How to Make the Most of Dubrovnik’s Countryside

Explore the Jewels of the Adriatic with our Best of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast trip from Split to Dubrovnik

Often dubbed the “Tuscany of Croatia”, the Konavle Valley is known for its abundant nature, marked by waterfalls, old mills, canals, orchards and vineyards. This lush region is relatively small, extending from Cavtat (a few minutes southeast of Dubrovnik by car or bus) to the Montenegro border in the south, and bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina in the north. Still, it is sure to reward you with its amazing scenery. It’s worth taking a cycling tour around Dubrovnik’s “golden valley” and biking your way through fragrant pine and cypress trees, old villages and farms, and past the serene Ljuta and Konavocica rivers – with a few stops to taste a fresh fig or mandarin along the way.

Brimming with flora, the Konavle Valley is also the place to go to for homegrown vegetables and all kinds of fresh produce, which serve as the perfect ingredients for a delicious meal. Take a cooking class organised by one of the families in the area to get a real taste of the authentic Croatian cuisine.

The Mujo family hold such mouthwatering sessions in their traditional villa, Kameni Dvori, that also offers accommodation to those wishing to stay a bit longer. Take a sip of their strong brandy before moving on to the kitchen. Soon enough, you’ll be making bread and pasta from scratch, as well as a type of traditional stew and chicken. Everything comes straight from their garden, while they produce their own wine which you can taste and take home if you like. Ivo will also show you the Mujo family tree that goes all the way back to the 16th century, and tell you all about his family’s fascinating story.

Hop on a bus to the laid-back town of Ston on the Pelješac peninsula (a little over an hour’s drive from Dubrovnik) and venture a hike along its imposing walls. Ston used to be an important military fort, its walls still being the second largest in the world after the Great Wall of China. Connecting Ston with its neighbouring village, Mali Ston, the walls date back to the 14th century when they were around seven kilometres long; today, five kilometres of them remain intact. Just like many more sights and places in Dubrovnik, the Walls of Ston featured in Game of Thrones, serving as King’s Landing’s fortification.

Wander around the picturesque town for a while, amid churches and olive groves, and grab a cup of coffee at Caffe Bar Kantun, before following the wall path all the way up to the Pozvizd Fortress – there are three fortresses and 20 towers in total, which makes for a scenic hike.

And if you’re not too tired from all the walking, pop by the Ston saltworks, the oldest and largest preserved salt mines in the history of the Mediterranean. These date back to the 13th century, but salt harvesting is still a thing here. Solana Ston, the company that has undertaken the extraction of the salt, even has a summer camp allowing visitors to take part in the entire process.

Mali Ston is the place to try some of Croatia’s finest oysters. The country takes pride in its shellfish, and Mali Ston Bay is, in fact, where you will find some of the rarest in the world. To live the entire oyster experience, book one of the available oyster tasting boat tours – the Bota Šare one is an excellent choice. Let the knowledgeable sea farmer show you how he harvests oysters and mussels straight from the sea, along with tips on which ones are actually worth harvesting. He will then cook up a selection of succulent mussels and European flat oysters just for you, before serving them with a glass of white wine on deck.

The village of Putniković along the Pelješac peninsula boasts a centuries-old tradition in viticulture, so it was only natural that the first Croatian Museum of Viticulture and Enology would be based here. Its owners are the founders of the agricultural cooperative Putniković; essentially families that have already been living off wine production, constantly investing in new facilities and now wishing to give the world a little taste of their craft. The museum covers an area of 800sqm and consists of three collections recounting the history of wine tradition in the area – including the role that wine played in rural and civic communities, the tools used for cultivation and the various customs related to wine. After your visit, you can sample their wines (the red Plavac Mali is a must), served alongside a cheese platter.

Head to the peninsula’s Oskorušno village for more superb views and endless wine. This stone property that overlooks lush vineyards and the shimmering coast will invite you to taste an exquisite five-course meal, paired with flavourful wines – a different one for each course. Fish and seafood are great here, so make sure to taste the cuttlefish and mango salad and the prawns risotto before moving on to the luscious lava cake with ice cream. Following dinner, spend some time on the outdoor terrace, marvelling at the surreal vistas.