Dubrovnik is located in the Southern part of Croatia and is very popular for its beautiful location on the Adriatic Sea, perfect weather, beautiful Old Town and, more recently, for being one of the filming locations of the very popular show Game of Thrones. I visited back in July this year and one of my favourite things there was walking on the city walls that surround the Old Town.
These 2-km-long walls were built in the 12th century to protect the city of Dubrovnik from unwanted guests, and are dotted with fortresses that overlook the sea and the Old Town. This protection was indeed very successful as they can be considered one of the greatest fortification systems of the Middle Ages and are incredibly well-preserved, so it is possible to walk on them and admire the city and the sea from above.
The Dubrovnik City Walls are definitely one of Dubrovnik’s main attractions, especially now that they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage, and one can easily understand why they are so popular with tourists. On top of their interest from a historical point of view, they also offer a gorgeous view over the red brick roofs of the Old Town, the nearby island of Lokrum and the Adriatic Sea.
To visit them, you have to purchase a ticket and it is recommended to go there first thing in the morning when they open, which is what we did, to avoid the crowds of tourists that make walking there a bit harder, but also the incredibly harsh summer sun around mid-day, as there aren’t a lot of shaded spots there.
The walk along the City Walls is quite short but there are many steps and viewpoints to admire the city from, so it is easy to spend a good 2 hours there. On some places, it is also possible to sit down and have a refreshing drink, though I am pretty sure they must cost double what they’re worth!
I loved walking around there, stopping to see the sea and surrounding beaches, to take hundreds of pictures of the beautiful rooftops and of the small harbour. We went there in the morning but I bet it must be beautiful around sunset too! It was basically our first stop in Dubrovnik and I am very glad we did because it also helped me to get a better sense of direction of the city, as you can see it from above. If you are ever in Dubrovnik, I would 100% recommend you visit them!
