Dubrovnik – Budva – Adriatic Fjords

We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and start our day by exploring a wonderful “medieval” town. This is the walled city of Kotor, a monument to natural beauty and culture, a very old, well-preserved city—protected by UNESCO—with strong Byzantine and Venetian influences. It is located at the deepest point of one of the most beautiful bays along the Montenegrin coast, which some consider to be the largest, southernmost, and most beautiful fjord in the Adriatic. We’ll see the 12th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Tryphon, the Orthodox Church of St. Luke, and the imposing Prince’s Palace. After the tour, we’ll have free time in the walled city of Kotor. If you’d like, join us in the village of Dub, just 15 minutes from Kotor, where we’ll take the cable car (round-trip ticket €23) up Mount Lovćen, in the National Park, ending at Kuk Peak (1,350 m). The cable car ride takes 11 minutes (3.9 km) and is considered one of the most impressive cable cars in Europe, as it offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire Kotor “fjord.” If you’ve seen the stunning photos of the area with the panoramic view across the entire bay, they were taken right from here! Next, we’ll return to Budva for a city tour, one of the oldest on the Adriatic (3,500 years old), known for its beautiful coastline and cosmopolitan lifestyle—a city with strong Greek, Roman, and Venetian influences. We’ll explore the medieval historic center and the Butva Citadel, with panoramic views of the Adriatic, the city walls, and the tiled-roof alleys. We’ll have time at the beach for lunch and coffee. If you’d like—and weather permitting— join us on a mini-cruise along the Adriatic Riviera, departing from the small port of Butva and passing by the islet of Sveti Stefan (a famous luxury resort, perfect for photos) and the islet of Agios Nikolaos, the famous “Hawaii Island.”

We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and then set out to visit the unique city of Dubrovnik. During our guided tour of Dubrovnik—which has been called “the jewel of the Adriatic,” our first stop will be the Old Town, which is surrounded by 10th-century walls, where we’ll walk through the locations where scenes from *Game of Thrones* were filmed. In the historic city center, we’ll visit the Franciscan Monastery, the Cathedral of the Rectors, the Old Port, and the Church of St. Blaise, the city’s patron saint—sights that offer a rare travel experience. Next, we recommend that you discover the wonders of the Adriatic seabed in Dubrovnik on a 45-minute panoramic cruise. We’ll explore the colorful marine life, as well as the unique view of the city’s iconic walls, the stunning island of Lokrum, and the rolling hills surrounding this UNESCO-protected city. As you cruise through the Old Town, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take amazing photos and videos, so don’t forget to be ready. Another option is to take the cable car from the Old Town (Petra Krešimira IV Street) to the top of Srdj—a 4-minute ride each way— (round-trip ticket €27), where the view of the entire Old Town, the Adriatic Sea, and its islands is magnificent. The ride is short, but well worth it. The vehicle moves extremely slowly and close to the ground, so even if you’re afraid of heights, you most likely won’t have any trouble. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of the entire Old Town of Dubrovnik, the city walls, the Adriatic Sea, and the surrounding islets (Lokrum, Elafiti). ~There’s also a panoramic restaurant and café (Panorama Restaurant & Bar), a small war museum (Croatian War of Independence Museum), and walking trails. The sunset from here is considered one of the most spectacular in the Adriatic. We’ll leave this day without any other visits, as it’s worth dedicating the entire day to getting to know the city better. Our guide will be there to provide you with all the necessary information so you can make the most of your time however you wish. In the afternoon, we’ll depart for our hotel in Butva.

Today is our last day in this picturesque town. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head back home. We’ll pass by the shores of Lake Ohrid, with its crystal-clear waters and rich wildlife, and through Pogradec we’ll head toward the Krystallopigi border crossing to return in the evening to our city.