I Road‑Tested Dua Lipa’s Honeymoon Route (and Figured Out How to Do It for Less)

When news broke that Dua Lipa was heading on a sun‑splashed honeymoon through the Adriatic, my inner wanderer perked up. I booked a rental, packed a suitcase, and set out to follow the exact route she posted on Instagram – only I was armed with a spreadsheet and a stubborn desire to keep costs low.

The journey begins in Venice, the city of canals, where you can spend a night in a budget guesthouse just a few blocks from the Rialto. Skip the pricey water‑taxi and hop on a vaporetto; a 24‑hour ticket is under €20 and gets you everywhere. After a quick espresso and a slice of pizza al taglio, hit the road toward Slovenia.

Driving along the A4, the landscape shifts from lagoon‑soft to Alpine‑crisp. In Ljubljana, instead of a boutique hotel, I stayed at a family‑run hostel with a communal kitchen. The price difference is stark – €45 a night versus €120 at a boutique property – and the homemade jam the host offered made the stay feel authentic.

Crossing the border into Croatia, the famous coastal highway (E65) rolls out like a ribbon of blue. I followed Dua Lipa’s plan to stop in Poreč, then continue down to Zadar. In each town, I deliberately chose “agriturismo‑style” apartments advertised on local booking sites. They often include a small garden, a shared grill, and a pantry stocked with fresh, regional produce. Think of it as a mini‑vacation in someone else’s backyard.

One of the biggest temptations on a road‑trip is dining at seaside restaurants with tourist‑priced menus. My workaround? Walk a few streets away from the waterfront and look for “konobas” – family‑run taverns where locals eat. A plate of grilled branzino, a glass of Malvasija, and a side of blitva (Swiss chard) will set you back €12‑15, compared to €30‑40 at the tourist strip.

As the road curves toward Split, I took a short detour to Krka National Park – a cheaper alternative to the more crowded Plitvice. The entrance fee is €15, and you can hike along the waterfalls without the crush of tour groups. Pack a picnic, and you’ll have a day of natural wonder without the extra spend.

Split itself is where the itinerary peaks: the historic Diocletian’s Palace, a maze of stone alleys and hidden courtyards. Instead of booking a hotel inside the palace walls, I found a private room in a nearby building for €55 a night. The view from the balcony overlooked the Riva promenade, and the early morning light was perfect for a quick photo‑shoot – just like the ones Dua Lipa posted.

The final leg of the honeymoon route leads to Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Here, the secret to saving money is timing. I arrived a week before the summer rush, when boutique hotels start to drop rates by up to 30 %. I also used a city‑wide bike‑share program – €8 for a day – to explore the Old Town walls without paying for a pricey guided tour.

All told, the whole 1,200‑kilometer loop cost me roughly €850, including car rental, fuel, accommodation, and food. Dua Lipa’s version, judging by the polished photos and occasional luxury stays, probably ran close to €2,500. The route is still the same – Venetian canals, Slovenian charm, Croatian sunshine, and Dubrovnik’s fortified walls – but the experience feels more personal when you’ve tucked a few euros away.

So, if you’re dreaming of a pop‑star‑inspired road‑trip, remember: the magic isn’t in the price tag, it’s in the detours, the local conversations, and the moments when you stop, sip a cold coffee, and watch the sea stretch out before you.