[All photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. All links are non-affiliated. All prices were correct at time of writing. Prices may vary at time of reading.]

Located on the southern coast of Croatia, Dubrovnik has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, especially since the release of Game of Thrones. However, Dubrovnik is so much more than just a popular filming destination. It's a city full of history and as a result the Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you're planning a visit to Dubrovnik then here are my top 8 things to do and I'll let you know if I really think it's worth the visit.

1. Ferry to/from Split

Before I arrived in Dubrovnik I was visiting Split, so rather than getting the coach I decided to 'splash out' and get the ferry, which set off at 7.30am from Split. Depending on the time of year, there can be up to 3 ferry sailings a day. The ferry itself was really nice and boarding the ferry was reasonably well-organised. The ferry takes you via several islands, where people will board or disembark the ferry depending on their desired destination. Two ferries take you from/to Split to/from Dubrovnik, with each one stopping at different islands. Some of the destinations include Brac Island and Makarska. I definitely recommend taking the ferry rather than the coach as it allows you to see the islands even if you don't stop at them and the views were stunning. Plus, boats are fun! You can check out my top things to do in Split here and a timetable of the ferries from Split to Dubrovnik and from Dubrovnik to Split. Tickets cost 230 Kuna for a one-way ticket and the ferry takes around 4-6 hours depending on the route. One thing to note is that these ferries only take foot passengers.

Brac Island en route from Split to Dubrovnik

Makarska en route from Split to Dubrovnik... I really wish I'd visited here!

2. Explore the Old Town

The first thing I did after arriving in Dubrovnik and finding my accommodation was head to the Old Town. This is the main part of the city that people visit and can get very crowded in the summer. Despite this, it's really fun to admire the buildings and explore the narrow side streets and small independent shops nearby.

In the summer it's likely going to be difficult to enter the Old Town due to the large volume of people trying to enter - it was like a human traffic jam when I went - so you'll probably have to push your way past people until you get in but it's slightly less crowded once you enter the main square.

3. Walk around the city walls

I almost chose not to walk around the city walls as it's quite pricey for what it is but if you can afford it then I'd definitely recommend it! It's not as busy as the main square and it's exciting to be able to see the Old Town from a higher viewpoint. From the walls you get nice views of the mountains, sea and nearby Lokrum Island. Ticket costs vary depending on the time of year but also include Fort Lovrijenac. Tickets cost 50 Kuna until the end of June but from July it goes up to 200 Kuna; however, students pay 50 Kuna year-round with valid student ID like an ISIC card (the student discount is the main reason I decided to do it!). Make sure to keep your ticket (and student ID) handy for the entire duration of your walk around the walls as there are regular checkpoints to ensure that people haven't evaded paying for tickets.

Dubrovnik's city walls

4. Fort Lovrijenac

Located outside the city walls and built in the 11th century, Fort Lovrijenac is another Game of Thrones filming location but it's worth a visit if you're interested in history. With walls up to 12 metres thick, the fort is ideally located to defend the city from land and sea attacks. From the top you also get to see the city walls from the outside, the surrounding mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Tickets for the fort are included in the ticket for walking along the city walls (see #3).

Fort Lovrijenac

5. Lokrum Island

Without a doubt, my highlight of the trip was visiting Lokrum Island. Less well-known than its larger island neighbour Kolocep, Lokrum Island can be seen from the city walls and can only be reached by boat. This small island has a rich history dating back to 1023 when it was home to a monastery but now it's a private nature reserve full of wildlife, such as wild rabbits and peafowl. Numerous walking trails allow you to explore the island, which can easily be visited in half a day.

If you're a Game of Thrones fan then the monastery is for you as you can see the 'Iron Throne' and learn more about how GOT was filmed. Otherwise, I highly recommend visiting Fort Royal, where you get lovely views back to Dubrovnik and the mainland, and the Dead Sea, a small natural pool located on the south side of the island. Tickets can be purchased on the day from the Old Town Port outside the east city gates. Tickets cost 150 kuna for an adult return, which includes the ferry (15 minutes each way) and the entrance fee for the island. Tickets can only be paid for in cash, so make sure to head to an ATM beforehand if you need to. I personally chose to get the first ferry of the day at 9am (June to September) to avoid the crowds and the heat of the day but even as I was getting the ferry back in the middle of the afternoon, it wasn't that busy. A timetable for the ferry can be found here.

