While tourists tend to flock to Croatia in the summertime, we found Dubrovnik a wonderful city to spend the Christmas season. We all reluctantly left Dubrovnik having fallen in love with the old city.
1. Low tourist numbers
Essentially, you've got the city to yourself. There are still small groups of tourists that suddenly appear as part of a day trip but otherwise, you've got the marble-lined streets of Stradun and the other historic alleyways to yourself.
While having lunch at a small restaurant in a cozy alley, we asked the waiter just how busy are the summers in Dubrovnik.
He moved his legs forward to touch our table and said that there would literally be a line of people waiting right there for our table in the summer. We would be eating with someone standing and touching our table.
2. The temps aren't so bad. And the air is clear.
But that depends on what's a bad temperature for you.
For us Canadians 11 degrees Celsius on average in December isn't so bad. So for us, the temp and AQI was a nice change from New Delhi. That can be a deal-breaker for others though.
It's sweater weather! And many restaurants have blankets for their patrons on every chair and heaters for those who choose to dine outside.
3. Availability
We were able to get a small apartment 15 steps from St. Blaze church for a reduced rate. It was a beautiful apartment right in the old city close to all of the sites and restaurants.
4. Food booths
Along the length of Stradun Street are food booths with prikle (donuts sprinkled with powdered sugar), sausages, pancakes, and Smirnoff's served from a bottle with a pump!
5. Short skirt, long jackets
Dubrovniks (is that what people from Dubrovnik are called?) dress up and enjoy the Christmas season in the old town starting in the morning on Christmas eve. Men and boys dress up in suits and women (they're tall there) dress up in short skirts and long jackets, just like the Cake song.
They gather in the squares and restaurants and eat and drink and enjoy each others company. It's a rare opportunity to be able to walk amongst people unobserved as we all celebrate Christmas.
Reasons why you might not want to visit Dubrovnik at Christmas
1. Weather
Even though we enjoyed the weather and AQI in December it may not be the best time of year to visit Dubrovnik. No one was on the beaches.
2. Not everything is open
Not all restaurants or activities are open. Aidan and I would have loved to have gone fishing on the Adriatic but there was none available. Some ferries don't run to the islands and many outdoor businesses close down. And some shops are boarded up until the temps warm up and the tourists flock to the walled city.
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