Dreamy Dubrovnik seems to exist within an ethereal fortified bubble of orange-tiled rooftops against a sapphire sea. Fortunately, a ticket to the Dubrovnik Walls walk will grant you front-row access to this marvelous medieval city’s most intimate corners and unspoiled views.

That said, exclusive access comes with a price, and to walk the Walls of Dubrovnik isn’t cheap! As someone who’s accustomed to walking for free, I truthfully experienced a case of sticker shock before our visit.

Thankfully, I was able to put my “tourist-trap” skepticism aside; after all, the Dubrovnik Walls walk is one of the most popular activities for a reason!

Now that I’ve experienced the magical Dubrovnik viewpoints from atop the city, I’m here to spill the tea and (hopefully) inspire you with my favorite photographs from our Balkans trip!

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If you want to enjoy some of the best unspoiled views over the city, walking the Walls of Dubrovnik is absolutely worth it! In addition to enjoying a birds-eye perspective over the beautiful buildings and surrounding landscape, there are plenty of photo opportunities along the walk.

It’s also a relatively easy walk and should fit into your Dubrovnik itinerary without a hassle.

Fortunately, the Dubrovnik Walls walk is not timed, so you’re welcome to enjoy this 1,940-meter stretch at your leisure. The timing will largely depend on your pace and how often you stop, but most people complete the walk in a maximum of two hours. That said, it can be completed in as little as one hour without stopping.

However, if you’re planning to pause along the way to admire the scenery, enjoy a pick-me-up at one of the cafes, capture some photos, etc., you’ll want to budget in additional time over the one-hour mark.

If you’re in reasonable shape, the walk is relatively easy and the most difficult aspect is climbing a few staircases. Beyond that, you won’t need to worry about any unpredictable terrain or other common hiking challenges, like with the Kotor Fortress hike.

Unfortunately, the Dubrovnik Walls walk is not a free experience and it’s no longer cheap, either! I’ll be covering the pricing in more detail later.

After booking our stay at one of the coziest boutique hotels in Dubrovnik, I had some confusion about the whole Dubrovnik Walls walk thing. Mainly, I was unclear on how and where to start walking…

To avoid any confusion, there are two key points to understand:

1. Dubrovnik is a fortified city that’s completely surrounded by defensive stone walls.
2. The Dubrovnik Walls walk referenced in this guide is a specific paid experience that’s separate and distinct from walking around within the walled city in general.

There are three separate entranceways where you can begin the ticketed walk:

1. Pile Gate (main drawbridge-style entranceway)
2. Fort St. John’s
3. Fort St. Luke (Od sv. Dominika Street)

I recommend entering through Pile Gate as a matter of convenience, as this is where most people access Dubrovnik Old City. Just keep in mind that if you do so, you’ll need to ascend a steep flight of stairs in order to begin the walk. This is also where you’ll get in line to start the walk.

The Walls of Dubrovnik are open throughout the year, but the hours of operation are dependent on the season. You can check out the seasonal schedule here.

Plus, for a better idea of what to expect weather-wise (and in terms of crowds), be sure to reference the best time of year to visit Croatia before planning your trip.

And speaking of timing, the early bird gets the worm, as they say. (Or in my case, the early bird gets the shot!)

So if there’s one point I can stress – and this is my number one piece of advice – it’s to arrive at Pile Gate just before opening at 8AM. If possible, try to arrive by 7:45 so that you can be one of the first in line – and one of the first to enjoy this special experience without being squashed by throngs of tourists.

Without a doubt, the Dubrovnik Walls walk is one of the most popular activities in the city, so it’s not unusual for it to get busy as early as 9AM in the high season.

Although my husband and I arrived at opening, I could already feel the walls closing in (literally) as more and more people started to arrive around 8:30AM or so. I definitely wasn’t expecting it to get busy that early.

Alternatively, you could come at this from the opposite perspective and intentionally delay your arrival until around 5PM or so. The idea here is that many cruising tourists on day trips should be clearing out by then, so you may be able to enjoy a calmer experience.

Personally, I still think morning is best in case it happens to be a busier afternoon, but this is definitely something to consider if you’re not a morning person.

Tickets for the walk can be purchased online at the official website for the City Walls Dubrovnik or at the main office just inside of Pile Gate. You’ll find the ticket office on Stradun, the main thoroughfare running through the city.

If you’re purchasing your tickets in person, you’ll need to pay with cash (kunas) or by credit card.  Unfortunately, Euros are not accepted.

That said, if you’re traveling to Dubrovnik in the high season (June through September), I recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to avoid long lines and excess crowds.

However, be mindful not to purchase your tickets from any third-party sites, as these are notoriously scams.

My husband and I both got the Dubrovnik Pass and it was definitely the best financial decision. Frankly, if you’re planning to do the Dubrovnik Walls walk, the pass is a no-brainer.

