Dubrovnik Travel Guide: Old City Walls, Game of Thrones Spots & Avoiding the Cruise Ship Crowds

Dubrovnik is one of Europe's most dramatically beautiful cities — a perfectly preserved medieval old town perched on the Adriatic coast. It's also extremely popular. Here's how to make the most of it.

Walking the City Walls

The 2km circuit of the 16th-century city walls is the single best thing to do in Dubrovnik. The views over the terracotta rooftops, the sea, and the islands beyond are breathtaking. Go at opening time (8am) to beat the crowds and the heat, or just before closing.

Practical info: Entry costs around 35 EUR. The walk takes 1–2 hours depending on how many photo stops you make. Wear good shoes — the surfaces are uneven and slippery when wet.

Game of Thrones Filming Locations

Dubrovnik served as King's Landing throughout Game of Thrones. Even if you're not a fan, the tour is a nice way to explore the old city.

Key spots:

• Fort Lovrijenac – The Red Keep exterior
• Pile Gate – The main entrance to King's Landing
• Jesuit Staircase – Cersei's Walk of Shame
• Minčeta Tower – The House of the Undying
• Trsteno Arboretum – The Tyrell gardens (a 30-min drive north)

Avoiding the Cruise Ship Crowds

Dubrovnik hosts multiple huge cruise ships daily during peak season (June–August). When ships are in, the old town can become genuinely unpleasant. The ships dock from roughly 8am to 6pm.

Strategies:

• Visit early morning (before 9am) or in the evening after 6pm when ships have left
• Check cruise ship schedules on dubrovnik-info.com to find lighter days
• Visit in May, early June, September or October — beautiful weather, far fewer people
• Explore outside the old city: Lokrum Island, Mount Srđ, Konavle valley

Getting There & Around

Dubrovnik Airport is about 20km from the old city. Taxis are expensive (40–60 EUR) — the Atlas bus is much cheaper (10 EUR) and drops at the Pile Gate.

The old town is entirely pedestrianised. For the rest of the city, local buses are cheap and reliable. Water taxis connect to nearby beaches and Lokrum Island.

Day Trips from Dubrovnik

• Lokrum Island – 20-minute ferry; botanical gardens, peacocks, a small salt lake, and better swimming than in the city
• Kotor, Montenegro – 2.5 hours by car; the bay is stunning and the old city rivals Dubrovnik with fewer tourists
• Mostar, Bosnia – 3 hours; the Ottoman old town and Stari Most bridge are extraordinary
• Hvar Island – Ferry from Split or catamaran from Dubrovnik; Croatia's most glamorous island

Where to Eat

Inside the old city, restaurants cater heavily to tourists and prices are high. For better value:

• Walk 5 minutes outside the walls to Gruž or Lapad
• Try the daily market (Gundulićeva Poljana) for fresh produce and local stalls
• Konoba restaurants serving fresh fish are better value than old-city tourist traps

Ask the Parada Community

Travellers who've visited Dubrovnik recently share advice on the Parada Croatia community page — from the best swimming spots to current entry prices and honest opinions on whether the crowds are worth it.