Makarska to Dubrovnik: Is a Full-Day Tour Really Worth It? A Review

Planning a vacation around the wonderfully lovely Makarska Riviera and eyeing a day trip to Dubrovnik? That idea sounds truly tempting, doesn’t it? After my trip, I kinda figured out some of the things you might want to know before handing over your money for the “From Makarska Full-Day Dubrovnik Tour.” I’m just sharing, you know, so your adventure hopefully rocks!

The Allure of Dubrovnik: Why Bother from Makarska?

Dubrovnik is frequently known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” and honestly, it’s got a certain ring, very fancy almost, to it. You get its appeal pretty quickly after doing just a bit of reading, but witnessing those iconic views with your own peepers, is, you know, a different ballgame. We’re chatting history soaked in sunshine, crazy good food smells wafting about, and, hey, if you’re a Game of Thrones superfan, well, need I say more, to be honest?

But, here’s the thing, though: it’s not precisely around the corner if you’re coming from Makarska. It is, after all, a fair stretch down the Dalmatian Coast. That is, like, the main reason why deciding on a organized tour felt like something good to do at the time, if that makes sense. Weighing up driving yourself verses seeing someone else tackle the, well, not terrifying, just a bit bendy, coastal roads; someone else who does it for a living, of course, is very different to, you know, Bob from down the street who may have had two beers, right?

Booking the Tour: What’s Usually Included, Very Roughly Speaking

Okay, very naturally, deals vary from tour to tour. So you might get different perks at different places. Typically, it seems that you get return transport — often in a motor coach that could do with some, erm, freshening, honestly –, plus a tour guide kinda, hopefully, fluent in a bunch of popular languages. Now, this tour may or may not bundle any of Dubrovnik’s entrance tickets to places, the city walls for one, lunch spots are definitely very much DIY, more or less.

Just quickly though, read the teeny weeny words just to suss out that precisely *is* bundled in with your ticket price. I mean that sounds completely obvious. Yet some tour companies might sting ya with surprise extras for, well, practically *everything*, if you get me. Or sometimes that might give, seemingly spontaneously, a super, almost too good to be true deal — so *very* cheap. Well, guess where they try and get that outlay back? Souvenir shops are almost a definite, anyway, but also, some almost scammy food places could be on the agenda too. Basically be clued up. Ok?

The Ride: Expect Scenery, But Buckle Up, Virtually

That distance between Makarska and Dubrovnik isn’t a hop, skip, and a jump, okay? You’re very likely looking at a three-hour ride, roughly, each way. It gives you stacks of quality gawping time at that very stunning Dalmatian coastline, you know? It’s super-duper dramatic – rocky cliffs doing the vertical drop, and it overlooks super glittering waters. If you enjoy car or bus spotting, very specific, I know, you’ll, like, have fun doing that, arguably! That sounds really terrible, it really does… anyway, get yourself a window seat; you’re not getting *quite* the most for your buck any other way. Very honestly!

A word to the fragile folks among us, so yeah, motion sickness could maybe be a thing thanks to all the road’s twisty bends and turns. If you find yourself getting carsick when the road heads the squiggly route then make sure you bring your regular remedies, alright?

Dubrovnik Explored: Highlights and (Possible) Lowlights

Eventually you’re going to pull up in Dubrovnik; let’s pretend it wasn’t raining sideways, for now anyway. Typically a guided tour of the antique parts kicks things off once you arrive. So too you get to stroll along the Stradun, that almost totally wonderfully amazing main drag through the city, just like your own special movie star, possibly.

Places like the Rector’s Palace are just there, seemingly almost spontaneously. You’ll most probably want a nose around the Franciscan Monastery that holds some pretty very very super old remedies, as well as one crazy ancient pharmacy. Of course it does not hurt if you already know your way around — either from on-location scouting visits previously — or through reading things about the region before showing up, okay?

A big bummer, now. Tour duration can sometimes be, really very very almost frustratingly small. That’s, arguably, you get a lightning quick glimpse of everything. You’ll perhaps find yourself torn between hearing all your guide’s gems of wisdom or heading off at speed in the opposite direction to actually doing your own exploration thing, you know? The “free time” doled out might make you rush about like a headless chicken and only make you feel a little stressed rather than totally refreshed. It all is just very a case of striking a fair happy ground. If there even is such a thing!

