Feel free in Dubrovnik and Neretva County

While Dubrovnik effortlessly draws everyone to its many marvels, feel free to explore a little further and discover outstanding natural beauty, a rich history, delectable cuisine and superb local wines. Lose yourself in the fertile landscapes of the Neretva Valley, the hidden bays of Lastovo Nature Park, the splendour of Korčula Town, the tranquil vineyards of the Pelješac peninsula and the cultural traditions in Konavle hills. Feel free to fall under the spell of this captivating region during an unforgettable holiday. Here’s a tantalising taste of what to expect in Dubrovnik and Neretva County.

Two feet, two wheels, four legs – there are many ways of exploring Dubrovnik and Neretva County. Head to Mljet, Croatia’s greenest island, and hike or cycle along the trails winding through Mljet National Park, stopping for a swim in one of two saltwater lakes. Pick up the pace by whizzing on the water on a sailboard at Viganj on the Pelješac peninsula, where the pleasant maestral wind makes this area a magnet for windsurfers. Not fast enough for you? Hit the sands of Delta Beach where the River Neretva flows into the Adriatic and draws eager kitesurfers to these broad sands. If you’re in search of an equine adventure, go horseriding through the peaceful hills of Konavle, where every level of rider is catered for.

Between Dubrovnik and Neretva County’s family farms, orchards, vineyards and the fruits of the Adriatic, you’ll feast on delicious traditional dishes and local wines. Savour the taste of the sea with delicately flavoured oysters from Mali Ston, which is also home to vast mussel beds. For dessert, leave room for Ston cake, a concoction of almonds, walnuts and, unusually, pasta. For a lighter option, order rozata, a custardy dessert flavoured with a Croatian rose liqueur called rozulin.

Sweet tooth satisfied, look out for family-run farm restaurants where they serve meat or octopus cooked under a peka (a cast-iron bell-shaped pot covered in embers in which meat cooks slowly for hours) resulting in a delicious dish called peka. Those with adventurous tastes can try a speciality of the Neretva Valley, brudet (stew) of frogs’ legs and eels zinging with chilli and garlic. And all of this goes splendidly well with red wines from Pelješac wineries, including robust postup, plavac mali and dingač.

Walk through centuries of history in Dubrovnik’s car-free Old Town, taking in the baroque beauty of the cathedral and Church of St Blaise. A walk along the medieval-Renaissance City Walls is unmissable: climb to the top of the highest point, Minčeta Fortress, for views of terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic Sea. Your ticket includes the 16^th-century Fort Lovrijenac outside the walls, where they stage plays during the Summer Festival. Dubrovnik is even more magical when you take a nighttime tour of the Old Town.

Almost like a Dubrovnik in miniature, the walled historic heart of Korčula Town is an enchanting warren of narrow lanes fanning out like a fishbone. In this exquisite place, you can’t miss the 15^th-century St Mark’s Cathedral in the centre. Go even further back in time in the Konavle countryside, where the imposing Sokol Fortress stands on a rocky crag amid dramatic limestone landscape. Used since prehistoric times, it was a major fortress during the Middle Ages and then taken over by Dubrovnik in 1423.

Near the popular coastal town of Cavtat is Čilipi, home of some of the most colourful folkloric traditions in Dalmatia. Head to the main square to see villagers decked out in brightly coloured and intricately embroidered traditional costumes wowing the crowds with their mesmerising singing, dancing and musicianship. You can enjoy this lively spectacle every Sunday morning from Palm Sunday until early November. Afterwards, delve into the history of the region and its traditions at Konavle County Museum.

It’s hard not to be spellbound by the long, heavily indented coastline running alongside Dubrovnik and Neretva County, where pine-shaded pebbly coves are lapped by brilliantly blue and turquoise waters. Get away from it all in Lastovo, whose 46 islands have been made a nature park and whose southern coast is home to Rača cave and its Neolithic artefacts. While you’re in the region, go for a swim in the sparkling waters of Skrivena Luka.

The lush green waterways, wetlands and countless orchards of the Neretva Valley have a serene beauty of their own, and there’s even more to enjoy in neighbouring Baćina Lakes. These seven freshwater lakes are in a wondrous setting surrounded by maquis-studded mountains – perfect for slow exploration by kayak or canoe. Pick up picnic fare from one of the many stalls selling homegrown produce along the River Neretva before you lose yourself in this alluring place.