Here you can read our guests experience about apartment we booked for them, places they visited, things impressed them and many useful advices. Read first-hand impressions from guest who stayed in Dubrovnik in August 2014. If you are looking for a holiday destination that fulfills every taste – culture, history, beaches, mountains, adventure – then look no further than Dubrovnik.

You get confirmation that your holiday choice was a good one even before the plane lands. Coming from Western Europe, you have a great view as the plane approaches Dubrovnik and you get a privileged look at the many islands along the coast.

After driving into town while enjoying a great view of the coast, especially Lokrum Island , we arrived at the wonderful “Studio Harmony 2″ apartment.

The apartment had just been renovated so it was brand new, superbly decorated and well equiped. To make it even better, our hosts went to great lengths to make us feel welcome and comfortable – they could not have been more hospitable.

Another nice surprise is leaving the apartment, crossing the street, and being right in front of Minčeta Tower, on the edge of Old Town. From there, either go right down the (many, many) stairs to Pile gate - the main entrace into Old Town – or take an easier left and enter through Buža gate or Ploče gate further down.

Take your time in Old Town since there is much to see. It is a maze of narrow streets and beautiful old buildings. You will find many restaurants that cater to all tastes  and you will run into wonderfully talented street performers. Take the opportunity to walk on top of the city walls and get an amazing overview of Old Town.

Enjoy the sunset sitting on a bench in Old Port and then head back into Old Town, which gets even busier at night.

For those who love to spend some time swimming and working on their tan, there are many options. From Banje beach, right next to Old Town, to Lapad on the other side of the peninsula, there are many choices.

But if you really want to spend a great day at the beach, catch the ferry at the new port and head over to Lopud island. The ferry  ride itself is worth your time as it crosses some of the many islands along the coast. Then, on Lopud, there will be a small paradise waiting for you. There is a nice sandy beach right near the dock, but if you cross the island to the other side and you will find an even greater option: Šunj beach.

Although having a car in Dubrovnik is not easy due to the difficulty find parking spots do not let that stop you from exploring. Just rent a car for the day and there is plenty you can do. The drive up north is beautiful. You can see the city walls of Ston and if you continue along the coast, you will find many wonderful beaches. And if you stay for longer, take advantage of the excelent location of the town to pay a quick visit to Montenegro (Kotor, Tivat, Budva and Sveti Stefan are close and worth seeing) or drive into Bosnia, visit the beautiful town of Mostar and see the famous old bridge.

Croatia  was a wonderful choice for a holiday and it felt like so much was left unseen that I am sure I will visit it again

Thank you dear guest for this wounderful testimonial from holiday in private apartments in Croatia!

The post Testimonial from holiday in private apartment in Croatia #1 appeared first on Online Croatia.

Park Orsula will present you with bands preforming different types of music.

After hot summer day, this is ideal place to chill out and spend your evening listening good music. Rock, jazz, hip-hop, and traditional Dalmatian bands called klapa -your age is not a limit here. The organizer has very picky taste so at Park Orsula you will have opportunity to enjoy only the best from regional music. Opening hours depend on concerts so the easiest way is to follow them on Facebook where you can get all information about events, program, prices and changes if there is any.

Park Orsula hides just beneath main road leading from Dubrovnik to Cavtat and down the hill. Beautiful amphitheater with stage surrounds old stone chapel of St. Orsula. This chapel was built by one noble family of Dubrovnik republic 5 centuries ago.

From Park Orsula you will have stunning view directly to the Old town, Lokrum, small nearby islands and beautiful Adriatic Sea. This amazing view is even better at night when hundreds of soft yellow lights illuminates Old Town and sailing boats in front of it. This spectacular view makes Park Orsula probably world’s most beautiful open-air stage.

Amphitheater has 350 seats so you can take your drink on the small bar on the top, get yourself comfortable and enjoy looking at the performers down on the stage. The entering tickets cost approx… 10 – 15 € – depending on performer. You can buy it on the entrance or in some of the bars in Dubrovnik. On their Facebook page you will find a list of bars for each concert separately.

From Dubrovnik you can reach Park Orsula in four different ways:

1.Take a walk through the historical caravan route from the Hotel Belvedere. The route was recently cleaned in order to connect Park Orsula with Dubrovnik. Only other way to walk to this place would be on the main road – which can be dangerous, especially at night. If you are willing to walk, romantic caravan route is the perfect introduction to this beautiful place. The routes is illuminated for every concert so just make sure to start early enough.

