Dubrovnik and Dalmacija travel guide

Old City Walls, Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik’s voluminous city walls, up to 12 m (39 ft) thick and 25 m (82 ft)
high in places, are a stunning site. A cradle of stone, they helped to protect
one of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in Europe, as well as
safeguarding the independence of the city-state for centuries. Running from
the steep cliffs to the north through to the Adriatic in the south, they proved
an impenetrable barrier to pirates and potential conquerors, until the keys to
the gates were finally handed over to the French on 31 January 1808, and the
Republic of Dubrovnik (or Ragusa, to use its former name) came to an end.
Top 10 Sights
Pile Gate
Minta Fort
Ploe Gate
Revelin Fort
Rooftops
St John’s Fort
Maritime Museum
Drinks Counter
Bokar Fort
Boat Trip
Dubrovnik & the Dalmatian Coast
Steps up to the track along
the top of the walls
Buža, perched
outside the southern
walls overlooking the
Adriatic and Lokrum,
is a bar well worth
seeking out. No food
or fancy service here,
but refreshing drinks
and stunning views.
From the Jesuit
Church, follow the
“cold drinks” sign.
Be sure to carry
plenty of water in
the warmer months,
as the only place on
the walls where
liquid refreshment is
available is at the
drinks counter on the
southern flank.
• Map G4
• Access from the
Stradun (next to the Pile
Gate), Svetog Dominika
and Kneza Damjana.
Open 9am–6:30pm daily.
Adm charge 30kn (audio
handsets also available)
• Maritime Museum:
020 323 904. Open
May–Oct: 9am–6pm
daily; Nov–Apr: 9am–
2pm daily. Admission
15kn (children 7kn);
discount for groups
of more than 10
Pile Gate
This grand western
entrance to the Old City
leads, via a drawbridge,
down on to the Stradun.
Look out for the figure of
Dubrovnik’s patron saint,
St Blaise, above the gate
and, a little further on, for
a more modern depiction
by Ivan Meštrovi.
Mineta Fort
North of the Pile Gate,
steep steps lead up to an
impressive fort (below).
Views at sunset from this
15th-century bastion justify
the exertion to reach it.
Ploe Gate
The bridge leading to
the Ploe Gate (above),
on the eastern walls,
offers new arrivals
tantalizing glimpses of
the city and the old port.
Revelin Fort
Close to the eastern
walls stands this sturdy
16th-century fortress,
now used for music and
dance events in summer.