Easily accessible from Dubrovnik, but a world away from it, Kolocep Villas is a fantastic hotel on a brilliantly peaceful and relaxing island that you can walk across in an hour or kayak the whole way around in an afternoon. Blue seas, secluded coves, amazing fish restaurants, friendly and efficient staff at the hotel, and four ferries a day into Dubrovnik for only a few euros, it's the absolute perfect place to unwind!

www.kolocep.com
Donje Celo bb, HR-20221, Kolocep Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 757 025
Google map: bit.ly/NYjykZ

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This pine covered island is totally undeveloped. The catamaran from Dubrovnik drops you at the tiny town of Polace which has remains of a Roman palace. Here you can hire a bicycle to explore the quiet roads and reach the lake with an islet that is home to a 12th century Benedictine monastery. This is now a restaurant and served by a little boat so that you can treat yourself to a seafood lunch. Swimming in the clear blue lake is a great way to cool down.

www.mljettravel.com
Mljet island is 90 minutes by catamaran from Dubrovnik
Google map: bit.ly/LFjAcV

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Mljet is an island off the Dubrovnik coast. Stay in Sobra, the village that tourists normally sail past. You'll have a private 'beach' and Nikola runs a first class bar/ restaurant serving Croatian food and Italian pizzas. From Sobra catch a ferry or hire a Dalmation styled Fiat 500 (seriously) and head to the National Park on the other side of Mljet. Once there rent bicycles and explore the beautiful, wild and lush forest. The highlight being the large salt water lake which cocoons a Benedictine Monastery. You can take the hourly boat over to it or swim across yourself.

Konoba RIVA:
Sobra 2, Babino Polje
(+385-20) 74 52 22

++385 (0)20 745-222

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After a day spent wandering the enchanting alleyways of Dubrovnik, a well hidden hole in the city walls leads to this stunningly located bar on the rocks. Watch the sunset over the Adriatic with a cold beer, while locals plunge into the water from the high rocks next to you. An astonishingly beautiful place.

www.cafebuza.com
'Crijevićeva 9, Dubrovnik' is the address, but ask a local for directions or head to the city walls and look for the 'Cold drinks this way' sign!
Crijevićeva 9, 20000, Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 98 361 934
Google map: bit.ly/LUUW9t

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Visit a local supermarket for lunch supplies and take the 10-minute, hourly boat from the port in Dubrovnik to the beautiful island of Lokrum.
Start the day with a trek to the fortress at the highest point of the island, for unbeatable views of Dubrovnik and to avoid the morning crowds, before taking the coastal path back to the monastery. On the way, take one of the rocky paths, lined with thick Mediterranean woods, down to the shore to discover your own private beach - an ideal place for a picnic lunch and a few hours of sun worshipping.
The main hub of island activity boasts a botanic garden, olive grove and (supposedly) haunted Benedictine monastery, inhabited by peacocks.
Finish the day by watching the sun go down from the comfort of a sun lounger, enjoying live guitar music in the cafe, or, best of all, floating in the beautiful tranquility of the salt lake.

Boats to Lokrum depart from the city's old harbour at least every hour between 9 and 5 (weather permitting).
Google map: bit.ly/LxqmTJ

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Either is a very appropriate name for, what must be, one of the coolest bars in the world. Work your way down from the Pile Gate, through the old town which is delightful, find the Jesuit Church and then the "outside wall" - there are a couple of hand written signs saying simply "Cold Drinks". There is a small doorway through the wall which leads you to a tiny bar nestling on jagged rocks. There are only about a dozen tables which all face out to the fabulous Adriatic, various rocks and small islands. Entertainment is provided by local lads slightly showing off by diving off the fairly high rocks and the conversation is a babble of languages with Australian accents to the fore (the Aussies can always find a good Buza!). Magical spot and worth the prices for the views and ambience.

www.cafebuza.com/
Trgovina Buža - caffe bar Buža
Crijevićeva 9, 20 000 DUBROVNIK
+385 91 589 4936
Google map: bit.ly/vzFqcR

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This luxury hotel is a short stroll from the old town. It has fantastic sea view rooms (at an extra cost of course!) and provides L'Occitane toiletries daily. The breakfast buffet has a wide choice of hot and cold food and there is Cava each day for bucks fizz. It has a beautiful large inside swimming pool which is free to residents and all the staff are very helpful. If it is your birthday- they will send a cake and a birthday greeting to your room free of charge. This hotel is well worth staying in.

