Croatia: Part 4 - Day 3: Dubrovnik City Walls

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 3

3/8 Day 3: Walked Dubrovnik City Walls. Visited Francisca Monastery and the Lovrjenac Fortress. Did Walking Tour in the evening.

Costs
(1) Dubrovnik Daily Pass EUR40
(2) Walking tour tips - Shared EUR25

(3) Uber from town to accommodation - Shared EUR15,30

Food
(1) Breakfast at Konoba Rhea Silvia cafe - Continental breakfast with coffee, orange and lemon juice EUR18
(2) Burek from Konzum grocery store EUR1,84

(3) Radler 500ml from Konzum grocery store EUR1,85

(4) Soft drink can from Konzum grocery store EUR1,19

(5) Lunch at Pantarul restaurant EUR44 - Grilled fish EUR34, juice EUR5, shared bread EUR4, tips shared EUR8

(6) Gelato from Aroma Gelato - 1 scoop almonds with pistachio EUR3,90

(7) Iced coffee from Beer Therapy - EUR4,50

(8) Radler 500ml from Konzum grocery store EUR1,85

(9) Dinner at Pjatanaca EUR52 - Shared lamb 1 kg, calf 1 kg EUR120, shared cheese in oil EUR9, shared Greek salad EUR12, drink bitter lemon 250ml EUR5

The Story

03082025: The plan for today is walk on Dubrovnik City Walls. I got the daily pass instead of the ticket only to the city wall as both costs the same at EUR40. My heart was weeping as I bought the daily pass. The daily pass includes a 24-hour bus ride and several other attractions in town. Going up on the city wall is a must-do activity in Dubrovnik. Yes, the town sure knows how to milk the most out of a tourist. I chose this day to the city wall and not the day before, as there is only one cruise that arrives in Dubrovnik on this day whereas the day before will have passengers from two cruise ships. Dubrovnik is a famous cruise stop and the Old Town will be crowded with so many cruise passengers. One can check for the arrival of cruise ships from Dubrovnik Port Authority website. For our chosen day today, a cruise shop will arrive at 10am so we took an early morning bus to have breakfast and start our walk on the city walls by 9am. The city wall opens at 8am.

We activated our daily pass on the bus No. 3 and got our 24-hour bus ticket from the bus driver which we used 3 times. Each time would have cost us EUR2,50. We took the 7.20am bus and was in Old Town about 15 minutes later.

First thing - fill up our water bags from the fountain that was opposite of one of the entrances into the city wall. It was not a recommended entrance as many tourists will use that entrance. There were already a short queue forming at the entrance as the city walls open at 8am. We chose to have our breakfast first otherwise, we will be hungry and unable to enjoy the walk.  

We walked around town to look for breakfast and only a few places were opened by 8am. Our aim is to get on the city wall by 9am. We were happy when we found a cafe next to the Konzum grocery store. Menu states that breakfast is from 7am but that is untrue. We received our breakfast 20 minutes after 8am. I was worried that we will be caught in the rush hour for the city wall.

I was very happy with my breakfast plate. The waiter asked if we would like to tip and I said, no thanks. Honestly, I find it very weird to tip when the staff is performing basic services of taking food order, serving the food and taking the payment. I thought it was part of the job description. Thankfully, tipping is not compulsory in Croatia. Tipping is not common in Malaysia either. 

After breakfast, we bought a burek from the grocery store next door in case we get hungry on the city wall. Now, we look for the recommended entrance where few tourists know. We took Ploce Gate, the entrance that is located at the left side of restaurant 360. There are ticket controls on the wall before one can proceed with the walk. We started our walk at 9am. We saw two tourists in the beginning.

A short description on the City Wall:

The Walls of Dubrovnik are a series of defensive stone walls surrounding the city of Dubrovnik in southern Croatia. Ramparts were built in the outlying areas of the city, including the mountain slopes as part of a set of statues from 1272. The existing city walls were constructed mainly during the 13th–17th centuries. The walls run an uninterrupted course of approximately 1,940 metres (6,360 ft) in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 25 metres (82 ft). Source from Wikipedia.

What an amazing view we got when we started the walk!

This is our starting point. I turned back to take a photo.

My legs groaned when I saw the steps. I thought there were no stairs on the city wall but I was wrong. I am very sure the locals here have very strong and healthy legs.

9.10am and the sun is glaring! I am so happy I got a wide-brimmed sunhat. My ears and neck are covered. 

Behind me is the Dubrovnik Bell Tower. I did not read much about it so I am not sure if one can go inside. I doubt so. 

I love the roofs in the Old Town. Similar colours. Behind me is Lokrum island!

