Southern Dalmatia. The best resorts in Croatia: Central Dalmatia Sea water temperature
Split is located in the center of Croatia, dividing Dalmatia into two equal parts. The main attraction of the city is the palace of Emperor Diocletian - a real city within a city, which is fenced off from the center of Split by high walls. Every summer, a festival is held on the palace grounds, where concerts, opera performances and theatrical performances take place.
There is entertainment for everyone here: a zoo, cycling paths, observation decks, tennis courts, volleyball and football fields, diving centers. For lovers of cultural recreation, the National Theater of Croatia is open.
The most popular beaches in Split are the sandy Bacvice beach and the Radisson Blu Resort beach.
Sibenik
The city of Sibenik is an open-air museum, surrounded by the sea on one side and a national park on the other. The main attraction is the Temple of St. James, listed as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2000.
This city is ideal for those who believe that life is movement. There are many diving clubs and yacht centers here, and horseback riding is organized.
The most famous beach of Sibenik is located on Cape Solaris. The small pebble beach is perfect for families with children.
Vodice
The small town of Vodice got its name because of its numerous springs. This place attracts tourists with a combination of modern architecture and noble antiquity.
The main attraction is the Church of the Holy Cross.
The main beach stretches for 4 kilometers. This is one of the best beaches in Dalmatia. There are diving clubs and children's centers to suit every taste.
Southern Dalmatia is represented by a small number of resort towns, but some of them. Dubrovnik alone is worth it! In addition, Neum, Slano, Mlini, Plat and Cavtat are located in this area. On the island of Mljet there is a national park of the same name with lakes filled with crystal clear sea water. In general, Croatia is amazing in that its national parks are located along the entire coast and no matter which resort area you vacation in, you will always have the opportunity to visit one of them. In addition to the island of Mljet, the islands of Korcula, Sipan, Lopud and Kolocep are located in this region.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is the most interesting and beautiful city in Southern Dalmatia. Going to Croatia and not visiting this city is equivalent to not visiting the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris. Dubrovnik and Plitvijcik lakes are two must-see attractions if you want to experience the real Croatia.
Dubrovnik is an ancient, elegant fortress city. The width of the fortress walls is 6 m, length - 2 km. The name of the city comes from the numerous oak forests that used to densely surround the city. Today Dubrovnik is called the pearl of the Adriatic. UNESCO included it in the top 3 most beautiful cities-monuments of the Renaissance in Europe, along with Venice and Amsterdam. Venice and Dubrovnik have long competed over which resort is more beautiful. To compare these two cities, you can take a day trip to Venice. For such a trip you will need a Schengen visa and multiple entries into Croatia - don’t forget about it.
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In the Middle Ages, Dubrovnik was part of the Venetian Republic, so many Croats speak Italian well.
You will undoubtedly have a very pleasant time wandering around Dubrovnik, sitting in veggie cafes, and admiring the ancient buildings. This is actually a large open-air museum. There are private boarding houses and hotels on its territory, but they are quite expensive. It is better to live in cities near Dubrovnik.
Dubrovnik has a city beach, partly covered with pebbles and partly with sand. It takes 15-20 minutes to walk from the center.
The water here is clean, but there are a lot of people during the season and for a beach holiday it is still better to move a little away from Dubrovnik, for example, to Cavtat. This is a small old cozy town with two bays.
Travel to southern Dalmatia. Popular excursions.
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Excursions to the cities of South Dalmatia
A half-day sightseeing tour of Dubrovnik will cost you approximately €20. From Dubrovnik you can go for one day to Montenegro (€60) or Bosnia and Herzegovina (€50). Such travel for residents of many countries does not require a separate visa, including for Ukraine and Russia. For Belarusians, a visa is required only for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for Kazakhs - for both countries. However, do not forget that in any case you must have a Croatian visa with the possibility of multiple entries into the country.
You can also go on the excursion “Chilipi - Konovolskidvori”, which lasts the whole day and costs about €60. On this excursion you will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture of Croatia.
Other popular excursions in South Dalmatia
An excursion to the island of Mljet usually lasts a whole day and costs about €70.
It is worth going for a walk around the three islands of the Elafin archipelago: Sipan, Kolocep and Lopud. Such a journey takes a whole day. It will cost you €50.
As with other resorts in Croatia, you can go from the cities of Southern Dalmatia for the whole day to the so-called “fish picnic”. The cost of this excursion in these places is €55.
Among other things, you can choose one of the following full-day excursions:
- Kochuga Island (about €80);
- ethnic boat rides on the Neretvei River or rafting (the cost of both excursions is about €80);
- tasting of local wines in the cellars of the Pelšac Peninsula (€67);
- kayak safari (€85).
