Hiking in Dubrovnik: 8 Best Trails, From Mount Srđ to Mljet

Walking in Dubrovnik starts at the old town gates. A zigzag path climbs the bare slope of Mount Srđ behind the walls, and from the top the red roofs of the city sit below you with Lokrum out in the bay. Further out, pine woods cover the Elafiti islands, an hour or less away by boat, and on Koločep and Lopud there are no cars at all.

These eight hikes run from the city walls to the salt lakes of Mljet. Seven of them are 1 to 4 km long, so a day can hold a walk, a swim and a long lunch. The biggest climb is Srđ, about 250 m up a path lined with the Stations of the Cross.

Spring and autumn are the walking seasons, and no walk needs a car. More of the country's day walks are in our list of the best walks in Croatia.

The 8 Best Hikes in Dubrovnik

The hikes are numbered from the old town outwards. The first two start at the city gates, and the rest begin with a boat or a bus of 10 to 75 minutes from Gruž or the old port.

Choose by the day you have in mind:

• Half a day from your hotel: Srđ, about 1 hour up early in the morning or towards sunset, or the 1,940 m of walls at opening time

• Free once you arrive: Srđ, Koločep, Lopud and Cavtat cost only the bus or boat

• A swim on the way: Lokrum, the sandy bay at Šunj on Lopud, Cavtat's rocks and the Mljet lakes, 26 to 29 °C in summer

• A full day out: Ston and its walls, or Mljet, where the lakes loop alone is 12 km

1. Mount Srđ by the Way of the Cross

• Start: the path off the main road above the old town, about 1 km of steps and lanes up from the Buža gate

• Distance: about 2 km one way

• Elevation gain: about 250 m

• Highest point: 408 m, at Fort Imperial

• Time: about 1 hour up

• Terrain: a rocky zigzag path across an open slope of low scrub

• Getting there: on foot from the old town; back down on foot or by cable car

Srđ is the bare hill that rises straight behind the city walls to 408 m. The path climbs it in tight zigzags past the 14 Stations of the Cross, and the war museum at the top calls it the Way of the Cross. The slope faces south, so from June to September start early or walk up for the sunset.

Fort Imperial, completed by the French in 1812, stands on the summit and now houses a museum of the Homeland War. On a clear day the view reaches 60 km, over Lokrum to the Elafiti islands. The tourist board's trail 430 is a longer way up and down from the old town, a 7.95 km loop with 416 m of climbing that returns through Bosanka on the old caravan road.

The cable car rides down 367 m in about 3.5 minutes and runs from April to November. In winter, walk back down or take bus 17 from Bosanka, which runs on working days and once on Saturdays, but not on Sundays or public holidays.

2. The City Walls

• Start: the Pile Gate, or the entrances at the Ploče Gate and St John's Fort

• Distance: 1,940 m round the old town

• Elevation gain: about 50 m, in many short flights of steps

• Highest point: the Minčeta tower, on the landward side

• Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

• Terrain: stone walkways and steep steps, with no shade

• Getting there: city buses to the Pile Gate; the ticket includes Fort Lovrijenac

The walls are Dubrovnik's best-known walk, and one of the shortest on this list. The city walls are 1,940 m long and up to 25 m high, 4 to 6 m thick on the land side and 1.5 to 3 m on the sea side. Most of the effort is on steps, not distance, and most walkers take 1.5 to 2 hours with stops.

A ticket is good for one circuit, and you cannot go back in once you have come down, so buy water before you start. The walls open every day of the year except Christmas Day, 25 December. From June to August, go at opening time or late in the day, when the stone has cooled.

3. Lokrum Island

• Start: the Portoč landing, 10 minutes by boat from the old port

• Distance: about 4 km loop

• Elevation gain: about 110 m

• Highest point: 96 m, at Fort Royal

• Time: about 2 hours with stops

• Terrain: marked forest paths and an old avenue up to the fort

• Getting there: the reserve's own boat from the old port; the ticket includes it

Just off the old town lies Lokrum, a forest reserve of 72 ha protected since 1948 and 10 minutes away by boat. Forest covers about 90% of the island, and walking off the marked paths is not allowed. A loop of about 4 km joins the old Benedictine monastery, the botanical garden of 1959 and the Dead Sea, a salt lake joined to the open sea by a 15 m channel.

The French began Fort Royal on the island's highest point, 96 m up, in 1806, and from the fort you see Dubrovnik, Cavtat and the islands. Nobody may stay after the last boat, which leaves at 18:00 from 28 September. Boats stop in bad weather, but the ticket stays valid for 3 days after its date.

4. Koločep: Donje Čelo to Gornje Čelo

• Start: the ferry landing at Donje Čelo

• Distance: about 2 km each way

• Elevation gain: about 50 m each way

• Highest point: about 45 m

• Time: about 30 minutes each way

• Terrain: stone footpaths through pine woods, olive groves and citrus trees

• Getting there: Jadrolinija line 807 from Gruž, 25 to 35 minutes

Koločep is the closest of the Elafiti islands to Dubrovnik and the smallest island in the group with villages on it. There are no cars on the island. A footpath of about 2 km links Donje Čelo, where the boat lands, with Gornje Čelo on the far side, climbing to about 45 m through olive groves and citrus trees.

