British tourists heading to Croatia this summer have been cautioned about overwhelming crowds in the historic city of Dubrovnik. The destination has surged in popularity as a cheaper alternative to Spain and Italy, boosted by its role as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
According to 2019 data from Statista, Dubrovnik was deemed the 'most over-touristed' city in Europe, surpassing even Venice and Barcelona. Locals were outnumbered 36 to one that year, with nearly 1.5 million visitors descending on the city.
Tripadvisor reviews frequently mention having to 'avoid the tourist crowds', while one Reddit user described the city as 'Balkans DisneyWorld in all of the worst ways', citing hordes of cruise ship passengers.
Travel experts from Responsible Travel warned that poor timing can ruin a visit, noting the 'sinking feeling of standing on the city walls, watching as a sixth cruise ship rocks up to the horizon'. They added that Dubrovnik has become 'synonymous with overtourism' but stressed that the city is still worth visiting if planned carefully.
To avoid the worst crowds, they recommend avoiding late May, July, August and early September, when cruise ships arrive. Evenings and early mornings are quieter, and visiting outside high summer also helps dodge extreme temperatures of up to 28°C.
