New Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Service

There are not many international ferry services connecting Croatia with its neighbouring (or near neighbouring countries). In fact, there generally only exist services from Italy to Croatia with a number of ferry and catamaran routes sailing to towns in Istria, and to Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. But as of this summer, a new Montenegro to Croatia service – a Budva to Dubrovnik catamaran – is in operation that will assist travellers with a quick connection, or a day trip, in either direction.

New Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Service - Adriatic Lines catamaran
Credit: Adriatic Lines

A big advantage of using this catamaran is being able to avoid the busy traffic at the Croatia – Montenegro road border during the summer months. And with a journey time of just two hours, this catamaran is also quicker than travelling by bus.

Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Timetable

Operated by Adriatic Lines, who also run services from Istrian towns to Venice, the new Budva to Dubrovnik catamaran is already in operation and will run until the end of September 2024.

In peak season, the catamaran runs twice a day six times a week whilst in second half of September the timetable switches and the catamaran will run twice daily four times week. Take a look at the timetable below:

SaturdaySunday 29 & 30.06.24Saturday  Sunday 
7.00am5.30pm8.00am3.00pmDubrovnik11.45am10.15pm12.45pm7.45pm
9.00am7.30pm 10.00am 5.00pm Budva9.45am8.15pm 10.45am5.45pm 
Monday
Wednesday
Saturday
Tuesday
Friday
Sunday
From 01.07.24
to 12.09.24
Monday
Wednesday
Saturday
Tuesday
Friday
Sunday
8.00am3.00pm7.00am5.30pmDubrovnik12.45pm7.45pm11.45am10.15pm
10.00am5.00pm9.00am7.30pm Budva10.45am5.45pm 9.45am8.15pm 
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Friday
From 13.09.24
to 27.09.24
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Friday
8.00am3.00pm7.00am5.30pmDubrovnik12.45pm7.45pm11.45am10.15pm
10.00am5.00pm9.00am7.30pm Budva10.45am5.45pm 9.45am8.15pm 

Budva to Dubrovnik Catamaran Prices and Tickets

A one-way ticket costs €55 for adults or €27.50 for children aged 7 to 13 years old. Children aged 6 and under travel free.

Travellers can take advantage of a special day return priced at €69 for adults or €34.50 for children. This includes departures from Dubrovnik at 7am or 8am, or from Budva at 9.45am.

Bicycles are permitted at an additional cost of €10 whilst an additional piece of luggage costs €5.

You can purchase tickets on the Adriatic Lines website.

As this is an international journey, don’t forget your passport!

Other ways of getting from Budva to Dubrovnik

As a comparison, let’s take a look at alternatives for making the journey. Or rather, alternative for unless you have a hire car, travelling by bus is the only option that is available to you.

There are several buses per day in either direction – so bus betters the catamaran in frequency – but travelling by bus is slower. The bus journey between Budva and Dubrovnik takes between 2 hours 30 minutes and 3 hours 15 minutes, depending on which bus you take.

Bus companies operating this route include Croatia Bus and Bozur.

Burger Fest heads to Dubrovnik

If you’re a fan of gourmet burgers (who isn’t?!) and are heading to Dubrovnik later this month, you’ll be delighted by the news that the popular gastro festival Burger Fest will be held there from 20th to 30th June 2024. A mix of incredibly tasty good, top quality drinks and a great atmosphere, it’s absolutely the place to head to during these summer days.

Brought to you by the same people behind the incredibly popular Burger Fest in Zagreb – which is enjoyed by over 150,000 people every year – and the Pizza Festival in Dubrovnik – where over 100,000 pizzas were eaten during the event (that’s some hungry people!) it is now the turn of the tasty burger to shine in Dubrovnik. This also follows burger festivals held in other towns and cities in Croatia, including Zadar, Pula, Varazdin and Bjelovar, which has really enabled Burger Fest to up the game in the local burger scene.

So what’s on the cards for Burger Fest in Dubrovnik? Held at the Lazareti events space in the heart of the city, there will be specialities prepared by Institut za burger (Burger Institute) by Mate Jankovic, Chef’s Burger by Ivan Pazanin, Guloso Burgers&More, Picnic – mingle&fun, kDogs, Kenova by Branko Kusovac and Beg’s Plant Based.

Hit burgers incoming at Dubrovnik’s Burger Fest

Trust us, that’s quite a list! Burgers crafted by Mate Jankovic have been declared the best at previous burger festivals, and his meat and vegan burger options are sure to delight the Dubrovnik crowds.

The “Crispy Kapula” burger by Chef’s Burger/Ivan Pazanin is another previous festival favourite that’s delighted the hungry masses.

Dubrovnik brand Guloso Burgers&More will be showing what the locals can do with their burger offerings, including the “Cheesy Special” – pure beef topped with two types of cheese, caramelised onions and a special Guloso sauce made from 11 secret ingredients. I mean, my mouth’s just watering at the thought of this one!

