Cool Off On Your Backpacking Holiday – Go Snorkelling In Dubrovnik

If you’ve been traveling around Europe with a heavy rucksack and the stresses, strains, heavy drinking and lack of sleep of you backpacking holiday are getting all too much, even the hardiest backpacker has to take some time out to relax and enjoy a bit of down time. For me this usually meant simply getting out in the sunshine and enjoying a bit of a swim - and I found there were few better places to enjoy such activities as in the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Adriatic that lap the walls of the Croatian city’s old town.

There are many different companies offering snorkeling and diving trips in and around the city of Dubrovnik – and you can readily hire all the snorkel gear you will need if you don’t already have it stashed away in your backpack. You can shop around for the best prices as the large amount of competition seems to make the locals more open to negotiation. I found that taking a dip in the warm and clear waters of the Adriatic was a really great way to relax after partying hard in the many bars of the Old Town or in the Lapad district of Dubrovnik the night before. You’ll find that there’s some great natural wildlife and fish to see – and it’s a great way to spend a sunny afternoon.

When you’ve had you’re fill of snorkeling its time to relax and do a bit of sunbathing on the many rocky outcrops of the Dalmatian coast near the city of Dubrovnik. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to find a more secluded area to the north of the old town – as the old town area tends to be rather crowded with holidaymakers and visitors from the many cruise liners. Remember to pick up some sun block, a pair of shades and one of the many quality beach towels on sale from either the old town square or the many little shops around the beach areas before you set yourself up for the late afternoon and evening of sunbathing.

Best Boat Trips and Excursions from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is undeniably in my mind the true beauty and Jewel of the Adriatic sea. The architecture of the Old Town, its rich art and culture, the delicious fresh seafood and overall quality of life found in the city is surely second to none in the region and if you travel there you will already know that the people are always very friendly and hospitable to backpackers. However, as beautiful as it is, there is in my experience much more to a trip to Dubrovnik than just what can be found inland and if you ever get bored of the Old Town, Copacabana beach and the Lapad region of the city, you may be interested in booking one of the numerous boat trip excursions available to the many small islands that are found of Croatia's South Dalmation Coast.


One day whilst traveling in Dubrovnik I took a boat trip to the nearby Elafiti islands. These excursions are widely touted on the main strip of Lapad's bars with many competing companies vieing for the business of young travelers, and if you shop around you are sure to find a good price (I ended up paying a little under £20 for the entire trip and a delicious grilled fish lunch and free wine was included on the boat in that price).

The Elafiti islands themselves are unique and gorgeous to behold in their own right. Our boat trip took us to three of these islands in a single excursion: Kolocep, Sipan and Lopud. I found that each of the islands has its own unique charm - with Lopud in particular a fantastic place to visit. It has a really cool sandy beach (Sunj beach) where you can paddle out to around 80m without the depth going over chest high. This beach is also ideal for snorkeling with lots of fish and crabs to be found near the rocks on the left side of the beach. In the summer season you will find that kayaks can be rented to take a quick trip out into the bay at a few pounds per hour. Lopud also has an old monastery which is well worth a visit.
As well as the frequent cruises and backpackers that visit the city, Dubrovnik is also proving to become increasingly popular with newly married couples because of the unrivalled beauty of its architecture, its stunning sandy beaches and numerous fantastic restaurants which together make the city a perfect romantic holiday destination for young couples. If you have friends who are newly web planning a trip to the city, make sure you give them a great send off with a great selection of beach wedding favors to let them really make the most of their beach wedding or honeymoon trip.