That’s because as of 2022, the cost of entrance tickets alone (with no add-ons) is 250 kunas (about $34USD). This is the exact same rate as a single-day Dubrovnik Pass, yet the pass also grants you free access to a handful of other city sites, including Rector’s Palace, the Friars Minor Franciscan Monastery Museum, the Maritime Museum, archaeological exhibitions, and more.

Plus, the pass also includes 24 hours of free transportation on the city’s public bus system!

I frankly cannot understand why anyone would buy a single ticket for the Dubrovnik Walls walk instead of purchasing the pass. In this case, you’re throwing money away if you plan to do/see anything else in Dubrovnik.

In any case, regardless of whether you purchase a single-use ticket or the Dubrovnik Pass, you’ll also enjoy free access to Lovrijenac Fortress.

Personally, the biggest challenge I faced on this walk was having to stop about every 2.5 seconds to snap another photo. Talk about a good problem to have!

Truly though, the views from atop the fortified walls are simply stunning, so you’ll definitely want to have a camera – or at least a phone – along with you!

While there are so many perspectives and angles to capture here, I’m going to share a handful of my favorites.

That said, great photo opportunities await around every turn, and I unfortunately can’t provide you with exact GPS directions for them. My advice is simply to keep your head up as much as possible while walking or you’re bound to miss something wonderful!

If you enter via Pile Gate and climb the steps, the first shot to get is the one looking down over Stradun. This is the main street that runs through the center of Old Town Dubrovnik. The bird’s-eye view you’ll have from here is fantastic!

As you begin walking, take notice of the zigzagging angles the walls make around the city and try to capture them.

In addition to looking within the walls, don’t forget to admire the beauty around them as well. There are plenty of seaside shots to capture, too!

Personally, if you want “the shot,” you can’t miss the Stari Grad Roof Sea. As the name suggests, this is the prime spot to witness the “sea” of orange rooftops that you’ll find in the last quarter of the walk (if you’re starting at Pile Gate).

Then, as you near the end of the walk (starting at Pile Gate), be sure to capture the beautiful view overlooking the Old Port.

I’ll admit, we were exhausted at the end of the walk after shooting loads of content (and holding off on breakfast until we were done), and I foolishly forgot to capture the Minceta Tower. This tower represents the highest point on the walk and offers some gorgeous views, so be sure to check it out!

If you’d prefer to enjoy the Dubrovnik Walls excursion alongside a knowledgeable guide, there are a number of tour options to choose from.

Some tours are even centered around a specific time of day, so you’ll have the option of joining other early birds or doing a sunset stroll.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind before starting the walk that will make for a more pleasant experience.

• Start early – I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: arrive around 8AM so that you can fully enjoy the experience.
• Obey the one-way traffic rule – Something I was not aware of until we arrived is that the Dubrovnik Walls walk is strictly one-way only. This is not like a museum where you can casually glance at something and then return later for a better look. Instead, soak it all in while you can and walk at a comfortable pace. While this rule may seem annoying, it’s in place for a reason, particularly for when the crowds start pouring in!
• Bring cash – If you get hungry or thirsty along the way, there are a number of cafés where you can stop for a refreshment. Be sure to have cash on hand in the event that cards aren’t accepted.
• Bring water – While there are drinks available for purchase along the way, it can never hurt to have your own water. Trust me when I say, this walk is fully exposed to the elements and the sun can be quite unforgiving in summer!
• Use restrooms as needed – If your walk is on the longer side, chances are, nature will eventually call. Fortunately, there are several restrooms located throughout the walk, so you won’t have to hold it.
• Bring patience – Granted, this is more of an abstract concept, but seriously, if you’re traveling during peak summer months, a little patience and general courtesy toward other humans can go a long way!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual journey along the City Walls of Dubrovnik. While this experience is admittedly pricey, it’s absolutely one of the can’t-miss activities in the city.

Now that you have a sense of the famous Dubrovnik Walls walk, do you think you’d prefer the early-bird experience or a sunset stroll? Let me know in the comments below!

Looking for more Croatian inspiration? Check out my other guides:

• 15 Boutique Hotels in Dubrovnik (Old Town Gems to Seaside Sanctuaries)
• 15 Stunning Dubrovnik Viewpoints & Photo Spots You Can’t Miss
• Plan the Perfect Day Trip from Dubrovnik to Cavtat, Croatia
• 15 Beautiful Boutique Hotels in Hvar with Sea Views
• Hvar Town or Stari Grad, Croatia: Which Island Town Is Best?
• 17 Fun Things to Do on Hvar Island Croatia (Hvar Town & Beyond)
• 15 Fun Things to Do on Korcula, Croatia’s Island Gem
• Hvar vs Korcula: Which Croatian Island Is Right for You?