Comments on: Dubrovnik: from war zone to tourist hotspot

By: Tim Fox Evans

Tim Fox Evans — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:28:48 +0000

Excellent article thank you. We returned from Croatia/Italy yesterday! Starting in Dubrovnik..(The crowds were a shock to the system but we managed to avoid many of them.)
We spent a day swimming off Lokrum, drinking coffee and hanging out. Dinner with friends in the evening in the city, lots of photos.
After a couple of days we hired a car and dissapeared northwards…ferry to Hvar, two days …then across to Split, Plitvic, and onwards into the rural, beautifully remote areas…stayed in Foli (try that) visiting Pula,Safari Beach Bar… kayaking then crossed borders Slovenia to Trieste, Italy, finishing off with the best coffee on the planet and a flight back to damp U.K.
I was in Croatia during the conflict (92) as a photographer, scary times and war is NOT glorious in any way.
Seeing mortar damaged homes last week left a chill.
Great people, Tourism will make some masive changes over the coming decade…see it while you can.

By: tobias

tobias — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:05:49 +0000

Excellent pics and roundup of what makes Dubrovnik such a special place. I’ve had nice long-ish stays there a couple of times, on a kind of working holiday setup where we played in the evenings (I’m a jazz musician) on a lovely restaurant patio in exchange for food and lodgings. Daytimes were our own and were of course spent swimming and exploring. One great excursion not mentioned here is the trip out to nearby Lokrum island for a wander through lovely gardens and some more private swimming.

Overall the place is amazing, the people are great and if you can manage to visit outside the cruiseship high season, it’s darn close to paradise!

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:29:00 +0000

Croatia is on the top of my must-see destinations and reading your post has only further convinced me to travel there. I’m very intrigued by the war history and how this country has emerged from it.

By: Mary R

Mary R — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:35:09 +0000

I’ve heard about Dubrovnik as a special destination for several years now… Your photos are really lovely, and they capture the texture and depth of that city well. I especially like the cat photograph!

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:03:36 +0000

Thanks for all the great comments. And yes, to all who have yet to visit Dubrovnik, it is well worth a visit despite the growing negative impression that the cruise ship crowds are bringing to the city.
Andrew, thanks for the information about the Sponza Palace – we never got to see it but it sounds like an exhibit that’s well worth a look.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:05:29 +0000

Loved my visit to Dubrovnik 18 months or so ago – definetely is the jewel of the Adriatic and the walk around the walls and every changing views were great. I also highly recommend checking out some other lesser known towns along the coast from Slovenia, through Croatia and then into Montenegro, where you won;t get the cruise boat traffic but still get some beautiful architecture, food..etc

It may have finished but when I was there they had a good little photo exhibit of the siege of Dubrovnik in the Sponza Palace near Placa gate. Seeing the War Photo Limitied exhibits after that really was a reminder that war is futile and sadly still all over the world.

Great post.

By: Jeremy B

Jeremy B — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:02:43 +0000

Another awesome post as always Andy! I’ve been to Croatia but not Dubrovnik. However, we drove through some of the worst war torn villages and it is amazing to see the damage to buildings and the destruction that was done that still stands years later.

By: Eurotrip Tips

Eurotrip Tips — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:02:57 +0000

Looks like heaven on Earth for the eyes. Not so much for the brain when you’re aware of the tumultuous history. Looks like Dubrovnik is one of these up and coming new tourist destinations!

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:55:43 +0000

Beautifully written, beautiful city. Classy post here.