amirao

Hi!
We have been looking forward to visiting Croatia for so long, and finally planned to go in June (Dubrovnik and day trips, Korcula and then Split and Trogir), but I will be 5 months pregnant at the time.
The more I am reading about Dubrovnik on the forums and other travel guides, the more I wonder if I will be able to handle the steps that seem to define the walled city in Dubrovnik. I have always been active and energetic, but I dont want to underestimate this either and miss out!
So my question - will I (and therefore my poor husband) be able to do this beautiful place justice? Or is it sensible to just go somewhere else this time and save Croatia at a time when hopefully the steps will be a non-issue?
Thank you so much for your opinions. I am V confused!!

julia_t

The steps issue in Dubrovnik depends very much on where you are staying. When an apartment is 200m from tha Ploce Gate, that usually means 200m UP the hill. And how you cope with travelling anywhere at 5 months pregnant depends on you and how your pregnancy is going. Many women would be fine, others might have certain problems which would affect travel. Only you can know that.

If you choose your accommodation wisely then you should not have a problem with steps as much of the actual walled city is fairly flat around Stradun. You probably wouldn't want to be climbing all the way up to the Buza Gate, but you could cope with a short flight of steps up to Prijeko, the street with lots of restaurnats on. There are lots of side street leading up to Prijeko, all have some steps but the flights are short. You could cope with the steps up the other side as well, out of Gundulic(sp)Square - essential if you want to visit the Buza Bar! Actually you can get there with just a few steps - much of the walk there is just up a gentle slope, again choose your route.

As for walking the Walls, do it early in the day when they open at 8.30am. There is hardly anyone else up there at that time, it is much cooler, and you can wander at your own pace pausing when necessary. Choose where you go up too. There are loads of steps at the Pile Gate entrance. Go up at the entrance by the Ploce Gate or the little one by the Aquarium (my favourite way up). Much fewer steps, and if you feel it is too much you can turn round there or leave at the Ploce entrance.

IMO Dubrovnik would be much easier when pregnant than with small children and buggies. It is the most beautiful place, well worth visiting, and you don't have to climb loads of steps - if you don't want to.

Hope this helps a little. Split and Trogir are flat, Korcula is a little sloping, but not much as I recall. Anyway, I hope your pregnancy progresses well with little or no problems. I could have coped easily with Dubrovnik during both of my first two pregnancies, but I would have struggled with my 3rd - twin - pregnancy!

Nlingenfel

It depends on your normal routine. I worked as a waitress and did steps and heavy lifting until my 8th month. But, this was normal for me. If you start doing steps now, you will be in great shape in your fifth month. You can also take your time, doing the steps, stop and look at the beautiful flowers and greenery that they have placed on such small spaces. It's amazing.

amirao

Thanks a ton for taking the time to reply. I guess the bottom line is really how things are progressing with me and if I feel it will be an impediment or not. Thanks again for the input - I will have a think and make my decision. Croatia just seems wonderful and it would seem a pity to miss out unless I really cannot avoid it. Thanks again!