The building in the middle of the photo is Lovrjenac Fortress which is included in the daily pass. The fortress stood out and got me curious to explore it. 

We reached shelter! There were two Red Cross persons in the tower who were ready to help if needed. Much appreciated service especially with the sweltering heat! The town really does know what the tourists need! 

View from the tower. One could feel the wind in this tiny space. 

More angles of the almost-same view. Haha!

Now, it is beginning to get crowded on the city wall. It is 9.40am. We have passed the main entrance at Pile Gate that is opposite the fountain. 

We see Mount Srd! 

Stop to buy drinks on the city wall. We did not get any. We thought it was better to do that after we have finished our walk on the city wall to avoid the increasing crowd.

Lovrjenac Fortress from another angle.

Another drink stop. This time, there is ice-cream here. And also a toilet! I saw a lady sitting by the toilet entrance and I thought one needed to pay. I asked but she did not understand and gestured me to enter. But I was afraid that I needed to pay when I come out. I saw another tourist who exited the toilet and said that she did not pay. I hoped that we need not pay especially with the EUR40 fee! When I exited the toilet, the lady was no longer sitting there. So, it is free.

1.5 hours later and we have finished the walk on the city wall. I would recommend to go on it, as the view from the top from different angles is pleasant, although I do not agree with the ticket price. 

Next activity - I bought a radler and my companions brought beer at a local store and we went to the nearest beach to take a dip. The water here is not cold and the surface that is covered by the water was very slippery and mossy from the water. The current was strong here too so I held to the stair railings as I lowered myself into the waters.

We decided to use our daily pass to visit Francisca Monastery museum which houses the third oldest pharmacy in Europe. I don't know how these sort of historical dates are verified to justify which pharmacy is oldest or second oldest. Without the daily pass, the museum's entrance fees cost EUR8 and payment in cash only. One is unable to bypass the ticket counter and wander off. I saw the ticket officer reprimanding several tourists for wandering beyond the queue line. No photography is allowed inside the museum. 

Then, we took a bus (as it is included in the daily pass) to a beautiful beach which was filled with tourists. Bus stop name - Uvala Lapad 2. Beach name - Uvala Lapad beach. We went here because the beach is near the restaurant where we will have our lunch. The waters in the beach was warm and clear. There are many hotels here too. Not surprising with such a beautiful beach. 

I was sad when I left the beach but we had to eat lunch. Here we are at Pantarul! We tipped the waiter here as my friend dropped the bottle with olive oil and caused a mess on the table so the waiter had to clean the table. 

Different kinds of yummy bread.

I had grilled fish here. Tasty and juicy and boneless too. 

Then, we took the bus back to Old Town. I had booked a walking tour for 5.30pm. We still had plenty of time so we decided to visit Lovrjenac Fortress and have cold drinks after that. It was burning hot! And there were more stairs up to the fortress. 

It was the view from the fortress that was worth the walk and stair climbing. There was nothing much in the fortress itself. Dubrovnik city wall from another angle. Yesterday, we saw the city wall from Mount Srd. 

After the visit to the fortress, we took a dip at a nearby beach. Then, we headed to get gelato at a recommended gelato stall - Aroma Gelato. Even the price speaks itself for its fame. EUR3,90 for a scoop. My previous gelato at Gelateria Dubrovnik costed EUR2,50 for 1 scoop. 

The gelato here is delicious. 

Drinks now at Beer Therapy. I had iced coffee. This is the place we should have gone yesterday instead of Layk restaurant. My travel companions enjoyed their beer here.

Next activity - we did a walking tour of ancient town. I was not satisfied with my walking tour, hence I did not take any photos. The guide provided simple information and I had to ask questions to obtain more information. I had good experience with walking tour in Berlin and Poland but I am unable to say the same for the walking tour here and in Austria. 

Now, dinner! We booked this place, Pjatanaca, before our flight to Croatia. There is a famous local dish called peka, a local dish known as Under the Bell where meat is cooked under a metal dome for a long time in glowing embers. The owner misunderstood our order and we got 1kg of lamb and 1kg of veal instead of 1kg of mixed lamb and veal. 

While waiting for our meal, we decided to share cheese preserved in oil. The cheese had a strong taste.

We received our food one hour after we arrived at the restaurant. I was very surprised as we did place an order for the dish. The cook invited us to see the dish as he lifted the metal dome. 

The meal was delicious in the beginning but after a while, I got tired. There was no sauce to the meat and it was not appetising anymore. We were too full from the meal. We would have wanted to take the bus home but the next bus was 11.05pm after 9.50pm. It was 10pm. We took Uber home. 

We got treated to a lightshow of thunder and lightning from our balcony. No, it did not rain. I was hoping it would.