There are also half-day excursions:
- Trsteno-Ston (€35-40);
- night excursion along the coast (about €50).
Croatia is an amazing country for a comfortable holiday. Read about beaches, attractions and local cuisine in the following articles in this series.
Southern Dalmatia is distinguished by pebble, stony and rocky beaches; in resort towns there are artificial concrete platforms. The exception is the islands in the Dubrovnik area (Lopud, Korcula and Kolocep) - here the beaches are sandy. Due to these features, a beach holiday in Southern Dalmatia is more suitable for adults without children and for athletes, but numerous cultural attractions make this region invariably attractive.
IN Cavtat- well-groomed sand and pebble beaches. IN Fee- four small pebble beaches, on one of which any clothing is considered an unnecessary excess. Mlini: small pebbles, and in the village Srebreno- beaches with sandy entry into the sea. On Koločep island- pebble-sand beaches. Sandy beaches located in quiet, calm coves are typical island of Korcula. On Mljet island There are many beaches of sand and pebbles; the local salt lakes are also suitable for swimming.
The most comfortable time to vacation in Southern Dalmatia with children is from mid-August to mid-October: at this time it is not so hot. It should be remembered that for swimming on rocky beaches you need special shoes, and when swimming you should be careful not to hurt yourself or get injured on underwater rocks. In secluded places at the bottom there are sea urchins - rubber swimming slippers will also protect you from them.
The beaches are mostly free, but umbrellas, sunbeds and towels are available for a fee.
Dubrovnik Riviera
The Dubrovnik Riviera is the towns of Cavtat, Plat and Mlini. You can get to them by bus or by tourist boat from Dubrovnik.
Mlini is a small resort village south of Dubrovnik. The beaches here are small pebbles, and there is a walking path along the sea. A few kilometers away is the village of Srebreno, whose beaches have a convenient sandy entrance to the sea. While relaxing here, you can discover new corners of the coast every day.
Plat located slightly south of Mlini, not far from Cavtat. This is a small resort village with small pebble beaches, taverns and discos. It is interesting to come here with friends or the whole family.
Cavtat- the southernmost city of the Dubrovnik Riviera. It attracts tourists with its picturesque coastline and ancient architecture. The beaches here are pebbly and small-pebble, and there are also several quiet beaches along the pedestrian area around the peninsula. Every summer the festival "Summer in Cavtat" is held here with choral and folk music concerts, as well as sports competitions.
Slano is located in a small bay with small pebble beaches just north of Dubrovnik. The natural conditions of the resort town will appeal to beach lovers and yachtsmen.
Cities
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News from South Dalmatia
anka_grafomanka | July 2009
Sergey | September 2006
Valentine | August 2006
Yulia Ilyina | June 2001
Southern Dalmatia is glorified throughout the world by the beautiful city of Dubrovnik. Everything else modestly retreats into second place - and this is not entirely fair.
Is it possible to discount the warmest climate in all of Croatia? Is it possible to neglect the beaches on the shores of the glass-clear Adriatic Sea? How can you miss the gray silhouettes of the mountains and the green stripes of the islands?
Is it possible to resist gatherings in a konoba, where rich pashtitsada and aromatic sea fish are served on the table? No, whatever you say, a family holiday in this region has a lot of pleasant components.
All the details on how to organize a holiday with children in South Dalmatia, you will find in our review.
South Dalmatia on the map of Croatia
South Dalmatia is the southernmost resort region of Croatia, located in the Dubrovac-Neretva County, on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.
The administrative center and main resort of Southern Dalmatia is the city of Dubrovnik. Distance from Dubrovnik to other resorts: Cavtat - 21 km, Mlini - 12 km, Slano - 34 km. Distance to the islands: Kolocep - 11 km, Lopud 15 km, Mljet - 79 km, Korcula - 120 km.
Once upon a time, in the places where Southern Dalmatia is located, there was the Dubrovnik Republic, and its population spoke the Dalmatian language.
There is no longer such a state or such a language, but the memory of them is built into the walls of houses and pavement slabs - just like the memory of Byzantine and Venetian rule, of Napoleon's rule, of the Austrian crown, Yugoslavia and of the bloody struggle for the independence of Croatia.
Vacation with children
The popularity of holidays in Southern Dalmatia is understandable: a mild climate, a warm sea, an abundance of beauty and a well-developed tourist infrastructure are a good set for enjoying your trip.
You just need to take into account some subtleties so that a potentially successful vacation does not become a disappointment.
Firstly, it’s worth going to South Dalmatia with children if you want everything at once. The local resorts are not very suitable for complete laziness on the beach, but if you alternate the beach, trips to old cities and forays into nature, pleasure is guaranteed.
