As Morski writes on the 2nd of June, 2019, Dubrovnik-Neretva County prefect Nikola Dobroslavić attended a public consultation on the national plan for the development of coastal maritime traffic by 2030.

The Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, together with the Faculty of Maritime Studies of the University of Rijeka initiated a project for the development of a mid-term strategic document entitled ''National Development Plan for Coastal Maritime Traffic by 2030'', which is now in its final stages of creation, and which is above all very necessary for any future financing of Croatia's multiple port projects and their required infrastructure from EU funds.

''It's good that such a plan has been launched to come up with a solution [for the direct Dubrovnik-Lastovo connection]. We have an indented coastline and numerous islands, and the connection between the islands and the mainland is very important to us. On our part, we've come up with a number of projects that need to contribute to linking [the mainland and the islands], and we've prepared projects for eight new ports that will create connectivity prerequisites.

These ports are included the national plan, and it's important that other ports are evaluated. It's important for us to have a liner connection, especially to our islands by sea. It is important that the islands also have vessels with a good capacity and speed and that they have sufficient number of links,'' said Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić, pointing out that the first step has now been taken in getting a new direct Dubrovnik-Lastovo ferry line.

''I believe that the next national plan will adopt all of the other necessary conditions and that ultimately all of the stakeholders will be satisfied,'' concluded Dobroslavić.

Make sure to stay up to date by following our dedicated travel page for much more. If it's just Dubrovnik and the extreme south of Dalmatia you're interested in, give Total Dubrovnik a follow or check out Dubrovnik in a Page.

If you've ever visited Croatia and you're not the hotel type, the chances are you've used the massive private accommodation booking and reservation platform Airbnb. The company, despite having faced numerous obstacles from multiple countries around the world, has gone from strength to strength since its ''birth'' not so long ago, and after having entered the Croatian market a few years ago, its popularity among travellers who fancy a much more personal and local experience has done nothing but grow.

Airbnbs can be found all over the country, from the glitz of the Dalmatian coast and its many islands to overlooked Eastern Croatia, not to mention in the capital and in the rolling green hills of Lika and Gorski Kotar. The ''liberalisation'' of the market has opened many a door for those who feel that the classic hotel experience draws away from the authenticity of a destination, and in most cases, especially outside of the height of the tourist season in Croatia, you'll get a very good deal on Airbnb indeed.

That being said, there are many extremely expensive villas listed on the popular booking platform and many of them are located right here in Croatia. Let's take a look into the prices of the most expensive Airbnb listing in the whole country. Where is it located you ask? If the first thought that came to mind was Dubrovnik, then you'd be right.

As Novac writes on the 31st of May, 2019, tourist experts and those in the know point out that Dubrovnik's stunning Villa Eden is certainly one of the most luxurious pieces of accommodation in the Republic of Croatia offered by the world-renowned Airbnb booking platform, and that such accommodation can barely be afforded by any ''normal'' person. This Dubrovnik villa, located near the Sveti Jakov (Eastern) part of the city offers an uninterrupted and truly incredible view of the sparkling Adriatic sea and the UNESCO-protected historic core of Dubrovnik, which is only about five hundred metres from the villa itself.

Specialised portals for tourism and travel emphasise the intimate and luxury atmosphere it provides, coupled with the soothing sounds of the crickets, a classic Mediterranean summertime sound, are the blend of dream holiday. As far as the beach is concerned, it is only five metres away. Six bedrooms can comfortably accommodate up to twelve guests, and there are seven bathrooms in the house, so guests don't have to bother dancing around uncomfortably and waiting their turn.

The interior covers approximately 700 square metres, and there are also an impressive 7,000 square metres of greenery with a swimming pool. A wine cellar with some rare labels in it, a fitness and spa area and even a piano are all a part of this incredibly expensive Dubrovnik villa's package, not to mention a home library which can serve as an inspiration for rainy days. But let's be honest, rainy days are certainly not something you'd want if you're paying what this listing wants you to.

The price of an overnight stay in this villa stands at around 60,000 kuna during the season. For a week (seven nights), which is the minimum stay for booking Dubrovnik's Villa Eden, will see lovers of luxury have to shell out about 484,000 kuna, an almost incomprehensible price tag for a holiday.