2. Take public transportation. To reach Park Orsula you can take any of the buses going in direction of Dubrovnik Airport or Cavtat. Buses 10, 11, 16, 16a, 23, 25, 27 and 38 are on your disposal. They all depart from main bus station but you can get in on the bus station behind Grawe building in Gruž, Ina gas station, or bus station on Ilijna Glavica (near traffic lights).

Park Orsula is trying to organize public transport after every concert to get you back to Dubrovnik, but this is something you should also check on their Facebook site. The driver stops on Ilijina Glavica (near the traffic lights) and on Pile Gates (in front of the Old Town) which is excellent option in case you want to continue partying in the Old Town.

3. Take a taxi. This is definitely the easiest option but in Dubrovnik can be most expensive too.

4. Arrive with your own car or motorcycle. Someone will wait for you on the parking and help you to find parking place as there is no enough of them for all visitors. You can also leave your car on the parking less than 1km away. Park Orsula van can pick you up and bring you back once the concert is over.

Park Orsula festival is organized by local association Ambient Croatia. Those few enthusiasts probably have saved this magical place from different investors who would probably ruined its unique beauty. Those people invested lot of capital, but more effort and own physical strength to clean this forgotten place up and make it cozy and approachable from different routes. Now, it is one of the favorite places to go out in Dubrovnik during the summer.

If you decide to book your holiday home in Dubrovnik from June until end of August, do not miss to visit Park Orsula. 

Good music, great atmosphere, decent prices and most beautiful view to Dubrovnik ever – definitely do not miss!

The post Park Orsula appeared first on Online Croatia.

Šipan Island is larger than Koločep and Lopud so cars are necessary for locals, but  luckily only few of them are used.

Name Šipan comes from Latin word “gypana” which means The Island of eagles. Due to its fabulous golden olive oil, it was known as a Golden Island too.  Island has two ports in two biggest villages: Suđurađ (San Giorgio) in the east, and Šipanska Luka (Porto Gippana) in the west.  Suđurađ is the one facing Lopud and it is great option if you want to spend your day on the beach and just get lazy. You will find there great beach bars to refresh or have a coffee in a shade.

Šipanska luka, on the other hand, has great choice of excellent restaurants with delicious local specialties. Here you can be sure that fish and seafood came right from the sea to your plate. Beachfront restaurants are great places for nice romantic restaurants.

Do not get surprised when the waiter shows up without menu and give you only few options for your dinner. Actually, you can take this as advantage as then you can be sure everything is fresh and not kept in the fridge. Feel free to ask the waiter for recommendation. They always have some great tips for you what to eat, where to go and what to do! Bars and restaurants on Šipan Island have very reasonable prices considering the prices are usually much higher on islands. Locals live from tourism but also grow olives, figs, almonds, tomatoes and citrus fruits. You will find here vineyards with finest grapes so do not miss to try local homemade vine. This beautiful island is covered by palm trees more than any other place in this part of Croatian coast.

Šipan Island was inhabited in roman times so you can find many stone ruins from 11th century all over island. There are also few medieval Renaissance and Baroque churches and chapels as well as rustically palaces. Same as Koločep and Lopud, Šipan was the place to hide and relax for noble families of Dubrovnik Republic.

In Suđurađ you can see large summer palace from one of the wealthiest Dubrovnik Republic family – family Skočibuha. You will notice there two large towers. Those towers were very important in old times when the danger from pirates was part of their everyday life. Except its natural beauties, Šipan Island is most interested for those in love in history and architecture. Beautiful palaces of noble families, late-Gothic Rector’s Palace and ruins of archbishop’s palaces will tell you the story about the island.

If you decide to visit all those places and explore Šipan Island, be prepared to take a walk up the hill and make sure to bring bottle of water and wear comfortable shoes. Try to avoid long walks when the sun is strong so the best is to start early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

The view from the top of the island is really something special. Beautiful landscape, vineyards and olive trees – and then the endless beautiful blue sea. The biggest advantage of this island is its peacefulness. If traveling with your loved one and want to spend some time together without being intruded – this is the place for you. Šipan Island is perfect place for a romantic getaway.

Long walks by the sea, romantic restaurants and beautiful beaches could be the great choice to run away from everyday life.

Locals are very friendly and will be happy to tell you the stories about the island but not annoying and loud at all.   If you want to have a bit more active holiday you can also rent a kayak, bike or even take diving lessons.

Šipan Island could be at least visited among Elafiti Islands but therefore at least spoiled by tourism too. You can visit Šipan Island as a part of one day tour popular called There islands cruise or fish picnic trip. This will give you 1 hour maximum to explore which is definitely not enough to get to know this island. But if this is the only option for you definitely do not miss it!

