 Euros during their stay in the country. This is far less than other visitors who spend money on accommodation, tours, transportation, souvenirs, food, and drinks. Most of these services are already provided on the ships, so cruise ship passengers often buy little more than an ice cream and an inexpensive souvenir.

During the last 5 years the number of cruise ship passengers visiting Croatia has doubled. This had lead to overcrowding in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, a problem that is obvious to anyone visiting the Old Town on a busy day in July or August. Often there are long lines just to enter the city and the conditions inside the city walls can be very unpleasant. Luckily passengers head back to their ships in the evening and the Old Town regains its beauty and charm at night; a reward for those who decide to stay in Dubrovnik for more than just a few hours. For those that wish to avoid the crowds, the Dubrovnik Port Authority website has a schedule of cruise ship traffic (listed as “Dolasci/Odlasci”) and a color-coded chart showing how many passengers will be in the city on any given day. By using this chart visitors can make the most of their visit by planning their excursions out of town on busy cruise ship days and then exploring the Old Town on lighter days.

Dubrovnik Cable Car

A great way to get a bird’s eye view of Dubrovnik is to make the 405 meter ascent to the peak of Srdj hill. Until last year this could only be done by foot (for the very fit) or by car (for the brave), but now a cable car takes passengers there from the Old Town in just 4 minutes. The cable car station is located near the Ploce bus station, just 3-minutes walking distance from the Buza Gate entrance to Old Town. There are 2 cable cars and each holds 30 people so wait times are generally short.

Once at the top there is a café bar and restaurant with a panoramic view of Dubrovnik and the islands. There is also a souvenir shop, amphitheatre (available to rent for events), and a war museum dedicated to the conflict that consumed the region in the early 1990s. Tickets are priced at 50 Kuna each way or 80 Kuna roundtrip for adults and 25 Kuna each way or 40 Kuna round trip for children ages 4 – 12. Children under 4 are free.

The cable car is open year round and departures are every half hour between the following hours:

January: 9 am to 4 pm
February: 9 am to 5 pm
March: 9 am to 5 pm
April: 9 am to 8 pm
May: 9 am to 8 pm
June: 9 am to midnight
July: 9 am to midnight
August: 9 am to midnight
September: 9 am to 8 pm
October: 9 am to 8 pm
November: 9 am to 5 pm
December: 9 am to 4 pm