Click HERE for photos.

Make sure to follow our dedicated travel page for more infromation in private accommodation in Croatia, tourism in Croatia, the latest flight news for Croatia and things to see and do up and down the country.

May 30, 2019 - Red History Museum, a new museum in Dubrovnik looking at Croatia's socialist past, is proving rather a hit on a topic which usually polarises opinion.

If there is one thing I have learned living in Croatia, it is that talking about Croatia's recent Socialist path is the shortest way to disagreement and argument with someone. 

I can totally understand why the Tito period is so divisive, and why the former Yugoslav leader is so reviled and loved by different sections of the population. 

And so when I heard that two brothers had opened a new museum covering the socialist era in Dubrovnik of all places, I was more than intrigued. It was one thing to have an opinion online about this controversial period of Croatia's past, but it was quite another to have a museum dedicated to it. 

As previously reported on TCN, I went to report on it and was supremely impressed, not only at the rich collections of original material, but also the balanced view that the curators were trying to present of the period. Far from being a glorification of the Socialist era, there was an educational overview of the origins, rise and fall of socialism, followed by a nostalgic tour of a fully-stocked apartment from the socialist years. As a nostalgic reminder of the past, this interactive section (including videos and adverts via the interactive app) have been very popular indeed. But the darker side of Tito's regime is also covered in the Dark Room, with interviews of Goli Otok survivors, for example. The museum is still expanding as more exhibits come in, but this was my experience when I visited earlier this month. 

I met both the guys behind the museum and was impressed by their tenacity and determination to take on some a brave - and necessary - project. And I have been telling anyone who will listen about the museum since, to rather predictable initial reactions.

"A Red History Museum in Dubrovnik," remarked one. " That is like opening a Dinamo fan shop in Diocletian's Palace."

I sent my article to others, suggesting they share it to tell people about this great museum, but more than one declined, saying they were worried about the online backlash. 

These are reactions I totally understand, which makes my admiration of the guys behind the museum all the stronger, and I have been following their progress. And mighty impressive it is too. 

It seems that those prepared to experience the museum with an open mind have come out more than impressed, and Red History Museum now stands at number 3 out of 26 on TripAdvisor for museums in Dubrovnik. That is no mean feat in any city, never mind Dubrovnik which is a museum in itself. But to do so with such a topic is commendable indeed. 

Learn more about the Red History Museum on the official website. 

The City of Dubrovnik, the wider area of Dubrovnik-Neretva County and southern Dalmatia as a whole has a lot to offer when it comes not only UNESCO heritage, culture and history, but in terms of nature, too. From the beautiful island of Lokrum to Trsteno Arboretum, there's a lot to see and much better connections to be had.

As Morski writes on the 29th of May, 2019, the "Historical Gardens of the Dubrovnik Region" project was presented at Dubrovnik's City Hall during a press conference. The aim is to contribute to socio-economic development and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the natural heritage and the environment of this southern Dalmatian county.

The three-year project, worth 15.5 million kuna, initially began on the 1st of December 2018 and was co-financed with funds from the European Regional Development Fund in the amount of seventy percent, as was emphasised by Ivica Grilec of the Lokrum Reserve. He also announced a series of project activities.

The aim is to create a new tourist product based on two scenic natural heritage sites - The Trsteno Arboretum (Trsteno) and the much loved Botanical Garden located on the island of Lokrum, which lies just off the coast of the City of Dubrovnik.

''We'll establish a new line between these two locations with a new ship with a capacity of fifty passengers at a value of 2.2 million kuna to increase the number of visitors to the Arboretum,'' added Grilec.

Zrinka Raguž of the UO for European Funds and International Cooperation emphasised the value of the announced activities in the context of Dubrovnik's city project "Respect the City".

''This city administration has proven its orientation towards the use of European funds, which has spread to our institutions. I'm delighted with the fact that the Lokrum Reserve is involved in this and that this project will lean on the city project Respect the City, because it will enable us to disperse our tourist offer. I believe that the realisation [of this project] will be successful for the benefit of the local population, as well as the numerous guests who visit our city,'' stressed Raguž.

