Visitors to the Dubrovnik Riviera could not be more spoilt in terms of natural beauty, culture and things to do, you can't get much better than this. With a plethora of thriving resort towns at your fingertips - including favourites Lopud, Korcula, Mlini and the one and only Dubrovnik itself - there is the potential for a great deal of exploration. While the area is certainly much-visited by tourists, efforts have been made to preserve its original heritage, and you'll find many of the attractions are in as good a shape as they have ever been.Equally, don't feel as though you have to spend every waking moment tearing from one place to the next in search of the next big attraction. Croatia's stunning beaches demand to be worshipped - long stretches of glittering white sand, peppered with the occasional shell or starfish. Breathtakingly beautiful swathes of coastline edging out into the azure waves, which are fringed with a tantalizing shade of turquoise. In short, just lying on the beach here is a magical experience and one you won't want to miss.
Getting Around
Transport links are fairly well-established across the Dubrovnik Riviera, with buses travelling to and from all of the resorts departing several times a day. This means it's easy to get out and explore on your holiday. Alternatively, hire car options are available if you fancy a little independence.
Shopping
When it comes to shopping, you won't get much better than Dubrovnik itself. The Old Town - and specifically the main street Stradun - is excellent if you're looking for little knick-knacks to take home for yourself or that special someone. Shopping centres DOC and Merkante take care of more conventional requirements such as clothes, shoes, toys, books and other holiday necessities. If you consider yourself an oenophile, pop into Vinoteka Dubrovnik - this local shop sells more than 250 different vintages, mostly Croatian. You'll also find traditional delicacies here, as well as locally-grown spices, oils, jams and desserts.
Nightlife
We turn once again to Dubrovnik itself as a source of nightlife. At the centre of the Dubrovnik Riviera, it really is in a location to provide the best in music nights, theme parties, discoteques captained by famous DJs and much more. Well worth checking out is the Cafe Troubadour, which is renowned for its frequently-organised jazz festivals.Other resorts surrounding the city also offer a rich programme of evenings, including folklore evenings, classical music evenings, Dalmatian choir performances and even fishing nights - for those with an alternative preference of nightlife.
Eating and Drinking
Croatian cuisine is renowned for taking various elements from its neighbouring countries. Expect to see traditional Bulgarian goulash rubbing shoulders - metaphorically speaking - with tasty Italian pasta fare. The result is a spectrum of tastes that will be at once incredible to explore while also pleasing to all palates. Particular resorts famed for their gastronomy include Mlini and Cavtat, which are known for producing excellent black risotto and green pasta - dishes you've probably never tried before. On the islands of Mljet and Lopud, you'll experience seafood so fresh that it'll knock your socks off. And one final stop at the port of Slano will see you savouring prosciutto and cheese in olive oil - served the proper way.
Things To See and Do
Being a tourist hotspot, the Dubrovnik Riviera offers an extremely wide range of things to do in order to ensure visitors are kept entertained during their stay. We'll start by catering to the sport junkies. The oldest and most traditional sport on the Dubrovnik Riviera is water polo, and it can be played in resorts across the region. For those who enjoy diving and exploring the underwater playground that is the Adriatic Sea, it's worth checking out the diving schools in Mljet and on the island of Korcula.Culture vultures, meanwhile, will never cease to be amazed by the stunning city of Dubrovnik. A UNESCO-recognised site, the unique architecture and walls that surround it make it a truly stunning place to spend a day. The Rector's Palace and Sponza Palace are splendid attractions if you have an interest in the history of the place.Finally, for beach lovers, the sandy bays of the Dubrovnik Riviera are many, meaning you can't really go wrong. However, if you're looking for direction, the islands of Lopud and Mlini feature particularly stunning stretches of coastline.
Events
If you're not sure when to travel to the Dubrovnik Riviera and want to make the most of a particularly potent party atmosphere, try coinciding your visit with one of the events below. The various resorts are always adding to their calendars of celebrations, so it's worth asking upon arrival to your hotel if there's anything worth checking out.Always entertaining is the the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, which takes place in July and August every year. FIlling the streets with the sound of music, life and laughter, the unique historical attractions that make the city what it is are transformed into stages for the biggest stars of the century. In all, 33 open air stages are set up - including at least one on the beach. You won't be disappointed. Elsewhere in the Riviera, the Mljet Summer of Culture gets tourists and locals alike out and about, experiencing music and art. Also worth a gander is the Korkyra Baroque Festival, an international music extravaganza celebrating the particular style that takes place every summer on the island of Korcula. In short, you won't need to look for things to do if you travel to the Dubrovnik Riviera when it's in party mode.
Capital
