To find the best, fresh Adriatic oysters near Dubrovnik, we are driving 45 minutes up the coastline to a town that once guarded the northern border of the Dubrovnik Republic - Ston. Since the time of the Roman Empire, Ston has possessed one of the most important salt factories in the Mediterranean region and in ancient times the inhabitants build stone walls all around their town to protect it. Town of Ston was one of the first urban planned towns in medieval Europe but today, Ston´s most popular commodity is the specialty oysters and mussels!
Take a boat ride with a local oyster farmer to learn about the industry, help harvesting your own lunch and complete it with local Peljesac wine from the renowned vineyards on peninsula. After oysters tasting tour you will return n Ston for a short sightseeing of the town, visit town´s treasury, its salt pans and the Great Walls of Ston. We are leaving town and drive along the elevated road that Napoleon Bonaparte built on his way to conquer Dubrovnik in 1806. This little-traveled route passes through several tiny villages and provides the best panoramic view of the Dubrovnik Riviera and Elaphiti Islands. The Napoleonic road leads our tour back to the coast at a place called Trsteno, where we will visit the oldest and grandest botanical garden in the region. You will see two oldest plane trees in Croatia, an ancient aqueduct and a seaside pavilion that was used to film HBO´s Game of Thrones. Your guide will tell you the story of the wealthy medieval family that first built their home in Trsteno and how they collected exotic plants from all over the world.
This half day itinerary is convenient as a private Dubrovnik shore tour.
Empowered only with the sea, wind and the sun, the process of salt and wine production hasn't been changed for centuries. Learn more about tradition of salt harvesting and wine production, dating from 2000 years B.C. The walkable lenth of Ston walls is 3km and if you feel adventurous enough to experience it, walk will take approximately 1h.
Jane Schwarz: „Unforgettable and unique adventure with Ivo! Our group of 6 was met right on time by Ivo. The van was clean and air conditioned. As we drove to Ston, Ivo explained about the area and the culture of the Dalmatian coast. We took a little boat to a private island and learned about oyster and mussel farming. Then we sat at a beautifully set outdoor table and were served a heavenly meal of fresh oysters and steamed mussels in white wine and garlic. Homemade wine and bread! So much fun! So unique!“ Read more
You are what you eat – spoil your taste buds with the best fresh oysters in Dubrovnik area which were grown for at least 2 years. Our host will serve oysters to your plate straight from the sea for tasting. While you enjoy, he will prepare a traditional Croatian dish of mussels cooked in white wine sauce and olive oil with parsley and onion called Buzara. Finally you will pair it with fine Peljesac wine and give a finishing touch to your meal!
Keith Collins: „This was a fabulous tour! Ivo was great - very knowledgable, great English. Our oyster experience ranks as one of our favorites from our 2 week cruise of the Mediterranean. We are from Louisiana and eat plenty of oysters and were told that we may not like the Croatian oysters as much, but they were great size, plenty salty and the whole setup in Ston was fabulous. As a bonus we also ate fresh muscles cooked with local ingredients that may have been one of our best meals on trip. Thanks Ivo!!!!“ Read more
• English speaking driver/guide and air-conditioned vehicle for 6-8h (additional languages available upon request), pick-up and drop-off at your cruise ship or hotel or apartment, boat tour of oyster farm in Ston with lunch (5 oysters/person, homemade wine and a traditional meal of mussels called “Buzara”), entrance fee and visit to salt pans OR town’s treasury OR entrance fee to Ston walls and entrance fee and visit to botanical garden Trsteno.