Dubrovnik Wall Walk: A Photo Essay

Written by Joelle & Ryan from Wanderers Compass

Exploring this ancient Croatian wonder through the camera’s eye

“We drove in and got to see the Old Town from above which was just beautiful, and we just kept getting amazed at every turn – The water, the beaches, the city, it is all so stunning!”
cara mcleay

In southern Croatia, Dubrovnik’s great-walled old city is a series of defensive stone walls perched above the sapphire crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. The Wall dates back to the Middle Ages and is one of the largest in Europe. The ancient city seems almost surreal and frozen in time, something out of a fantasy novel. Built on a rocky cliff, the city hangs over the water on one side and opens to a port on its eastern end. The massive Wall remains intact and was built between the 13th and 16th centuries and continues to protect the ancient city of Dubrovnik. It is difficult to grasp the scale of this magnificent walled city until you see it in person.

In 1979, the ancient city of Dubrovnik was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a living city with many residents residing within the city walls. It felt like a community during our visit. Young children in the early evening ride their bikes and play in the streets. Families take strolls, and neighbors catch up on their day. People in the barbershop are getting a trim, and women walk by with their purchases from the local market. This is a community and one of great strength and resilience. You are a guest in their home; please be a good and respectful one as you explore beautiful Dubrovnik.

The Specs

The defensive stone walls of Dubrovnik run an uninterrupted 6360 feet long, reach a maximum height of 82 feet, and are up to 20 feet thick. The Wall includes 16 towers, three fortresses, six bastions, two corner fortifications, three bulwarks with rows of turrets, three moats, two flank fortresses, one breakwater, and two draw bridges. The most recognized elements are to the north of the Minceta Tower and the east side of the city port Revelin Fortress. The leading Wall that faces the sea stretches from St. John’s Fortress in the south to Fort Bokar in the west.

There are four city gates, two that lead to the harbor and two (with drawbridges) that lead to the ma land. The moat that ran around the outside section of the city walls was armed with more than 120 cannons, providing Dubrovnik with impressive defense capabilities. The walls are well built; the devastating earthquake of 1667 left the Wall virtually unscathed. Dubrovnik has gone through many restorations over all the years and battles they have seen. Walking along these walls, gazing down on the town, it is hard to fathom it has existed for over 900 years and so many battles.

The Wall of Dubrovnik in modern times

These walls continued to protect this city in modern times as well. The most recent siege on Dubrovnik occurred in 1991–1992 when the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) attacked the town. The siege ended in mid-1992, but over 50% of the city was damaged, some severely, during the war. The work to restore this ancient city has been a long road since the siege and continues to this day. Most of the buildings have been restored to their former appearance, though just outside the walls, you can still see visible damage from the attacks. The patchwork of old and new in the roof tiles is also a tell-tale sign. Look closely, and you will see the scars left by bullets and shrapnel, reminders of the conflict. There are many plaques of remembrance on houses in many of the old town’s streets as a reminder.

Are you considering a trip to Croatia? Check out our blog post on beautiful Croatia.

The Photo Essay

Our focus here is walking the Dubrovnik Wall. We started the Wall walk at Pile Gate and completed a full circle exiting from Pile Gate. All photos were taken from the Wall except the first one, which is the Piles Gate entrance. It took us two and a half hours to complete a full tour; we constantly stopped to take photos and to enjoy the view. We did stop for a cold drink by a cafe along the seaside.

Further details on opening hours, cost, tips on how to make the most of your visit, and where to stay will follow the photos.

We will have a photo gallery of the city’s interior and exterior at the end of the post.

Dubrovnik Wall Entry Points

There are three ways to enter the walls. The most popular is Pile Gate, on the northwest side, in the busiest part of Old Town. That is where we entered. We suggest entering at either Ploce Gate or St John’s Fortress during busy times of the year.

Buy tickets online to avoid standing in long queues. Opening hours vary, but in most cases, it is 8 am to 6:30 pm; check with the site for current hours before your visit. The Dubrovnik Wall is only closed once a year on Christmas Day. There is a Code of Conduct on its website.

Entry to the Wall also includes visiting the Lovrijenac Fortress on the same day.

Cost for Entry as of April 2023

35 EUR for Adults

15 EUR for Children Under 18

TIPS for the Dubrovnik Wall

Buy tickets online, as the lines in peak seasons can get very long.
Bring water even in the cooler months to avoid dehydration. There are few places to buy water along the way, so come prepared. This walk has many steps; if sunny, you will be exposed to the full sun for the whole visit.
Wear comfortable and sturdy shoes. Surfaces are always even, and steps are everywhere. You are walking on stone; you may regret that choice if you wear poor footwear.
Go early in the morning to avoid the heat and the worst crowds.
The Wall walk requires what some would call a moderate level of fitness.
Plan the visit to be about 2 hours. Between taking many photos, stopping by a cafe for a cold brew, and simply taking it all in, we were there for 2 1/2 hours.
Lots of tours of offered in Dubrovnik for the city and the Wall. Doing the Wall at our own pace was fantastic, so we would not choose a tour. The war tour would be remarkable, usually within the city, and something we wish we had made time for.
Go in the off-season if you can. We went in early November, and the weather was perfect.
Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. There is no shade along the walls.
Check the cruise ship schedule, and avoid the Wall on days large ships dump thousands of people into Dubrovnik.
Sadly the Dubrovnik Wall is not wheelchair accessible.

Where is Dubrovnik, Croatia?