A burger by Kenova, Burger Fest Dubrovnik, 20th - 30th June 2024
A burger by Kenova

But then I’d equally go for Kenova’s “Blue Cheese” burger which is made up of beef, cheddar, BBQ blue cheese sauce, caramelised onions, bacon, iceberg lettuce and pickles. YUM!

A burger by Picnic - mingle&fun, Burger Fest Dubrovnik, 20th - 30th June 2024
Picnic – mingle&fun’s tasty dishes

Zadar will be represented by Picnic – mingle&fun whose specialities include the Blackie burger, the prawn burger, the Snow Burger and the Frenchie burger.

If you love burgers but meat isn’t your thing at all, then you need to try Beg’s Plant Based offerings, made by chef Eduard Beg. For example, his Beg’s Chicky Burger consists of a plant-based brioche bun filled with Amaze Food’s chicken that’s been marinated in agave syrup with tzatziki sauce, fresh cucumbers and iceberg salad.

kDog will be offering something entirely different – American-style corn dogs (a hot dog dipped in batter and deep fried) and and a half hot dog half cheese dish. And they also offer tasty desserts with their brioche filled with soft serve ice cream speciality.

To wash down all this burger goodness, a great range of drinks will be provided Beer&Cocktail Bar and Gingle Bells. And to add to the atmosphere, DJs will be spinning tunes all throughout the festival.

Come down to Lazareti in Dubrovnik to see what the amazingly successful Burger Fest is all about! Entry is free.

Burger Fest
20th – 30th June 2024
Lazareti
Dubrovnik
www.facebook.com/BurgerFestivalHR
www.instagram.com/burgerfestivalhr

Lazareti in Dubrovnik
Lazareti in Dubrovnik

Split to Dubrovnik Catamaran 2024

As we’re at the time of year that the Dalmatian coastal catamarans – those that operate from Split to Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik to Split – start operating, I thought I’d give a little round-up of those such services. I know they’re certainly popular with travellers! In this post, you’ll find timetables for all the Split to Dubrovnik catamaran services operating in 2024.

TP Line has just started its Split to Dubrovnik catamaran service

As of last Friday, 26th April 2024, TP Line has started operating its coastal catamaran which runs from Split to Milna on the island of Brac, Hvar Town, Korcula Town, Pomena on the island of Mljet and Dubrovnik. (And does the return journey too, of course!)

Split to Dubrovnik catamaran
Credit: TP Line

This is a service that departs Split in the morning, meaning you can make it to Dubrovnik for the mid-afternoon. For the reverse journey, you leave Dubrovnik in the mid-afternoon and arrive in Split just in time for dinner.

The timetable for this service in both directions is shown below:

SplitMilna (Brac)HvarKorculaPomena (Mljet)Dubrovnik
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
9.15am9.45am | 9.50am10.30am | 10.45am12.10pm | 12.20pm1pm | 1.05pm2.35pm
Service runs from 26th April to 27th September 2024
DubrovnikPomena (Mljet)KorculaHvarMilna (Brac)Split
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
3.15pm4.45pm | 4.50pm5,30pm | 5.40pm6.55pm | 7.10pm7.50pm | 7.55pm8.30pm
Service runs from 26th April to 27th September 2024

Tickets cost €48 for adults or €24 for children aged 3 to 12 whilst children under the age of 3 travel free. These prices are for the full Split to Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik to Split portion of the journey as well as for Milna – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Milna and Hvar – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Hvar. Other prices apply for the other portions; you can see these on the TP Line website where you can also buy tickets.

TP Line also operate several other catamaran routes along the Croatian coast include Dubrovnik – Sobra (Mljet) – Korcula – Ubli (Lastovo) and Dubrovnik – Sipan – Sobra (Mljet) – Polace (Mljet) – Korcula – Ubli (Lastovo).

Kapetan Luka’s service has already been running for a month

Kapetan Luka operate two popular Split to Dubrovnik catamaran services, and their most popular one has already been operating daily for the past month!

Kapetan Luka catamaran
A Kapetan Luka catamaran sails past Korcula

Their services also runs from Split to Milna on the island of Brac, Hvar Town, Korcula Town, Pomena on the island of Mljet and Dubrovnik. The timetable is shown below:

SplitMilna (Brac)HvarKorculaPomena (Mljet)Dubrovnik
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
8.00am8.25am | 8.30am9.00am | 9.10am10.20am | 10.30am11.05am | 11.10am12.35pm
Service runs from 1st April to 31st October 2024
DubrovnikPomena (Mljet)KorculaHvarMilna (Brac)Split
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
3.00pm4.20pm | 4.25pm5.00pm | 5.10pm6.30pm | 6.40pm7.15pm | 7.20pm7.45pm
Service runs from 1st April to 31st October 2024

As you can see, you can use this service from Kapetan Luka to make the journey from Split to Dubrovnik in time for lunch, with plenty of time for exploring in the afternoon.

This catamaran costs €50 for adults for the full Split to Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik to Split portion as well as for Milna – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Milna and Hvar – Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik – Hvar. Other prices apply for the other legs of the journey.