If you plan to spend more than one week on south of Croatia definitely consider to book your holiday home on Šipan Island for at least two or three days. You will leave wishing to stay longer!

The post Šipan Island appeared first on Online Croatia.

Greeks were the ones who first discovered its beauty so it was inhabited for centuries. At this moment, approx. two hundred citizens live there. Lopud Island has everything you might need: restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and ambulance. There is also a post office so surprise someone by old fashioned way – with postcard! There are few restaurants offering variety of local specialties, as fresh fish and seafood so do not miss to try!

While Koločep Island is bit Robinsonian, Lopud is true Mediterranean island. Whole Island is covered with beautiful wild grown bunts of flowers and orange and lemon trees. Lopud Island is perfect small sunny paradise surrounded by the sea. Sadly, this also means that more tourists visit Lopud then Koločep. This is why we rather recommend Lopud Island for those who do not mind full beaches and bit of noise from the bars.

Lopud Island is only inhabited on the part of the island closest to Šipan. There is small village called Lopud too. Across, on the other side of the island you will find beautiful sandy beach in bay Šunj. To reach Šunj from the village you just need to follow the small path across the island. If you want to avoid walking, in port in the village you can also rent a small car called buggy or a bike. Lopud Island is car free zone but has tiny road for this types of vehicles only. There is no classic road and cars so island is free from pollution.

Beautiful beach in bay Šunj is one of the favourite beaches for Dubrovnik citizens too. You will notice them jumping into the sea from their small boats, especially during the weekend.  As the sea gets deeper after 100 m this beach is ideal for children. There is also one great beach bar to hide from the sun and refresh. As all beaches on Dubrovnik coastline are pebble, Šunj will surprise you. On this island you will find 1,2 km of sandy beaches but you can also find one small beach in Lopud village too if you want to get quick refreshment.

In the middle of 15 century, Lopud Island was regional headquarter of Dubrovnik Republic with 80 ships in the fleet which is really large number for such a small island. As Dubrovnik, Lopud had its own rector’s palace too. Nowadays you can only visit it ruins.

Lopud Island was most inhabited in 16^th century. In that time there was more than 30 small churches and number of summer palaces whose owner was Dubrovnik Republic aristocracy. There were also few monasteries on island. Some of those places are well preserved and you can visit them too. If you book your holiday apartment in one of those small houses on Lopud Island do not miss to explore other parts of the island and those old stones ruins. Lopud is great for long walks in the evening when the sun goes down.

On the highest point of the island stands Spanish tower Sutvrač from 16^th century. From that point you will get magnificent view to whole Lopud, other Elafiti Islands and part of Dubrovnik. Beautiful landscape and sun sinking to the sea will take your breath away. Of course, ferry from Dubrovnik harbour and back goes regularly. It will take you approx. 50 minutes to reach Lopud. Just make sure to buy your ticket at least 1 hour prior to departure. Ticket price is 23kn in one direction.

Our tip: If you still want to stay in Dubrovnik, do not miss to visit Lopud. You can book one day fish picnic trip for approx. 250,00 – 300,00 knor kayak tour.

The post Lopud Island appeared first on Online Croatia.

Koločep Island is situated only 1km from Dubrovnik, which is approx. 25min by boat. The ferry from Dubrovnik port goes several times a day but we can also help you to organize private transfer too. Other Elafiti islands are two inhabited neighbour islands Lopud and Šipan, and ten more small islands that are not inhabited. Elafiti islands were some kind of oasis for Dubrovnik Republic noble families and their favourite place to hide from the heath and strong summer sun.

Koločep Island is definitely our favourite one.

We find it great for guests who prefer some type of Robinson holidays. It is covered with pine and olive trees and ideal for walking in shade of trees. There is no car on the island at all, so it is the perfect place to let your children run freely. There is no industry at all too, just clear Mediterranean air with scent of pines and the sea. The only road on Koločep Island connects two small villages: Gornje Čelo and Donje Čelo and it is simply not wide enough for cars. This small trick possibly saved the island from noise and gases from the cars.

Koločep Island has only 150 inhabitants living there during the whole year. Most locals work in Dubrovnik or live from tourism. Name Gornje Čelo literally means Upper forehead and it is situated closer to Dubrovnik. Donje Čelo means Lower forehead and is situated in a small bay with harbour. You will also find bar and restaurant there. These two places are only 15min walking through pinewood surrounded by private properties. Those properties were used for planting in old times. Koločep Island was famous for corals that locals toked out from the sea and sell. Coral earrings or ring are great souvenir from this island. Island was also famous for its seaman’s and for ship building tradition.

