You step off the bus at Pile Gate and the Placa Stradun opens in front of you, a polished limestone thoroughfare lined with shops and the uniform Baroque houses rebuilt after the earthquake of 1667. Pigeons and travellers rest at the steps of Big Onofrio's Fountain, and the Bell Tower rises at the far end. This is the Old Town of Dubrovnik, inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979.
The city suits travellers who want to walk a compact walled town, climb fortifications for sea views, and step into small museums and churches between meals. It also rewards those willing to start early, since the walls and the Stradun grow hot and crowded in midsummer.
This guide covers the sights of the Old Town and the City Walls, with a one-day plan that strings them together and answers to common questions about tickets and timing.
Top things to do in Dubrovnik
1. City Walls
The walls encircle Dubrovnik for 2 km and are entirely walkable, giving views over the rooftops and the surrounding sea. Several fortifications are built into the route, including Minceta Fort on the northwest side, St. Luke's Tower on the landward side up to Ploce Gate, St John's Fort in the southeast corner and Bokar Fort on the seaward side.
Walk them in the early morning or late afternoon during midsummer, as the route becomes hot and crowded. Expect many steep steps even once you are on the walls, and note that in places the retaining walls are only a couple of feet high, which may trigger vertigo. There are three entrances: the main one on Stradun inside the Pile gate, one by Fort Saint John's, and one at the Customs House gate. A ticket also includes entry to Fort Lovrjenac.
2. Placa Stradun
The central east-west street is where the old city comes to life, with shops at street level and the Baroque architecture that took its present form in the restoration after the 1667 earthquake. It remains the shopping centre and the venue for major events.
Explore the streets and alleys on its sides, or stroll up and down the thoroughfare with an ice-cream in hand. It is also the natural spine for reaching most other sights in the Old Town.
3. Fort Lovrijenac
The monumental fort rises above a high rock and was an essential fortification for defence from both ground and sea attacks. The walls facing the city are only 60 cm thick compared to those exposed to enemy fire, which were 12 m thick, a design meant to prevent mutiny by the commander. Above the entrance an inscription reads "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro" — freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world.
Little remains in the way of historical artefacts, but the fort gives spectacular views back upon the walled city. Entry is free with a City Walls ticket, so combine the two.
4. Big Onofrio's Fountain
At the western Pile entrance of the old town, the fountain's stairs are a favourite meeting place for local youth, and both tourists and pigeons take rest and refresh themselves with cool water. It is a convenient first stop as you enter from Pile Gate.
5. Bell Tower
After the Ploče entrance to the city, the tower is topped by the 'Zelenci' (The Green Ones), bronze statues which strike the gigantic bell every hour. They have been replaced with copies; the originals are in the atrium of the Sponza Palace, so you can see both on the same walk.
6. Sponza Palace
West of the Bell Tower, this Gothic Renaissance palace is one of the few buildings that has maintained its form from before the catastrophic 1667 earthquake. It hosts the historic archives and the Memorial room of defenders.
It is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with entry at €5. Step inside while crossing the Old Town between the Bell Tower and the churches.
7. Rector's Palace
The former palace of the Major Council houses a museum dedicated to the city's history. Entry is €15, and it sits on Pred dvorom, easy to fold into a walk through the centre of the Old Town.
8. Franciscan Monastery
On Placa 2, this monastery with its Baroque church houses a Romanesque cloister and the third oldest pharmacy in the world. It is open from 09:00 to 18:00, and its museum holds artefacts from that pharmacy for €4.
9. Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
In the Poljana Marin Držić, the cathedral is supposedly built with money donated by Richard the Lionhearted, who survived a shipwreck on his way home from the Third Crusade; the current Roman Baroque building dates from the 18th century. It is open Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00 and Sunday 11:00-17:30.
10. Church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit College
On an elevated square close to the southern edge of the Old Town, the ornate Jesuit church is approached via a baroque staircase modelled on the Spanish Steps in Rome. It was built between 1667 and 1725 by architect Ignazzio Pozzo, modelled on the Gesù in Rome.
Mass is held in English daily at 11:00 in the summer, which makes a mid-morning visit easy to plan.
11. Dominican Monastery
Open daily from 09:00 to 18:00, this historic complex serves a religious purpose and also represents an important artistic treasury of ancient Dubrovnik. It pairs well with a walk along the eastern side of the Old Town.
12. Synagogue and Jewish Museum
On Zudioska 5, this synagogue built by Sephardic Jews is supposed to be the second-oldest still in use in Europe. A permanent Jewish community was founded here at the end of the 15th century following the expulsions from Portugal and Spain, and the Jewish Ghetto was established in 1546 on Jewish Street.
The synagogue is tiny, with heavy velvet drapes and a richly painted midnight blue ceiling, and the museum contains menorahs, Torah scrolls and information on the community's history. It is open daily 10:00-15:00, so visit before the afternoon.
13. Church of Saint Blaise
This Baroque church is dedicated to the city's patron saint. Look for it as you move between the Bell Tower and the eastern churches of the Old Town.
14. Roland's Column
In front of the Bell Tower stands a slender stone flag staff of the legendary knight, also known as Orlando's Column. Since its foundation in 1950, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival has opened by raising a flag carrying the city's motto Libertus on Orlando's staff.
15. Dubrovnik Natural History Museum
On Androvićeva 1, the museum holds a collection of hundred-year-old taxidermy specimens dating back to 1872, which may not appeal to everyone. It is open Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00, a useful option if a spell of weather keeps you indoors.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Pile Gate and pause at Big Onofrio's Fountain before walking the City Walls early, while it is cooler and quieter. Leave the walls at Fort Lovrijenac and use your walls ticket to enter for the views back over the city.
Afternoon: Return to the Placa Stradun and follow it east, stopping at Roland's Column and the Bell Tower, then step into the Sponza Palace and the Rector's Palace. Continue to the Franciscan Monastery, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the Church of Saint Blaise, and climb to the Church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit College. If time allows before 15:00, visit the Synagogue and Jewish Museum.
Evening: End with a slow stroll along the Stradun as the day cools, ice-cream in hand, and take in the side alleys off the main street.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a ticket to enter the Old Town?
No. Entry to the Old Town is free; a pass is only required to walk the walls. The Dubrovnik Pass is worth considering, as it costs only €5 more than the entry to the City Walls and includes most of the museums in the Old Town plus unlimited bus rides for its duration.
When is the best time to walk the City Walls?
In the midsummer months, visit during the early morning or late afternoon hours, as the walls can become hot and crowded. Be prepared for many steep steps and, in places, low retaining walls.
Does a City Walls ticket cover anything else?
Yes. The ticket includes entry to Fort Lovrjenac, and it can be bought online.
Where can I find the original statues from the Bell Tower?
The 'Zelenci' on top of the tower are copies; the originals are in the atrium of the Sponza Palace.
With the walls, the Stradun and the Old Town's churches and palaces mapped out, you have enough to begin planning your days in Dubrovnik.