I have seen posts on the Forum that Dubrovnik can be “crowded” when cruise ships are in port. We will be on one of those ships April 22, a Monday, from 9:00h to 22:00h. I would be grateful for suggestions for places to visit later in the afternoon and into the evening.
Jon
Posted by
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
3044 posts
You're not getting many responses. Have you looked at RS' book on Cruise travel in the Mediterranean? Most here are not cruise oriented. We have gone to 2 restaurants in Dubrovnik. I would think that the best bet would be to make an immediate reservation once off the boat. We went to a nice restaurant, just outside the Pile Gate. My thought would be to go counter-traffic - whatever everyone on the boat is doing, do the opposite. Do the reservation first, walk the walls second. Our favorite bar is the Buzz Bar. Everyone else goes to the Buza Bar, on the wall. The Buzz Bar is located on the first cross-alley away from the Strada in the hill direction. Other good restaurants on the alley as well.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17865 posts
Stay inside the walls. Just wander; its compact and easy. Its beautiful at night.... The good: everything is designed to cater to tourists so you will find plenty to see and do. The bad news is that everything is designed to cater to tourists.
Posted by
Hickory, NC USA
437 posts
We enjoyed a concert at a small venue just inside one of the walls, and also having drinks at the bars that are outside of the wall over the water. We also walked the wall starting about 1.5 hours before it closed and found it uncrowded that late.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
4078 posts
When we were there in October 2017 there were 3 cruise ships. Luckily we got in at 7am and headed straight to the old town and walked the walls before the crowds got there. I would switch your plan and head to Old Town later in the day when the crowds start leaving. I'd really recommend the walking the walls later when they won't be so crowded.
Here's a website I found last time I cruised. https://www.cruisetimetables.com/visitingdubrovnikcroatia-22apr2020.html
It gave me an idea of how busy every port would be on our trip. Your're in luck, it appears you're the only ship that day. Still if everyone goes to town, it will be busy. You're ship will probably offer a bus to town for about $10 per person. The port will have plenty of cabs that will likely charge you $15 euros. I'd recommend hopping a cab, even offer to share one with another couple. Same thing for the way back. Our ship's bus was heading back to the port 2 hours before we sailed. We shared a cab back and got an extra hour. The cab stand back is just outside the walls. I spoke to another couple who used Uber both ways.
I can't recommend other places in Dubrovnik as we didn't have a full day and did Old Town only.
Posted by
25 posts
I think we’re on the same ship! Anxious to read the replies.