Did you know that two members of Colombo’s crew on Santa Maria ship were from Koločep Island? There is one interesting small fortress worth of visit on Koločep Island in Donje Čelo. Fortress named Kaštio was built in 16th centuries when Adriatic Sea was filled with pirates so locals used it to hide during pirates attacks. Sadly, upper part of this fortress is ruined, but you can have a walk in its wide basements. The interesting part of old buildings is also small tower from where locals shaded warm oil or pine gum on intruders and pirates. While walking you will also get to the number of small stone churches and chapels.

In the only hotel on the island in Donje Čelo you can rent bikes and kayaks  and get to know the island from the outside too. You will love its cliffs and hidden caves.  Kayaking around the island will take approx. 3 hour. To walk the whole island around will take your approx. 4 hours. All in all, Koločep Island is ideal for families with children who want to enjoy family moments away from the crowd and in beautiful natural environment. It is also great for couples who want to escape from hustle and bustle of modern life.

So, if you want to escape from crowded places and rivers of tourist and truly enjoy, Koločep Island is a place for you. Do not miss to visit Dubrovnik, so spend one or two days there and take the first ferry to Kolocep. Book your place to run away and switch off your phone. You will not regret.

Our tip: no matter how hard it could be for you try to wake up early in the morning. Say hello to the rising sun. Walk through the pinewoods and take your first swim in beautiful Adriatic see. That one single morning on Koločep Island will be one of the memories you will keep for lifetime!

The post Koločep Island appeared first on Online Croatia.

Having an active holiday and getting to know the city can be expensive so this could be a good choice for you to save some money.

Dubrovnik Card is ticket that includes free entrances to 8 museums, Rectors palace, Dubrovnik city walls and discountson many different places.

There are three types of cards. There is Dubrovnik card for one day, three day and seven day stay, so you can choose depending on your stay and your plans. So if you plan to visit all museums, city walls and do some excursions definitely buy one. It will save you at least some money. For example; regular price of entrance ticket to Dubrovnik city walls is 100,00 kn for adults, and 30,00 kn for younger than 18. Entrance ticket for each museum is 40,00kn for adults, and 20,00 kn for children.

As visiting the city walls is most expensive, you can just buy one day Dubrovnik Card and save money to visit other places too.
Natural history museum, Maritime museum, Rupe Ethnographic museum, Archeologic museum and Museum of modern history and Marin Držić house are in the price too.

Probably the best thing about Dubrovnik Card is public transport. Dubrovnik Card includes free rides on city buses. Number of free rides is limited and depends on type of Dubrovnik Card.

One day Dubrovnik Card costs 150,00kn and includes free public transport for 24 hours (from the moment of the first ride).
Three-day Dubrovnik Card costs 200,00kn and includes 10 rides.
Seven-day Dubrovnik Card costs 250,00kn and includes 20 rides.
Regular price of bus ticket is 12,00 kn if you buy it on kiosk. The price is 15,00 kn if you buy it directly in the bus.
If you book your apartment ( outside of walking distance to the Old Town and plan visiting the Old Town often this can rally save you money.
Suburban areas as Cavtat, Mlini and Zaton are not included in this offer.

Dubrovnik card also includes discounts in many restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. On this list you will also find discounts for beauty services in local salons and excursions. The discount is usually 10 to 20 %.

With each Dubrovnik Card you also get city map with guide to most popular places and important information. There is also a full list of places where you can use it to get a discount. Just make sure to show it each time before you get receipt.

WHERE TO BUY DUBROVNIK CARD
You can buy Dubrovnik Card on 47 different places in Dubrovnik – tourist offices, hotels and travel agencies.
You can also buy Dubrovnik Card online for 10% lower price.
If you decide to buy it this way you will get the voucher and then change it for a card on your arrival in one of tourist offices on Pile, Gruž or Lapad.

Our recommendation is: if you plan to use public transport a lot and want to visit museums and city walls – buy Dubrovnik Card. It is definitely worth it.
On the other hand, if you want just to relax and walk the city on your own it is better to skip it this time.

The post Dubrovnik Card appeared first on Online Croatia.

Elafiti islands are situated northwest of Dubrovnik. It is group of 13 islands between Dubrovnik, Mljet and Pelješac peninusla. Other name for Elafiti islands are Deer‘s islands as their shape reminds of a deer‘s crown.

