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Sarah and I visited Dubrovnik, Croatia, during our seven-night Royal Clipper sailing through the Adriatic, and walking the Dubrovnik City Walls turned out to be one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip. Interestingly, several people on our cruise told us we should skip the walls because they were expensive, crowded, and probably not worth paying to walk.
I’m very glad we didn’t listen to them!
We spent most of the afternoon exploring Dubrovnik, including taking a Game of Thrones walking tour, and then headed up to the city walls in the early evening. By then, some of the daytime crowds had started thinning, the temperature was much more comfortable, and the evening light over Dubrovnik’s famous terracotta rooftops and the Adriatic Sea was absolutely incredible.
If you are wondering whether walking the Dubrovnik City Walls is worth it, my answer is an easy yes. But when you go can make a huge difference in your experience!
Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls
We visited Dubrovnik in early August, which is one of the busiest and hottest times of the year. Because of that, we knew we didn’t want to walk the city walls in the middle of the day. Instead, we spent the afternoon on our Game of Thrones tour and made our way to the Pile Gate entrance to the walls at around 6 PM.
Although Dubrovnik itself had been very busy that day, we didn’t have to wait in a long line to enter the walls. We had already purchased our Dubrovnik Pass online, so we simply showed our Dubrovnik Pass at the entrance and headed up the stairs.
And yes, there are a lot of stairs. But once we reached the top, it was immediately obvious why walking the walls is one of the most popular things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia!
From above, you get an entirely different perspective of the Old Town. You can look down over the narrow streets and orange rooftops on one side while the Adriatic Sea stretches out on the other. We could even see the beautiful Royal Clipper anchored in the distance.
As we walked the Dubrovnik walls, we had views of the harbor, surrounding forts, rocky coastline, and seemingly endless layers of Dubrovnik rooftops.
We also stopped for about 45 minutes at Caffe Bar Sv. Petar, one of the small cafes located directly along the wall. We ordered beers, sat overlooking the city, and watched the evening light turn Dubrovnik shades of orange and gold.
It was one of those travel moments you don’t really plan for but end up remembering most.
From our table, we watched the crowds at Buza bar gathering, watching the brave folks jump and flip off the rocky shoreline, while others floated and relaxed in the Adriatic Sea.
By the time we finished our walk along the Dubrovnik city walls, the sun had set over the coastline. After hearing earlier that day that we should skip the walls altogether, we both agreed that walking them was one of the highlights of our visit to Dubrovnik.
And, at the end, we were literally almost the only people on them!
What to Know Before Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls
There are a few things I wish everyone knew before walking the Dubrovnik City Walls, especially if you are visiting during the busy summer travel season.
The time of day matters. The heat matters. Cruise ship traffic can matter. And while the walk isn’t technically difficult, the stairs and sun can make it more strenuous than you might expect.
Here are the biggest things we learned from our experience walking the Dubrovnik city walls in August!
Is It Worth Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls?
Absolutely. The Dubrovnik City Walls give you some of the best views in the city, and there really isn’t another experience quite like seeing Dubrovnik from above.
Is it a touristy thing to do? Absolutely, but we are tourists, and I imagine you are, too! There is a reason it’s so popular!
The walls completely surround the Old Town of Dubrovnik and provide elevated views of Dubrovnik’s historic buildings, famous terracotta roofs, forts, coastline, harbor, and Adriatic Sea.
That said, I can understand why some people come away with a different opinion. If we had walked the walls at 1 PM on a hot August day while navigating huge crowds, we probably would have enjoyed the experience considerably less.
If your schedule allows, I recommend avoiding the hottest and busiest part of the day!
What Is the Best Time to Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls?
For us, the early evening was ideal, although another good option would be to go first thing in the morning, shortly after the Dubrovnik city walls open, which is at 8:00 AM April through October and 9:00 AM November through March. Both options can help you avoid some of the intense midday heat and the largest daytime crowds.
The Dubrovnik stone walls are very exposed to the sun, and there are only a limited number of places to find shade along the route. We entered around 6 PM during our early August visit and spent roughly two hours on the walls, including our stop for sunset drinks.
The evening light was beautiful, and seeing Dubrovnik as the sun started to set was easily one of my favorite parts of the experience.
Keep in mind that opening and closing times for the Dubrovnik City Walls change throughout the year. Rather than planning around a specific time you see online months in advance, I recommend checking the official City Walls website shortly before your trip for the current schedule.
This is very important! We didn’t even think to pre-check the hours for the walls and almost went out to eat after our Game of Thrones tour. We would have been too late to enter the walls if we had done this. So, we were glad we had the foresight to check the actual hours of the Dubrovnik walls that evening.