The same company also have another Split to Dubrovnik catamaran that starts operating for the year in June. This service runs from SplitBolMakarksaKorcula Town – Pomena on the island of MljetDubrovnik. You can see the timetable below:

SplitBol (Brac)MakarskaKorculaPomena (Mljet)Dubrovnik
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
8.45am9.35am | 9.45am10.20am | 10.30am11.40am | 11.50am12.20pm | 12.30pm2.05pm
Service runs from 10th June to 22nd September 2024
DubrovnikPomena (Mljet)KorculaMakarskaBol (Brac)Split
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
3.05pm5.00pm | 5.10pm5.50pm | 6.00pm7.15pm | 7.25pm8.00pm | 8.10pm9.10pm
Service runs from 10th June to 22nd September 2024

Tickets for Kapetan Luka‘s coastal routes can be purchased on their website.

Jadrolinija’s Split to Dubrovnik catamaran starts in June

The main ferry and catamaran company in Croatia, Jadrolinija, of course also have a Split to Dubrovnik catamaran. However, their service only starts in June, running for the peak summer months. For completeness, I thought I would also add it here so you can get your Split to Dubrovnik catamaran info all on one page!

Split to Dubrovnik catamaran - Jelena
Credit: Jadrolinija

This is certainly a popular route as it connects some of the top destinations in Croatia: SplitBolHvar TownKorcula TownDubrovnik. This service travels from Split to Dubrovnik in the afternoon/evening, and from Dubrovnik to Split in the morning. That means lunch on the Riva in Split!

You can see the timetable below:

SplitBol (Brac)Hvar TownKorcula TownDubrovnik
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
3.30pm4.30pm | 4.45pm5.35pm | 5.55pm7.10pm | 7.25pm9.25pm
Service runs from 7th June to 22nd September 2024
DubrovnikKorcula TownHvar TownBol (Brac)Split
Daydeparturearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival | departurearrival
Monday – Sunday
(Daily)
7.00am9.00am | 9.15am10.30am | 10.50am11.40am | 11.55am12.55pm
Service runs from 7th June to 22nd September 2024

Adult tickets cost €45 for Split to Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik to Split as well as Hvar to Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik to Hvar. Other prices apply to the other legs of the journey.

You can buy tickets on the Jadrolinija website.

What’s all this talk of catamarans? What about the ferry?

There is no longer a slow ferry between Split and Dubrovnik, one that would be able to take cars as well as passengers. This was a service run by Jadrolinija in the past – for decades, in fact – although it hasn’t operated for almost ten years now and was being run at a loss towards the end of its time. Actually a coastal service that originated Rijeka, I’m sure this would be welcomed by many travellers these days. But, suffice to say, there is no coastal ferry service between Split and Dubrovnik.

If you have a car, you will need to drive down or up the coastline!

New Ryanair base in Dubrovnik from April 2024

New ways of getting to Croatia is always exciting news, and a major airline opening a new base in Croatia is doubly so! As of April 2024, there will be a new Ryanair base in Dubrovnik which is fantastic news for all travellers hoping to visit this exceedingly charming Croatian city in summer 2024…and even later in the year. (Read on for more details of that!)

New Ryanair base in Dubrovnik

New connections to the UK and Ireland

Travellers from the UK will be delighted with the fact that as of 2nd April 2024, Ryanair will be running no less than six flights a week to this southern Croatian city. Flights will operate from Tuesday to Sunday each week and at present are bookable up until the end of October. However, this route is intended to operate year-round which is fantastic – a wonderful way of opening up Dubrovnik to visitors during the late autumn and winter, for it is a delightful city year-round.

Ryanair’s Manchester to Dubrovnik route will also commence in April, on Thursday 4th. This route will fly twice a week – on Mondays and Thursdays – up until 24th October.

And there will be flights from Dublin aplenty too! With a couple of flights a week from 19th March (on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), things start in earnest on 31st March when the airline will be operating daily flights to Dubrovnik. Again, these flights are currently bookable up until the end of October, but the Dublin – Dubrovnik route is also intended to be a year-round one.

Flights from Germany to Dubrovnik

Ryanair will also be launching a number of connections from various German airports to Dubrovnik in April.

Flights from Berlin Brandenburg airport will operate twice a week from 3rd April 2024, flying on Wednesdays and Sundays. From Dusseldorf Weeze Airport, they will also operate twice a week – this time from 2nd April 2024, flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays. These flight details will also be the case from Memmingen Airport, whilst from Karlsruhe / Baden Baden there will also be twice weekly flights, commencing on 5th April 2024 and operating on Mondays and Fridays.

Connections from Italy to Dubrovnik with Ryanair

Despite the physical proximity between Italy and Croatia – it’s just the Adriatic Sea between them, after all – many travellers are thankful for the existence of flight connections between the two countries to make the journey over just a short hop. And here’s a couple of new Ryanair connections that will help!