The largest three islands are Koločep (or Kalamota how locals named it), Šipan and Lopud. Those three islands were peaceful oasis for noble families of Dubrovnik republic centuries ago. Those three islands are also only ones inhabited nowadays. Koločep is the closest one to Dubrovnik, Lopud is the one in the middle and Šipan is the largest one. All three are unique green paradises covered with orange, lemon and cypress threes. Each of them has its own small port, stone churches and stone walls ruins from ancient times. There is really not much to see but beautiful nature, so take it as opportunity to relax from all information and must do and must see you are bombarded in Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik Fish Picnic lasts approx. 8 to 9 hours that include sailing, lunch on board and free time to explore all three islands. The price for Dubrovnik Fish Picnic goes from 250,00kn to 300,00kn which is really great value for money. You can book it on many different places in Dubrovnik, as in Old Port or Uvala bay in Lapad area. Dubrovnik Fish Picnic price includes all: boat ticket, tasty lunch and local drinks. You just make sure to bring swimming suit, sunglasses, towel and sun protection.The only must do on Dubrovnik Fish Picnic is to enjoy and to relax!

When booking Dubrovnik Fish Picnic make sure to pick the meal in advance. You can choose between fish, chicken and vegetarian meal. Welcome drink, non-alcoholic beverages and local wines are also included in price for all Dubrovnik Fish Picnic tours. You can book your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic every day during the summer.  Departure is early in the morning from the harbor of Gruž. First Island to visit is the closest one – Koločep Island.

 It is a first stop on your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic so you will have some free time for sightseeing or swimming. Koločep is closest to Dubrovnik. It is situated only 5km from port of Gruž. It has plenty small sandy beaches. You can also refresh by jumping to the crystal clear Adriatic sea from your boat. It is a great experience. You will love it! Next one to visit on your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic is Šipan Island – the further one and the largest one.

On Šipan you can explore the village of Suđurađ where you will find small medieval church build from stones. There you will also have some free time for sightseeing and swimming. Šipan is famous for its palm trees. The lunch is served while sailing from Šipan to Lopud Island. Lopud is last stop on your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic tour.

Lopud Island is situated in the middle between Koločep and Šipan. Lopud has great sandy beaches you will definitely enjoy. You have probably noticed that sandy beaches are rare in Croatia. You will be happy to know that Dubrovnik Fish Picnic is taking you to the one of those few – Šunj on Lopud Island. On Lopud you will have approx. 3 hours of free time to explore the island, swim and relax. Sipping cold drink at lounge bar on Šunj beach will be just the perfect end of your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic tour.

Arrival to port of Gruž from Dubrovnik Fish Picnic is around 6 p.m. This will leave you enough time to enjoy your evening in Dubrovnik Old Town and do some of 5 must do while in Dubrovnik.

If you are not interested in Dubrovnik Fish Picnic and you would like to visit these three islands that is possible too. Instead of Dubrovnik Fish Picnic you can book only excursion and then choose your own place to have a lunch. If you chose this option, while on the islands do not miss to try some of the best Croatian dishes.

If you decide to book your holiday home on one of the three islands and hide from the hustle and bustle of modern world, check our offer () of beautiful holiday homes in hidden bays of Deer’s islands!

Our tip: Once when on your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic you will notice one small, romantic island with lighthouse between Koločep and Lopud. It is called Sveti Andrija (or Saint Andrew). Prosecution from Dubrovnik to Sveti Andrija Island was one of the heaviest penalties for residents of Dubrovnik Republic. It is small and rocky island with beautiful cliffs sinking to the sea. There is no residents but birds now days, but long time ago the lighthouse keeper lived there for whole year. Now they just work their shift there and go back to their homes. There are few tragically stories about love between lighthouse keeper and girl from Lopud island. Ask your skipper to tell it to you. It will be more interesting to hear it there from the boat then just reading it.

So do not miss to book your Dubrovnik Fish Picnic and remember only must do on Elafiti Islands are to relax and enjoy!

The post Dubrovnik Fish Picnic appeared first on Online Croatia.

Well, you might have seen it in mega popular HBO TV series Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik Game of Thrones locations are very popular among young tourists lately. Besides being the pearl of Adriatic, Dubrovnik became town of the kings too! Game of Thrones was based on George Martin’s novels - A Song of Ice and Fire. It is a story about war between seven kingdoms for the control and power for the Iron Thorne – the King’s Landings.

It is filmed in four successful seasons with fans all around the world. Dubrovnik Games of Thrones was filmed in three seasons by now. Dubrovnik represents King’s Landing – the capital of Seven Kingdoms situated in the mythical land of Westeros.  This magical city was just perfect location for filming, but the city walls had to be changed a bit by computer animation.  The role of King’s Landings first belonged to Malt, but Dubrovnik played that important role from the second season. If you watched it, you will recognize Old Town walls in the attack of Baratheons scenes. Especially interesting Dubrovnik Game of Thrones scenes are filmed on most famous Dubrovnik fortress.

