The Dubrovnik Riviera is my favourite part of Croatia

The Dubrovnik Riviera is my favourite part of Croatia and I am there every two or three months of the year working - checking out new villas and preparing for the next seasons guests. There is always so much work to do but, when it gets too hot to work in the summer months, the lure of the coast sometimes becomes too much and I have to head to the beach!

The thing about Croatia is that the best places aren't always that obvious and you have to know where to find them! But that's the attraction of Croatia I think... Southern Dalmatia has some of the most beautiful coastline I've ever seen but some of the best beaches and swimming spots are slightly off the beaten track and you need some local knowledge to point you in the right direction. Most people who visit Dubrovnik for example, tend to follow the guide books and go to the well known beaches like Banje Beach next to the Old Town of Dubrovnik and maybe Lapad Bay. Both are stunning! But they can get quite crowded, and, if you're like me and you are lucky enough to have some local friends then they will show you that you only have make a little extra effort and you can find the most idyllic beaches on the whole coast! Take Sveti Jakov beach for example...a local secret not far from the old town, this beach is just heavenly! Tucked away, it's where the locals go when they get a few rare hours off in the summer. There's a beach bar, the water is like a mill pond and the views of the old town are just amazing...

Then there is the island of Lokrum, just a 15 minute boat ride from the old town. It is a stunning island which never gets busy as numbers visiting it are limited, and you can walk through the peaceful botanical gardens to the rocks on the sea edge and get away from everything! Spend the afternoon dipping in and out of the sea and relaxing on the rocks. It has to be experienced to really know how nice it is.

Then as the sun goes down over the Elaphiti Islands, there can't be any nicer place to take in the dramatic Dubrovnik sunset than on the pretty little Levanat beaches which are dotted all along the sea edge, under the pine trees. This area is just beautiful and you can swim off the rocks and chill out all afternoon and evening on the beaches or in the cafes behind.

If you really want a spectacular beach, and view of the sunset at the end of the day, hire a skipper and take a speed boat to the Elaphiti Islands. Cruise into the superb Sunj Cove, a spectacular sandy beach with clam, shallow water on the island of Lopud. There are no cars on the island and you can just relax at the beach bar, swim in the warm water, and then watch the sunset over the islands as you motor back to Dubrovnik at the end of the day. Utter rejuvenation!

Saron Lease
Croatia Gems

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