There will be five flights a week from Rome Fiumicino Airport from 3rd April 2024, with flights operating from Wednesdays to Sundays. Milan Bergamo will see twice-weekly flights from 2nd April 2024, operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

More flights from Europe to Dubrovnik

The flights mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg!

There will be a fantastic three connections from Poland to Dubrovnik with Ryanair. Flights from Krakow will commence on 2nd April 2024, flying on Tuesdays and Saturdays, whilst from Poznan there will be flights on Mondays and Thursdays starting from 4th April 2024. From Wroclaw it’s a case of twice-weekly flights as well – from 3rd April 2024, running on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Vienna will be connected with Ryanair flights to Dubrovnik four days a week from 31st March 2024, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Vienna – Dubrovnik route is also intended to be a year-round one. Great news for our Viennese pals…but how about combining a Christmas visit to Vienna and Dubrovnik in winter 2024? How lovely would that be?

Paris Beauvais Airport will see two Ryanair flights a week to Dubrovnik from 5th April 2024, operating on Mondays and Fridays.

Flights from Brussels Charleroi Airport to Dubrovnik will commence on 4th April 2024, operating on Mondays and Thursdays.

Our Nordic friends won’t be missing out! There will be flights two times a week from Oslo Torp and Stockholm Arlanda to Dubrovnik from 3rd April 2024, whilst flights from Helsinki to Dubrovnik will commence on 5th April 2024.

More info on the new Ryanair base in Dubrovnik

Head to Ryanair‘s website for more details of these flights…and to book your tickets too, of course! To welcome these new flights to Dubrovnik, flights are currently being offered from €29.99 one-way.

Do take a look at our Flights to Croatia 2024 page for details of all flights from the UK and Ireland to all over Croatia, and also our Getting to Dubrovnik page for details of flights from Europe and further beyond.

You may also find taking a look at Dubrovnik Airport‘s website helpful in planning your travel to the city.

Spotlight on: Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik

In the first of a regular series looking at some of Croatia’s most famous – and perhaps lesser-known – sights in more detail, today we’re taking a look at the Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik. These famed walls run for a length of 1,940 metres around the Old Town part of Dubrovnik and are 25 metres tall at their highest point. In the interior, the walls have a thickness of between 4 metres and 6 metres, whilst on the portion facing out over the Adriatic Sea, they are 1.5 metres to 3 metres thick.

Old Town Walls Dubrovnik
A “close-up” look at the Old Town Walls Dubrovnik

The walls are stunning to experience for yourself in real life and have a fascinating history. They have protected Dubrovnik during a number of attacks over the centuries and served as excellent protection during the Homeland War in Croatia in the early 1990s. The walls also withstood an incredibly powerful earthquake in 1667 (when 2,000 locals are estimated to have died, and many of the Old Town buildings were destroyed) and were barely damaged.

History of the Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik

Portions of the walls were first constructed in the 13th century, with the basic shape fully outlined by the 14th century. The walls were continuously added to over the subsequent centuries, with considerable work on the walls undertaken in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Many builders and architects contributed to the construction of the walls and their elements over time, including Juraj Dalmatinac (who worked on Minceta Fortress) who is famous for his work in Sibenik.

Features of the Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik

As we’ve mentioned, the walls run for 1,940 metres in length and include a number of towers, fortresses and gates, and we’ll take a look at some of the best ones here.

Minceta Fortress, completed in 1464, was the main point of defence on the land side of Dubrovnik and is in fact the northernmost point of the Walls as well as the highest point. (So be sure to climb for some fantastic views!) The Tower was originally built in a rectangular shape in the 14th century but was then changed to be a round tower in the mid-15th century.

Top Sights in Croatia - Dubrovnik Old Town
A view over the rooftops of Dubrovnik Old Town from Minceta Tower

Pile Gate is the main entrance into the Old Town on the western side and stands where Pile Fortress used to be, which was torn down in 1818. As you approach this gate you will cross a 15th-century, triple-arched stone bridge. Above the gate itself you will notice a statue of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint, that was sculpted by the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic; the gate itself actually consists of two gates, and outer and an inner one which were built at different times.

Pile Gate, Old Town Walls Dubrovnik
Pile Gate with the stone bridge approaching it

On the western side of the Old Town is Ploce Gate which also consists of an outer and an inner gate and a stone bridge on its approach; again, this gate was constructed in the 15th century. Be sure to check out a gorgeous view of the harbour when you cross this bridge!

Next to Ploce Gate is Revelin Fortress which is also adjacent to the Old Town port. This fortress was constructed in the late 16th century to protect the city from attacks from Venice which were considered heightened at the time. These days, the fortress is home to Club Revelin – what an amazing place to do some partying!

St John’s Fortress to the southeast of the Old Town harbour stood to protect the city from attacks from the sea. Completed in 1557, today this amazing building is home to the Dubrovnik Aquarium and the Maritime Museum.