On the way you pass pre-Romanesque churches from the 9th and 10th centuries, among them St Nicholas and St Anthony. The crossing from Gruž takes 25 to 35 minutes, the shortest boat ride of the island walks. Boats sail 4 times a day from Monday to Saturday, and even the 10:00 boat leaves most of the day for the path and a swim.

5. Lopud: Over the Hill to Šunj Bay

• Start: the harbour in Lopud village

• Distance: about 2 km each way

• Elevation gain: about 60 m each way

• Highest point: about 60 m

• Time: about 30 minutes each way

• Terrain: a village lane and a path across the middle of the island

• Getting there: Jadrolinija line 807 from Gruž, 45 minutes in summer, 55 out of season

Lopud's village curves round a harbour with a Franciscan monastery, and only 278 people lived on the island at the 2021 census. The walk crosses the island to Šunj, a sandy bay with shallow water, about 30 minutes on foot, the Dubrovnik tourist board says. Golf carts carry anyone who prefers to ride.

A longer path climbs to the Sutvrač fort at about 150 m. A loop out by the fort and back on the lane is about 5.7 km, with 230 m of climbing. The same 807 boat continues to Suđurađ on Šipan, the largest of the Elafiti, 15 to 20 minutes further on.

6. Cavtat: Round the Rat Peninsula

• Start: Cavtat harbour, by the old town

• Distance: about 2 km loop

• Elevation gain: about 20 m

• Highest point: about 15 m

• Time: about 30 minutes

• Terrain: a stone promenade under pines, with flat rocks for swimming

• Getting there: Libertas bus 10 from Dubrovnik, about 30 minutes; boats from the old port in summer

Cavtat is a small harbour town about 11 km south-east of Dubrovnik's old town, near the airport, and its walk is a loop of about 2 km round the Rat peninsula. A stone path follows the shore under pines for about 30 minutes, and the path stays close to sea level all the way round.

Steps lead up from the path to St Rocco's cemetery, about 25 m above the harbour at the top of the peninsula, where the Račić family mausoleum is the work of the sculptor Ivan Meštrović. Bus 10 runs from 05:00 until midnight, about every 30 to 60 minutes, so Cavtat also suits an evening walk after a day in the city.

7. Ston Walls: Ston to Mali Ston

• Start: Ston, at the foot of the walls on the east side of the town

• Distance: about 1 km one way

• Elevation gain: about 130 m

• Highest point: about 140 m

• Time: about 40 minutes one way

• Terrain: stone steps and a walkway on top of the wall, with no shade

• Getting there: Libertas bus 15 from Dubrovnik, about 1 hour

Ston and Mali Ston sit on either side of the neck of the Pelješac peninsula, and the Republic of Dubrovnik joined them with walls from 1333. The walls once ran for 7 km, and the Big Wall over the hill is 1,200 m long. The walk on top from Ston to Mali Ston takes about 40 minutes, the Ston tourist board says.

The walkway climbs on steep steps with no shade, so go early on a summer day. The walls open at 08:00 from April to October and close at 19:30 in June and July. Mali Ston Bay below has been a marine reserve since 1983, and its oysters became Croatia's first sea product with an EU protected origin in 2019.

8. Mljet: The Salt Lakes and Montokuc

• Start: Pomena, where the Krilo catamaran lands

• Distance: about 12 km loop; Montokuc adds about 3.6 km there and back

• Elevation gain: about 150 m, plus about 220 m for Montokuc

• Highest point: 235 m, on Montokuc

• Time: about 4 hours, plus about 1.5 hours for Montokuc

• Terrain: lakeside paths, a flat lane round Veliko jezero and a forest path to the top

• Getting there: the Krilo catamaran from Gruž, about 75 minutes, 12 May to 15 October

Mljet is the southernmost of Croatia's national parks, built round two salt lakes joined to the open sea: Veliko jezero, 145 ha and 47 m deep, and Malo jezero, 24 ha. The loop from Pomena follows both shores, and the park boat crosses every hour to St Mary's islet, where Benedictines built a monastery between 1177 and 1198.

From Soline, at the far end of the big lake, a marked path climbs 1.8 km to Montokuc, 235 m, the viewpoint above both lakes. A day trip on the Krilo leaves under 5 hours on Mljet, enough for the loop but not for Montokuc as well. Malo jezero warms to 26 to 29 °C in summer.

How Hard Are the Hikes?

None of the eight needs scrambling or a head for heights. The effort comes from steps, sun and bare limestone, and on Srđ and the Ston walls from a steady climb.

Heat, Shade and Water

Heat is the main difficulty in summer. Dubrovnik's average high is 28 °C in July and August, with 30 °C or more on about 8 to 10 days a month.

Srđ, the city walls and the Ston walls climb in full sun, so walk them before 10:00 or after 17:00 in summer. Carry all your water from the start, at least 1.5 litres a person in summer; the walls' managers also advise a hat and sun cream.