Dubrovnik Walls Hours 2026
It can be a little confusing to find the current Dubrovnik City Walls hours, but you can click here and look for the hours on the right side of the image, as shown in the photo below.
That said, I would actually go up to the gate on the day I am visiting and ask just to be 100% sure!
Why? Well example, the screenshot below says the walls are open until 7:30 PM, and it’s early September. However, based on the seasonal hours you’ll see in the next section, it should close at 6:30 PM.
You can also click here to see the seasonal hours, which are difficult to read. So, I wrote it out below as well. But opening hours can change, so again, go in person and ask as soon as you get to Old Town Dubrovnik to be safe. If I remember correctly, there was a sign at the gate that said the hours for that day. Or, you can ask the attendant.
- Jan 1 – Mar 31: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Apr 1 – Apr 30: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- May 1 – May 31: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- June 1 – Aug 5: 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
- Aug 6 – Aug 31: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Sept 1 – Sept 14: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sept 15 – Sept 30: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Oct 1 – Oct 14: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Oct 15 – Oct 25: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Oct 26 – Oct 31: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Nov 1 – Dec 31: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Dubrovnik Pass website also has a great chart showing expected crowd levels for each hour of the day, including the number of real-time visitors!
Check the Dubrovnik Cruise Ship Schedule
Here is another Dubrovnik tip to help you decide when to walk the Dubrovnik City Walls: check the cruise ship schedule.
Dubrovnik is a major Mediterranean cruise destination, and thousands of additional visitors can arrive in the city when large ships are in port. Cruise Mapper is a great way to check cruise ship arrivals and departures by day, which can give you an idea of how much cruise traffic is expected during your visit.
Click here to check Dubrovnik Cruise Ship Schedules!
It doesn’t mean the city will automatically be empty on days with fewer ships, but it can be a useful tool when deciding which day or time to visit the Dubrovnik Old Town walls.
How Much Does It Cost to Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls?
When we visited Dubrovnik in August 2026, adult admission to the Dubrovnik City Walls was €40. Ticket prices can change, particularly by season, so I recommend checking the official website for current pricing before your visit. During the winter months, tickets for the Dubrovnik City Walls are often discounted to around €20 for adults.
One thing worth comparing is the standalone City Walls ticket with the 24-hour Dubrovnik Pass. Depending on what else you plan to see while you’re in the city, the Dubrovnik Pass may offer better value, as it is the same price and includes admission to the city walls, along with additional Dubrovnik attractions.
We bought the Dubrovnik Pass, and it was very easy to use. In fact, I even noticed QR codes placed around the city, allowing you to easily scan them and buy your pass on the go! Note that the Dubrovnik Pass includes one admission to each activity, not unlimited access.
Click here to purchase your Dubrovnik Pass!
The tickets also include access to Fort Lovrijenac, which Game of Thrones fans will immediately recognize as one of the filming locations used for the Red Keep. If you are planning to visit multiple attractions, take a minute to compare your options before purchasing.
And many of the walking tours, including the 2-hour Game of Thrones tour we took, do not include tickets to the fort, museum, or walls. So, read the description and fine print on those, as you will often need to buy a pass or tickets to go with them.
Where Do You Enter the Dubrovnik City Walls?
There are three main entrances to the Dubrovnik City Walls. We used the Pile Gate entrance because it was convenient based on where we were coming from after our Game of Thrones tour.
Despite visiting during peak summer season, we didn’t have to wait in a significant line when we arrived in the early evening.
Pile Gate
Pile Gate is the main and most popular entrance to the Dubrovnik City Walls. It is located near the Church of Saint Saviour and the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, and this is where we entered.
Ploče Gate
The Ploče Gate entrance is located on the eastern side of Dubrovnik’s Old Town near St. Luke’s Fort.
St. John Fortress
The third entrance is located near St. John Fortress, Dubrovnik’s Old Harbor, and the Maritime Museum. This is actually where we exited the Dubrovnik walls, as they were closing by the time we got there.
How Long Does It Take to Walk the Dubrovnik City Walls?
Plan on approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the full Dubrovnik City Walls loop. The route is roughly 1.2 miles, or just under 2 kilometers, but how long it actually takes depends largely on your pace, the crowds, and how often you stop.
And you will probably stop a lot!
There are fantastic photo opportunities around practically every corner. We also stopped for a couple of cold beers, so our experience took closer to two hours. If you enjoy photography, I would give yourself plenty of time rather than rushing around the walls.
How Difficult Is Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls?
