Dubrovnik receives one or two cruise ships every day, so it is very crowded during the day. At night, the population inside the Old Town drops sharply, making it feel as though you have traveled back to the Middle Ages. Prices in and around the tourist area are high, with a meal costing around €20–30, but cafés a little farther away from the sights charge normal prices. I asked many people why prices had soared, and the reasons they gave included the large number of tourists, the Russia–Ukraine war, and the adoption of the euro.
There is only one main street in the Old Town, and no matter how many times you walk along it, all you really see are shops selling souvenirs, jewelry, pastries, and ice cream. It gets rather boring after a while. The little alleys branching off on either side are actually more worth exploring, but they involve constant uphill walking, so they are not particularly suitable for people with limited mobility.
The locals are very warm and welcoming, happy to talk to people, and quick to smile. They will even strike up a conversation with you on the street. Restaurant service is also extremely friendly. Whether the restaurant is upscale, mid-range, or inexpensive, the service is consistently attentive, and there is no tipping.
As for the food, I prefer their meat-filled burek. I bought a huge piece for €4 from a shop in one of the Old Town’s alleys, which absolutely astonished me. Another variety is filled with cheese and spinach, but I found its flavor rather bland.
When the weather is good, the sea is truly beautiful. Although it is the Adriatic, it feels no different from the Mediterranean. Near the beach, the water is a turquoise, jewel-like color, while from a distance it appears deep blue. The beaches are all quite small, with more stones than sand, and mountains rising behind them. It looks a lot like Hong Kong: you can go hiking and sunbathe by the sea. The water quality is excellent, and the water is exceptionally clear.
The Old Town is heavily commercialized. The city walls became hugely popular because of Game of Thrones, and ticket prices have skyrocketed over the past six years. I feel that going there as someone who has never watched Game of Thrones was practically a waste of such a treasure. Admission used to cost only around €2. Now, can everyone guess how many euros it costs?
Overall, Dubrovnik has beautiful scenery. You can both hike in the mountains and swim in the sea, and this medieval city is certainly worth visiting, but it is rather expensive—roughly on par with Paris.