St John Fortress, Old Town Walls Dubrovnik
St John Fortress

The circular Bokar Fortress stands to protect Pile Gate and the harbour just below. Completed in 1570, this fortress was used as an ammunition store and also to test canon range.

Lovrijenac Fortress stands separate to the town walls – but you will get an excellent view of this fortress when you make the walk on them, and a ticket to the town walls also includes a visit here. This was likely the most important defence of the city, given its position 40 metres up on these cliffs. Originally built in the 14th century – likely on the site of a previous fort, which existed perhaps as early as the 10th century – this triangular-shaped fortress was strengthened and changed over the centuries and also needed restoring after the 1667 earthquake. Amazing, the walls of the fortress that face the sea are 12 metres thick, but much, much less so on the side facing inland. Lovirjenac “plays” the Red Keep of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones.

Lovrijenac Fortress, Dubrovnik
Lovrijenac Fortress

Visiting the Old Town Walls

Getting There

Obviously, the Old Town Walls completely surround the Old Town (the clue is in the name!) so once you’re in Dubrovnik, make your way over to the Old Town.

You can obviously marvel at the walls from many a spot inside and outside of the Old Town. In fact, walking around the outside of them – on the land side, of course – is one way of appreciating the magnitude of the walls and the level of protection they bestowed on the town. Should you get a chance, opting for a spot of sea kayaking in Dubrovnik is another fantastic way of seeing the walls, this time from sea level (of course!). Again, you can imagine how imposing the walls would have been to potential marauders.

Entry & Tickets

There are entrances up to the Town Walls by both Pile and Ploce gates, and you can buy tickets for the walls at both of these locations. Personally, we like entering at Pile Gate to make the walk around on the sea side first before heading inland and marvelling at all the pretty orange rooftops. It is also possible to buy tickets online on the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities website. Tickets cost €35 for adults and €15 for children under 18 (2023 prices). This includes entry to Lovrenjac Fortress as well.

Old Town Walls Dubrovnik

More info

You can learn more about the walls on the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities website. This society was formed in 1952 to protect, preserve and promote the walls. The same society also looks after the stunning town walls in Ston.

Take a look at our Dubrovnik Old Town Photos gallery to see the sights visible on and from the walls.

Sonic Festival Dubrovnik

The first Sonic Festival to take place in Dubrovnik’s stunning Lovrijenac Fortress this September

A new name on Croatia’s impressive music festival scene comes to Dubrovnik this September. Sonic Festival’s Sonic Sunset Session is to be held in the mighty Lovrijenac Fortress in Dubrovnik on 8th and 9th September 2022 – electronic music fans will delight in partying it up in this amazing location, the first time it will be used as a festival site.

Sonic Festival Dubrovnik

About Sonic Festival

Sonic Festival’s first edition is being presented as the Sonic Sunset Session to provide revellers with an unforgettable experience of both the location and the entire event. And some of the top names in the house and techno scene – both internationally and locally – are on the bill for this first edition: Italian producer and DJ Marco Faraone; one of Ibiza’s go-to DJs, Jamie Roy; and regional acts such as Danijel Čehranov, Dea Tosh, NEROA, Brigitta & MattButt.

Hailing from Tuscany, Marco Faraone grew up immersed in music – his father was a DJ in the 80s, and his initial foray into DJing was dominated by the many hip-hop records that comprised his then-modest collection. Marco then graduated to playing drum ‘n’ bass, before settling on a discerning techno vibe for which he is best known today. Marco became a resident at Florence’s globally-renowned Tenax club and quickly graduated from being a ‘crafty up-and-comer’ to one of modern techno’s most recognised and respected names. Marco’s productions have graced some of the scene’s most respected labels such as Drumcode, Defected and Rekids as well as his own much-respected UNCAGE imprint.

Jamie Roy is someone who lives and breathes underground electronic music culture in all its forms. It’s therefore no surprise that Jamie quickly became one of Ibiza’s go-to DJs in 2019 when he held a residency at the legendary Ushuaia for Nic Fanciulli’s ‘Dance Or Die’ events. As a producer, he has landed on the likes of Repopulate Mars, Trick, Unsound, Saved, Kaluki and Under No Illusion. With each and every new EP, Roy shows a subtle evolution of his sound while staying true to his roots. Whether playing an intense club set at places like Studio 338 or La Terrazza Barcelona, or
laying it down for huge crowds on main stages at BPM Festival Costa Rica or Elrow in Glasgow, Roy always knows exactly what record to reach for to make the best connection with his crowd.

Danijel Čehranov, the owner of Last95 Records, is one of Belgrade’s most sought-after DJs, as well as one of the most successful regional music producers. He has played at the amazing Dance Arena at Exit Festival, the Main Stage at the Sea Dance Festival, and also in New York, Moscow, Istanbul and the entire region.

Tickets for Sonic Festival

Tickets for Sonic Festival are planned to go on sale on 1st July 2022, and will be available on Entrio.

More Info

Take a look at Sonic Festival on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest news on the festival.

Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards 2021

Croatia featured in Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2021

Earlier this week, the winners of the 34th annual Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2021 were revealed. Covering a very wide range of categories all across the globe – from cities to islands to hotels and resorts, cruise lines to trains to airlines and airports – and featuring the votes of 800,00 participants, practically everything is rated!

It’s no surprise to see Croatia and certain destinations in Croatia featured too. First up, in the prestigious listing of the top 20 countries in the world, Croatia was voted in ninth place behind hot favourites such as Portugal (which topped the list), New Zealand, Japan, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Italy, Iceland and Greece.

Hvar named best island in Europe

Amongst the island categories, gorgeous Hvar was voted the best island in Europe! The amazing Dalmatian island beat other popular European islands such as Mykonos, Crete, Mallorca and Ibiza to claim the top spot.

Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards 2021
A view of Hvar Town

The beautiful Hvar Town is obviously a big draw on the island, well known as a chic and somewhat party-happy destination. There’s plenty more besides on this island famous for its sunshine and its lavender – see more in our Hvar section.

Dubrovnik 5th in the best cities in the world category

Also rather pleasingly is the inclusion of Dubrovnik in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2021 best (small) cities in the world list – in fifth place, no less. Conde Nast Travelers states that “the beauty of this city at the edge of the Adriatic is very real” and mentions the highlights of the limestone streets, and ancient city walls and the nearby island of Lokrum.

View from Mount Srd, Dubrovnik
The view from Mount Srd looking over Dubrovnik Old Town (and the island of Lokrum)

Anyone that’s been to Dubrovnik will know what a magical place the city is, so it’s no surprise to see it included in this list. The Old Town truly has to be seen to be believed, although there’s so much more to see and do in Dubrovnik and the nearby region! See more in our Dubrovnik section.

More on the Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2021

You can see the winners in all categories on the Conde Nast Traveler website.

Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du

Meet Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du and see the amazing weddings their team has helped plan

Visit Croatia recently sat down – virtually, of course! – for a talk with Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du (what an excellent name!). Lovely Tea from Yes I Du told us about the all-female team behind the company, as well as some of the amazing weddings they’ve helped organise – and what they think will be seen in wedding trends in 2021.

Read on below to find out more about Dubrovnik wedding planner extraordinaire Yes I Du!

Dubrovnik Wedding Planner Yes I Du (Credit: De Botanika Weddings)
Credit: De Botanika Weddings

1. How did Yes I Du come into existence? Can you tell us about it and yourselves?  

The agency was founded by Martina as a logical continuation after studying Organization & Management  and working in the organization of corporate and private events. Today, after 10 years of experience, there are three of us: Martina, Maja and Tea. We are an independent, female-run business.

Yes I Du (Credit: De Botanika Weddings)
Credit: De Botanika Weddings

2. Can you tell us a little bit about the first wedding you helped plan? What were Yes I Du’s experiences of putting on that first event?  

The first wedding was more of a helping hand for friends when it came to organizing, styling and decorating their wedding. We did that pro bono to get some experience after doing thorough research and setting up all the theoretical obligations which were necessary for planning and organizing weddings. Even with experience in organizing other events, weddings have a very personal and emotional element, and a lot of details, which makes them different from any other event.

The real weddings with actual clients came after this. Researching the market, getting to know the venues and finding professional partners were the three key steps for the beginning. Furthermore, from the very first wedding, we tried to build our own style and create personalized weddings, which is our signature still today.

Yes, most of our weddings are in Dubrovnik, as our city offers so many diverse, stunning locations. Our other preferred venues throughout Croatia are Meneghetti in Istria, Bellevue on Lošinj island, Lola and Fort George on Vis island, Villa Dalmacija in Split and the Aman Resort in Sveti Stefan, Montenegro.

Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du (Credit: Katja Simon)
Credit: Katja Simon
Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du (Credit: Marko Marinković)
Credit: Marko Marinković

4. What country are most of your clients from? Or is it a real mix of places?  

Our clients come from a variety of places: the USA, the Middle East, the UK, Scandinavia, Ireland, Canada, Germany, etc.

5. What do you think is the most magical wedding venue in Croatia?

Two places come to mind: Meneghetti in Istria and Fort Lovrijenac in Dubrovnik. So different yet both so breathtaking. But any venue can be made into a magical place by us! 🙂

Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du (Credit: Credit: Mihoci Studios)
Credit: Mihoci Studios

6. What are the main things, would you say, that couples who are considering holding a wedding in Croatia should be aware of?

They should keep in mind that we are a small country with fewer possibilities, especially if they are coming to Dubrovnik, we have to be prepared well in advance. As long as they let us know what they want on time and have the budget for it, there’s nothing we can’t do. But timing is very important.

7. Why do you think Croatia is suitable for a destination wedding?

Again, Croatia is such a small country but it truly offers very diverse and beautiful locations. You can find anything from a stunning mountain landscape to a dreamy seaside resort. The distances between airports and cities are small, the traffic is well connected, there are additional things to see and do if guests want to extend their stay, and it is situated not more than 2-3 hours away from the biggest European metropolises.