Secondly, you can come to Dubrovnik, Cavtat or Mlini if your vacation for some reason falls at the beginning or end of the beach season in Croatia.
The location in the southernmost part of the Croatian coast allows sunbathing and swimming in June and September, while in Central and even more so in Northern Dalmatia it can be cool and rainy during these months. The end of spring, the beginning of summer and the first month of autumn are most suitable for traveling with an infant.
Thirdly, in the south of Croatia it is good to relax with a child who has already grown up and does not need playgrounds and mini-clubs.
There is almost no entertainment for children in hotels in South Dalmatia; there are few usual children's attractions in the cities. But this is a very sporty region with a wide selection of water activities (diving, windsurfing, yachting), so teenagers will always find something to do.
Fourthly, the excursion program is also most aimed at older schoolchildren. City excursions and trips to islands can be tiring for preschoolers.
It should be added that South Dalmatia is not a cheap resort: nowhere else on the coast will you see so many VIP-class hotels. In Dubrovnik, the main city of the region, you can often meet film and pop stars, famous writers and artists, and political figures.
When is the best time to go?
To begin with, the most pleasant news: the tourist season in Southern Dalmatia lasts longer than in other regions of Dalmatia. The local beaches begin to fill up in mid-May and do not empty until the end of September.
If you are going to devote time not only to a beach holiday, there is a good reason to come before the season opens: South Dalmatia has an incredible variety of attractions, but it’s just hard to see them in the heat.
The best time for excursions is May and the first half of autumn, and you can come to Dubrovnik all year round.
Another reason to think about when is the best time to go to South Dalmatia is the holidays of this region. Most of them occur in the summer.
For example, in Dubrovnik, July-August is reserved for the Dubrovačke ljetne igre, and in Cavtat the festival “Summer of Cavtat” is held. At this time, folklore groups perform on the streets and squares, classical music concerts, funny performances, performances by clowns and acrobats, and discos for children are held.
But even in winter there is something to see: on February 3, Dubrovnik celebrates St. Blaise, the patron saint of the city, and then the colorful carnival begins.
Weather and climate
The climate of Southern Dalmatia is best described by the name of this resort region. It is always warmer here than in any other corner of Croatia, and 2770 hours of sunshine per year are considered one of the highest indicators among European resorts.
Summer in the region begins in mid-May. Thermometers confidently surpass the +20°C mark and are increasingly reaching +25-28°C.
In June, daytime temperatures average +27°C, with short-term cooling possible. This is a good time to travel with a baby to Southern Dalmatia, since the heat has not yet had time to gain momentum.
July and August in Dubrovnik and other resorts in the region are the hottest months. Even in the shade at this time the temperature reaches +30°C degrees.
Perhaps these are not the most comfortable conditions for excursions. But for a beach holiday with a child, the second half of summer is better than the first: the sea has time to warm up well, and children can swim and frolic in shallow water for a long time.
In September, the heat in the resorts subsides somewhat, the daytime temperature remains at +25°C.
September holidays in South Dalmatia are always successful. Unlike other seaside resorts in Croatia, clear and warm weather lasts for a long time in the south of the country.
And yet, if you dream specifically about beaches, we recommend planning your trip for the first half of September. Later, the air temperature may drop to +20-22°C, and in such weather it is more pleasant to sightsee than to sunbathe.
And even in September, rain can spoil travelers’ plans. But usually prolonged downpours come only in October and last until March.
While the resorts get wet in the rain and the air temperature remains at +10-15°C, there are very few vacationers in South Dalmatia. But already in April the air warms up to +17°C, and the coast comes to life.
Which month is the time for the best holiday in South Dalmatia with children? Perhaps the second half of June and the first half of September are equally good: there is no intense heat at this time, and the sea is very warm.
Sea water temperature
How I wish the sea in Southern Dalmatia would warm up as quickly as the air! But, alas, the swimming season can not open until mid-June. In May, the sea temperature barely reaches +19-20°C, and in June the water gradually warms up to +22-24°C.
But in July, the water temperature in Southern Dalmatia rises to +25-26°C, and if the heat lasts for a long time, then to +27-28°C. And in August, nothing changes: the sea maintains a temperature of +25-27°C.
With the arrival of September, the water gradually cools, although this can only be noticed towards the end of the month, when the luxurious +24°C gives way to an invigorating +20°C. Sometimes the sea remains warm even in October, but this is more of a pleasant gift for tourists than a rule.
Transport
Public transport in South Dalmatia - these are city and intercity buses of the Libertas company, tourist boats and ferries, connecting Dubrovnik with the islands.
