In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Dubrovnik’s best free sights are the Stradun and its two Onofrio fountains, the Gundulić Square market every morning, the Jesuit Staircase, Gradac Park, the Porporela pier and the hikes above the city. The Srđ hike (7.95 km, 416 m of climbing) replaces the €30 cable car, which does not run from December to March (cable car). The paid sights (the walls, the museums) are in the guides linked below. Or book a tour: Dubrovnik: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guidead (from €20, 4.8 stars from 6,067 reviews) is the cheapest guided option if you want the stories behind the free sights.
⚠️ The City Walls are not free. They are €40 for an adult on November dates and €20 on December dates (DPDS), and everything below is free.
In the Old Town
- The Stradun. The 298 m main street between Pile Gate and the Bell Tower, rebuilt in uniform Baroque after the 1667 earthquake (Tourist Board). It costs nothing to walk, and the Stradun walk names every building on it.
- The Onofrio fountains. The Large Onofrio Fountain at Pile has 16 carved maskerons and the Small Onofrio Fountain stands at the east end. Both were built for the public water supply completed in 1438, which is now connected to the city waterworks (Tourist Board).
- Gundulić Square market. Behind the cathedral, the square becomes a green market every morning, with fruit and vegetables from farmers in nearby villages. The statue of the poet Ivan Gundulić, from 1892, stands in the middle (Tourist Board).
- The Jesuit Staircase. Pietro Passalacqua’s Baroque staircase of 1738 leads from Gundulić Square up to the Church of St Ignatius. It was Cersei’s Walk of Shame in Game of Thrones (see the Game of Thrones guide).
- Prijeko. The street parallel to the Stradun, with its houses in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles and portals, balconies and windows to look at even if you do not eat there (Tourist Board).
- Luža Square. Orlando’s Column, the Bell Tower and the facade of Sponza Palace are all visible from the square without a ticket (see the Stradun walk).
- Saturday Winter Mornings. Free themed guided walks from the Pile tourist office at 09:30, with folklore performances, on 14, 21 and 28 November and 5 December 2026 (Tourist Board). The themes include religious tolerance, Dubrovnik Christmas carols, the Festivity of St Blaise, water in Renaissance Dubrovnik and the city’s historic gardens.
Gruž market. Photo: Ardfern, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Outside the walls
- Gradac Park. Reopened on 16 September 2026 after its first full renovation in more than 120 years, with new walking paths, public lighting and a refurbished children’s playground. It also has a small outdoor auditorium and an accessible restroom, and 439 existing trees were kept and 401 new ones planted (Tourist Board).
- Porporela pier. At the foot of St John’s Fortress by the Old Port, it has a beacon at the end, and the Tourist Board describes it as a promenade and a swimming spot popular with residents of the Old City (Tourist Board).
- Swimming spots. The Tourist Board’s beach list names 38 city beaches, including Banje and Sveti Jakov on the Ploče side, Gornja Buža and Donja Buža by the Old City, Šulić and Danče near Pile, and Copacabana and Uvala Lapad in Lapad (sun seekers page).
- Other parks. The Tourist Board also lists Pile Park, Ploče Park, Batala Park, Bad Homburg Park, Bogišić Park and Louis Šoletić Park (parks).
Banje Beach and the Old Port. Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Walks and viewpoints
| Walk | Distance and climb | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Old City, Gornji Kono, Srđ, Imperial Fort, Bosanka, Old City | 7.95 km, 416 m of climbing | The view of the whole Old Town from above, and the Imperial Fort at the top |
| Old City, Sveti Jakov, Karavanski put, Orsula Park, Old City | 6.81 km, 222 m of climbing | Views of Lokrum, and Orsula Park in the evening |
| Rašica, Velika Petka, Mala Petka, Rašica | 4.85 km, 277 m of climbing | Pine shade in the Petka forest park and viewpoints over the Elaphiti Islands |
| Rixos, Gorica, Petka, Mihajlo, Rixos | 5.43 km, 205 m of climbing | Open sea views, suited to light trail running or walking |
All four are listed on the Tourist Board’s hiking page with GPX files. The Srđ route is the one the board calls the most demanding. The cable car guide has the one-way fare (€17) if you want to ride down, and the Imperial Fort at the top charges €5 entry. The Tourist Board also recommends the viewpoint at the top of Petka Hill for views of Lapad and the coast (beyond the walls).
