The day that we walked the Walls of Dubrovnik last year was pretty much a perfect day. Not only is the Old Town of Dubrovnik a beautiful and magical place but as we visited during the off-season, it was quiet and we pretty much had the walls to ourselves – it was exactly how you imagine and hope everywhere you visit could be. This is not always the case for Dubrovnik though as during the busy summer months, there are large crowds of visitors every day especially on days when there are several large cruise ships docked. For this reason alone, we always visit places in Europe during the quieter months of the year – not only is it often a lot cheaper, it is also a lot saner and much more pleasant.

As it was so quiet on the day we walked the Walls of Dubrovnik, we were able to have a leisurely breakfast in our beautiful AirBNB overlooking the Old Town before making our way downhill towards the walls. If you are planning to visit Dubrovnik when it is busy and crowded, then it is highly recommended to walk the walls as soon as they open in the morning or late in the afternoon to not only avoid the crowds but to also avoid the heat during the middle of the day as there is little shade from the sun.

There are three entrances to the Walls of Dubrovnik – one by the Pile Gate at the end of Stradun (which most people seem to use), one by Ploce Gate and one by the Maritime Museum at Fort St John. The opening times change throughout the year depending on the season but the times are published online. On the day we visited the opening hours were 9:00am to 3:00pm and we arrived at 11:00am – due to how quiet it was there was no need for us to get there any earlier. Even though you can walk the 1940 metres of the walls in just under an hour, allow for longer (we spent two and half hours here) so you can take your time, enjoy the scenery and stop for as many photos as you want.

When we visited in March 2018, it cost us 150kn (£17.40 / US$22.90) each to visit the Walls of Dubrovnik but as of 2019, the price is now 200kn (£23.20 / US$30.60) per adult and 50kn (£5.80 / US$7.60) for those under the age of eighteen. You can pay for tickets with Croatian Kuna or by credit card – no other currency is accepted. Once you have your tickets, keep them handy as you will be asked to show them when you pass the other two entrance points along the walls. Your ticket is only valid for one entrance to the walls so you cannot walk a section, exit and come back later. Your ticket also includes entrance to Fort Lovrijenac.

We used the entrance just inside the Pile Gate which is located opposite the Onofrio Fountain next to the St Saviour Church. From here, you will have to climb eighty seven steps to reach the top of the wall. Once on the wall, you have to walk in a counter clockwise direction.

Once at the top of the wall from the Pile Gate entrance, one of the first views was along Stradun – the main street through the Old Town of Dubrovnik. It was one of the photos I had seen before our trip so I was happy to be able to get it for myself.

We stopped to look out across the water towards Fort Lovrijenac. This was the only part of the wall where we saw others as lots of people stop at this point to take photos. We waited a few minutes to let them get their photos and walk ahead and once again, we had the area to ourselves.

The walk along the walls alongside the bright blue Adriatic Sea was beautiful and peaceful – I really could not believe how quiet it was and I had to stop to take another photo every few metres! The sounds of the waves hitting the rocks below was incredibly relaxing and we could also see across the water to Lokrum Island which we hoped to visit the following day. There were also several small cafes open along the way if you wanted to stop and sit and get something to drink.

You soon get to look down across the harbour which as it was off-season was very quiet instead of the normal hustle and bustle and boats coming and going.

The last part of the wall is the steepest (there are a total of 1080 steps throughout the wall) but the views you get make the harder walk more than worthwhile – the sight of the orange-tiled roofs of the Old Town, the narrow streets, the churches, Lokrum Island and the Adriatic Sea was amazing.

The highest point along the walls is the Minceta Tower which I climbed just to see the view once again – it really was something I did not get bored of the entire time we were walking along the walls. Shortly afterwards we arrived back at the steps at the Pile Gate where we had started our walk two and a half hours previously – I loved that we were able to take our time and not have to rush while we were there. Despite all the walking and climbing, it really was a relaxing way to spend a few hours.

As for advice for walking the Walls of Dubrovnik:

There is little to no shade the entire way so make sure to cover up and use sunscreen.

Due to all the walking, make sure to wear comfortable shoes – your feet will thank you for it.

Take a bottle of water with you so you have something to drink and so you do not need to pay the inflated prices for drinks at the cafes along the wall.

Remember to bring your camera (and spare batteries) as the views really are incredible.

Enjoy your trip to Dubrovnik!

Since this blog post was written back in 2019, some of the information may no longer be accurate or up to date. Be sure to do your own research and check official websites for the latest details before making any of your own travel plans.

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