Old Town: Stradun & City Walls

The city walls of Dubrovnik are among the best-preserved fortifications in Europe and are the absolute highlight of any visit. Stretching 1,940 meters, they encircle the entire Old Town, with towers, bastions, and fortresses — some up to 25 meters high and 6 meters thick.

The Tour

The wall tour leads all the way around the Old Town and takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on pace and photo stops. You start either at the Pile Gate (west entrance, at the start of the Stradun) or at the Ploče Gate (east entrance). The path leads over stairs, narrow passages, and viewing platforms — always alternating between views of the Old Town roofs (red tiles, church towers, hidden gardens) and the Adriatic Sea (cliffs, Lokrum, the open sea).

• West Side: View of Fort Lovrijenac and the harbor. Here you see the most powerful part of the wall — the Bokar Fortress with its round towers.
• North Side: View of Mount Srđ and the Minceta Fortress, the highest point of the wall. From here, you overlook the entire city.
• East Side: View of the old harbor, Lokrum Island, and the Revelin Fortress. The most atmospheric section at sunset.
• South Side: Directly above the sea — cliffs, waves, and the Buža Bars far below you. Spectacular photo opportunities.

The Stradun (Placa)

The Stradun (also called Placa) is Dubrovnik's main street and lifeline — a 300-meter long, straight marble promenade connecting the Pile Gate in the west with the Ploče Gate in the east. The smoothly polished limestone shines underfoot like a mirror. On both sides: baroque facades in warm ochre, cafes, ice cream parlors, and souvenir shops. The Stradun was created after the earthquake of 1667 that destroyed the medieval city — the reconstruction in baroque style explains the uniform, elegant architecture.

Onofrio Fountain

At the western end of the Stradun stands the Great Onofrio Fountain (1438) — a massive, 16-sided domed fountain that once brought water from a source 12 km away into the city. A technical masterpiece of the Middle Ages. The 16 mascarons (face reliefs) still spout fresh, drinkable water — fill up your bottle!

Luza Square

At the eastern end of the Stradun, the Luza Square opens up — the social center of the Old Town. Here stand:

• Sponza Palace (1516): The only palace that survived the earthquake of 1667 — a mix of Gothic and Renaissance. Today, it houses the city archive with a moving exhibition about the Croatian War of 1991–92.
• Orlando's Column: The statue of the knight Roland (1418) is Dubrovnik's symbol of freedom. Orlando's forearm served as the official unit of length of the Republic of Ragusa (51.2 cm, the "Dubrovnik ell").
• Clock Tower: Since 1444, the bell has been striking the hours — the green bronze figures (Zelenci) strike the hammer.
• Church of St. Blaise: The baroque church (1715) is dedicated to Dubrovnik's patron saint. The silver statue of St. Blaise holds a model of the city before the earthquake — the only testimony of how Dubrovnik looked before 1667.

Fort Lovrijenac — Dubrovnik's Gibraltar

The Fortress Lovrijenac sits atop a 37-meter-high rock west of the Old Town and is Dubrovnik's most impressive fortification. The walls facing the sea are up to 12 meters thick — only 60 cm inward, so a rebellious commander couldn't turn the fortress against his own city. From the battlements, you have the best view of the Old Town harbor and the city walls. In summer, the Hamlet performances of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival take place here — theater in a fortress above the sea, under the stars.

Minceta Tower

The mighty Minceta Tower at the northwest corner of the city wall is the highest point of the fortification and Dubrovnik's landmark. The round tower (1461, designed by Michelozzo and Juraj Dalmatinac) offers a 360° panoramic view over the Old Town and Mount Srđ. Game of Thrones fans recognize it as the House of the Undying.

