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Throwback Thursday: Dubrovnik
Tips for visiting Dubrovnik:
1. Rather than hiring a taxi to the Old Town from downtown Dubrovnik, there are many bus stops along the main streets where you can board the local buses. Bus tickets can be bought when boarding the bus, however it works out to be cheaper if you buy your tickets from shops in advance. The local buses which run this route are the numbers 1a, 1b and 8, and the usual fare is 1.30 euro.
2. If you’re looking for a quiet restaurant within the Old Town to grab a bite to eat, you need to get off the beaten track. The restaurants that are in the open are always crowded and consequently, loud. There are many tiny staircases leading off the main streets in the Old Town, and all you have to do is keep an eye out for signs advertising the location of these independently owned businesses. I can assure you that they will be much cheaper than eating where everyone else is.
3. If you are like me, and you have a habit of collecting magnets or other various memoirs of your travels, then buying them from the shops in Old Town Dubrovnik is not the way to go. These products are marked up, and will cost a minimum of 3 or 4 euros. There are people walking around near to the gate of the walled city with souvenirs for less than half of the price of the store bought trinkets.
4. If you are visiting Dubrovnik as a stop on a cruise, then you are most likely without any of the local currency. Using the Euro in Dubrovnik may be a headache, unless you like to walk around with a small calculator. Spending the US Dollar is almost impossible, as stores seem to refuse taking the bills as payment. I utilized a foreign exchange agency to change my cash into the Croatian Kuna for a reasonable rate, and this made visiting the city a less confusing venture.
5. Many people visit the Old Town to walk along the walls in the hopes of capturing some great photos. The cost of this activity is about $12 USD. If you are more concerned about getting some bird’s eye views rather than the actual stroll along the wall, there is a free alternative. Just outside of the entrance of the Old Town is another hill. Most tourists aren’t aware of a path which takes you up this hill where you can get awesome views at the same height as if you’re climbing the wall. I discovered this totally by accident, and I’d love for others to experience the same.
Dubrovnik is a known as the Pearl of the Adriatic Sea, and it deserves the title. However, as with all major tourist destinations, high prices and large crowds are present as well. Hopefully, these tips will make your visit a bit cheaper, and allow you a few moments away from the crowds to enjoy the city with a bit of peace.
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