Dubrovnik

★★★ City Wall (Gradske Zidine)

The absolute highlight. 1,940 meters of medieval fortification, up to 25m high and 6m thick, with 5 towers and 2 fortresses. The walk takes 1.5–2 hours and offers spectacular views over the Old Town and the Adriatic. The wall was built between the 13th and 17th centuries and even withstood the great earthquake of 1667.

35€ (children 15€). April–Oct: 8–19:30 hrs, Nov–March: 9–15 hrs. Access: Pile Gate (West), Ploče Gate (East), near Fort St. Ivan.

★★★ Stradun (Placa)

The 300m long main street made of polished limestone is Dubrovnik's living room. Baroque facades (uniformly rebuilt after the earthquake of 1667), the Great and Small Onofrio Fountain at the ends, and in the evening all of Dubrovnik strolls up and down here.

★★★ Cable Car to Srđ

In 4 minutes to 412m altitude. The panoramic view over the Old Town, the coast, and the Elaphite Islands is Dubrovnik's most beautiful photo motif. At the top: Restaurant Panorama, Fort Imperial (War Museum), hiking trails.

Round trip: 27€. Summer: 9–24 hrs (midnight!). TIP: Go up for sunset.

★★ Rector's Palace (Knežev Dvor)

Gothic-Renaissance palace, once the seat of the government of the Republic of Ragusa. Today: City Museum with historical collections. The courtyard with the staircase is an architectural highlight.

12€. Daily 9–18 hrs (summer), 9–16 hrs (winter).

★★ Cathedral (Velika Gospa)

Baroque cathedral on the ruins of a Romanesque church (after the earthquake of 1667). Treasury with relics, allegedly a piece of the cross of Christ and the head of St. Blaise (patron saint of the city).

Cathedral free. Treasury: 5€.

★★ Lovrijenac Fortress

The "Croatian Gibraltar" on a 37m high rock west of the Old Town, independent of the city wall. GoT fans know it as the Red Keep. Theater performances in summer.

Included in the city wall ticket. Otherwise 7€.

★★ Lokrum Island

15 minutes by boat: uninhabited island with a botanical garden, the Game of Thrones museum (Iron Throne!), Fort Royal (Napoleonic, panoramic view), a small saltwater lake (Mrtvo More), and nudist beaches. Peacocks roam freely.

Boat from Old Town Harbor: 18€ return (every 30 min). No overnight stays possible (legend says a curse befalls those who sleep here).

★ Synagogue

One of the oldest still active synagogues in Europe (1408). Tiny, but historically significant.

★ War Photo Limited

Impressive (and depressing) war photography from the Croatian War and other conflicts. Important for understanding recent history.

8€. May–Sept: 10–22 hrs.

Duration: 3–4 hours (including city wall) | Best Time: 8 am (before the cruise ships!)

1. Pile Gate (Start)
Main entrance to the Old Town from the west. Drawbridge, Roland statue, view of Fort Lovrijenac.

2. Great Onofrio Fountain
Right behind the gate. 16-sided fountain from 1438. Locals fill their water bottles here.

3. City Wall (counterclockwise)
Climb up at Pile Gate. In the morning, the sun is at your back—better for photos. The north section with a view of the Old Town from above is the absolute highlight.

4. Stradun
After the city wall, stroll along the main street. Admire the architecture, enjoy the flow of people.

5. Rector's Palace
Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece, courtyard.

6. Cathedral & Treasury
If open, visit the treasury.

7. Gunduličeva Poljana (Market)
The morning market with fruits, vegetables, lavender. Perfect for a snack.

8. Buža Bar (Cliff Bar)
Through an inconspicuous door in the city wall (sign: "Cold Drinks with the Most Beautiful View") you reach rock terraces with a view of the open sea. Cocktails, cliff diving, surreal.

