Destination dupes: alternatives to Dubrovnik in Croatia & Europe

Mary Novakovich

Few can resist the extraordinary beauty of Dubrovnik. Indeed, it's not surprising that this southern Dalmatian city is Croatia's biggest tourist attraction.

Visitor numbers keep on going up, with 4.28 million overnight stays last year. That's a lot of people shuffling along the medieval and Renaissance city walls and through the marble lanes of Dubrovnik's UNESCO-listed old town.

Its dreamy location, superb culture, great beaches, buzzing restaurant scene and rich history make it an obvious magnet for tourists, but cast your eyes further afield to find a city break that's not on quite such a well-worn tourist trail. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised with this selection of destination dupes.

How to book it: find the latest deals on holidays with TUI^* to destinations across Croatia and Europe, with something for every budget.

Alternative destinations within Croatia

Zadar

Zadar^* has so much going for it. Croatia's oldest continuously inhabited city is positively packed with history; a Roman forum, Byzantine chapel, Romanesque cathedral and Renaissance church all in one square.

Add to that a fantastic food market bursting with local produce, medieval walls transformed into a wonderful walk around the city, along with some lovely beaches.

Then there's the duo of public art installations; the haunting sounds of the Sea Organ and the shimmering lights of Greeting to the Sun. Not to mention ferry-hopping to neighbouring islands of Pašman and Ugljan for lazy bike rides through olive groves. Oh, and wineries on the doorstep.

Šibenik

In people's haste to get to nearby Krka National Park, they often overlook one of Croatia's oldest and most attractive cities.

Šibenik^* lies in a sheltered spot on the coast inside St Anthony's Channel, but that didn't prevent the Venetians from building four impressive forts to protect against Ottoman invasion: one, St Nicholas, at the opening of the channel, and the other three looming picturesquely over the city.

They're all worth exploring and getting some great views of the city, which includes the massive St James's Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed architectural wonder. Wander the old town's narrow streets when you're not at the city's Banj Beach.

Cavtat

Croatia's last town before the Montenegrin border, Cavtat^* is an extraordinarily pretty base not just for visits to Dubrovnik, either by bus or scenic boat ride, but it's a destination in its own right.

Set on a two-pronged forested peninsula lined with numerous beaches and pine-shaded walking trails, it's an enchanting place of Venetian terracotta-roofed stone houses and restaurants lining the waterfront.

It's also handy for exploring the rural farm-to-table restaurants and vineyards of the Konavle region, including cute villages such as Čilipi and the medieval fortress of Sokol, by bike, on foot or even, in some places, on horseback.

Korčula Town

There's more than a hint of Dubrovnik in dinky little Korčula Town's old town, which sits on its own small peninsula. City walls: check. Creamy stone houses with terracotta roofs and green shutters: check. Narrow shiny alleyways filled with restaurant tables: check.

But you won't find the crowds, even if Korčula^* is a popular stop on small-ship cruise circuit. Rocky beaches surround the peninsula, with more found along tucked into the coves of the surrounding coastline.

Take a taxi boat across to Badija islet for snorkelling, or check out the small-scale family-run wineries in the fishing village of Lumbarda.

Pula

While the crowds head to Rovinj, with good reason, as it really is jaw-droppingly beautiful and worth a visit, use less touristy Pula^* as a base.

You'll have the magnificent and well-preserved ancient Roman Arena to marvel at, along with other Roman ruins just casually strewn about the city. The food and wine scene will definitely entice you to linger as you taste top-notch Istrian olive oils, truffles, cheeses, cured meats and wine.

While you're there, hop on the bus to the fishing village of Fažana and take the ferry to Brijuni National Park, a quirky archipelago with a compelling, fascinating history.

Climate in Croatia

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	7	9	12	16	21	25	28	28	24	19	13	8
Hours of sunshine (daily)	3	4	5	6	8	9	10	9	8	6	4	3
Days with some rainfall	13	12	13	13	10	10	7	7	8	10	13	13
Sea temperature °C	14	14	14	15	18	22	24	25	23	21	18	15

The above guide shows the climate in Dubrovnik. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Croatia.

Alternative city breaks around the world

Trieste, Italy

You want a cosmopolitan melting pot? Come to Trieste^*, whose complicated history includes Italians, Austrians and Slavs.

And some of the best coffee in the world, which you can have in one of the cafés in the stately Piazza Unitá d'Italia, the largest waterside square in Europe.

Wander round the ancient Roman ruins and medieval fortress (now a museum) in hilly San Giusto before heading back down to the waterfront along wriggling cobbled lanes. If you fancy a swim, join the locals in the beaches around Miramare and its castle just north of the city.