Lovrijenac Fortress (St. Lawrence’s fortress) represents Reed Keep – the castell of young and evil King Joffrey. This amazing fortress is a part of many battle scenes in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones episodes. When you look down from Lovrijenac, you will see the Blackwater Bay and bloody battle scenes underneath it. The biggest scene filmed in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones is rebellion against King Joeffery.

Even small city parks were used to film countryside scenes in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones. In Dubrovnik Game of Thrones you will also recognize St. Dominic Street. This curvy street leads to the Ploče gates – the east entrance to the Old Town Dubrovnik.

Lokrum – the small Island across Dubrovnik is actually Qarth. All trading routes are passing through this great and important city. Rector’s Palace also represented this magical city in some scenes of Dubrovnik Game of Thrones. Quart is pictured as a beautiful oasis surrounded by the desert.

From Buza bar, you can have great view to Lokrum Island while sipping the cold drink in warm summer days too!

Zarkovica hill in Dubrovnik surrounding was desert of Khal Drogo – one of the major characters from the first season. This warrior falls in love with Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons who decided to fight for the King’s Landings too. Part of Dubrovnik Game of Thrones was also centuries old arboretum in Trsteno. Trsteno is small place approx. 20km away from Dubrovnik. Trsteno represents gardens of the King’s Landings palace in Dubrovnik Game of Thrones.

The series became popular all over the world with lots of fans. Many fans are coming to Croatia only to see the places where the scenes Dubrovnik Game of Thrones were taken. The series is very interesting but very often also brutal and bloody. While filming Dubrovnik Game of Thrones scenes around 1000 locals and tourists played as statist. To be a part of this gigantic project was a dream of every young tourist and citizen of Dubronik too.

Filming map covers different places. Other locations for Game of Thrones were Iceland, Scotland, Ireland and Morocco. Iceland represented Beyond The Wall – dark side of the world. Doune Castle in Scotland was Winterfell. This historical castle is actually around one hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Games of Thrones Winterfell is one of the seven kingdoms that belonged to the Stark family. Castle Ward in Northern Ireland was Winterfell’s courtyard and actually is only few kilometres south of Belfast. County Antrim in Northern Ireland was used as parts of the Dothraki Sea.

Our tip: While in Dubrovnik you can book one-day walking tour ()to see all shooting places. The price is around $80,00.

As a part of this tour you will see the place where the scene when Joffrey starts a riot at King’s Landing was shot, Jaime’s return to King’s Landings and many, many others scenes. The tour includes the guide (usually person who was the part of the set) and entrance tickets to Dubrovnik city walls, Lovrijenac Fortress and excursion to Trsteno Arboretum.

For biggest fans there is 12-day Discover Croatia tour  for approx.. $2,149,00. This 12-day tour will show you highlights from Dubrovnik Game of Thrones and all other locations around Croatia.

Split – beautiful town in middle Dalmatia is new location for season 4 of Game of Thrones. It is still not clear what it will represent but some scenes were already done at place that really was a palace of an emperor. The palace belonged to Roman emperor Diocletian and was built in 4^th century. KIis Fortress was place where Daenerys gains back her power. Klis is situated 13, 5 km away from Split and around 27 km away from Trogir. Trogir is one of the best places to visit in Croatia so do not miss it! Beautiful National Park Krka on Krka River in the background of Šibenik was a great place to take the shots of countryside. Krka is close to one more of the best places to visit in Croatia – Skradin,so visit this beautiful place too.

If you decide to visit middle Dalmatia book your apartment in Trogir and Split area and take a tour around. If you are ready to party, why not combine it with visiting Ultra Europe Festival in Split in June 2014?

If you imagined Dubrovnik as boring historical city this changed you mind for sure!

Book your apartment in Dubrovnik and visit King’s Landings now!

The post Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik! appeared first on Online Croatia.

We are presenting you local tips. Do not miss our top five must do in Dubrovnik! Of course, most amazing part of Dubrovnik are city walls and museums. Visit them and take pictures! Create memories that will stay long in your heart and mind when you think of Dubrovnik. Best way to feel this town is with these top five must do in Dubrovnik.

Top five must do in Dubrovnik

Walk small streets behind Cathedral

Stradun,  main Street of the Old Town is stunning, but you will fall in love with hidden streets just behind cathedral.

Climb up beautiful stone stairs and check how it is to live in the Old Town. You will pass right on the doorsteps of people lucky enough to live there.

