Dalmatian Coast (dubrovnik) holidays - travel guide - lifestyle

Shopping

The main shopping area on the Dalmatian Coast is the walled city of Dubrovnik. Many tourists and cruise ships visit the town, which is reflected in the prices of the shops, especially the shops which line the Stradun. The range of things to buy include antiques, art, and beautiful hand-embroidered tableware, which are stunning, but not cheap! There is a daily market, which mainly sells fruit and vegetables, but sometimes has some souvenirs, including hand-made lace and jewellery. Korcula has a much smaller range of shopping, where you can pick up some handcrafts, and Cavtat is limited to mainly fresh food.

Cuisine

Croatian cuisine is a mixture of Mediterranean and Balkan styles, and the more popular dishes vary throughout the country depending on local ingredients. The fare in Dubrovnik is reliant on fish and seafood, and typical local dishes include salads made with lobster, squid ink risotto, or fish stew. The dining style in the town is very much a café culture, and dining on restaurant terraces is very popular throughout the summer. Other delicacies include 'paski sir' - a sheep's milk cheese, and 'prsut' - cured ham. The excellent local beer is Karlovacko.

Night-life

Summer is the best time for nightlife in this region, and the largest variety of entertainment is in Dubrovnik, especially in the Old Town. There is music catering for all tastes, ranging from pop, salsa and rock, with some live music and jazz thrown into the mix. Places to go range from Irish pubs and stylish bars to late-closing clubs. During late July and August festivals pepper the region, with lots of live entertainment to choose from, such as the feast of St Theodore on July 29 on Korcula, when the Moreska Sword Dance is performed, and the Dubrovnik Summer Festival running in late July and August.