Aptly named The Pearl of Adriatic, Croatia’s southern port city of Dubrovnik is well worth the full day of travel it takes to reach from the country’s northern region.

Only accessible by land via car and bus or by sea, the city has maintained its old world charm despite the throngs of tourists that flood its streets.

I visited Dubrovnik nearly five years ago (when tourism was just starting to pick up) and fell in love with slow pace of the city and the hospitality of its citizens.

Lacking formal hostels, budget-minded travelers, like myself, instead stay in Sobes – residences.  As soon I arrived in the city I was greeted surrounded by local women yelling “Sobe! Sobe! My Sobe!” all vying to have me stay with them in their homes.

The system is lovely; travelers stay with local families and get a closer look at daily life in Croatia and locals can often earn a living by giving up a room or two in their homes each night.

The Old Town area (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the unavoidable highlight of Dubrovnik.

While few people still live in Old Town and most buildings have been turned into cafes and over-bearing souvenir shops, the real value of the area is the view.

Two kilometers of thick stone walls surround a sea of red-roofed buildings.

From turreted corners, you get an unobstructed view of the Adriatic Sea and nearby islands.

While Dubrovnik was picturesque in nearly every way, it paled in comparison to the Croatian Islands…

(Check back next Photo Friday for more on the Islands)


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