Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hours:
July-Aug daily 8:00-19:30, progressively shorter hours off-season until mid-
Nov-mid-March 10:00-15:00. Since the hours change with the season, confirm them by
checking signs posted at the entrance (essential if you want to time your wall walk to avoid
theworstcrowds—explained below).Thepostedclosingtimeindicates whenthewallsshut
down,
not
the last entry—ascend well before this time if you want to make it all the way
around.(Ifyouwanttolinger,beginatleastanhourahead;ifyou'respeedy,youcanascend
30 minutes before closing time.) Attendants begin circling the walls at the posted closing
timetolockthegates.There'stalkofsomedayilluminating thewallsatnight,inwhichcase
the hours would be extended until after dark.
and wall-walkers are required to proceed counterclockwise. The best plan is to begin at the
far side of the Old Town, using the entrance
near the Plo
č
e Gate
and Dominican Monas-
tery. This entrance is the least crowded, and you'll tackle the steepest part (and enjoy the
best views) first, as you climb up to the landward side of the wall with magnificent views
across the entire Old Town and the Adriatic. If you're wiped out, overheated, or fed up with
crowds after that, you can bail out halfway (at the Pile Gate), having seen the best—or you
cancontinuearoundtheseawardside.Theothertwoentrancesare
just inside the Pile Gate
(byfarthemostcrowded;forthislocationonly,youmustbuyyourticketsatthedeskacross
the square; if you begin here, you'll reach the Min
č
eta Tower—with the steepest ascent and
best views—last) and
near St. John's Fort
overlooking the Old Port (next to the Maritime
Museum).
Crowd Control:
Because this is Dubrovnik's top attraction, it's extremely crowded.
Your best strategy is to avoid the walls during the times when the cruise ships are in town.
On days when the walls open at 8:00, try to get started around that time. The walls are the
most crowded from about 9:00 until 11:00, when the cruise ships are docked. There's gen-
erally an afternoon lull in the crowds (13:00-14:00)—but that's also the hottest time to be
atop the walls. Crowds pick up again in the late afternoon (around 17:00), peaking about
an hour before closing time (18:30 in high season). During busy times, your best bet is to
hit the walls around 8:30, or just before 17:00 (to avoid both the worst heat and the worst
crowds).
Tips:
Speed demons with no cameras can walk the walls in about an hour; strollers
and shutterbugs should plan on longer. Because your ticket is electronically scanned as you
enter, you can't leave and re-enter the wall later; you have to do it all in one go. If you have
a Dubrovnik Card—even a multiple-day one—you can only use it to ascend the walls once.
Warning:
The walls can get deliriously hot—all that white stone and seawater reflect
blazing sunshine something fierce, and there's virtually no shade. It's essential to bring sun-
screen, a hat, and water. Pace yourself: There are several steep stretches, and you'll be
climbing up and down the whole way around. A few scant shops and cafés along the top