www.hotel-excelsior.hr
Frana Supila 12, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 430 830
Google map: bit.ly/vU5AI7

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It's a luxury hotel like many others in the area but it's perched on a cliff face and has its own James Bond-style private beach at the bottom of the cliff.

www.hotel-bellevue.hr
Pera Čingrije 7, Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385(0)20 430 826
Google map: bit.ly/mOxMaC

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This compelling gallery in Dubrovnik is dedicated to the work of war photographers, and shows exhibitions from wars around the globe, as well as the Balkan conflict. The powerful images are both hard hitting and heartbreaking, and show people struggling to live their daily lives through wars which are brutal and often misunderstood. It is certainly not easy viewing, but I cannot recommend this gallery enough. These are the lives and deaths of real people, and I urge you to rise to the emotional challenge.

Antuninska 6, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 322 166
www.warphotoltd.com/
Google map: bit.ly/ezaK8l

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The Island Of Korcula is one of the greenest islands in the Adriatic Sea. It is also one of the most popular travel destinations in this part of Croatia. Like most of the Croatian islands, the Greeks, who gave it the name Korkyra Melaina or 'Black Corfu' for its dark and densely wooded appearance, first settled Korcula.

Recommend: Budget hotel Dragan's Den

Google map: bit.ly/eQxvIA
www.korculainfo.com/

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Atmospheric Irish pub in a cellar in a side street off the Stradun.

Dropceva 4A
www.katieoconnors.com/
Google map: bit.ly/boH2KS

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All the guidebooks suggest you should go here, but honestly a big big disappointment.
To us it was no more than a hotel lobby bar and while there is a good view in the day, at night you can't see out due to the reflections of the interior on the glass.

Masarykov put 20
The No 4 bus goes straight from Pile Gate to the front door of the hotel.
www.dubrovnikpalace.hr
Google map: bit.ly/dvs8Z9

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On of the main things to be done when visiting Dubrovnik. You can walk around the city walls with great views to be had.

Main entrance near the Pile gate, on the left hand side as you come through the gate.
Google map: bit.ly/btTpel

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Probably the best beach area in Dubrovnik.
As with most beaches in Croatia, very little if any sand with pebbles the order of the day.
However views are great and water is clean and clear.
Loungers and sun umbrellas can be hired.

No 4 or No 6 bus from Pile Gate will take you near the beach.
Beach is located at bottom of Kralja Zvonmira.
Google map: bit.ly/cMYVSl

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The city centre beach Banje is just a short walk from the Ploce Gate. As with most beaches in Croatia, the water is clean & clear but the beach itself is pebbly rather than sandy. Most of this beach has been sold off to the East - West bar / restaurant. Sun loungers & umbrellas are available for hire at 120KN for two loungers and one umbrella.
The locals tend to congregate in the half that still is under municipal control.

Banje beach outside Ploce gate
Google map: bit.ly/bdjbOy

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Right at the top of the Old City Walls, the magical vine-shaded terrace of Lady Pi-Pi offers drinks, sandwiches and an open grill far from the madding crowd with a great view of the Old Town's rooftops.

Vl. Dinko Minjkovic
Peline
Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 9 709 8644

bit.ly/7SEkho

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Tiny five table establishment in Dubrovnik's Old Town serves up fantastic grilled meat. Great location for people-watching.

Getaldiceva 10 (Old Town)

bit.ly/7SEkho

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Start with lovely bread baked on site, follow with an artfully made but simple fish broth and house salad.

Then make the tough choice of either whole-grilled local fish, or meat traditionally slow cooked in a cast-iron pot, sitting on coals and covered with hot ash. (Slow cooked meat needs to be ordered in advance)

Go with a group so you can sample it all.

Iva Dulcica 39, Babin Kuk
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 448 351

(Follow directions to the President hotel resort. The restaurant is part of the accompanying low-rise retail complex)

bit.ly/76RwdZ

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Delicious seafood salads and platters. On the pricier side, but comes with a great view of yachts. (The restaurant, though situated at the yacht club, is open to the public)

Well fitted for a romantic dinner out.

Ivana Zajca 2 (at the yacht club)
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 435 933

www.yc-orsan.hr/

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Fantastically fresh mussels, delicious risotto. Good quality, generous portions, very fair price

Great people-watching location. Situated at the old fish market, where day-expedition boats now set out.

More details and photos here
bit.ly/76RwdZ

Gorica Sv. Vlaha 77
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
+385 20 324747

Google map: tinyurl.com/ycuc28r

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