Game of Thrones — Filming Locations

Dubrovnik was the main filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones (from season 2). The main filming locations:

• Fort Lovrijenac: The Red Keep — seat of the Iron Throne. Cersei and Littlefinger philosophized about power here.
• Jesuit Staircase (Baroque Staircase): Cersei's infamous Walk of Shame led down these stairs — from the Jesuit Church to Gundulićeva Square.
• City Walls: Scenes of the Battle of Blackwater and countless panoramic shots of King's Landing.
• Rector's Palace: The palace of the spice merchant in Qarth.
• Ethnographic Museum (Rupe): Littlefinger's brothel.
• Lokrum Island: The gardens of Qarth and the reception at Xaro Xhoan Daxos.
• Trsteno Arboretum: The gardens of Highgarden — 20 km north, with a 500-year-old plane tree.

Guided GoT tours last 2–3 hours and cost 25–40€. Many guides wear costumes and show scene comparisons on tablets. Even without a tour, the locations are easy to find — but the background stories make the difference.

Sea Kayaking Around the City Walls

Seeing the city walls from the water is a completely different experience than walking on the wall. Sea kayaking tours usually start at Banje Beach (east of the Old Town) and lead along the south wall, past cliffs and caves, with a swimming stop at Betina Cave or on Lokrum Island. The most popular tour: the Sunset Tour (3 hours, 40–55€), which paddles along the walls in the golden evening light.

Lokrum Island

The Lokrum Island is only 600 meters from the Old Town and can be reached in 10 minutes by ferry (departure from the old harbor, every 30 min., 15€ round trip). Lokrum is a nature reserve: no hotels, no cars, no buildings — just nature, history, and crystal-clear water.

• Botanical Garden: Exotic plants from around the world, laid out by Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg (later Emperor of Mexico) in the 19th century. Peacocks roam freely.
• Mrtvo More (Dead Sea): A small, natural salt lake in the interior of the island — the water is warmer than the sea and has a higher salt content. Perfect for swimming.
• Rock Bathing Spots: The south side of the island offers spectacular rock platforms for sunbathing and swimming in crystal-clear water. Some areas are nudist.
• Game of Thrones: In the Benedictine monastery stands a replica of the Iron Throne — a must for fan selfies. The gardens served as a filming location for Qarth.
• Rabbits: The island is full of tame rabbits — descendants of a population brought by Maximilian. Especially loved by children.

Cliff Bars: Buža I & Buža II

Dubrovnik's legendary cliff bars are set into the rocks of the south wall — without a roof, without a sign, without pomp. Just rocks, cocktails, and the view of the open sea.

• Buža II (Café Buža): The more famous of the two — through a hole in the city wall (with the sign "Cold Drinks"), you reach the rock terrace. Beer benches on cliffs, cocktails (8–15€), cliff jumpers, sunset. No reservation system — just come and find a spot.
• Buža I: A bit more hidden, a bit quieter, similarly spectacular. Fewer tourists, more local crowd.

From both bars, you can jump directly into the sea — the cliffs are 3–10 meters high. Warning: Only jump where others jump — the underwater rocks are not safe everywhere.

The Cable Car

The Dubrovnik Cable Car takes you in 4 minutes from the lower station above the Old Town (Ploče side) to the summit of Mount Srđ (412 m). The ride itself is spectacular — through the glass walls of the cabin, you see the Old Town, the harbor, and the Elaphite Islands getting smaller and smaller.

On the Summit

From the summit of Srđ, you have the best panoramic view of Dubrovnik — the entire Old Town lies at your feet, the sea stretches to the horizon, and on clear days you can see as far as Montenegro and the Italian coast. On the summit, you will find:

• Panorama Restaurant: Cocktails and food with perhaps the best view of the Adriatic. Pricey (cocktail 15€, main course 20–35€), but the setting is unique.
• Fort Imperial: The Napoleonic fortress (1806) houses a museum about the Croatian War — Dubrovnik was besieged and shelled by Serbian-Montenegrin troops in 1991–92. The exhibition is moving and explains how the city was destroyed and painstakingly rebuilt. Admission: 5€.
• Hiking Trails: From the summit, hiking trails lead to Bosanka (1.5h) and along the mountain ridge. Spectacular views, little frequented.