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Kissed by the Sea: Enjoy the Water in and around Dubrovnik

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The Sand and the Sea

When you think of Dubrovnik, two colours come to mind: that of reddish sand shimmering on the roofs and walls of the Croatian city. And the colour of bright blue water that bubbles on the cliffs off Dubrovnik, but also serenely lingers in the bays nearby. The city, whose old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just unimaginable without the Adriatic Sea. For one, there is the massive city wall built in the 16th century that encloses Dubrovnik and separates the land from the sea. You also get a whole new perspective when snorkelling in the crystal-clear water or from a kayak, speedboat or canoe.

The Bay of Kotor

The “Southernmost Fjord in Europe”, as the Bay of Kotor is also called, winding and bordered by steep mountainsides, reminiscent of cool Scandinavia. The nearly 30-kilometre-long bay, which lies in neighbouring Montenegro, can be easily visited from Dubrovnik on a day trip by boat. The city of Kotor, located at the very heart of the bay, has been an important centre of culture and trade since antiquity. The boat tour reveals numerous monasteries along the shore, including the Benedictine monastery of Sveti Dorde and the orthodox Savina Monastery – the bay is one of the most religiously dense regions in the Mediterranean.

Out and about with a Kayak

If you want to steer a boat yourself (no licence required), you can explore the islands, caves and bays off Dubrovnik by kayak. Half-day or all-day guided kayak tours offer new views into historic city fortresses, far away from the crowds of tourists. You’ll discover bays that are only accessible on the water. The unspoilt, uninhabited island of Lokrum is also only a few hundred metres away from the mainland and can be reached by paddling. Be sure to cover your head – the Adriatic Sea is cool, even in the summer, but the sun burns all the more intensely. 

Snorkelling in the Elafiti Islands

You can also take the kayak on a snorkelling trip to the Elafiti Islands. But first, take the ferry to the island of Lopud. From there you can already see the Elafiti, an archipelago of 13 islands, only three of which are inhabited. The Blue Cave is particularly impressive: a large cave in the cliffs of the island of Koločep, which shines bright blue from the inside when the sun’s out. The entrance to the cave is just wide enough that you can only get in by small boats, swimming or diving. Since the way to the cave is barely visible from the outside, a guided tour is well worth it here.

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