Yes I Du (Credit: Martina Škrobot)
Credit: Martina Škrobot
Yes I Du (Credit: Irina i Matej)
Credit: Irina i Matej

8. Can you share a bit about what was the most unusual or most memorable wedding you helped plan?

There are definitely a few that come to mind. The first one would be Martina’s brother’s wedding, for emotional reasons. 🙂 From a business point of view, it was the wedding of Shayan and Anousheh on Fort Lovrijenac in 2016. It was a wedding on a world level, trendsetting and mind-blowing. It inspired us to develop our business.

Yes I Du (Credit: Iva i Vedran)
Credit: Iva i Vedran

We think that only either the most luxurious events, or small but still luxurious elopement style weddings, will take over in 2021. These couples will really treat themselves and be pampered for a whole week. We also think that all services for these clients and weddings will be even more personalized and individual-orientated.

Thank you Yes I Du!

Thank you so much to Tea and Yes I Du for taking the time to answer our questions, as well as providing the stunning images you see accompanying this post.

If you’d like to see some more of the absolutely gorgeous weddings that Yes I Du have helped plan, do look them up on Instagram: @Yes_I_Du_Weddings.

Alternatively, you may well be considering getting married in Dubrovnik (or elsewhere in Croatia) in 2021 or further in the future. Do contact the wonderful Dubrovnik wedding planner Yes I Du to see how they can work their magic for your special day!

YES I DU wedding agency
Rijecka 19
Dubrovnik

Croatia
Web: yes-i-du.net
Email: info@yes-i-du.net
Tel: +385 95 3616 217

Puzzle Punks Game of Thrones Virtual Escape Room

PuzzlePunks Dubrovnik launch Croatia’s first virtual escape room

Everyone’s adapting to the ‘new normal’ during these unprecedented times – with working, schooling, exercise, entertainment and more all now having to take place at home. Entertainment in particular has changed form – perhaps you’ve fired up an old games console for some multiplayer online gaming; have had multi-person video calls with friends and a glass or three of wine; or even taken part in an online pub quiz? But what about an escape room – there’s no way you can do that now, right? Wrong! Thanks to PuzzlePunks Dubrovnik and their online virtual escape room, you can!

Puzzle Punks Game of Thrones Virtual Escape Room

And not just any virtual escape room – but a Game of Thrones-inspired one! Anyone who’s anyone knows that Dubrovnik “is” King’s Landing, and PuzzlePunks Dubrovnik normally run a real life Game of Thrones escape room at their base. But they’ve cleverly adapted to the coronavirus crisis, and turned this escape room into an online virtual game. Take part in fun and challenging games with family and friends – wherever you all are in the world – from the comfort of your own sofa.

Although normal life has been put on hold for almost everyone, including businesses, local Dubrovnik couple Diana Marlais and Bogdan Dascalescu saw an opportunity to create something new to help and evolve their venture. As Diana proudly explains:

We are the first company that offers live video escape games in Croatia & one of the early adopters around the world. Our bookings kept getting canceled and the season was looking quite gloomy. The entire world just stopped and honestly, we felt quite scared of our future. To make things more complicated, we found out we have a baby on the way. Necessity is the mother of invention, so in our case as well, we felt we had no other choice but to adapt & innovate.

Puzzle Punks Game of Thrones Virtual Escape Room

Their virtual escape room game takes you into the world of Game of Thrones – you and your team have 60 minutes to Save King’s Landing. You’ll be able to use a live avatar at your command via live video, directing him to look around the room for clues. As your eyes and hands inside the room, he’ll walk, look and pick up items based on your instructions. Pay close attention to the game and use your observational skills; combining the teamwork of you and your friends, you’ll be able to spend a thrilling 60 minutes solving puzzles.

Bogdan explains:

It’s been our dream to reach more players worldwide. We are happy that we are able to offer those who cannot visit Croatia while traveling is not possible, as well as to escape room fans all over the world, an authentic Dubrovnik experience”. You can make a booking for yourself and your family/friends, or buy a gift voucher if you want to surprise someone with an epic birthday present or just help them get through these challenging self-isolating times”.

PuzzlePunks have adapted their working hours (they are open 12pm – 6am CET daily) to accommodate different time zones, especially for the American market. Slots for their virtual escape room are rapidly being booked up!

To make a reservation for your own team, and for more information, head to puzzlepunks.com.

Dubrovnik to Split

Dubrovnik to Split…and back! Updated for 2020

One of our more frequently visited posts on our blog is our guide on Getting from Split to Dubrovnik…and Dubrovnik to Split! As it’s been a few years since we wrote it, we thought we would revisit the information and update it for 2020.

This is one of the most frequently travelled routes by visitors to Croatia, so we hope you find this information useful!

Dubrovnik to Split - Updated for 2020

Dubrovnik to Split by catamaran

There are three catamaran services running from Dubrovnik to Split in summer, operated by two different companies.

