Experience Dubrovnik awe-inspiring City Walls on a 2-hour walking tour. See key landmarks such as Pile Gate, D’Onofrio’s Fountain, Orlando’s Column and Rector’s Palace while hearing about the city’s 1,400-year-old dramatic history.
Get there early to avoid the crowds and walk in cooler temperatures. Be sure to check out the infamous Buza Bar, a hole in the city walls that serves drinks.
1. Walk the Walls
The best way to experience Dubrovnik is by walking the incredibly well-preserved city walls. The walls wrap around the terracotta rooftops and cobbled streets of Old Town and offer breathtaking views.
Walk counterclockwise around the city to see all of the fortresses, churches and vistas. Don’t miss the Jesuit Stairs (Ceres’ walk of shame location from Game of Thrones), the Franciscan monastery, or the spouting fountain that provided fresh water during a 15 month siege.
The best time to walk the walls is in the morning or evening when it’s cooler and less crowded. Don’t forget your camera! The photos you take will be wow-able.
2. Explore Lazareti
The soaring walls that encircle Dubrovnik’s Old Town are not only iconic, but they’re also a living part of the city. No trip here is complete without walking along these mesmerizing historic landmarks and taking in the stunning views.
Sample the best of Croatian food on a tasting tour that bypasses tourist traps. Visit four locally loved eateries for samples of seafood and wine while gaining cultural insights from your guide.
A posh harbour-view terrace and top-notch service makes this restaurant one of the city’s most popular destinations. Sample signature dishes such as black risotto and the standout octopus ragout. Afterwards, wash it down with a glass of ice cold vino.
3. Take a Game of Thrones Tour
The city’s Game of Thrones tours are a great way to learn more about how the show was filmed while seeing some of the famous locations. The guides have all kinds of interesting stories about auditioning to be extras, getting paid to close down businesses for filming, and meeting the cast.
Pile Gate is one of the main entrances to Old Town and was used for the infamous riot scene in Season 2. The east side of the walls, particularly Minceta Tower, is where Cersei passes on her walk of shame.
Tresteno Arboretum is another popular location used for filming. It’s where Sansa and Cersei have their conversations in season 4. The 15th Century Gothic-Renaissance Rector’s Palace is also a must visit.
4. Eat at Dolce Vita
Stylish, with gorgeous views and exceptional food, this restaurant is among the best places to eat in Dubrovnik. Seafood-oriented, it’s popular for lobster in simple but superbly-balanced sauces and the fresh shellfish from Mali Ston up the coast.
Try the buzara, a traditional dish along much of the Adriatic coastline in which shellfish (usually mussels but sometimes other varieties) are stewed with garlic, parsley, wine and breadcrumbs. The black risotto is also worth trying – it’s made with squid ink, giving it its dark color.
Skip tourist trap restaurants on this culinary tour of Dubrovnik, sampling dishes at 4 family-run eateries and enjoying cultural insights from a guide.
5. Visit the Rector’s Palace
The Rector’s Palace isn’t exactly what you think of when you imagine a palace, but it has a great museum inside. This building served many purposes: it was a prison, a courthouse and even a city hall at various times.
The original design was created by Neapolitan architect Onofrio della Cava (he also designed the city’s two fountains). After it was heavily damaged in 1463 – thanks to gunpowder explosions in the armoury – it was rebuilt by Michelozzo from Florence.
Learn about the Rector’s Palace and Dubrovnik’s remarkable history on this guided walk with a local guide. You’ll also find out more about the UNESCO-protected city walls and their unique features.
6. Visit the Maritime Museum
The walls encircling Dubrovnik’s historic core are one of the most breathtaking structures in Europe. Though it’s easy to see why the city was a setting for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has much more than that to offer.
Those who want to take in the best views should visit the walls during the morning or evening when the sun isn’t beating down and tourists are thronging the streets. Those interested in learning more about the history of the city can visit the Maritime Museum. Admission to the museum is included with the Dubrovnik Card. Also, visitors should consider a day trip to the island of Mljet.
7. Visit the Etnographic Museum
A walk along Dubrovnik’s ancient City walls is one of the city’s most iconic attractions. Encircling the Old Town, the walls offer a unique perspective of the terracotta roofs and twinkling Adriatic Sea below.
The baroque Jesuit Staircase off Gunduliceva Poljana is also an iconic piece of Dubrovnik architecture. It featured in an iconic Game of Thrones scene where Cercei took her “Walk of Shame.” The monastery’s treasury features ornately crafted gold reliquaries and a beautiful 14th-century cloister. Unlike most of the other museums in Dubrovnik, this one is free with the Dubrovnik Card. It’s a great place to learn about the city’s rich history. The best time to visit is in the shoulder season so you can enjoy the stunning sights with fewer tourists.
8. Take a Day Trip to Mljet
If you’re looking for a day trip to see more of Dubrovnik, this is a great option. Most trips include transport from the city to the port and then the boat ride to visit Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan—the three beautiful islands that make up the Elaphiti Islands.
The car-free Lokrum island’s botanical gardens are a highlight—tourists line up to snap pictures sitting on the “Throne.” Or visit the 19th-century hilltop Fort Royal for dazzling views of old town and Srd hill.
A day trip to Mljet National Park is also a treat, with its forests, uninhabited coastlines, and tranquil inland lakes (including one with an old monastery). A ferry departs from the city daily.