Trsteno Arboretum's director Ivan Šimić, emphasised the fact that linking these two historical areas of the wider Dubrovnik area is extremely important for increasing the number of visitors to the arboretum. The project's activities set out the establishment of a thematic and educational trail through the historic arboretum's olive grove among other things.

Romana Vlašić of Dubrovnik's tourist board explained the role of the tourst board in the project through the design of three tourist packages to be offered to travel agencies, which will include all of the project activities.

Make sure to follow our dedicated travel and lifestyle pages for much more. If it's just Dubrovnik and the extreme south of Dalmatia you're interested in, give Total Dubrovnik a follow or check out Dubrovnik in a Page.

May 26, 2019 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Split and Dubrovnik.

AvioRadar reports that from 2020, British low-cost airline Jet2 will boost traffic on the line between Split and East Midlands airport, located in central England near Nottingham and Derby. 

Recall, last year, Jet2 operated two flights during the week between Split and East Midlands, on Wednesdays and Sundays. This year, flights were canceled on Wednesdays, resulting in a reduction of traffic to one flight weekly,  on Sundays. However, based on the 2020 summer schedule, Jet2 has re-introduced the flight on Wednesdays.

Jet2 will operate a Boeing 737-800 on this route. 

In other news, AvioRadar reports that the French subsidiary of the TUI group significantly reduced traffic on routes to Croatia this year. Namely, of the 10 lines operating last year, only two remain. 

One of the remaining routes runs to Brač airport. Thus, the only line between France and Brač will continue operating this year, as traffic from Deauville will work to the island airport once a week, on Saturdays, with the Embraer ERJ-190 aircraft. 

To Split, only one of the five lines remain. The Paris line from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport to Split will run once a week, on Sundays, instead of Mondays like it did last year, using the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The lines from Lille, Lyon, Nantes, and Toulouse have been canceled. 

TUI has no operations to Dubrovnik from France this year. Namely, last year’s flights from Deauville Lyon, Nantes and Paris have all been canceled. The TUI Airlines Belgium aircraft flew on all lines between France and Croatia. 

All package deals from these destinations, apart from Lille, remain on offer at TUI this year, though air travel for these tourist arrangements is planned by the regular lines of Volotea or the charter flights of ASL Airlines France.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

With summer right around the corner, you're probably looking for a bit of travel inspiration to finally book that much-needed holiday you plan on taking this year. Thankfully, two popular Croatian destinations might just be the scratch to your travel itch. 

Namely, the promotional film of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board titled "Dubrovnik Riviera”, which was directed by Herve Tirmarche, filmed by Jajij Armija and produced by Spomenko Sarage and Balducchi Film, won the first place and the gold medal at the American Telly Awards festival, reports HRTurizam on May 22, 2019. 

The second place at the festival was awarded to the promotional film"Visit Lika”, created by the Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County under the baton of Bobby B. Grubic, a three-time Emmy winner. The video was also produced by Spokesman Sarage and Balducci Film.

The Telly Awards each year showcases the best works recorded for television and other media. Over 12,000 entries from more than 50 countries on five continents are received each year. The winners of the Telly Awards work from some of the most prestigious advertising agencies, television stations, production houses and publishers around the world.

The Telly Awards are judged by the jury, or members of the Council that is made up of more than 200 members, active professionals from various areas of television, marketing, and the like. This year, the Telly Awards celebrated 40 years. 

These two Croatian promotional films have already won several silver and bronze prizes at the world’s largest travel fair ITB, 2nd place by the jury and the best tourist film by student tourism management in Japan, and the bronze prize at "New York Festivals" which was awarded in Las Vegas during the "NAB Show" media event.

You can find the full list of Telly Award winners here, and watch the video compilation of the winners below. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

May 20, 2019 - Talking about Croatia's recent socialist past is one easy way to polarise opinion. Meet Red History Museum, which is taking a different approach, documenting the good, the bad and the ugly from this divisive time in Croatian history. 

I learned a long time ago that the easiest way to alienate sections of Croatian readers is to mention the period of ex-Yugoslavia. Looking back, I was fairly naive, but I learned quickly. And when we put blocks on words such as Tito, Ustase, Partizani and the like, the hate comments and abuse was reduced by 90%.

