The Dubrovnik city walls walk ranks amongst the top travel experiences I’ve ever had! And I am positive it will be for you too. From how to purchase tickets and where to go to the best points of interest along the way, here is everything you need to know before walking the Dubrovnik city walls.
Dubrovnik is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world. With bright orange rooftops, dreamy blue waters, and an old town surrounded by fortified walls, it’s no wonder Dubrovnik is such a popular Croatian destination.
The Dubrovnik city walls are iconic. Even more impressive than the walls themselves are the views you get from the top of them. As a result, the single best thing to do in Dubrovnik is to take a walk along the ancient city walls. You will be gifted with bird’s eye views over Dubrovnik’s entire old town, including its landmarks, fascinating streets, and dramatic cliffs. All of which are backdropped by mountains on one side and the sparkling blues of the Adriatic sea on the other.
Naturally, the Dubrovnik city walls walk is an absolute must-add to your itinerary. In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know before walking the medieval walls. We’ll talk about the best time to visit to avoid the crowds, how to get there, where to buy your tickets, and among other important details, the best points of interest along the top. Happy reading!
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What Are the Dubrovnik City Walls?
The Dubrovnik city walls were slowly but surely built and improved upon from the 13th to the 15th century. Originally constructed to provide defense against outside threats, the walls run a continuous 2 km around the city connecting a series of forts and towers. With the highest point reaching 25 metres (or 83 feet) high, you won’t find better views anywhere else in the city.
While the Dubrovnik city walls didn’t see a ton of action around the time they were built, they were involved in conflict during more recent history. In 1979, Dubrovnik’s walls and old town were recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site. It was this status that gave the Croats false hope that Dubrovnik wouldn’t be targeted during the Croatian war of independence between 1991 – 1995. However, as false hope implies, the city was heavily damaged during an attack, leaving almost nowhere untouched. After the war, Dubrovnik’s old town and walls were meticulously recovered to match the exact condition prior to the attack. Today, Dubrovnik is recognized worldwide as one of the best-preserved medieval fortified cities to still exist.
What to Expect on the Dubrovnik City Walls Walk?
Nowadays, the Dubrovnik city walls stand as an iconic symbol of the city and attract tourists far and wide to walk atop and enjoy the views. The walk takes about 1.5 – 2 hours, accounting for a leisurely pace and time to take some photos. The walls are walked in one direction only to reduce congestion, running counterclockwise around the city. You can expect a breathtaking experience through and through, with amazing gems to see around every turn.
When to Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls?
Time of Year and the Walls’ Hours
The Dubrovnik city walls are open all year long. There are pros and cons to visiting any time of year, with the summer months providing warm sunny vibes and the winter bringing fewer crowds.
The hours for the Dubrovnik city walls throughout the year are:
- January and February: 10 am – 3 pm
- March: 9 am – 3 pm
- April and May: 9 am – 6:30 pm
- June and July: 8 am – 7:30 pm
- August to September 15: 8 am – 7 pm
- September 15 to October: 9 am – 6 pm
- November and December: 9 am – 3 pm
What Time of Day to Explore the Walls With Fewer Crowds
Dubrovnik’s peak season is during the summer months of June, July, and August. If you are visiting during the summer, then it is important to be strategic about when you visit the mighty walls. As the top attraction in Dubrovnik, they can become FILLED with crowds.
That being said, the best time to do the Dubrovnik city walls walk is right when they open in the early morning or during the late afternoon. This will help you avoid the large crowds that accumulate up there during mid-day. Dubrovnik is also a popular stop for cruise ships during the summer, bringing in even more crowds. The cruise ships typically dock between 9 am – 4 pm. This is another great reason to explore the walls before or after these times.
Accounting for this can make a huge difference in the experience you have atop the walls. We started the walk at about 8:30 am during peak season and were joined by only a few others. As the morning progressed, the crowds increased. By the time we were leaving, we could see hoards of people starting the walk and were so relieved that we started as early as we did. It is also a great way to avoid the peak heat of summer too. It’s a win-win!
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How To Purchase Tickets for the Dubrovnik City Walls
To access the Dubrovnik city walls walk, you’ll need to purchase entrance tickets. You can do so with either a credit card or Croatian Kunas at the main tourist office located just outside of Pile Gate. The tourist office is open from 8 am – 7 pm Monday through Saturday and 10 am – 4 pm on Sundays and holidays.
When purchasing your wall tickets, there are a couple of options. For one, you can buy tickets just for the Dubrovnik wall walk alone, priced at 200 Kunas. The other option is to buy the Dubrovnik city card for 250 Kunas. The Dubrovnik card provides access to the city walls, the Franciscan Monastery, the Rector’s palace, and several other museums and attractions in the city. Plus it includes access to local buses for the day as well. If you are planning to visit even just one of the other attractions (which I definitely recommend), then the Dubrovnik card is a no-brainer. It is also available in 3 and 7-day pass options.
Where to Start the Dubrovnik City Walls Walk
After purchasing your wall tickets, it’s time to enter the city and start the walk! Dubrovnik’s old town has two gates to enter through. There is Pile Gate on the West side of the city and Ploce gate on the East. To begin the walk, it is best to enter through Pile Gate, often known as the main entrance and most popular gate to the city.