Dubrovnik is a port town in southeastern Croatia near the border of Montenegro. Situated on the Adriatic Sea, it is usually regarded as the most picturesque city on the Dalmatian coast and is referred to as the “Pearl of the Adriatic.”

The city is 153 miles from Split and takes about 3 hours to drive as there is a country border to cross. The capital city of Zagreb is a 6 1/2 hour drive. The drive from Dubrovnik to the border of Montenegro is 45 minutes. We did a day visit to Montenegro, and it was an easy trip with several sites to see along the way.

Map

Dubrovnik-Neretva

When to visit the Dubrovnik Wall

There is never a wrong time to visit Dubrovnik. It can get hot in summer, but other seasons tend to be mild. The Dubrovnik Walls are open year-round except for Christmas Day. Hours can vary based on the season. Our visit was in early November. The temps were low 70s and very sunny. We got warm during the walk and got a nice tan. As you will note from the pictures, we had the Wall to ourselves for practical purposes. That will not be the norm, be prepared for many people if you are there during peak season or when a cruise ship is in town.

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Imperial Hilton immediately outside the city wall on the north side. It was perfect in every way, and it helped to have a gorgeous view of the walled city from our balcony. There are many options for accommodations within the ancient city and in the greater Dubrovnik area. Keep in mind there are no cars allowed within the city walls. If you have luggage, that could become quite a challenge based on the location of the accommodation.

Check out the links below for what may work best for you. Do not forget to take the time to study current reviews.

Booking.com

Expedia

Final Thoughts

Dubrovnik’s stunning beauty draws you in, and Dubrovnik’s painful history, complexness, and contrarieties make you pause. The war memories are still raw, and the scars are still healing in the stone and its residents’ eyes. The strength of these brave and resilient people leaves you in awe. You sense the weight from the past but also undeniably see their incredible faith in God and hope for the future.

Croatia was a country we never expected to adore so much. If you are lucky enough to visit this incredible country and get to know its lovely people make sure to plan a visit to the Dubrovnik Wall. Make sure to look beyond the obvious beauty of this enchanting city and open your heart to the poignant story the walls and people have to tell. It will enhance your experience in ways you could never imagine and stay with you long after you leave.

Check out the official website for the Dubrovnik Wall for more information.

Photo Gallery of Old Dubrovnik City Interior and Exterior Walls

Want to learn about Wanderers Compass?

Click Here

Our Top Recommended Travel Products and Resources

Squaremouth.com

Our favorite travel insurance site!

If you book a trip, don’t forget to get travel insurance within 14 days of your first booking. We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured. Not just for the little stuff but the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Over the years, we have used many sites but have now found our go-to place. Squaremouth.com does a fantastic job; it has a user-friendly interface, uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers, and most policies cover COVID-19 medical issues and cancellations. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems with your policy.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

MedjetAssist

Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. They cover COVID-related transport as well.

Medjet carries its own policies. The policy is only for transport and no other aspects of travel insurance. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74 and younger. Prices are not based on age below that.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

Expedia.com

Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours

Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. Whether planning a family vacation, booking for business, or organizing the trip of a lifetime, they are a fantastic resource. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia.

Booking.com

Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes.

We always check Expedia and Booking.com to verify prices. At times, one is sold out of rooms while another at the same place has rooms. As well we often find some European hotels, especially smaller ones, on Booking.com but not on Expedia. It could be they are a Europe-based company. Try both before booking accommodations.

Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO)

Are you traveling with a family or having an extended stay at your destination?

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, VRBO connects homeowners with families and vacationers looking for something more than a hotel for their trip. The VRBO community offers families or groups various rental property types such as condos, cabins, lake rentals, beach houses, etc.

VRBO is under the Expedia group ownership now, which many were worried about, but it hasn’t panned out to be a concern. It is a massive network with access to all lodging forms should issues arise. Joelle has used VRBO for many years with her family with no problems.

Viator

As the leading marketplace for travel experiences, Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier.

With industry-leading flexibility and last-minute availability, it’s never too late to make any day extraordinary. This one site has it all and has experiences throughout the world. We use them often during our travels, especially for food tours. We especially take the time to read the reviews provided.

Amazon.com

An excellent source for travel essentials and guides

We now have our own Amazon Storefront with all our favorite travel accessories and gear in one place. Check out our travel store at the link below.

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. On behalf of their customers, teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.

We buy most of our travel books, accessories, and luggage from Amazon. We have ordered up to two days before travel and get what we need.

Welcome Pick-ups
(Airport and sightseeing service)

A global leader in ground transportation for travelers. They help hundreds of companies worldwide enhance their services and boost their revenue with our 5-star ride experiences and hassle-free automation.

Founded in 2015 in Athens, Greece, Welcome Pick-ups goes above and beyond the standard transfer service as the first company to deliver a holistic, in-destination travel experience. From the moment a traveler arrives at a new destination until they return home, Welcome accommodates all their travel needs (transfers, travel products, things to do, information) as the easiest, friendliest, and most personalized solution.

PhotoAiD

Do you feel like you are wasting time visiting an on-site photographer only to be embarrassed by the photo? Would you like control of the final product? Get the perfect VISA or passport photo online with PhotoAID.

When traveling, you often need to apply for official documents such as a passport, ID, and different kinds of licenses or cards. Those applications require a picture that must meet specific conditions to be accepted, depending on the country. Now, it is possible to take this picture at home without the help of a professional photographer. PhotoAiD allows you to take the perfect biometric photo that will be approved by you without leaving your home.

This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!