Visiting Croatia or Island Hopping in the Adriatic and want to know where you should base yourself for your trip? Learn more about what there is to see in both towns to find out Where is better: Dubrovnik vs Split.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is such a charm. The location, the walls, the views! The Old Town is beautifully preserved, despite a massive earthquake that hit the city in the 17th century and the most recent Siege of Dubrovnik back in 1991.
The buildings were all rebuilt post-earthquake in Baroque style and long walls and forts surround the whole city. Walk through the Pile Gate, through to the main promenade of the Stradun, and stroll along the City Walls. The city also gained even more popularity in recent years due to being a filming location for Game of Thrones! Check out THIS POST to see where are some of the filming locations.
Best time to visit & How long to stay
It does get busy during the summertime, especially when big cruise ships are docked in for the day. If you want to avoid the crowds, travel out of season before June or from late September. If you are there during summer, head out early in the morning or late at night once all the day trippers from the cruise ships have left.
Although the town of Dubrovnik in itself is not that big, it’s best enjoyed at a relaxed pace for 3 to 4 nights.
You WILL love
- The beautiful Old Town & city walls
- Wondering around the cobbled streets and hidden alleyways
- The stunning clifftop bars, like Buza Bar!
You might NOT love
- The tourist crowds over the summer season
- It can be very expensive
- Limited accommodation options within the Old Town
Split
Split is a vibrant city, and compared to Dubrovnik you will notice that this is more of a place where the locals actually live and work. The city is much bigger than Dubrovnik, it’s in fact the second biggest city in Croatia. It has lots of accommodation, restaurants & bars which also makes it also much more affordable place to stay for budget conscious travellers.
Although quite a big part of Split is now modern, one area still has the remains of one the best preserved Roman ruins, the Diocletian Palace. Take a stroll through the maze of laneways and stop at one of the many cafes or walk along the beautiful harbour, the Riva. Nearby Bacvice Beach is great for a swim too!
Best time to visit & How long to stay
Some cruise ships still dock in Split so it can get quite busy in peak summer season during June, July & August. Out of season during May and September the weather is still very pleasant and the accommodation affordable.
1 to 2 nights is sufficient to see the city and its main sights.
You WILL love
- An inviting town centre within the Diocletian Palace & appealing harbourfront
- More choice of accommodation, restaurants & nightlife in the city centre
- More affordable than Dubrovnik
You might NOT love
- Less historical attractions compared to Dubrovnik
- The ‘Old Town’ part of the city is quite small
Travelling via ferry to the islands
Apart from the islands of Krk, Brac & Losinj, none of the other Islands in Croatia have airports so you will need to take a ferry to get to them. Most of the popular ferry routes in Croatia are run by large car ferries or catamarans. Jadrolinija ferries serve routes to the islands from Dubrovnik & Split, as well as from Italy to Split (from Ancona, 11 hours), and Dubrovnik (from Bari, 7 hours). Local company Krilo also runs services from Split to some of the Croatian islands like Hvar, Korčula & Brac.
Want to read more about some of the Best Islands in Croatia? Check out my other post HERE!
To Sum it up: Where is better, compare Dubrovnik vs Split
Most people will usually base themselves in either Dubrovnik or Split on their trip to Croatia. If you have the time to do both cities, I say do both, they are different from each other and that may also make ferry connections to the islands easier so that you are not backtracking. If you can’t do both, I say go for Dubrovnik! The gorgeous Old Town won me over!
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Hope you enjoyed this article on Where is Better: Dubrovnik vs Split. Want to read more? Check out more of my posts below:
These are 3 of the Best Islands in Croatia.
How to Save Money When Travelling Around Europe & Europe Hidden Gem Destinations.
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