Ancient City Walls Dubrovnik

The Dubrovnik City Walls Were Shelled Over 650 Times in 1991. Walking Them Now Is Different for Knowing That.

The precise map of damage from the Yugoslav forces’ seven-month siege is displayed on a memorial board at the Pile Gate. What you see today is largely restoration – the city used traditional craftsmen and original materials – but the knowledge of what happened in 1991 to 1992 gives the walls a quality that purely historical monuments do not have.

The walls themselves were constructed over several centuries, beginning in the 13th century and reaching their final form by the 17th. At 1,940 metres in circumference, up to 25 metres in height, and up to 6 metres thick at the most vulnerable sections, they are among the best-preserved medieval fortifications in Europe. The Republic of Ragusa that maintained them for nearly 1,000 years before Napoleon abolished it in 1808 managed to stay independent through a combination of strategic diplomacy and the physical fact of these walls.

Walking the Circuit

Wall access costs EUR 15 as of 2026 (included in the Dubrovnik Card). The full circuit takes 90 minutes at a relaxed pace; summer heat makes the exposed sections challenging from late morning. Go at opening (8am in summer) or in the two hours before closing to avoid peak crowd density and the worst of the midday heat.

The standard counterclockwise direction gives the most dramatic views in sequence: Minčeta Fortress at the northwest provides the highest vantage point; the walk along the seaward walls on the south gives the defining Adriatic views; the final stretch above the Stradun reveals the red-tile rooftops of the old city in their entirety.

Check cruise ship schedules before visiting. Days when multiple ships dock can put thousands of extra visitors onto the narrow wall walkways and change the experience substantially.

What to See Nearby

Lovrijenac Fortress on a 37-metre crag outside the Pile Gate gives the best view back across the walled city, especially at sunset. The cable car to Mount Srd (412 metres) takes four minutes and offers the panoramic view over the full city, sea, and islands that the walls themselves cannot provide. Lokrum Island, reached by 15-minute ferry from the Old Port, has botanical gardens, forest walks, and a small saltwater lake for swimming.

For food, the restaurants immediately inside the walls charge for the location. Walk to the Gruž neighbourhood (20 minutes) or to the streets near the Dominican monastery for prices that reflect the food rather than the view.