Climate in Trieste

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	8	9	12	17	21	25	28	27	24	18	13	9
Hours of sunshine (daily)	3	5	5	6	8	8	10	9	7	5	4	3
Days with some rainfall	12	11	11	13	14	14	11	12	11	11	13	12

The above guide shows the climate in Trieste.

Belgrade, Serbia

Serbia's capital, Belgrade^*, fizzes with a cool energy combined with Balkan warmth. To get a taste of its history, head to the Kalemegdan Fortress, which looks over the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers and takes you back to ancient Roman, Ottoman and Austrian times.

Wander the lively streets of the old town, crowded with cafés and bars, particularly the Dorćol and Vračar districts.

Cross the Sava to Tito-era New Belgrade and gorgeous Zemun, which shows off its Austro-Hungarian history in its Baroque architecture and has a fabulous promenade along the Danube filled with floating bars. Then hit the river beaches along the Danube and the Sava.

Climate in Belgrade

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	4	6	12	17	22	25	27	27	24	18	10	5
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	5	6	7	8	9	9	7	5	3	2
Days with some rainfall	11	11	11	12	12	13	10	9	8	9	12	12

The above guide shows the climate in Belgrade.

Tarragona, Spain

The ancient Roman city of Tarragona^* along Spain's Costa Dorada^* makes an appealing alternative not only to Dubrovnik but also to Barcelona, barely an hour's train ride to the north. Tarragona's history is inescapable, especially within the sprawling Roman amphitheatre, which offers marvellous sea views.

You'll find more Roman ruins tucked within its lively old town, including its ancient city walls, and just outside the city is the astonishing UNESCO-listed Aqüeducte de les Ferreres built by the Romans in the 1st century. Feast on seafood in the fishermen's quarter of El Serrallo before heading to Tarragona's 15 km of sandy beaches.

Climate in Tarragona

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	14	15	16	18	21	25	28	28	26	22	17	15
Hours of sunshine (daily)	5	6	7	7	8	9	10	9	7	6	5	5
Days with some rainfall	12	11	10	10	10	8	5	7	8	10	10	12
Sea temperature °C	13	13	13	14	17	21	24	26	24	21	18	15

The above guide shows the climate in Tarragona.

Sibiu, Romania

You'll do a double-take when you see the fairy-tale medieval architecture of Sibiu in Romania's Transylvania region. Are you in Germany? Austria? Hungary? All three have had a hand in creating this handsome city, which was the European Capital of Culture in 2007.

Stroll within the fortified walls of the old town into cobbled squares of colourful medieval and baroque townhouses, where café terraces add an air of conviviality. Check out the excellent collection of Romanian and Western art within the 18th-century Baroque Brukenthal Palace, and if you're there in December, you'll be treated to the sight of one of Europe's prettiest Christmas markets.

Climate in Sibiu

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	1	4	9	15	20	23	24	25	21	16	9	3
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	5	5	7	7	8	8	6	5	3	2
Days with some rainfall	12	11	12	14	15	16	13	11	9	9	11	13

The above guide shows the climate in Sibiu.

La Rochelle, France

Swap the Adriatic for the Atlantic in this laid-back French port, which had the foresight more than 50 years ago to pedestrianise its old town. La Rochelle has such a relaxed air about it, particularly in the Vieux Port at whose entrance stand two 14th-century defence towers.

Take your pick from the dozens of restaurants lining the quaysides before heading under the arch of the Grosse Horloge and into the cool arcaded streets of the old town.

Don't miss the morning food market in an impressive 19th-century covered hall, and, of course, the city's beaches and nearby islands, including the heavenly Île-de-Ré.

Climate in La Rochelle

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	9	10	12	15	18	22	24	24	22	18	13	9
Hours of sunshine (daily)	3	4	6	7	8	9	10	9	7	5	4	3
Days with some rainfall	17	15	15	15	15	11	10	11	12	14	16	17
Sea temperature °C	10	10	10	12	15	17	19	20	19	17	14	12

The above guide shows the climate in La Rochelle.

Visiting Dubrovnik responsibly

If you're dead set on seeing Dubrovnik^* (its city walls really are something) then there are a few ways of keeping your tourist footprint to a minimum. Travelling out of season is a good start: spring and autumn will be much more relaxed, and the sea stays warm well into late October and even November.

Although the city has cut back on the number of cruise ships, it's still a popular port on many itineraries. Check the Port Authority of Dubrovnik's website to see how many ships are due in port on any given day, and try to avoid the old town then.

Ready to book your next holiday? Search current offers on holidays with TUI to destinations across Europe.

Mary Novakovich

Mary Novakovich is an award-winning journalist, travel writer and author. She often writes about Croatia, France, Italy and Greece for the likes of The Independent, The Guardian and The Telegraph. Mary has also written numerous guidebooks and a travel memoir, 'My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia's Hinterland'.

Posted in: City Culture Europe

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