I can totally understand why the former Yugoslav era was so divisive, and why passions run so high, and I always wondered if it would be possible to portray this important piece of Croatia's recent history in a balanced way - the good, the bad and the ugly. 

And then I found two brothers who have put their entire lives (and savings) over the last two years doing precisely that. 

I was intrigued when I heard about the new Red History Museum in Dubrovnik, which opened last month. Given the amount of hate mail I get every time I even mention the subject, I was intrigued to see how they were coping with a full-blown museum dedicated to the socialist era, and we had time for a very quick visit on the drive from Budva to Split. 

The museum is located at "Svetog Kriza 3, in the Carbon Graphite Products Factory - TUP premises. The factory is one of the key monuments of the socialist period in the city of Dubrovnik. It was founded in 1953 in the midst of the post-war industrialization and socialist renewal of the country. It was the leading industrial plant in Dubrovnik and, during the breakup of Yugoslavia, it helped Croatian defenders by producing and repairing weapons necessary for defense and the struggle for independence." 

The wealth of original authentic material is staggering, as the brothers spent two years travelling around picking up items for their exhibition. There is much more to come, but what they have put together already is mightily impressive. One of the strengths of the museum is its interactive app, which you point at the marked positions on the exhibition. This opens up more information such as old videos etc. I am still trying to get the images of a 1980s bra video advert out of my head, for example. 

The museum comes in three pieces - history of the rise and fall of socialism in Croatia, including how daily life was affected by the big upheavals; a nostalgia fest of original items from the period which are evoking plenty of childhood memories of favourite items of yesterday in a superbly recreated apartment of the era; and the Dark Room, which examines the incarcerations, murders and secret service. At no point does the museum judge, but presents the items as they are. 

Learn about a different kind of communism and a communist country that in the midst of the Cold War between the East and the West, between the USA and the USSR, opted for its own way - the Non-Aligned Movement. ​

How do people respond to paid vacation, free schooling and healthcare, when (at least in the eyes of the law) women are made equal with men, when expressing national and religious feelings or free political action is banned? 

What happens when you want to turn a mostly agricultural, rural and very religious country into a predominantly industrial, urban, and atheistic one? ​

​Experience almost half a century of life under the communist regime - from secret services and the communist party to pop culture and the development of consumer society. 

And there were plenty of surprises. 

The Zagreb Bible, which was apparently the first bible translated into Croatian in 1968, during that era when religion was suppressed.

And I learned of the importance of the Dubrovnik Chess Set, which became one of the most popular in the world (and a TCN feature article is coming shortly) after Yugoslavia won the 9th Chess Olympiad in 1950 in Dubrovnik. 

Of a young lady from Dubrovnik in 1966, who first won Miss Yugoslavia and then went on to become the runner-up in Miss World. 

The museum documents events up to the end of the socialist state and founding of the modern Croatia. 

But no such museum could be credible without also examining the evil side of the regime.  

The Dark Room included an interview with a survivor of the Goli Otok camp.

You can watch the full video here.  

I am sure that there are plenty of people who will have commented just seeing the title of this article, making judgments before they have read it or visited the museum. Such is the modern way. 

But I really applaud these two guys for what they have achieved and will achieve with this project. 

You can check out the website here - entrance is 50 kuna. And for Croatian speakers, there is an in-depth feature in the video below from local Dubrovnik media. 

The Red History Museum is open daily from 09:00 to 22:00.  

May 21, 2019 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for new flights to Croatia with updates from Dubrovnik, Pula, and Rijeka airports. 

AvioRadar reports on May 19, 2019, that Czech airline Smartwings began ticket sales from Poland to Dubrovnik. Namely, the Czech carrier is operating charter lines for Polish Travel Service Polska, the daughter company of Rainbow Tours. The Katowice lines to Dubrovnik, as well as the Warsaw-Dubrovnik connection, are now available for sale as regular seasonal lines beginning on June 6, 2019. The charter flights between Warsaw and Dubrovnik began earlier. 

