Cable Car, Old Town Walking Tour and City Walls Combo Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik cable car

The Dubrovnik cable car first opened in 1969 and was rebuilt in 2010 after the war. Its lower station sits just above the Old Town walls, a short walk from Pile Gate, and the cabins climb to the top of Mount Srđ in about four minutes, rising more than 400 metres with the city unfolding beneath your feet.

Many travellers search for Dubrovnik cable car tickets and queue at the station; on this tour your ticket is included and your guide takes care of everything. Each cabin has large windows, so stand by the glass on the way up for the best view of the rooftops shrinking below. The cable car runs daily, but strong bora winds sometimes stop it for safety. The morning ride on this tour has the clearest air and fewer people than the sunset hours.

Mount Srđ panoramic terrace

At the top of Mount Srđ the panoramic terrace opens onto one of the most famous views in the Mediterranean. Below you the walled Old Town floats on the deep blue Adriatic, with Lokrum island just offshore, the Elaphiti islands to the west and the coastline stretching south towards Cavtat. On clear days you can see far down the coast and inland to the mountains.

Your guide gives you time to take photos and points out the landmarks you will soon walk past: the Franciscan bell tower, the cathedral dome, the Old Port and the long line of the City Walls. Next to the upper station stands Fort Imperial, built in the early 19th century, which played a key role in defending the city in 1991. Together with the ride, the time on Mount Srđ lasts about an hour before you take the cable car back down.

Dubrovnik Old Town walking tour

Back down, the guide leads you through Pile Gate into the Old Town for a 1.5-hour walk. You follow Stradun, the gleaming limestone main street, past the Large Onofrio Fountain and the Franciscan Monastery, then into the narrow stepped lanes where every house is more than 300 years old. The city rose again after fires and the catastrophic earthquake of 1667, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

The walk continues to Luža Square with the Sponza Palace and the clock tower, St Blaise Church, the Rector's Palace, the cathedral and the open-air morning market square, ending near the Old Port. Your guide tells the story of the Republic of Ragusa, a small merchant state that acted as a diplomatic bridge between East and West. This Dubrovnik Old Town walking tour gives you the background to explore confidently on your own afterwards.

Dubrovnik City Walls

With the default option, your guide hands you your City Walls ticket after the walking tour, and you walk the ramparts on your own. The walls run for almost two kilometres around the Old Town, with towers, bastions and forts such as Minčeta, Bokar and St John's, and they offer the most famous views of Dubrovnik: terracotta rooftops on one side and the open sea on the other.

Most visitors take 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the circuit. Walking is one-way, there are many steps and little shade, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Is it worth walking the walls of Dubrovnik? For most travellers it is the highlight of the city, and having the ticket in hand saves you queuing at the busy entrance. City Walls opening hours change with the season, starting early in the morning and closing earlier in winter.