Just when I thought I couldn’t fall in love with the beautiful city of Dubrovnik even more, this incredible place one-upped me. Sure, walking though the narrow and ancient alleyways, discovering new cafes and shops is one of my favorite things to do anywhere, but as it turns out seeing this amazing city from the water is just as good and maybe even better.
I’ve long said that it’s important to see cities from different points of view and from the water is often the most interesting. Whether it’s a river cruise in Paris or a harbor cruise somewhere, you will always see new aspects to the city that you didn’t even know existed. Such was the case in Dubrovnik.
Scrambling along the rocks near the Ploce Gate, the southerly entrance to the old city, I immediately felt like a local. The small harbor seemed secretive, and it is. Largely used by local residents, it’s also where the folks at Nota Kayaking start their daily adventures around Dubrovnik by kayak. If you’re an active traveler like I am, then this is one of the most enjoyable ways to see the city and get some exercise at the same time. When you book a tour with them, you can customize it as you wish, from a brief jaunt around the walls or a full day tour of the area. No matter what you decide to do, you’ll love getting out on the water.
Starting from the harbor, we quickly paddled across the busy shipping lanes, closer to the safety of the walls themselves. Dubrovnik’s walls date back to the 14th century and took nearly three hundred years to complete. The goal was security, to keep the wealthy city-state and its enviable position on the Adriatic free from invading marauders. It worked and the sturdy walls survive today, creating one of the few remaining walled cities in the world. That’s also why Game of Thrones uses Dubrovnik to shoot the Kings Landing scenes; it really does look like a scene straight out of a fantasy.
Once we got past the shipping lanes though, the paddling was smooth and fun. From the other side of the wall the beauty of the architecture is seen without impediments, a lasting tribute to the souls who worked on its construction. Small details, like carvings and statues that can only be seen from the water came into view. When I see things like that I wonder why they’re there. The only answer I’ve found is a level of care and detail that sadly does not exist today.
After navigating around the walls, past Café Buza with its cliffside location, in front of Lovrjenac fortress we turned around and paddled back to our home dock. It was a brief excursion, but a fun one. It always feels so good to get out and just be active; to sweat a little bit and to breathe heavier. But it’s even better when you can combine it with amazing sights.
After two trips to Dubrovnik I can honestly say that this kayak adventure was one of the best things I’ve done in the city. So if you’re curious and active like I am, be sure to plan your own adventures kayaking around Dubrovnik the next time you visit.
What cities have you seen in unusual ways? What did you discover?
This campaign was created and sponsored by Croatian National Tourist Board in partnership with iambassador. LandLopers retains all editorial control of what is published and as you know, I never shy away from honest commentary.