Paths, Steps and Waymarks

The paths are easy to follow. Srđ's zigzag is a single path, the island walks follow the only footpath or lane between two villages, and the tourist board's trails, such as trail 430 on Srđ, are marked.

The limestone is sharp and the steps on Srđ and the walls are uneven, so wear shoes with a firm grip. Lokrum bans walking off its marked paths, and Mljet bans fires of any kind all year. In an emergency, call 112.

Real mountain walking starts further north. Paklenica National Park has a canyon walk under limestone walls up to 400 m high. On Velebit, the Premužić Path takes 3 days hut to hut.

Best Time for Hiking in Dubrovnik

What changes through the year is the heat on the open paths and the boat timetables. The weather averages below are for Dubrovnik, 1971 to 2000, from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service.

For most walkers May, June, September and October are the best months: warm enough to swim, cool enough for Srđ, and the island boats still run. In February and March Lokrum opens only at weekends, and November is the wettest month, with 142 mm of rain.

Know Before You Arrive

Every walk here can be done without a car, and most of the planning is about which harbour the boat leaves from and when the last one comes back.

Getting There

Dubrovnik's Ruđer Bošković Airport is 22.5 km from the city. The Platanus shuttle leaves about 30 minutes after each landing. It reaches the Ploče Gate in about 30 minutes and the bus station at Gruž, 500 m from the ferry port, in about 35.

From the UK, many airlines fly to Dubrovnik in summer, but only Ryanair's Stansted flights run all winter. From the USA, United flies non-stop from Newark from May to late October. Croatia is in the Schengen area, and UK and US visitors may stay 90 days in any 180.

Boats and Buses to the Walks

The two harbours are about 3 km apart. The Lokrum boats leave the old port under the walls, while the island ferries and the Mljet catamarans leave Gruž. Buses 10 and 15 start from the main bus station beside Gruž port, and city buses 1A, 1B and 3 link it with the Pile Gate.

Jadrolinija's line 807 sails 4 times a day from Monday to Saturday and twice on Sundays outside July and August, and its timetable changes 3 times a year. For Mljet, a TP Line catamaran also runs to Polače from 29 May to 27 September, taking about 1 hour 45 minutes.

Before you set off, check the time of the last boat back: it leaves Lokrum at 18:00 in autumn, and the Krilo leaves Pomena for Dubrovnik at 16:30.

How Much It Costs

Four of the eight walks are free once you arrive, and the other four charge entry at 2026 prices.

• City walls: €40, including Fort Lovrijenac; under-7s go free and 7 to 18-year-olds pay a child rate

• Dubrovnik Pass: €40 for one day, with the walls and the city buses included

• Lokrum: €30, with the boat both ways

• Mljet National Park: €20, or €30 in summer, with one return boat to St Mary's islet

• Ston walls: €10, or €5 in winter, on the tourist board's 2024 list

• Srđ cable car: €17 one way or €30 return

• Boats: line 807 €5.40 in summer and €3.40 otherwise; the Krilo to Pomena €25

• Buses: €2.50 on city buses, €4 to Cavtat and €6.40 to Ston; the airport shuttle €10

The one-day Dubrovnik Pass costs the same as a walls ticket and adds the city buses and several museums.

What to Pack

Hot sun on pale limestone, swims along the way and early boats set the kit for Dubrovnik. Trail shoes are enough for every walk here, but the rock is sharp and the steps on Srđ and the walls are uneven.

For any day walk:

• Trail shoes or light walking shoes with a firm sole

• A sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream

• A 20 litre day pack with a light rain jacket outside summer

• A phone with offline maps and a power bank

For Dubrovnik:

• Water for the whole walk, at least 1.5 litres in summer

• Swimwear and a towel for Lokrum, Šunj, Cavtat and the Mljet lakes

• A light layer for the morning boats

• Euros in cash for cafés and taverns on the islands

• A passport or ID card, which TP Line requires on board

• A head torch if you watch the sunset from Srđ and walk down

Day Trips From the City, or Two Nights on Mljet?

Seven of these walks fit easily into a day from a hotel in Dubrovnik. Mljet is the exception, because the island is 75 minutes away and the boats set the hours.

The Krilo reaches Pomena at 11:45 and leaves at 16:30, which gives under five hours for a 12 km loop, the boat to St Mary's islet and a swim. Montokuc does not fit into the same day, and from mid-October to mid-May no catamaran allows a day trip at all.

Two nights on the island solve it. Our self-guided Dubrovnik and Croatia Islands Walking Holiday is built that way:

• Duration: 7 days / 6 nights from Dubrovnik, April to September

• Nights: four in Dubrovnik and two on Mljet, in 3-star hotels with breakfast

• Walks: Šipan, 10 km; the Mljet lakes, 12 km; Montokuc, 7.7 km

• Included: luggage transfers, a digital guidebook, a GPS app and support while you walk

The day 2 guided city tour and the tourist tax are extra; an airport transfer can be added. Ask us about dates for next season.

On the last walking day you climb Montokuc, 235 m above the two salt lakes, for a view over the island and the Dalmatian coast.