Both lines will operate once a week, on Thursdays, until September 26, 2019. The third charter line between Gdansk and Dubrovnik will remain the same as last year and will have no tickets available for sale via Smartwings. Unlike last year, the charter lines between Bydgoszcz and Szczecin are no longer running. The previously announced charter line between Lodz and Dubrovnik has not been realized.

The Boeing 737-800 will operate on all lines. 

AvioRadar also reports that British low-cost airline EasyJet will boost operations on the route between Pula and Gatwick (London) from June. In addition to last year’s three flights a week, which ran on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, new flights will operate on Mondays and Sundays from June 24 to September 9, 2019. 

In addition to the Gatwick route, EasyJet also operates a trip from Southend Airport in London to Pula, which circulates twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, just like last year. 

Thus, EasyJet will run seven flights a week between Pula and London. The Airbus A319 or the Airbus A320 will fly on these routes. 

To conclude this Croatian flight announcement, TUI Airways has postponed its new route between Manchester and Rijeka, which is not even available yet for the summer of 2020. 

However, TUI’s offer still includes one flight a week, on Thursdays, between Gatwick (London) and Rijeka. This route will operate from May 23 to October 17, 2019. 

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

May 20, 2019 - An early start for TCN's Ivana Sepak this morning, as she attended the exclusive screening of the final Game of Thrones episode in Dubrovnik. I caught up with Ivana over the weekend to learn more about being a GoT guide. 

End of an Era

Is it possible? After 8 seasons and 8 years of being present on TV, Game of Thrones is becoming a part of history. The plot thickened, at the time of writing these lines, we still do not know who the conqueror of the elusive Iron Throne will be, who’ll become the ruler of the 7 kingdoms. So far Martin, Benioff and Weiss did their best in surprising us, we don’t doubt the same will be now. I am very proud Dubrovnik was a part of this story and our medieval town was in fact the capital city – King’s Landing, making us recognized around the world by having HBO airing the tv show in more than 170 countries! No advertising budget can ever top this!

1. A new season of Game of Thrones is about to finish with airing for good. Obviously as a fan you are excited. How much does Dubrovnik feature in this series?

Well, it’s a sad moment when one comes to realize GoT is over. I am curious about the spin-offs, but from what I’ve read so far, none of the surviving cast shall be rehired. Will any of the spin-offs supersede the original? I highly doubt it. Anyways, HBO is always unpredictable and until the end it was uncertain just how much of Dubrovnik would be in the show. We saw a little bit of Dubrovnik in the 1st episode, then a bit more in episode 4, a whole lot in episode 5 and we have to see in the final episode where the plot shall resolve, in King’s Landing or elsewhere. Of course, I am cheering for Dubrovnik, that the final scene includes our magnificent city, that will be the most memorable scene viewers will take away from the show. I am also waiting to see if any scenes from last year’s shooting in Dubrovnik will find their way to the last episode, but if it’s to judge by episode 5, Dubrovnik’s filming was a decoy for fans. Well done HBO, you fooled us! I’ll be watching the finale on Monday, early in the morning, probably before anyone else in Croatia, just to avoid the spoilers. Can’t wait to see how it’ll end!

2. You have been around when the GoT stars are filming. Can you explain a little what that was like?

If you recall, I sent photos from the set 4 years ago when I was lucky enough to witness up close, with my guests, filming of a random scene on a random October day in 2015. It was Thursday and it was a national holiday; I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was even able to see some of the cast from up close that time, Lena Heady and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. What appeared as a very complex scene when I was watching it behind the scenes, live, turned out to be a section that went on for roughly a minute in the big screen.

Many questions started bothering me – why on Earth would you come to a location that could have been easily featured in any global studio, less remote to HBO than Dubrovnik? The filming started early in the morning, the weather wasn’t the brightest, you should have seen the amount of logistics and sacrifice from the production for that small act. The production didn’t bother closing the set like they did, for instance, for the Walk of Shame, which immediately told us the scene is not that big or ground-breaking.

Nevertheless, it was very exciting. Later on I realized, what if HBO decides to cut out that scene and it never survives the final cut?! I’d turn out as a big fat liar :D :D :D luckily, the scene made it to season 6, episode 1.

