Dubrovnik 1.5-Hour History Walking Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Dubrovnik's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Discover the history of the Old Town's architecture
- Learn about Dubrovnik's role in medieval trade
- Visit iconic landmarks like the Rector's Palace
- Enjoy panoramic views from the city walls
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided walking tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town
- Visit to key historical landmarks
- Expert local guide with in-depth knowledge
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
The Large Onofrio's Fountain is our meeting point (next to Hard Rock Cafe), all our tours gather here next to the Red Umbrella where the guide briefly presents him/herself and off we go on the 1.5 h Discover Dubrovnik tour.
Our starting point is a great place for a brief overview of the city’s history painting the picture of the rise of a small maritime trading city-state of Ragusa. We touch upon its accomplishments such as the innovative aqueduct system the Large Onofrio’s fountain is a part of.
Pass by: Just next to the fountain we start our walk down the main street passing by the small votive Church of Holy Savior. We discuss how important religion was at that time and how it shaped the City to be the way it is today.
Continuing on we come across the Franciscan Church and Monastery; which is a large complex belonging to the Order of the Friars Minor. It consists of a monastery, a church, a library, and a pharmacy. The earliest monastery was built in the 13th century outside the walls. The library (built in the 17th century) contains over 20,000 books, among them 1200 valuable old manuscripts. The pharmacy dates from 1317 and is the third oldest, still functioning pharmacy in the world. We mention various local traditions, centuries-old that persist to this day.
We resume our stroll along the main street Placa or Stradun; the most favored promenade and gathering place. It is the venue of all public feasts and processions, but also the main business street of the City. The widest and most beautiful street divides the City into northern and southern halves. We look into the overlay of the city from this location in a bit more detail. You will hear a bit more about the demise of the venerable Ragusa Republic leading up to the more recent history of Yugoslavia and the Homeland War in the 1990s and all the troubles the city endured during that period.
We get off the main street to the more narrow inner street of Old Town walking towards the Port. We stop by the Orthodox Christian Church and describe how other religious communities like the Orthodox Christian, Jewish and Muslim influenced the history of the city.
We come across the Green market at Gundulic square where we can observe and discuss local produce and interesting stories and traditions.
Pass by: Next up is one of the most important buildings in the city; The Rector's Palace is a palace in the city of Dubrovnik that used to serve as the seat of the Rector of the Republic of Ragusa between the 14th century and 1808. It was also the seat of the Minor Council and the state administration. Furthermore, it housed an armoury, the powder magazine, the watch house and a prison.
Furthermore, we get to the Cathedral where according to a legend, Richard the Lionheart was returning from the Crusades in 1192 when he was shipwrecked in a storm and cast aground on Lokrum Island in front of Dubrovnik.
Ships from Dubrovnik were renowned throughout the Mediterranean and galleons from the Republic could be found in navies across Europe and beyond. These ships were built and loaded in the legendary Arsenal, which is another stop on the tour. Once in the Old Port, your guide will relate the stories of the famous Quarantine and the nearby fortresses of St. Luke and St. John.
Leaving the Port we get to the eastern end of Placa (Stradun) street, under the City Bell Tower, on Luza square where several interesting stories and monuments are covered here; church dedicated to the patron St.Blaise, legend of the knight Orlando and his column, Sponza Palace, Small Onofrio's Fountain, the high Bell tower.
Meeting point
Start Location
Large Onofrio's Fountain, Poljana Paska Miličevića, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly for the day.
- Be prepared for a moderate amount of walking; the tour covers approximately 2 kilometers.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for cobblestone streets.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen for sun protection.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Traveler reviews
We had an excellent...
We had an excellent experience with our Dubrovnik tour guide, Kim. What really set her apart was that she was born and raised in Dubrovnik, which brought so much depth to the tour. She was able to share firsthand knowledge of the city’s history while also giving thoughtful insight into what life is like there today, including the current cultural and social climate. Beyond the history, she was incredibly helpful in offering practical advice for tourists—what to do, what to avoid, and how to make the most of our time in the city without falling into common tourist traps. Her guidance felt honest, current, and very well-informed. Her restaurant recommendations were also outstanding and ended up being some of our favorite meals of the entire trip. We especially loved the pizza at Tabasco Pizzeria, the gelato from Peppino’s Gelato, and the cheese baruk at Holy Baruk. She was a true professional—warm, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about her city. We would highly recommend her to anyone visiting Dubrovnik.
Our walking tour of Dubrovnik on a rare , stormy & rainy day in May
Our guide (Joseph) was both extremely informative and entertaining. Joseph took our group outside the “old town walls” to the square & bay …. below Fort Lovrijenac. The sea was stormy & it was raining … a dramatic backdrop to the 1400 history overview that Joseph gave. We then re-entered the “old city” and learned of the earthquakes, attacks & other pressures that beset Dubrovnik, the architecture, the essential infrastructure & the history of the people who lived in Dubrovnik, making it what it is today … an iconic walled city that is envied around the world.
Good starting point for short trip
Helena was very good and gave quite a few funny stories about Dubrovnik history. Gave headphones so didn’t matter trying to keep up with guide you could always hear. There was approximately 15 on tour but some didn’t turn up so not sure of maximum. It’s a really small in area covered tour, don’t think we travelled very far but then again old town is small. Used recommendations given.
Great time with information and fun
Josip was our Guide and we had a great time with him. Lots of information and very entertaining stories. It was a pleasure and time went by so quickly...
It is not a small group
It is sold as a a small group walking tour, but infact your own small group (in our case a group of 4) is just added to a big group of other tourists, 20 or more. There was nothing wrong with the guide of the big group though, he was interesting and fun to listen to, maybe the talking speed was a bit too much when he had to fit everyrhing into 2hrs.