Dubrovnik's spectacular City Walls are perhaps its most emblematic feature, constructed between the 8th and 16th Centuries to defend against invaders and maintain the independence of a powerful maritime republic. They were crucial in protecting the city-state of Ragusa (as Dubrovnik was historically known). In modern times, the walls have become one of the main tourist attractions in Dubrovnik, especially since they served as a dramatic backdrop for the popular TV series Game of Thrones. Our private tour of the City Walls will help you navigate these iconic fortifications with ease, discovering the best views and most intriguing stories within.
On this private 2-hour walking tour, you will:
- Get a comprehensive look at the Dubrovnik City Walls with a local expert guide;
- Make an entrance through the imposing Ploce Gate;
- Begin with the East Wall and learn how it defended the city from attacks from the mainland;
- Admire Revelin Fortress, an impressive example of Renaissance military architecture;
- Find out how this monumental complex was created and how it developed across the centuries;
- Climb to the majestic Minceta Tower, the highest point of the walls;
- Take in panoramic views of the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea;
- Hear stories of the battles, sieges and other challenges the walls have withstood from the early Middle Ages to the modern day;
- See Dubrovnik’s most important landmarks from above, including the Franciscan Monastery, Stradun and Fort Lovrijenac;
- Visit Fort Bokar and learn about the architectural innovations employed in its construction;
- Walk along the bastions and towers along the southern walls while your guide reveals the mystical history of Lokrum Island below;
- Finish at the Fort of St. John, where the city walls meet the sea.
Step back in time and rise above the city on a breathtaking private walk along Dubrovnik’s legendary city walls, one of the greatest fortification systems in Europe and the crown jewel of the Adriatic. This two-hour journey, led by a knowledgeable local guide, offers not only sweeping views but gripping stories of sieges, victories, destruction and endurance. Your tour begins at the Ploče Gate, the majestic eastern entrance where you’ll ascend directly onto the city walls. The first stretch along the East Wall offers commanding views of Revelin Fortress, a masterwork of Renaissance military design built to defend against Ottoman incursions from land and sea. As you walk, your guide will explain how the walls became the lifeline of the independent Republic of Ragusa, the city-state that eventually evolved into present-day Dubrovnik.
Climbing toward the North Wall will lead to one of the most awe-inspiring moments: the ascent of Minčeta Tower. This powerful circular bastion is not only the highest point of the city walls but also a perfect vantage for taking in the terracotta roofs of the Old Town and the glistening waters of the Adriatic Sea. It was here that the city made its final stand during the 1991 siege, and long before that, it served as an unyielding stronghold against medieval threats. As you trace the walls westward, gazing down at Stradun, the Franciscan Monastery, and the imposing Fort Lovrijenac across the bay, the city’s layered history unfolds beneath your feet. Your guide will share tales of the great earthquake of 1667, the Republic of Ragusa’s cunning diplomacy, and the incredible engineering that kept Dubrovnik sovereign while empires rose and fell around it.
Near Pile Gate, you will pause at Fort Bokar, a rounded bastion that seems to hover above the sea. Your guide will explain how its innovative design allowed cannonballs to deflect from its thick, curved walls, a testament to Ragusan ingenuity and a striking symbol of the city’s unrelenting defence. You will then continue along the Southern Wall, perhaps the most picturesque stretch of the whole tour. With the Adriatic shimmering beside you and Lokrum Island just offshore, your guide will share the myths and legends tied to this enigmatic islet, including tales of cursed monks, shipwrecked royalty, and forbidden love.
Your walk concludes where stone meets sea: at the Fort of St. John, the final sentinel guarding Dubrovnik’s harbour. This fortress, which was once filled with cannons and chains to block enemy ships, now marks the perfect end to your elevated exploration, a moment to look out over the turquoise bay, and fully absorb the beauty and power of a city built to endure. Ideal for those seeking the most stunning views, the richest stories, and a truly immersive historical experience, this tour of Dubrovnik’s walls offers an unforgettable perspective on a city that has always stood its ground with elegance and strength.