The need to use transport is only in Dubrovnik: The city is quite large, you can’t get around it on foot. Buses go from the old town to Babin Kuk and other areas.
The schedule is on the carrier's website, but it is enough to know that in high season buses to the most popular destinations run every 15-25 minutes.
Travel on city buses costs 13 kuna if you buy tickets at the ticket office, and 15 kuna if you buy them from the driver. To avoid paying for each trip, you can buy a one-day pass for 30 kuna.
Buses No. 11, 27, 38 connect Dubrovnik with the airport. The fare is 28 kn. Tickets for children on all buses cost the same as tickets for adults.
Libertas has excursion cabrio buses at its disposal. Several times a day they depart from the bus station and tour the main attractions of Dubrovnik and the surrounding area. This excursion costs 60 kuna, children under 6 years old travel for free.
For active travelers in Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Card is available. With it, “you can ride public transport for free, visit the city’s museums, and receive discounts in restaurants and shops.
A card valid for 1 day costs 190 kn, 3 days - 250 kn, 7 days - 350 kn. With the 3 and 7 day pass you can also visit Cavtat's 3 museums for free.
Intercity transport in South Dalmatia runs regularly, but less often than city transport. Every hour from 5:00 to 00:00 buses leave from Dubrovnik to Mlini and Cavtat, every two hours from 10:00 to 22:00 to Slano.
But the bus to Orebic, from where ferries go to the island of Korcula, leaves once a day. The fare depends on the distance and starts from 25 kn.
Taxis in Croatia are relatively expensive. A trip within Dubrovnik costs approximately 70-100 kuna, from the airport to Dubrovnik - 300 kuna. For comparison, a ticket for the Atlas shuttle from the airport costs 40 kuna.
If you plan to travel a lot, then it makes sense to rent a car to get around South Dalmatia.
Rental companies have offices at the airport, Dubrovnik bus station and resorts. Renting a car has one drawback: there is a lack of parking in cities, especially in the historical part of Dubrovnik.
South Dalmatia in Croatia is perhaps one of the most fashionable resort regions of the Adriatic. European politicians and bankers, sports and film stars come here; here, in the aristocratic quiet of ancient villas, you can take a break from the noise of big cities and enjoy the gentle Mediterranean sun, because the resort is among the top three in Europe in terms of the number of sunny days a year. This ancient land of islands and mountains, clear seas and amazing wines, rich in historical and architectural monuments, is famous for its high level of service, modern infrastructure, the best oysters in Croatia and the hospitality of the local residents.
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Southern Dalmatia stretches out in a narrow strip in the south of the Croatian Littoral region, from the Kvarner Bay to the Bay of Kotor. It is separated from the rest of the country by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dubrovnik, the capital of the region, is included in the UNESCO List as a museum city. The climate is Mediterranean: hot summers and warm winters, very clean sea, many beaches are marked with a blue flag. The region includes many beautiful islands and the Peljesac peninsula, the second largest in area after Istria.
What to see, where to visit
The main tourist destinations in Southern Dalmatia are Cavtat, Mlini, Slano, the islands of the Lastovo archipelago and, of course, Dubrovnik: in its vicinity alone there are more than a thousand architectural monuments, in Fort St. John there is an Oceanarium and the Museum of the Sea. Cavtat is famous for the Great Summer Festival, when creative groups perform in the village and its suburbs, and clowns and magicians walk the streets. The islands of Korcula, Lastovo and Mljet are interesting for their bays, grottoes and protected underwater areas - a paradise for divers; all kinds of competitions and festivals are almost constantly held on the island of Šolta. You can travel between settlements by boats and speedboats, which is one of the favorite pastimes of vacationers. The resort has prepared special programs and routes for fishermen.
Beaches
The beaches in Southern Dalmatia are mixed, many are pebbly, there are sandy and grassy, rocky and concrete. The most popular are the shores of the numerous islands; for families with children you can choose Babin Kuk on the Lapad Peninsula, Copacobana with a sandy, gentle entrance to the sea and Uvala Lapad. Small pebbles in Mlini, the shore of Cavtat is concreted, but there are good children's pools with small shell rock and pebbles. Srebreno has a sandy beach, which is not typical for Croatia.
Local cuisine and wines
Croatia is famous for its gourmet tours, and South Dalmatia is no exception. The best oysters and mussels in the country are grown here, local olive oil and wines are exported even to Italy, and songs are written about asparagus and artichokes. Restaurants and cafes on the coast, numerous islands and in hotels offer Croatian, Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine, family restaurants and bistros are very common. The menu includes many lamb and beef dishes, as well as all kinds of seafood. A distinctive feature of the local cuisine is the abundance of herbs.