Dubrovnik , Croatia's number 1 tourist destination!

Dubrovnik is a city in Southern Croatia, set against the Adriatic Sea. The old town, nestled within its walls and built in the 16^th century, is particularly popular and a focal point of interest. The old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.

There are many well-preserved buildings to admire – from the baroque Church of St Blaise, built in 1715, to the Renaissance Sponza Palace (also known as Divona). In the 17^th century, the palace served as a meeting place for members of the Academy of the Learned, and now it houses the Dubrovnik city archives, considered among the richest in Europe.

Another important building in Dubrovnik’s old town is the Gothic Rector’s Palace, which is now a History Museum.

The pedestrian street Stradun or Placa, made of limestone, is lined with shops and restaurants.

However, one of the things you must do when visiting Dubrovnik is walk along the walls that encircle the old town. It’s a wonderful and unique experience that you won't forget.

For entry to Dubrovnik's museums, you can purchase a card that grants you access to all of them within a 7-day period. It costs 120 Kuna – 16.95 euros for adults and 25 Kuna – 3.39 euros for children.

http://dumus.hr/en/plan-a-visit/entrance-tickets/

Remember that Dubrovnik's high tourist season runs from March to November.

Everything you need to know about walking the Walls of Dubrovnik

Walking the walls of Dubrovnik is a dream for all photography enthusiasts, as well as for those who wish to visit locations where the famous and popular series Game of Thrones was filmed.

What you need to know before starting your walk:

• Bring a hat with you – there's strong sunshine all year round
• Prepare by wearing sunscreen and appropriate comfortable clothing
• This is one of the most popular activities for tourists in Dubrovnik, so start as early as you can before it gets overwhelmingly crowded
• Definitely wear comfortable trainers
• There are quite a few steep stairs you'll need to navigate – it's good to be prepared
• Limit the items you carry – a camera and a bottle of water are sufficient                  

There are two entrances from where you can start the journey. Both involve climbing steep stairs. Many are intimidated just by this initial experience and end up not continuing to complete this wonderful adventure.

Don't worry, just take one step at a time. Stop whenever you want, take a short break, and continue when you're ready. When you reach the top, take a few deep breaths. You made it!

The first entrance is inside the old town, opposite Onofrio's Fountain. Get your tickets, and then it's just a few stairs before your exploration begins.

The second entrance is on the other side of the main street Stradun, near Dubrovnik’s harbour. You can also buy your tickets there.

You can exit from either of the two entrances, but you cannot re-enter with the same ticket. Be ready to complete the route once you enter.

Start your walk on the walls of Dubrovnik

It is recommended to walk the walls in the morning. If possible, start at 08:00 when the walls open, and you'll be finished by 10:00. The reason, of course, is to avoid being exposed for two whole hours to Dubrovnik's intense sun, which can become scorching.

Also, during these hours, there won't be many people, and you'll be able to enjoy the unique scenery and capture it by taking as many photos as you wish undisturbed.

Throughout the day, crowds of tourists arrive from cruises, and the place can fill up very quickly. This becomes even more pronounced during the summer months.

The best time to photograph the walls

The most beautiful time of day to photograph the walls is at sunset, but it's likely you won't be able to catch it due to opening hours. If you wish and have the opportunity, you can visit the walls both in the morning and in the afternoon to ensure you take the photos you desire.

The morning sun beautifully illuminates the walls, and you'll get the best shots. The only problem is that in the morning, depending on the season you go, there might be heavy fog.

Points of interest during the walk

Enter through the Pile Gate and admire the stunning city views after a short climb. Continue your journey from the first section of the wall towards the fortress and reach the part of the walls that extend to the coast.

At the top of the stairs, you'll find Petra's Cafe. Enjoy your coffee while admiring the wonderful view towards Fort Lovrijenac. It's a lovely spot to enjoy your morning coffee.

Many recognise the fortress outside the walls as it is the location of King's Landing castle from Game of Thrones.

As you continue your journey towards the coast, there are wider sections that offer excellent views of both the city and the walls with the sea.

Eventually, you will reach the harbour side. From atop the walls, you'll have a splendid view of the harbour and the city, specifically the Cathedral.

Continuing on, you'll reach a checkpoint, the second entrance from which you can enter. They will ask to see your ticket there, so make sure you have it ready.

The second half of the walk offers views of the city centre and the mountainous side of the city. Here, there are many GOT filming locations. If you are a fan and wish to, you can take a guided tour that shows all the filming locations. The guides will share everything you want to know about the series.

You need about 2 hours to complete the entire circuit of the Walls of Dubrovnik

Of course, this timeframe includes the several stops you'll make for photos and a short 15-minute break at Petra's Cafe. When we did both an afternoon and morning walk, the afternoon, being our second time, took less time, but this depends on each individual's pace.

Of course, if you wish, you can end your walk at the ticket check at one of the two entrances and only do half the route. Remember, however, that if you want to re-enter, you will need to purchase a new ticket.

Lovrijenac Fortress

With your entrance ticket to the walls, you can also enter the fortress located outside the walls. To reach it, there are a few more stairs you need to climb.

 

Information on tickets and visiting hours for the Walls of Dubrovnik

Opening Hours

08:00-18:30 from 1^st April to 31^st May

08:00-19:30 from 1^st June to 31^st July

08:00-18:30 from 1^st August to 30^th September

08:00-17:30 from 1^st October to 31^st October

10:00-15:00 from 1^st November to 31^st March

Ticket Prices

Standard: 150 Croatian Kuna, i.e., 20.34 euros

Children and students: 50 Croatian Kuna, i.e., 6.78 euros

You can join one of the official guided tours in English organised from Dubrovnik. They run twice a day, starting at 09:00 and 17:45. They cost 190 Kuna, i.e., 25.76 euros, and do not include the cost of the entrance ticket.

https://www.wallsofdubrovnik.com/

On the page above, you can book your guided tour of the walls in advance.

There are other options for private tours you can join. The choices are numerous – you can go kayaking around the walls or choose to see the Game of Thrones filming locations as mentioned above.

See all your options here.

Flights to Dubrovnik

 

Access to Croatia and Dubrovnik can be by air or by car – especially if you are from Northern Greece.

The flight from Athens to Dubrovnik takes 1 hour and 50 minutes and is operated by Croatia's airline (Croatia Airlines).

Aegean Airlines also operates a direct flight from Athens to Dubrovnik.

The cost for flights from Athens to Dubrovnik starts from 200€ with Croatia Airlines – comparatively, with Aegean, the cost is higher.

 

Search for flights to Dubrovnik

 

Road access to Dubrovnik

 

The route to Dubrovnik and Croatia goes through Skopje (Skopje-Pristina-Mitrovica-Podgorica).

Another option is the route through Albania and Kakavia.

In this case, however, the road is quite worn and unsafe, and it will take you a considerable amount of time to cross it.

It's a good idea to have your passport with you to avoid any issues at the borders of the countries you will need to pass through.