Entering through Pile Gate you will see the large Onofrio fountain to your right and the beautiful Stradun in front of you. The entrance to the city walls walk is just to your left. Here you will ascend a set of stone stairs to begin the walk of a lifetime!
Key Points of Interest Along the Top of Dubrovnik’s City Walls
The Dubrovnik City walls are an attraction in themselves. However, there are some key points of interest along the way. They are:
1. Views of Fort Lovrijenac
Shortly after starting the walk, you’ll approach the Bakor Fortress. From here, you’ll have the best views in town of Fort Lovrijenac standing tall on a cliff’s edge across from the city. Lovrijenac fortress was built to protect the city with cannon fire and today serves as a theatre, hosting parties, plays, and other events. It also makes for some fantastic photos.
2. Minceta Tower
The Minceta tower is the highest of 16 towers in the Dubrovnik wall defense system. The tower also consists of a large round fort, built with a decorative gothic crown at the top. It provides the highest viewpoint of the city from atop the walls and the perfect photo op of the orange rooftops backdropped by the vibrant blue sea.
3. Dubrovnik’s Maritime Museum
Located at roughly the halfway point along the wall walk, the Dubrovnik maritime museum is another interesting spot and a great opportunity to grab a break from the summer heat. The maritime museum features educational exhibits and old relics highlighting the history of Dubrovnik’s local seafaring. The price of entry is included with the Dubrovnik card and is otherwise 130 Kunas to enter.
4. The Old City Harbour From Above
One of the best things to do in Dubrovnik is to explore the city’s old harbour. It is even better to explore it from above. The city harbour, also known as the old port, is where you’ll find docked boats, boat trips, and some of the city’s best seafood restaurants.
5. St Lucas Fortress
Also known as St Luke’s tower, this fortress once played a crucial role in the defense of the city. The St Lucas Fortress is located right beside Ploce gate in the eastern part of the city and overlooks the old harbour. It is one of the oldest towers in the city, built in the 13th century.
6. Fort Revelin
Located just outside of the city walls, close to St Luke’s tower, is Fort Revelin. The largest of the old town’s forts, Revelin Fortress was constructed overlooking the old harbour as a means for protecting one of the city’s weakest points. Today it houses the city’s Archaeological museum and believe it or not, a nightclub. It is beautifully built from the outside, making it a worthwhile point of interest to view along your Dubrovnik city walls walk.
7. Game of Thrones Film Locations
For all you Game of Thrones fans out there, a walk atop the Dubrovnik city walls might look a little familiar at times. Fort Minceta was used as the House of Undying, and Fort Bokar and its seaside-facing walls can be recognized as part of King’s landing. These are just some of the sites you can recognize today. You can join a Game of Thrones walking tour for a more in-depth exploration of these filming locations.
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Important Things to Know Before Walking Dubrovnik’s City Walls
- Once you exit the city walls, you cannot enter back on with the same ticket. You have to complete the entirety of the Dubrovnik city walls walk in one go. There are several exit points throughout the walk, but if you choose to go down to the ground level you won’t be allowed back up.
- There are several cafes along the top. The cafes are located along the portion of the wall overlooking the Adriatic sea. They are a great spot to grab a snack or a refreshing drink and enjoy the view. A break at one of these cafes is also an awesome way to savor the city walls experience.
- There are spots to take a bathroom break. You don’t need to worry about limiting your water intake while walking on the city walls.
- Bring lots of water with you during the summer. The peak summer heat can get exhausting at times. As there is little shade atop the walls, it is highly recommended to stay hydrated.
Tour Options for a Guided Experience of Dubrovnik’s Walls
The Dubrovnik city walls walk is perfectly enjoyable on your own. In fact, a lot of people prefer it. However, there are tour options available if you want a local guide to join you. The benefit of embarking on a guided tour of the city walls is the local guides are super knowledgeable about their own city and its history. You can even combine it with an old town tour as well. Most of the tours do not include your entry to the city walls, so you’ll have to consider this in the price. You can find either a group or private tour, depending on your preference. Some tour options include:
Final Thoughts on How to Do the Dubrovnik City Walls Walk
The Dubrovnik city walls walk is hands down the best thing to do while visiting the city. It will likely reign number one as your favourite activity in Croatia. With that being said, there are some important things to know before visiting the city walls, such as where to start, how to buy tickets, when to go, and more. Equipped with all of the information and tips from this post, you are sure to have the best time possible walking the city walls of Dubrovnik.
Happy adventuring!
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Can tickets be purchased in advance on-line?
Yes they can! There is one official site (shop.citywallsdubrovnik) where you can purchase tickets directly. The rest of the sites offering tickets for online purchase will essentially send you a voucher that you will still need to redeem at the ticket office just inside Pile Gate. If you want to buy the Dubrovnik card which includes the Dubrovnik walls walk, then you’ll still have to visit the ticket office to redeem the specific ticket needed to enter the walls. We visited during peak season in July and when we arrived slightly after the walls opened, there were no lines at the ticket office at all. We were able to just go right up to clerk. Hope this helps! 🙂