What free replaces
| Paid sight | Price | Free alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Srđ cable car, return | €30 (cable car) | The 7.95 km Srđ hike, or the harbour and Porporela views |
| City Walls with Lovrjenac | €40 on November dates, €20 on December dates | The Old Town streets and Porporela pier |
| Lokrum Nature Reserve with the boat | €30 (Lokrum Reserve) | Swimming at Banje, Sveti Jakov or Porporela |
| Guided Old Town walk | From €20 on GetYourGuide | The Stradun walk on this site and the free Saturday walks |
Guided walks, if you want a guide
The free sights need no ticket. A guide adds the history behind them, and these are the lower-priced Old Town walks on GetYourGuide. Check each listing’s date options for what it covers.
Old Town walking tour with a local guide
From €20 · 4.8 stars from 6,067 reviews · 1.5 to 3.5 hours · free cancellation
Dubrovnik: Old Town Walking Tour with Local Guidead: a guided Old Town walk flagged as a bestseller, with a private option. Book at least 10 hours ahead.
Shorter Old Town walk, wheelchair accessible
From €20 · 4.9 stars from 839 reviews · 1.5 hours · free cancellation
Dubrovnik: Old Town Walking Tourad: a 90-minute guided walk that the listing marks as wheelchair accessible. Book at least 10 hours ahead.
Small-group Old Town history walk
From €28 · 4.8 stars from 204 reviews · 1.5 to 2.5 hours · free cancellation
Dubrovnik: Small-Group Guided Old Town History Walking Tourad: a small-group walk with skip-the-line entry and a private option in the listing.
Sveti Jakov beach. Photo: dronepicr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Gruž market
Gruž, the port district, has a daily market with fresh produce, fish and local goods, and the Tourist Board recommends going in the morning. It is the city’s main transport hub, with ferries, buses and cruise ships (Tourist Board, and see getting around Dubrovnik).
If you want to pay for one thing
The Dubrovnik Pass is €40 for 1 day and includes the walls, Lovrjenac and the museums. The City Walls ticket halves to €20 in December.
For a base that keeps the cost down, see where to stay in Dubrovnik.
What to see next
- Stradun and Old Town walk: the free street and the buildings on it.
- Mount Srđ cable car: the paid way up, and the hike’s neighbour.
- Dubrovnik Pass guide: when paying once is cheaper.
- Game of Thrones guide: free locations among the paid ones.
- Lokrum island day trip: the paid island next to the free swimming spots.
- Money in Dubrovnik: what the rest of a day costs.
Common questions
Can I walk up Mount Srđ instead of taking the cable car?
Yes. The Dubrovnik Tourist Board lists a hiking loop from the Old City through Gornji Kono to Srđ and the Imperial Fort, 7.95 km with 416 m of climbing. The cable car is €30 return and does not run from December to March.
Are there free guided walks in Dubrovnik?
In winter, yes. The Dubrovnik Tourist Board runs Saturday Winter Mornings, free themed guided walks, with Saturday dates in its events calendar on 14, 21 and 28 November and 5 December 2026, starting at 09:30 at the Pile tourist office.
Is there a market in Dubrovnik?
Gundulić Square turns into a green market every morning, with fruit and vegetables from farmers in nearby villages. Gruž has a daily market with fresh produce, fish and local goods.
Is there a free walk with views of the Old Town?
Yes. The Tourist Board lists a 6.81 km loop from the Old City via Sveti Jakov and Orsula Park with views of Lokrum, and a 7.95 km loop up Srđ.
Where can I swim for free in Dubrovnik?
The Tourist Board's beach list has 38 city beaches, including Banje and Sveti Jakov on the Ploče side, Gornja Buža, Donja Buža and Porporela by the Old City, and Šulić and Danče near Pile.
Are the City Walls free?
No. The walls are €40 for an adult on November dates and €20 on December dates, and they are free only with the Dubrovnik Pass.
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