The beautiful tiny seaside village ‘just as good as Amalfi Coast’

Some holidaymakers are choosing a tiny village in Croatia over the more famous Amalfi Coast in Italy as it delights them with a similar “endearing Mediterranean” view without the crowds.

Cavtat, a 2.2 square mile village in southern Croatia, has been described as a “destination dupe” for the Italian Amalfi Coast in light of an increase in searches for alternative destinations noticed by Airbnb.

The holiday rental organisation suggested that 39 percent of its global guests have looked to swap the Amalfi Coast with the Croatian village. The company based its data on the difference in searches made by its guests in early 2023 for dates across that year’s summer with searches made at the beginning of 2024 for the ongoing summer.

Suggesting the Croatian village is among Airbnb’s guests’ favourite destination dupes, the organisation described the holiday destination saying: “Cavtat presents an endearing Mediterranean view, a place known for its delicious seafood, without the hustle and bustle of Amalfi Coast.”

Despite its size, Cavtat offers many things to do to its visitors – including a visit to the House of Vlaho Bukovac, the home to this 19th-century Croatian painter. 

The Our Lady of Snow Monastery overlooking the sea is another stunning must-see attraction for tourists, as is the small harbour in front of it. 

The old town has been described as a “gem” on the travel advice website Tripadvisor.

One wrote: “Beautiful, a hidden gem with lovely views, restaurants and walks. The promenade had lots of bars and places to eat which are really nice. Lots of lovely places to sunbath.”

Another visitor said: “Beautiful little gem on the water. Hadn’t realised how pretty it actually is until arrived in it. Very special.”

This visitor stressed how peaceful they found this village, adding: “Quiet with beautiful views and nice bars and restaurants. No neon. Seafood and plenty of other options. Some shopping and a couple of supermarkets.”

Located in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, this village doesn’t just offer a stunning sea, beautiful landscapes and relaxation but being only nine miles away from Dubrovnik it allows tourists to visit the extremely popular Croatian holiday hotspot. 

The border with Montenegro is also relatively close, making Cavtat not just a beautiful place where to spend a holiday but also the perfect base for a wider tour of the Adriatic coast in the Balkans.