Overlooking Dubrovnik Old Town and Lokrum Island

A peafowl on Lokrum Island

One of Lokrum's fluffier residents

A peafowl chick sheltering from the sun

6. Srd Mountain

Unfortunately, I was only in Dubrovnik for 2 days, so I didn't have time to hike up Srd Mountain but from what I've heard the views from up there are stunning. At an elevation of 412m you can overlook the entire city. It's possible to hike up from the Old Town in approximately 1-1.5 hours or you can get the cable car, which costs 100 Kuna for an adult return. For other ways to access Srd Mountain click here.

7. Sea kayaking

This is another activity I didn't have time to do but considering how much fun I had sea kayaking in Split, I'm sure it would be just as enjoyable in Dubrovnik! During my time walking around the city walls, I saw several groups sea kayaking on tours with Adventure Dalmatia, which start near Fort Lovrijenac and costs €33.

8. Fly to London

Now, this might be a bit of an odd thing to add to my list but hear me out! On my last day in Dubrovnik I flew back home to London and I got to see one of the most incredible views over some Croatian islands and the Alps, so if you're heading west from Dubrovnik you may be lucky enough to experience these views! It was honestly one of the best flights I've ever been on! Obviously, this will be weather and route dependent but hopefully you'll get lucky like I did!

Flying over some Croatian islands

Flying over the Alps

The Alps

Where to Stay

I stayed in Hostel 365 For U when I was in Dubrovnik as it was one of the cheapest hostels I could find (£24.50 per night for a 4 bed-dorm). It was relatively nice and located halfway between the Old Town and main ferry port and coach station (about a 20 minute walk in either direction). For me this was ideal as I arrived early on the ferry and left early by coach. Anything within the Old Town will either be booked up early or more expensive, so if you're on a budget this is probably one of the best alternatives. However, the dorm rooms didn't have keys, so anyone could walk into your room and the lockers weren't big enough to store all my stuff. Despite this, I never felt unsafe but I'd recommend taking all your valuables with you! It also had a small kitchen but not big enough for cooking, so it meant I had to eat out, which was annoying as Dubrovnik is known for being expensive. The showers were also quite dirty but after 3 weeks of travelling I was used to it. Other than that though, it was quite nice.

Walking to the Old Town from my hostel

Other Useful Tips

1. One of the most confusing things about Croatia is that it uses two currencies - the Croation Kuna and the Euro. Generally, most places prefer Kuna, especially when paying in cash, and some will explicitly state that Euros are not accepted, so make sure to have some Kuna on you. I found that people in Dubrovnik were generally fussier about using Kuna instead of Euros compared to Split. Euros are generally acceptable when paying for accommodation and group tours.

2. Personally, I really don't like crowded areas, so if you're like me I would avoid visiting during the summer (June to September). Prices will also be higher during this time. I went in mid-September thinking it would be less busy but it was still packed! The streets themselves are too narrow and not designed for the large influx of tourists, mostly from cruise ships. Therefore, I got a bit frustrated with people always getting in my way. However, that being said there were still hidden areas in the city where there were less people.

3. Croatia in general is fairly cheap as a travel destination; however, Dubrovnik is the exception. With the success of Game of Thrones, prices have risen and it's the most expensive city in Croatia, so don't be too surprised if you have to pay €5 for a small slice of pizza...

Dubrovnik Old Town

Overall, Dubrovnik wasn't my favourite destination in Croatia. I much preferred Split, mostly because there were less tourists and the city was greener. I do also partly wish that I had visited some of the other nearby islands such as Brac and Hvar instead. However, Dubrovnik is still a beautiful city full of history and it definitely has its natural gems, so I'm still glad that I visited. So yes, to sum up I would say that Dubrovnik is worth a visit, just maybe when its less busy...