3. Lots has been written about 'the Game of Thrones effect' on tourism in Dubrovnik, when in reality, those numbers are small compared to cruise tourism to the city - can you tell us a little about how it looks from your perspective?

We have to lessen the animosity towards cruise ship guests. It’s not their fault our city’s infrastructure is obsolete. Us locals get very agitated when we see hoards of those guests get on our public transportation, not knowing that you can enter the buses only at the front entrance. Everywhere else in the world you enter at all entrances, and for 90% of those guests it’s the first time in Dubrovnik. How should those guests know the local public transportation etiquette - by osmosis? No one made it clear to them in any way and that should be the job of our local tourist board, in my opinion. There’s a lot of place for improvement in all fields for enabling our guests’ better experiences while they’re in Dubrovnik. We’re still waiting to see if the cruise ships schedules shall remain as dense as they were in previous years. One thing is certain – the popularity of the city is growing, we’ll get this year more guests than ever, my guess is we’ll have 2 million single visitors. We’ll see in December how right I was.

4. What are the most common expectations and requests from GoT tourists, and what advice do you have for them to prepare for their tour?

Those guests are usually relaxed by default and they don’t have any requests. I believe their biggest expectation is to have fun and that we most certainly deliver. Our Game of Thrones tours take guests to some locations which require walking up a lot of stairs; we go slowly, but if any of the guests had some surgery or if they’re on crutches, it’d be good to let me know beforehand. It may sound silly, but even if you hadn’t seen a single GoT episode, you’ll enjoy the tour very much because we go to the best sites in Dubrovnik, locations that have a phenomenal view, so take the plunge and let’s explore the locations together. A general GoT tour lasts for about 2 hours. 

5. While GoT has undoubtedly raised the profile of this already famous city, some say that such a show cheapens the heritage of this historic city. What are your thoughts?

Show a glass that’s half full to 10 people, ask them what they see, and you’ll most likely get 10 different responses. I am certain plenty of locals are not very happy with our city getting recognized as King’s Landing, but we must use it as our advantage. We were the capital city of an imaginary kingdom in a tv show that was aired in almost every country on the planet. I have guests telling me when they were watching certain scenes they were wondering if there was a place on this planet that beautiful and imagine their shock when they learn just how real filming locations around Dubrovnik are. Us locals take the beauty of our city for granted. Even if we’re not happy with this fake history being set in our actual and proud historical town, let’s display our hospitality, great cuisine and beautiful locations to guests and let’s get them acquainted with Dubrovnik beyond the King’s Landing frame.

6. Interest in Dubrovnik obviously increases when the episodes are shown - how is that reflected in your business in terms of traffic and enquiries?

Well, last year HBO took a break in airing Game of Thrones episodes and we had a lot of guests wanting to do the GoT tour regardless. This year, of course, the demand is on the rise, which was expected. The biggest difference from, let’s say, last year to this would be the guests are more acquainted with the plot and the details.

7. Top 5 highlights of a GoT tour in Dubrovnik?

a) The best views and best locations in Dubrovnik are featured on this tour

b) Light topics – if you like present times and you’re not much of a history fan, this is the best tour for you; still, you’ll hear a little bit about Dubrovnik because the city’s history is truly remarkable, and we hope you’ll take a historical tour as well to get the full story 

c) Moderate exercise – I know you spend too much time sitting behind the computer at your office, taking this tour is an ideal way to explore beautiful sites and get a little bit of a workout 

d) Even if you’re not a fan, you can join the tour – not knowing about Game of Thrones is impossible if you have internet and watch TV. Without seeing a single episode, you can find a lot of relatable scenes and characters to memes and pop-culture. A big bonus is seeing phenomenal locations which wouldn’t be on a regular historical tour route. Walk of Shame, anyone?

e) If you’re a fan, this tour is a dream come true. You’ll see where Joffrey was poisoned, where Sansa and Littlefinger were plotting, Cersei’s walk of atonement and many many more. A lot of the scenes remain concealed to guests exploring King’s Landing sites on their own, which is why taking a tour is mandatory for you to cover all scenes taken in Dubrovnik. As well, at the end of the tour, we take you to the Iron Throne, for you to rule King’s Landing in a righteous manner for a day, unlike the disastrous previous kings and queens. You can sit on the throne and take photos.