Kapetan Luka run two of these services, both of which sail daily. Perhaps the one that travellers might find most useful is the catamaran that sails Dubrovnik – Pomena (island Mljet) – Korcula Town – Hvar Town – Milna (island of Brac) – this service starts running for the year from early April, and operates daily right through to the end of October. The catamaran departs Dubrovnik at 4.30pm, arriving in Split at 8.55pm – meaning, sailing time is 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Kapetan Luka‘s other catamaran sails Dubrovnik – Sobra (island of Mljet) – Korcula Town – Makarska – Bol (island of Brac) – Split. This one runs daily from the end of May through to the end of October. This catamaran departs Dubrovnik at 4pm, arriving in Split at 8.45pm – sailing time is 4 hours and 15 minutes.

You can book the Kapetan Luka catamarans using the search box below:

Jadrolinija also have a catamaran connecting Dubrovnik and Split. Operating daily from early June to mid September, their catamaran stops at Bol on Brac, Hvar Town and Korcula Town en route. Sailing time between Split and Dubrovnik is 5 hours and 15 minutes. This catamaran sails from Split in the mid afternoon (reaching Dubrovnik at 9pm), and sails from Dubrovnik in the early morning (reaching Split at 12.30pm).

The above mentioned services are the only options if you wish to make the journey from Dubrovnik to Split by sea. No other direct catamaran or ferry route exists – and there are definitely no car ferry options.

Island Hopping

You obviously don’t have to go go direct from Dubrovnik to Split if taking a catamaran! The services above mean you can easily spend a night or two (or more) on the islands of Mljet, Korcula, Hvar and/or Brac along the way!

A possible (part) car ferry route

If you did want to make part of the journey by car ferry, the best idea would be to drive up the coast from Dubrovnik towards the top of the Peljesac Peninsula to Orebic. From here, you can get a car ferry onto the island of Korcula. Driving to the western side of the island, you can then get a car ferry from Vela Luka to Split with Jadrolinija. This ferry sails twice a day (only once on Saturdays and Sundays out of season) and takes 2 hours 45 minutes.

If you wanted to include a different island to Korcula, you could instead drive further up the coast to Drvenik and then get a ferry across to Sucuraj on the island of Hvar. You would then need to drive across the island to Stari Grad to get another ferry up to Split.

Alternatively, you could drive even further up the coast to Makarska and then get a ferry to Sumartin on the island of Brac. Either return back to Makarska to continue your drive to Split, or drive across Brac to Supetar to get another car ferry to Split.

All of these car ferry routes are run by Jadrolinija.

Island hopping with a car is pretty much out of the question – few car ferry routes exist that travel from island to island. So you’re really only be able to visit one island before sailing up to Split.

Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik’s Old Town Harbour

Dubrovnik to Split by Bus

Those not taking the catamaran option for travelling between to two cities will likely instead by travelling by bus. There are plenty of buses travelling on this route every day, year-round – so it’s an easy journey to make indeed.

Journey time is about 4 to 4.5 hours (longer during peak summer season when the roads are busy) and a one-way ticket costs in the region of 90 to 140 Kunas, depending on which bus you take.

You can look up bus times and ticket prices (and book tickets) on the getbybus.com website.

Of course, buses go through the small section of Bosnia & Hercegovina that sits between the two portions of Dalmatia. So keep your passport handy as it will be checked!

Dubrovnik to Split by Air

It is possible to fly between Dubrovnik and Split – however, flights do not operate daily so it’s not the most convenient option.

Operated by Trade Air (and bookable on the Croatia Airlines website), flights operate twice a week. Journey time is 45 minutes.

Split
Narodni trg (People’s Square), also known as Pjaca in Split

Dubrovnik to Split by Road

If you’re hired a car in Croatia, driving up the coast is easy enough. You can either take the scenic coastal road – the Adriatic Highway (or Jadranska magistrala) all the way, but do consider that there will be heavy traffic on this road in the peak summer months.

Alternatively, you can drive up the coastal road to near the town of Ploce. Close to here, you will be able to join the the A1 motorway (this is where it starts/ends) to take it all the way to the Split region. Do be aware that you have to pay a toll for using the motorway – this costs 51 Kunas from Ploce to Split.

Split to Dubrovnik Private Transfer

For those that don’t want to rent a car – but equally don’t want to use public transport – a private transfer can often be the best solution in travelling from Split to Dubrovnik.

Visit Croatia Recommends This door to door private car service is an easy and comfortable way to travel between these two cities. Prices are fixed and very competitive – cheaper, in fact, than a taxi, with prices starting at €210. You can also choose your pickup time and whether you’d like to modify the trip to include stops along the way, making the transfer into an excursion. For a free quote on Dubrovnik to Split transfers contact Octopus Transfers Croatia

Can I go by train?

Five years may have passed since we wrote our original post and in that time…Dubrovnik has not built a train station. (This is a joke – there were no plans to build one!)

So no, you cannot travel from Dubrovnik by train to Split!