I visited a popular European seaside town loved by tourists - and I won't be going back

Croatia is a popular destination at the moment with crowds of tourists flocking to the country. I visited this September and I loved the country too - but one seaside town was not quite what I thought it would be.

I'd never been to Croatia until this summer and I made sure to make a few stops as part of my trip. I stopped off at Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Split and Dubrovnik. Split and Dubrovnik have become a popular duo for British tourists to visit. Being around three hours apart, many will visit both as part of the same holiday. After hearing of more and more people heading to these two places, I was keen to find out what all the fuss was about.

Croatia itself is beautiful, it's home to stunning coastlines, incredible nature and a lively atmosphere. This being said, I thought one stop out of the four was overrated. Dubrovnik is expensive, small and crowded.

While it does have some fascinating elements, such as its famous city walls, I personally think there are better places to visit in Croatia than here.

The city is rich in history and it is a unique place to visit. Dubrovnik is centered around its historic Old Town, which is entirely enclosed by impressive medieval stone walls.

Almost everything worth seeing, from landmarks to quaint streets and restaurants, is packed within these walls, making it a compact and walkable area for tourists to explore.

Its reputation left me thinking it would be much bigger in size, but it's actually very small. I stayed for three nights but I think you could easily see most of the place in a day or two.

The best thing to do while you're there, and something most people don't miss out on, even despite the steep price, is to walk along the city walls.

This walk will set you back by about 30 euros, but it is a must-do while in the city. That being said, I spoke to another tourist who said he won't be doing it due to the price.

The wall walk will take you around an hour and from the top you'll be able to see views of the sea and the city from above.

If you're hoping to enjoy a hike, you can take the zig-zagging path to the top of Mount Srd. There's also a cable car available if you're just hoping to see the views and miss out on the hiking part.

For those planning to hike, I'd recommend setting aside either a morning or an afternoon and don't forget to stop and enjoy the view on the way up.

The city is known for being used as a filming location for Game of Thrones and there's plenty of attractions for fans of the show to see while you're there.

If you're visiting, May to June and September to October are likely to be the best times to see Dubrovnik. You'll be able to explore with fewer crowds while still having pleasant weather.

During summer, especially around midday, cruise ships bring in lots of tourists meaning the city can be way beyond its capacity in terms of visitors. Early mornings or late afternoons are quieter for seeing Dubrovnik with less people around.

Dubrovnik is considered to be one of the most expensive destinations in Croatia, largely due to its popularity with international tourists and cruise ships, especially following Game of Thrones.

I could definitely tell prices were higher in the city than any other place I visited in the country. For an average dinner, prices sat at around 20 euros where they may have been more around 13 euros elsewhere.

Visiting Dubrovnik right after Split made me compare the two. If you're a big fan of Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik might be the better of the two for you. For me, Split felt much more lively, bigger and more spacious than Dubrovnik.

Split was also cheaper and had a nicer, sandy beach. In Dubrovnik, there's a few beaches you can visit which are more pebbly or set into the cliff-like shores.

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovi has revealed that from 2026, entry to the city walls will only be possible with an advance booking system. This is designed to spread out visitor numbers and prevent overcrowding.

However, this is not the only measure being taken to curbtourism. Cruise ship visits will remain capped at two per day, each required to dock for a minimum of eight hours. The aim is to stagger passenger flows and encourage longer, more meaningful stays rather than short visits that add to congestion.

Dubrovnik is a unique destination and it's because of this that it has become so popular. Unfortunately, its popularity has led to crowds of tourists and hiked prices.

If you're looking for a holiday, Croatia is filled with beautiful places to see, but don't rush to Dubrovnik.