To Wall or Not to Wall: Is it Actually Worth It?

OK. You are in Dubrovnik. Obviously your next thing to do, once you’ve said hello to the cats, is go clamber all over the old walls. Why else go, virtually, right? If, after the guided tour, your guide suggests “you absolutely must walk around the walls – now, quickly before you get eaten by a griffin or you’ll regret it for all of time”. Ignore them, more or less. The walls are cool, certainly. Just work it into your schedule to match with your *own* style.

I almost hate to tell you this, yet getting up on those City Walls costs further bucks and involves all kinds of energetic leg work. Does the vista make it feel worthwhile? Very much yes, particularly at sunset. Do you maybe have wobbly knees and a touch of vertigo? Probably stay put on stable ground instead, alright?

Food, Glorious Food! Or Maybe Not…

Dubrovnik provides almost almost ridiculously cute restaurant offerings, anyway. The problem: They all could sting you more than a particularly annoyed wasp! Food and drink expense definitely, naturally, should influence a tiny amount of any planning that you might do.

Scout things out for any spots somewhat out of the very epicentre. That or, think about simply eating outside Dubrovnik so that your wallet stays vaguely in a better place. Another option — super fun BTW — stock up in Makarska before going; bring some bits, as they might say on Ru Paul. Remember to re-hydrate regularly; very top tip from doctors everywhere! Thirst always appears sneakily while doing your wanderings, anyway.

Souvenirs: Be Careful Very Quickly!

Just in the little streets of Dubrovnik they offer things, naturally, which are super cute, for purchase! But are not actually made there. Game of Thrones merchandise, for illustration’s sake, tends to be made far away in mysterious factories in equally mystery lands! You did not know that already, well there you go, by the way, now you do.

Should a purchase from this trip matter to you; then try your best, you know, at looking at the store for the unique artisanal things. If all the aforementioned still just seems generally a touch overpriced, do your buying along Makarska where generally it appears fairly easier to get cooler things.

The Guide: Hit or Miss?

Your tour can seem almost different — based very, very almost only upon just how good your guide actually happens to be. Let’s consider them doing way over-the-top speeches to make it amusing and full of substance to begin with — and also knowing enough about the land to actually be quite useful.

Hopefully. But remember sometimes guides also end up being more on the fresh-out-of-guide-college newbie team – perhaps quite nice but yet kinda struggles somewhat when questioned closely; but they mean well anyway. Arguably, a great guide could seriously increase one’s memories; in contrast the naff ones become tedious!

The Return: Are We There Just Quite Yet?

Right. Here’s the part everyone likes: It comes to the period everyone makes it all towards the motor coach for the, very possibly, lengthy return trip just up into Makarska. Should this come about at sun down-o-clock the vistas turn completely superb just to gaze upon from your motor coach pane.

Conversely be aware that after that long day tromping all all over Dubrovnik; chances happen that loads from the travelers actually nod off – hopefully no snorers around those listening zones just to keep peace that, is! Should the schedule assist that; utilize that coming back trip just to revise photos from day’s traveling, also for preparing that trip adviser ratings and commenting – after you return perhaps!

Also: remember those very tight curvy roads on the way *down*? That trip backwards repeats what just unfolded the former point only currently almost on darkness; therefore it gets suggested one doesn’t forget motion problem relievers just for precautionary’s welfare there!

Did anything on this journey feel seriously amazing, unique or unforgettable – the vistas in the aged metropolis, walls hiking – or some eating/sampling in somewhere cool somewhere there maybe? Definitely focus at things during travel ratings just to make these much more impactful there just in total there maybe!

A Day in Dubrovnik: Worth It If…

• You hate driving that route, too: It’s certainly a convenient alternative to personally doing one’s navigational needs over, very potentially scary, Coastal streets which makes you all uneasy indeed there truly just maybe…
• Time is not *totally* the boss, right: Okay. Know by currently any arranged sightseeing outing; perhaps somewhat compressed- just also rather useful especially for getting any rapid summation! That gets shown rather than you *independently* mapping what could possibly truly matter for travelers at this extremely legendary area this perhaps, anyway…
• Someone else pays!: That becomes plain- perhaps should costs feel sorted outside; this Dubrovnik journey seems definitely something great actually – particularly just for almost *Game of Thrones* super super lovers mostly!.