Region in Croatia
Dalmatia – Dubrovnik
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Croatia
The Dubrovnik region is the far south of Croatia, a long, narrow strip of coast between the mountains and the sea that runs from the Neretva delta to the border with Montenegro.
Dubrovnik's walled old town is the star, but the region also takes in the vineyards and oyster beds of the Pelješac peninsula, the green islands of Korčula, Mljet and Lastovo, the car-free Elaphiti islands and the quiet villages of Konavle. Inland, the Neretva river spreads into a delta of canals and mandarin orchards. Summer is busy and hot, so late spring and early autumn are the sweetest times to come.
Things to do
Don't miss in Dalmatia – Dubrovnik
- Walk Dubrovnik's city walls early in the morning, then spend the rest of the day exploring beyond the old town.
- Take a day trip by boat to the Elaphiti islands: sandy Šunj bay on Lopud, the quiet olive groves of Šipan and tiny Koločep.
- Walk the medieval walls of Ston, among the longest fortification systems in Europe, and eat oysters fresh from the bay in Mali Ston.
- Taste Plavac Mali on the steep Pelješac vineyards of Dingač and Postup, and Pošip and Grk on Korčula.
- Watch the Moreška, a centuries-old sword dance performed in Korčula town in summer.
- Cycle or kayak around the two saltwater lakes of Mljet National Park and take the boat to the monastery on St Mary's islet.
- Ride a traditional boat through the canals of the Neretva delta, and try the local frog and eel stew in the villages around Opuzen and Metković.
Getting there
How to get to Dalmatia – Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) is at Čilipi, about 20 km south-east of Dubrovnik and close to Cavtat and the Konavle valley. Driving down from Split, the coast road now crosses the Pelješac Bridge, so you no longer pass through the short Bosnian stretch at Neum; the A1 motorway ends near Ploče, and the last part is on the coast road. From Dubrovnik's port in Gruž, ferries and catamarans serve the Elaphiti islands, Mljet, Korčula and Lastovo, and in summer catamarans link Korčula with Split and Hvar. A car ferry crosses from Orebić on Pelješac to Korčula.