Why is Dubrovnik so quiet in the off-season? Walking around the Old City yesterday, it’s hard to see why more people aren’t here. The cobbled streets glistened under the warm November sun, and the sky was a perfect shade of azure.

While northern Europe is cranking up the central heating, Dubrovnik feels more like early spring than late autumn. Al fresco coffee is still the norm, and tourists are making the most of their flip-flops one last time.

Restaurants and cafes, eager to attract the smaller crowd, are offering discounts, making a visit this time of year even more affordable. Dubrovnik has also broken with tradition by welcoming a higher number of international flights this November, with direct routes still available from a range of European cities. And, yes, flights are cheaper too. If the forecasts hold, this warm spell should last another ten days.

It’s an ideal time to be in Dubrovnik—if a bit surreal to see the city’s Christmas decorations going up under such blue skies.