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I was looking for a holiday for me and my son at May half term, somewhere affordable but not too busy, hot and next to the sea with interesting things to do and some history. Somewhere that we could go for a few days but avoid the travel chaos that many were predicting. Dubrovnik was the ideal choice.

Dubrovnik is a lovely medieval town with stunning views across the sea it was the ideal May half term break that we were looking for. There was a huge choice of accommodation with hotels all along the coast but we opted for an apartment in the centre of the medieval town. IRUNDO Apartments were very good and by far the most affordable option, more than half the price of one of the big hotels.

We didn’t have a swimming pool but, as we quickly discovered, many of the locals choose to jump in the sea just around the corner of the town port, or take a trip to Lokrum island, just a quick boat trip from the same port. We did both and found plenty of opportunity to jump and dive in to the crystal clear waters. Very conscientiously there are swimming pool like steps available, all around in the local swimming spots, that are well maintained and easy to use.

Dubrovnik is so clean! The people were very, very friendly and almost everyone spoke English.  The water so drinkable that you can fill your bottle from the big water fountains in the squares and in our apartment. This was a big bonus the temperature was in the 30’s and not a cloud in sight for the whole week. They also look after a host of cats around the town. They seem to belong to the whole town with bowls of water and food left by many doorstops. They laze happily in the sun with no fuss and add lots of character to the beautiful views!

5 Things to do in Dubrovnik:

There is the cable car to the top of the surrounding hills that gives you a stunning view and a museum of the not so distant war.

You can walk fully around the town walls, up to 6 metered thick, and see across the terracotta rooftops and the sea. This involved a lot of steps and sun but there were plenty of shaded stops with refreshments all the way around.

The museums were beautiful and some even used in the filming of Game of Thrones, something the town is well known for, being the inspiration and filming location for many of the Kings Landing scenes.

Lokrum island was our favourite destination, using a whole day to explore this tranquil island, enjoying the shade of the trees, seeing the monastery ruins and walking around the gardens full of palm trees and cacti. It was stunning and so much to enjoy. The island has a host of Peacocks that run free and will even eat from your hand. It also has a population of rabbits that are just as comfortable around people. Whether you want to have a quiet dip or throw yourself off a rock into the water, there was plenty of choice on Lokrum, even a salt water lake. I already want to go back and visit again! It is ideal for families and is a must if you are spending a few days in Dubrovnik.

Eating out we were spoiled for choice but also everything was rather pricey. We never once had a bad meal but even for a Londoner I was taken aback by the cost of food.

We loved Dubrovnik for May Half Term, it is one of my favourite places I have visited in Europe and I am sure we will go to Croatia again, perhaps towards Split, just north of Dubrovnik and apparently just as beautiful