I would describe walking the Dubrovnik City Walls as moderately challenging rather than difficult. The distance itself isn’t particularly long, but there are a lot of stairs. The full walls contain more than 1,000 steps, although they are spread throughout the route rather than being one continuous climb.
When we entered at Pile Gate, we first had to climb a fairly long set of stairs to reach the top of the wall. After that, the route alternated between relatively flat stretches and additional climbs and descents.
For us, the bigger issue was the summer heat. Much of the route is completely exposed to the sun, and the stone can make an already hot Dubrovnik afternoon feel even hotter.
If you are walking the walls during the warmer months, bring water, apply sunscreen, and wear comfortable walking shoes. This is definitely not the place for uncomfortable shoes simply because they look cute in photos.
Are There Cafes and Bathrooms on the Dubrovnik City Walls?
Yes. There are several places along the walls where you can stop for a cold drink, ice cream, or something to eat.
We stopped at Caffe Bar Sv. Petar and had a beer while watching the evening light over Dubrovnik. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of our entire walk. The cafe also had a restroom available for customers, which was helpful to know considering we spent around two hours on the walls.
I wouldn’t plan your entire walk around a particular cafe being open, since hours can change, but knowing there are places to stop along the way definitely makes the experience more enjoyable.
What Should You Bring When Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls?
You don’t need much, but there are a few things I would absolutely bring. And this is what you should already have with you if you are out and about exploring Dubrovnik.
Water
Make sure to bring water, especially during the summer. You can buy drinks along the route, but I would still start the walk with water.
Sunscreen
Much of the Dubrovnik City Walls route is exposed to direct sunlight, so sunscreen is important even if you plan to walk early or late in the day.
Comfortable Walking Shoes
Between the stone surfaces, stairs, and uneven sections, good walking shoes make a difference. The weathered stone can be slippery in parts, and you want a shoe with good grip.
A Hat or Sunglasses
There isn’t much shade along much of the route, especially during the middle of the day.
Your Camera or Phone
The views are spectacular, and you are going to want a lot of photos. These days iPhone cameras are really all you need! We often carry our larger camera and sometimes regret it on the hot summer days!
If you are visiting during the summer, I would also avoid carrying more than you need. Walking up hundreds of stairs in August heat with a heavy bag doesn’t sound like much fun.
Combine the Dubrovnik City Walls With a Game of Thrones Tour
If you are a Game of Thrones fan, I highly recommend combining a visit to the Dubrovnik City Walls with a Game of Thrones tour.
Dubrovnik was used extensively as a filming location for King’s Landing, and seeing some of those locations before walking the walls gave us a completely different appreciation for what we were looking at!
That schedule worked incredibly well for us, as our Royal Clipper cruise was in port from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM, allowing us to do our Game of Thrones Tour, walk the Dubrovnik walls, and then eat dinner at the foot of the Jesuit stairs.
You can read more about our experience and the exact tour we took in our full guide to taking a Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik.
Our Tips for Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls
If I were planning our visit again, I would do almost exactly what we did. Go early in the morning or later in the day if you can, check the cruise ship schedule, buy your ticket ahead of time, bring water and comfortable shoes, and give yourself enough time to stop, take photos, and actually enjoy the views.
Most importantly, I wouldn’t skip the Dubrovnik City Walls simply because someone tells you they are too crowded or too touristy. That was the advice we received, and I’m glad we decided to experience them for ourselves.
Travel experiences can be very different depending on when and how you do them. Walking the walls in the cooler evening hours with fewer people around was completely different from what we had been warned about.
Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls Was Worth It for Us
We absolutely loved Dubrovnik, and both wished we had more time there. There is something special about the combination of medieval architecture, terracotta rooftops, narrow stone streets, and the bright blue Adriatic Sea surrounding the Old Town.
It reminded us a bit of Malta, which is ironic, because Game of Thrones was filmed there, too!
Walking the Dubrovnik City Walls gave us a perspective of the city that we simply couldn’t get from street level.
For us, walking the walls in the evening, stopping for a beer high above the city, and watching the light change over Dubrovnik was one of those bucket-list travel experiences we won’t forget.
So, yes, I absolutely think walking the Dubrovnik City Walls is worth it!
More Europe Travel Inspiration
Planning more time in Dubrovnik or traveling around Europe? Here at Our Little Lifestyle, we have endless first-hand travel guides sharing our experiences traveling in Europe. And you can browse all of our Europe travel content here.
And make sure to follow along on social media to see where we’re headed next.
We also save every trip into easy-to-find story highlights on Instagram. That way it’s easy for you to go back and see actual videos of us walking the Dubrovnik city walls!
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