8. Do you think Croatia is maximising its Game of Thrones tourism potential in the way that New Zealand did with Lord of the Rings?

I don’t know how popular GoT tours in other Croatian cities are where the series was filmed, but I can say Dubrovnik is definitely utilizing GoT potential to the maximum; still, with all our effort, we’re nowhere near New Zealand. For instance, if there wasn’t for a guest asking me about a restaurant in the old town that was recommended to him by his friend who visited Dubrovnik 2 years ago and ate a Game of Thrones menu, I would have no idea such a thing existed. I inspected, called the restaurant and the manager explained to me the menu was not popular amongst the guests at all so the owner decided this year to not offer it anymore. Was the menu not popular because nobody knew of it, because the restaurant did not advertise it, or because the food selection was not good? It’ll remain a mystery. Also, we must wait and see for how much longer shall the GoT hype go on.

9. And finally, TCN would not be talking to you if you were not the best - what makes your tours so special compared to the rest?

My tours are led by the best guides available in Dubrovnik. My team is young, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and witty.

Regardless of how big the group of guests attending the tour is (and we like to keep our groups small), we always dedicate attention and time to each individual. We make sure we give excellent service from the very first contact until the guest’s departure from our city. We also care about your opinion and you can see on Trip Advisor what everyone else said of us so far. I hope you’ll join me in walking the King Landing’s streets!

You can learn more about Ivana's tours on Dubrovnik Private Tours.

To learn more about Game of Thrones in Croatia, check the Total Croatia guide.  

May 20, 2019 - The day has finally come, the final episode of Game of Thrones. TCN is in Kings Landing for an exclusive screening in Dubrovnik. 

Is it possible? After 8 seasons and 8 years of being present on TV, Game of Thrones is being consigned to history. The plot has thickened, at the time of writing these lines, we still do not know who will be the conqueror of the elusive Iron Throne, and who will become the ruler of the 7 kingdoms. Is it possible? After 8 seasons and 8 years of being present on TV, Game of Thrones is being consigned to history. The plot has thickened, at the time of writing these lines, we still do not know who will be the conqueror of the elusive Iron Throne, and who will become the ruler of the 7 kingdoms. 

A special screening of the final episode has been organised in the heart of King's Landing itself, Dubrovnik, with media and bloggers invited to witness the final moments of one of the most successful shows in television history, and one which was an incredible free marketing tool for Croatian tourism. Also attending are winners of a contest organised by HBO Adria and the Croatian National Tourist Board. 

TCN did not receive an invite, but we managed to sneak in anyway... You can't really be a top GoT guide and miss out on an event like this, and we are grateful to TCN occasional Dubrovnik, Ivana Sepak from Dubrovnik Private Tours, for getting hold of one of those sought-after tickets and making such an early start. A truly dedicated GoT tour guide, and we have a great interview with Ivana coming soon, where she talks of the realities of being a GoT guide in Dubrovnik.

Some pictures from the screening of the final episode at Revelin. 

Now that you have seen the show, where to find information about Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik in particular, and Croatia in general.

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board, perhaps?

Well, not quite. After several years of the existence of its alter ego, Kings Landing, it was something of a surprise to learn that there is no GoT section on the Dubrovnik Tourist Board website. Not only that, but when you search for Game of Thrones in the search box, this is what you get. A blank page linking back to the home page. 

Never fear, the Croatian National Tourist Board will surely be full of life with GoT information. The HBO series has been filming in Croatia for no less than 8 years after all. 

Hmmm. Again no dedicated section, unlike the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (see below). At least the Croatian National Tourist Board search box did not take you to a blank page, but I am not quite sure what information about a fruit fair in Zagorje has to do with Game of Thrones, but I have written to the tourist board to find out. 

So with no official information on this major tourism driver, we humbly offer our own Total Croatia Game of Thrones in a Page guide. 

And if you are looking for a great GoT tour guide in Dubrovnik, check out Ivana and Dubrovnik Private Tours.