Croatia

There’s a booming tourist industry in Croatia, and it’s a popular holiday destination for a reason. And while I’m sure you can tell me how many beautiful and historical sights I should have visited in Croatia, all I really ever wanted to see was Dubrovnik. I went on a day trip from Kotor in Montenegro.

Dating back to the 13th century, the walls that enclose the city are worth visiting in themselves, and I spent a long time just walking up and down the walls and marvelling at the views of the Adriatic, the famous terracotta rooftops, churches, towers, forts and other mediaeval buildings.

Someone told me that the city walls were never tested in battle in all those years since it was founded, right up until 1991/2, when the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) besieged Dubrovnik for seven months. About 56% of the city’s buildings were damaged to some degree, but as a World Heritage Site, the damage caused by the shelling was repaired under UNESCO guidelines, so today it looks incredible.

A visit to the Homeland War Museum is a must – it’s easy to lose sight of the story of human suffering when so much emphasis is giving to how the city itself was rebuilt.

There is some beautiful architecture, and plenty of places to sit for a drink and a spot of people watching, but it’s also very very touristy. I was there in April, and as you can see, this is what is commonly described as ‘almost completely empty’!

Although if you want to walk around the walls, try and get there as early as possible and hope you don’t get stuck behind a group of 30 people just off a cruise ship.

Of course everyone quotes George Bernard Shaw, and I’m not going to be the exception! He said “Those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik.” And let’s face it, he said that before the onset of mass tourism, but there is so much history, albeit sometimes tragic, and it’s really absolutely stunning. And no visit to Dubrovnik would be complete with getting excited about seeing King’s Landing from Game of Thrones!

Dubrovnik is so worth making a special effort to visit.