Pass through the labyrinth of small streets with flowers hanging from the balconies. You will love windows covered with the green wooden covers protecting residents from the heath and noise from the street. You will feel real Mediterranean atmosphere there, so it is definitely one of the top five must do in Dubrovnik! You cannot get lost. Stradun will always be down as your orientation point so take time and enjoy just looking around.

This walk can lead you to second of top five must do in Dubrovnik…

Our tip: try not to use your camera too often. Just wander around and enjoy!

Top five must do in Dubrovnik

Have a drink at Buža bar

Buža bar is situated on cliffs just behind Old city walls. Buža is a local word for the hole. And that it is – a hole in massive old walls giving you the best view  to Lokrum Island across. Try to come in the sunset. It will be most beautiful sunset you will ever experience while soft music plays in the background. They serve everything from regular coffee to cold drinks and snacks. Some find it pricy, but also admit it is unique, and definitely one of the top five must do in Dubrovnik!

The easiest way to find this hidden place is just to climb the stairs behind Cathedral and following the signs. While there, order a glass of refreshing Croatian beer and watch people jumping in the sea from high cliffs in nearby. This is something that locals love to do but lately it is especially popular among Australian tourists. For Australians this is one more top five must do in Dubrovnik but we would not recommend it as you really have to be careful to avoid hitting the rocks under the sea.

Our tip: it is not recommended to visit with children for safety reasons.

Top five must do in Dubrovnik

Walk the city at night

Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful places in the world and therefore full of tourists from the early spring to the late fall. You will probably be very annoyed by the hustle and bustle and rivers of people pushing and hitting you under your ribs while you just want to look around.

This is one of the top five must do in Dubrovnik because you simply cannot leave Dubrovnik without truly seeing it. Make sure to go out and have a walk through the main street Stradun the late as possible at night. As soon as you pass through Pile or Ploče gates you will see its full beauty. Do not expect to be alone there as most bars and places to go out are situated inside the city walls. It will be completely new experience to see it almost empty. As someone once said, it will be like when the party is over and all guests leave. You will just want to stop for a moment and enjoy the silence. Take a walk and look around. Take a break from learning history facts and explore for your soul only.

Our tip: If not too late, sit at one of the bars right on Stradun and order a glass of vine. It is simply a wonderful way to finish the day! Definitely one of the top five must do in Dubrovnik!

Top five must do in Dubrovnik

Take the cable car up to hill Srđ

Cable car will take you to the top of hill above the city in only few minutes to give you the best view of Dubrovnik. You will have whole Dubrovnik right on your palm! On the corner of your eye you will see small town on south.  Cavtat is one of the best places to visit in Croatia so do not miss it! The view from Srđ is especially amazing in the sunset. Once you are there you can try some of the best Croatian dishes at panoramic restaurant. Prices are not too high and atmosphere is great.

You will not resist to make at least one selfie, so when you do feel free to post it on our Facebook page.  We would love to see it, so you can just add it as one more must do in Dubrovnik! Ticket to the cable car goes around 13€ for both directions. In the summer it runs from 9 a.m. till midnight. You can also buy one in one direction and then simply stroll down walking.

Our tip: Try to catch the last one to go back down – simply must do in Dubrovnik

Top five must do in Dubrovnik

Visit D’vino bar

D’vino bar is situated in the third street on the left if you are entering the Old Town from Pile gates. It offers wide selection of best Croatian and foreign wines. The best thing is that you do not have to buy the whole bottle but just a glass. So if you do not know anything about Croatian wines and you are willing to learn this is the place for you.

Croatian vines are real discovery for tourists, so what you must do in Dubrovnik is to forget of any other vines but Croatians. The atmosphere is cozy, excellent to relax after long hot summer day. The waiters will be happy to help you with your choice and teach you some basics. As Dubrovnik is considered to be one of the most romantic places in the world, this could be the right place for escape for you and your love one. If you are a wine lover this is the most important of top five must do in Dubrovnik for you.

Our tip: Order homemade smoked ham called pršut and cheese platter with olives to enjoy with your wine.

So book your apartment or villa in Dubrovnik and begin with your top five must do in Dubrovnik now!

The post Top five must do in Dubrovnik appeared first on Online Croatia.

The time when the sun and the sea were only thing to offer to the tourists passed long time ago. More and more tourist agencies are creating very interesting offers. Here are some options for what to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island for you.

Our tip: to enjoy every minute of your holiday explore the options before arriving. If you want to have some active holidays we recommend to check our offer and book apartment at Okrug Gornji on Čiovo Island.

