Discovering the Pearl of the Adriatic: Dubrovnik and Beyond
The Sun Gardens Dubrovnik was an absolutely luxurious resort that served as our home base. The sprawling grounds featured immaculately landscaped Mediterranean gardens, multiple stylish pools, and a private beach area with views across the glittering Adriatic to the nearby island of Lokrum. There were several restaurant options on site, as well as excellent recreational facilities like tennis courts, a spa, and a kids club. Our spacious multi-bedroom apartment had a full kitchen and elegant furnishings, with a private balcony offering panoramic sea vistas. It was the perfect deluxe retreat after busy days exploring Dubrovnik and the surrounding islands.
A highlight was our private speedboat tour of the nearby Elaphiti Islands. After zipping across that dazzling turquoise water, we reached the tiny, car-free island of Kolocep. With only about 200 residents, it had the most wonderfully relaxed vibe as we strolled the peaceful trails, admired the hidden coves, and cooled off with swims in those translucent waters.
But the real standout was exploring the legendary Odysseus Cave on Mljet Island. Our captain skilfully navigated us into the yawning 300-foot cave mouth, and we gasped at the brilliant shafts of light streaming through from above, bathing the turquoise waters and cave walls in radiant blues and greens. It was simply magical.
After the cave, we went cliff jumping from the rocks beside the entrance - definitely an adrenaline rush! We spent an incredible afternoon swimming, sunbathing on the flat rocks, and just soaking in that remarkable scenery. Later, we had a delicious lunch of fresh seafood and Croatian wine at a scenic restaurant on Saplunara Island. Seeing Odysseus Cave was without a doubt a highlight.
Dubrovnik's Old Town itself was a joy to wander, from the polished limestone streets to walking the ancient city walls and climbing up to the old fortress. We loved browsing the local artisan shops too.
With its stunning scenery, rich history, warm hospitality, and incredible food, Dubrovnik utterly charmed us. In fact, we've already booked a return trip to Croatia this summer to explore more - next stop, Split!
