Get above the walls before the cruise ships arrive

Dubrovnik's Old City sits on a limestone peninsula surrounded by 14th-century walls that face southwest over the Adriatic. The Mount Srđ cable car rises to 412 meters above the city — the view from the top takes in the entire walled city, the island of Lokrum to the southeast, and the Elaphiti Islands to the northwest. In summer, cruise ships start arriving by 7am, which means the city is crowded from 8:30am onward. The city walls walk (2 kilometers) is best from the south side, looking out over the sea. Banje Beach, east of the old city, faces south and gives views back toward the Pile Gate and the outer walls from sea level. Sunset from the Srđ summit puts the walled city in the foreground with the sea going deep orange behind it. At 43°N, golden hour runs around 38 minutes.