What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island

Kayaking

We suggest you two routes: kayak to the nearby islands or around town of Trogir.

Route around Trogir is 7 km (4,5 miles) long and takes 3 hours.
Route starts in Seget Donji. From Seget continues to Trogir and back to Seget.

Trogir is surrounded by the sea so you will have the opportunity to see the whole town from different perspective. Instead of following your guide through crowded streets, this way you can also get lots of interesting information. The atmosphere is very relaxing so you usually get more than rough statistics. You will get true lively story about the town history and cultural heritage.

If you are afraid kayak is to demanding for you, do not be! You will get the opportunity to stop for a while. You can have a rest on the beach and refresh in Adriatic sea. You can chose between morning or evening routes.

Second route starts from Port of Seget Donji  too. First goes one-hour boat drive to Drvenik Island. From there you will take your kayak for 7 km (4,5 miles) long tour.

While on Drvenik, do not miss to see beautiful Blue Lagoon beach and swim in crystal clear sea. You will feel like in tropical paradise in the middle of Adriatic Sea. A full day trip starts around 8:30am and finishes around 4:30pm.

Previous experience is not necessary, as the routes are not very demanding. Minimum age is 8, so this could be very nice family trip. The price is around 35€ – 45€. Most companies are providing a drink or even a light lunch in one of the many beach restaurants and bars. Both routes are available from middle of the May until the end of September.

Our tip: If you already have experience and prefer to go on your own, you can rent kayak and enjoy by yourself. Bring some water, sun protection and hat. You can find many beach bars and small restaurants to have a snack and refresh. If you are thinking about what to do while in Trogir and Čiovo Island, kayaking is wonderful option.

What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island  

Biking

Trogir is one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Do not stop there and discover the whole area with the bike!

If your want to explore side areas and see the parts that you cannot visit by car, renting a bike is a good idea.

You can rent bicycles at many points in Trogir and Ciovo Island. It is even possible to order one to your apartment door. You can rent bicycles in different sizes and for all ages, so family holidays can be very fun. Most charming route to cycling on the island Ciovo is through Slatine and Okrug Gornji. You can also go all the way to Trogir and more forward to Seget Vranjica.

Price to rent a bike  goes around 15 – 20€ per day. Protective helmet is included but do not forget to bring some water, hat and protective cream.

By bike, you will get the opportunity to visit uninhabited parts of the island. There is nice route next to the 2 km long pebble beach in Okrug Gornji. It is full of beach bars where you can stop and refresh. You will also find many restaurants with traditional dishes and light lunches. It is not necessary to bring the food with you. Check our recommendations for your lunch and choose between some of the best Croatian dishes.

Our Tip: The beautiful landscape is there for you to discover. Do not hesitate to stop and talk to the locals. They will be happy to help you with advices.

If kayak is not your option for what to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island take your family to the unforgettable sightseeing by bike!

What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island 

Multi sport Tour

Multi-sport tour combines bike and kayak. This is great opportunity to explore the area from the inside and the outside. Tour starts with 10 kilometers (6miles) bicycle tour and finishes with 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) kayak tour. The tour starts in the village of Zedno – few kilometers away from Trogir. From there you will bike to the top of the island. While on top, stop and look at the fabulous islands in front of you. Then turn around and on the other side, you will see beautiful mountains of Kozjak and Mosor. This route will take you to the Lady of Prizidnica. It is small sanctuary on a beautiful and unique location. Here you will feel nothing but tranquility.

After that, you will cycle to the small beach for a break and light lunch. Traditional Dalmatian food is on menu of course. If not hungry, you can just relax on the beach, take a swim or snorkel before jumping in your kayak.

After exploring Ciovo Island from the inside, paddling around it will make the picture complete.  Stunning cliffs and amazing sea caves shaped by the sea will show you all its beauty. On this tour, you will stop for a while and have a rest on small beach. This beach can be reached only from the sea. Here you will be served again with delicious traditional Dalmatian food.

After lunch, you will have enough time to enjoy the see, swim and snorkel before paddling back to the north side of Čiovo Island. You might be tired but you batteries will be full. This route takes around 8 hours and it starts in the morning around 9 am. Suggested minimum age is 12 years and the price goes around 100€ per person.

Our tip: Ask for family or group discount if there are more than three of you. Try not to drink too much of vine with your lunch. Under the strong sun it will make you feel dizzy.

If you are coming in July 2014 do not miss to visit Ultra Europe Festival in Split!

If you are coming with the friends this can be fabulous answer to what to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island. Definitely do not miss it!

The post What to do in Trogir and Čiovo Island? appeared first on Online Croatia.