I first saw and walked through Dubrovnik at the age of seventeen. It remains my favorite little city in the entire world. Beautiful scenery, the Adriatic, the little shops and eateries. We took a boat to Cavtat and a few other islands. The most beautiful location in the world. Take in the old world feel.
Dubrovnik is very pretty but there's no real backpacker scene. It's overrun with couples, families, European tour groups of senior citizens, the jet-set crowd, and the see-and-be-seen crowd. Prices are ridiculously expensive! The Old Town is gorgeous but I wouldn't stay here for any length of time.
While it might be a difficult city to fly into, once you are there you definitely know it has been worth the journey. The architecture, the laid back atmosphere, the outstanding food, the friendly locals... Zagreb's really a stunning place that so many people overlook when travelling around Europe! And it doesn't break the bank either, unlike many European cities. I know I will be back on my next travels!
Dubrovnik is lovely but overpriced! Stay in Lapad area which is near Lapad beach and full of shops, bars, and not too pricey.
Stunning -- that's what best describes Dubrovnik. I have not stopped thinking about Dubrovnik since I left last summer and am eagerly figuring out how to return. I can't recommend it highly enough. Go see what a gem this city really is!
You cannot stay one weekend in Zagreb and think that you can have your own complete opinion 'cause...you haven't seen it all. I have lived in Croatia for 21 years and I'm still exploring and finding something every year that I didn't know that we had!
For staying in Zagreb, in my opinion the most important thing is to meet and get friendly with somebody smart from Zagreb. Because you can spend a fortune here, or you can spend very little money. I know a lot of people who actually LIVE IN Zagreb and can give you the right answer about things like: where is good blues/rock'n roll club, where I can eat the best "chevapi," where is the best cheap beer?
Dubrovnik really is paradise. It doesn't have long sandy beaches with palm trees and coconuts but it does have the most amazing old city I have ever come across. The old city walls protect the ancient town, and it's full of marvelous little restaurants, shops and entertainment. You'll be walking around with a sore neck from taking in the grand and spectacular ancient buildings.
I would recomend a day trip to one of the islands just offshore. We went to one and found a hidden lake where we just sat in the sun and swam in the warm clear lake.
A perfect location for a couple of relaxing days in the sun.
People could tell you that Pula is just a summer resort and that it's full of tourists, and maybe it is, but Pula is also one of the most beautiful towns in Istria and the Croatian coast! It has lots of interesting monuments to see (the first one, the Arena) but is small enough to not getting too tired. In fact, to see the town you just need a few hours, then you can lie on the beach or just walk through the cosy streets, take a sit in a terrace, and have a cocktail or a delicious ice cream.
If you want to avoid the crowds, Dubrovnik is best visited between April-May or September-October. In the high season, the old town is packed. If you have been traveling around Croatia and are sick of pizza, I'd recommend Fresh. It's a good place to meet other travellers and they serve wraps and smoothies.
Split is a very nice and idyllic city, but also modern with lots of shops and nightlife. There are two beaches, one in each direction if you stand at the promenade at the end of what seems to me was the end of the main shopping street. If you visit Split you should also take a boat trip out to some of the islands - like Hvar or Brac.