9. Sv. Ignacije Church
Baroque Jesuit church with the stairs that served as the Walk of Shame location in GoT.

10. Ploče Gate (End) or Boat to Lokrum
Eastern exit. From here ferry to Lokrum or back through the Old Town.

Dubrovnik was King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. Almost every corner of the Old Town appears in the series:

• Lovrijenac Fortress: The Red Keep
• Fort Bokar: Blackwater Bay
• City Wall (West part): King Joffrey's Walk
• Stairs to the Jesuit Church (Sv. Ignacije): Cersei's Walk of Shame
• Ethnographic Museum (Rupe): Littlefinger's Brothel
• Minčeta Tower: House of the Undying
• Trsteno Arboretum (15 km north): The Tyrell Gardens
• Lokrum Island: Qarth Garden + Iron Throne in the museum

Guided GoT Tours: From 25€, last 2–3 hours. Guides in costume share background stories and show comparison pictures. Best booked via GetYourGuide or Viator.

⚠️ Dubrovnik's Old Town is expensive—and not always good. The best restaurants are often slightly off the main tourist paths.

€ Budget

Buffet Škola · Antuninska 1 — Tiny konoba in a side alley. Squid burger, grilled fish, sandwich for 6–10€. Always a line, but quick.

Pizzeria Tabasco · Cvijete Zuzorić 2 — Outside the walls at Ploče. Huge pizzas, fair prices, local hangout.

€€ Mid-range

Konoba Ribar · Damjana Jude 1 — Fresh fish, away from the Stradun tourist traps. Squid risotto, grilled sea bream. 15–25€.

Pantarul · Ul. Kralja Tomislava 1, Lapad — 3 km from the Old Town, but one of the best restaurants in the city. Modern Croatian cuisine, local ingredients. Reservation! 18–30€.

Konoba Dalmatino · Ul. Miha Pracata 6 — In the middle of the Old Town, yet authentic. Black risotto, peka, pršut. 12–22€.

€€€ Upscale

Restaurant 360° · Sv. Dominika bb — Fine dining ON the city wall. Michelin star candidate, tasting menu from 90€. Sunset view of the Old Harbor. Reservation weeks in advance.

Nautika · Brsalje 3 — Right at the Pile Gate with a view of Fort Lovrijenac. Haute cuisine, seafood. 40–70€. For special occasions.

Bars

Buža Bar · Crijevićeva — THE cliff bar classic. Hole in the city wall, rock terraces over the sea, cocktails. Sunset here = magic.

Buža Bar II · Nastavak — The second version, slightly larger and less crowded.

D'Vino Wine Bar · Palmotićeva 4a — 60+ Croatian wines by the glass, cool cellar atmosphere.

€ Budget

Hostel Angelina Old Town · Svetog Josipa 3 — Best hostel in the Old Town, sensational rooftop terrace with views of the walls. Dorm from 25€.

€€ Mid-range

Apartments Placa · Nalješkovićeva 3 — Excellent location in the Old Town. Apartment with kitchen from 90€.

Hotel Lero · Iva Vojnovića 14, Lapad — Solid 4★ hotel outside. Pool, bus to the Old Town (10 min.). From 80€.

€€€ Upscale

Hotel Stari Grad · Ul. od Sigurate 4 — Boutique hotel in a 16th-century palace. In the heart of the Old Town, rooftop terrace. From 180€.

Hotel Excelsior · Frana Supila 12 — 5★ directly on the coast with views of the Old Town. Pool, spa, private beach. From 300€.

Getting There and Away

• Airport (DBV): 20 km south. Atlas shuttle bus (10€, 30 min), taxi 30–35€.
• Bus: Split 4–5h (12–20€), Zagreb 8–10h (25–40€), Mostar/Bosnia 3h (15€).
• Ferry: Jadrolinija/Krilo to Korčula, Mljet, Hvar, Elaphites.
• Montenegro: Kotor only 2h by bus (from 15€). Worthwhile day trip!

Cruise Ship Calendar

Check cruisemapper.com/port/dubrovnik—on days with 3+ ships, the Old Town is unbearably crowded. Since 2019, Dubrovnik limits to max. 4,000 cruise passengers at a time in the Old Town (monitored by camera).