🇭🇷 Dubrovnik

Our Take

Best for: History-loving couples who want medieval walls, Adriatic swimming, and Croatian seafood without the Italian price tag

Dubrovnik's Old Town is one of the most visually perfect medieval cities in the world — the 2km city wall walk (€35 entry, worth every cent) offers views that made it a no-brainer for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. But the city is tiny (the entire Old Town is walkable in 20 minutes) and gets absolutely crushed by cruise ships: up to 8,000 day-trippers flood the Stradun on peak days. The fix is simple — stay overnight so you get early mornings and evenings to yourself. Base in Lapad or Babin Kuk (10 min bus ride, half the price of Old Town hotels) and hit the walls at 8am opening. The beaches are stunning — Banje Beach is the closest to Old Town, but locals prefer Sveti Jakov (a short walk south, far fewer tourists). Black risotto (crni rižot) and fresh grilled fish at a konoba in the Gruž neighborhood run 80-120 HRK (€11-16), versus €25+ for the same dish inside the walls.

“The most photogenic walled city in the Mediterranean — just avoid cruise ship days and eat outside the walls.”