Before I visited Dubrovnik, I’ll be totally honest – I didn’t know much about it.
Or about Croatia as a whole, for that matter. I knew of people who had holiday-ed there and raved about the beach resorts, but never really bothered to delve much deeper into the different places to visit or sights to see.
When I arrived there as the first stop on the European leg of this trip, I did so with very few expectations or promises of what was to come. Some might say that that worked in my favour, because if you start at zero, it can surely only go up, right? Thankfully, that was actually true.
If it wasn’t the stunning sunsets that I saw the first couple of nights in the smaller district of Cavtat that enchanted me, then it was the cobbled streets and architecture of the Old Town, coupled with a distinctly Italian air. It was stunning. I did not realise that somewhere so pretty could lie within reach of equally as picturesque beaches; surely that makes it the perfect holiday destination?
Well, unfortunately, it has become just that. For hundreds and thousands of tourists every year. Whilst we ducked under awnings and into alleyways for shade from the hot sun, so did hoards of other foreigners. Tourists dressed to be seen and willing to pay the extortionate prices for clothing and food within the old city walls. Tourists who have come to Croatia because they have heard it’s the next “big” destination.
And now, with its debut on glamorised TV shows such as The Bachelorette in the USA, this trend is only set to continue.
I don’t claim that Dubrovnik is any less stunning because of the number of people that visit it. But as with all popular tourist destinations, costs are rising and soon it will become all but unaffordable for any type of budget traveller. My only regret is that I left it so late to visit this beautiful city. I would love to have seen it only five years ago, when the number of tourists was fewer.
Dubrovnik will continue to be a wonderful holiday destination, but visitors will have to be prepared to share it with thousands of others.Despite my feelings on the crowded streets and restaurants, I would have no hesitation in returning. Why? Because places are crowded and popular for a reason – and hopefully these photos will show why Dubrovnik is one of those places that might just survive the tourist crush.
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