AUGUST 2023
Croatia features many charming, historical cities at the Dalmatian Coast. Years ago I have been to Dubrovnik, fell in love and have been looking for a less crowded alternative ever since. Dubrovnik has become a victim of its own success; it is so pretty that it attract too many visitors, causing it to be not enjoyable anymore. I was told that “if you love Dubrovnik, you will love the hidden gem Sibenik” and that I must include it on my Croatia itinerary. In this blogpost I will compare Sibenik to Dubrovnik, include my recommendations and I will give my honest opinion.
Practical information
You will find Sibenik on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, just an hour north of Split. Sibenik has a historical city center that dates back to the 14th/15th century. It is historically special that Sibenik has been founded by the Croats, while many other cities along the coast have been founded by the Romans/Venetians and Greeks. Sibenik was highly damaged during the Croatian War of Independence, with its cathedral being bombarded, but it has been fully restored after 1995.
Where to stay
If possible, I always love to stay in historical city centers, but as we were traveling by campervan this was not an option for us. In the nearby village “Brodarica” you can find many campsite and seaside hotels. In summertime it can get really hot in Sibenik, so I would advise to stay somewhere near the sea, instead of in the hot city center. From Brodarica you can take a bus which will take you to Sibenik’s historical center in 15 minutes. We were visiting during a heatwave and were not enjoying our camping stay anymore and decided to check in at Zlatna Ribica. The hotel was incredibly dated and cost about € 115 per night for a room including breakfast, which I found steep. But the airconditioning worked really well and we loved the seaside area which featured lots of relaxing chairs where we could enjoy the Adriatic sea.
Comparison to Dubrovnik
The style of Sibenik’s historical center has a bit of a Dubrovnik feel to it and the cities definitely have some similarities: the orange rooftops of the buildings, historical cathedrals, its climate and its proximity to the Adriatic sea. Dubrovnik has its showstopping city walls, which I knew were not going to be in Sibenik. However, I expected Sibenik to be less crowded than it turned out to be. We visited at the end of July and I found the main shopping streets to be very busy. Summer 2023 didn’t have the best weather (either too hot or too rainy) and it seemed like all tourists flocked to Croatia, causing even the lesser known destinations to be crowded. I didn’t think Sibenik was the hidden gem people told me it would be. It probably doesn’t help that the popular national park Krka is just around the corner. But: In the early morning you can still have Sibenik to yourself, while this would never be the case with Dubrovnik’s Instagramming tourists and cruise visitors.
The historical center of Sibenik has more of an edge; it is less maintained and you will see cables everywhere. This makes it more real than Dubrovnik, but also less picturesque. I personally loved the upscale al fresco dining and rocky beach bars of Dubrovnik, and the scene is very different in Sibenik. If you really want a beach experience in Sibenik you have to be a little further out of the city center. We stayed in nearby Brodarica, which is a good destination if you want to experience Croatian local culture. We loved all the locals coming together in the evening taking a sunset dip in the Adriatic sea. There is a lovely scenic walk next to the beach, where you will find local bars and music, definitely a very authentic Croatian experience!
Concluding: I definitely don’t think Sibenik is a good alternative for Dubrovnik and a visit to Dubrovnik itself is always worth it. The beaches of Dubrovnik boasting that historical city center background with the city walls is unbeatable! However, Sibenik is a good destination if you want to experience a cozy, authentic Croatian holiday which offers a bit more bang for your buck. Check out my pictures below and judge yourself whether you think Sibenik is worth it.
