Dubrovnik City Walls: An Early Bird Walking Tour Review
Visiting Dubrovnik is, well, it’s a bit like stepping straight into a postcard, or maybe even a movie set, right? Those imposing City Walls, hugging the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, are something special to look at. So, when I planned my trip, there’s something I just had to do; I knew walking those very walls had to happen. That said, thinking about doing it along with half the planet didn’t sound very appealing. It felt really right to find an ‘Early Bird’ tour. Guess what? This might be one of my best vacation choices ever, seriously.
Why Choose the Early Bird Tour? Beating the Crowds and the Heat
So, let’s consider this; Dubrovnik during peak season, oh, it’s really something. Just loads and loads of people gather there. But that, is where the charm is kinda lessened a little, right? That’s actually where the genius of an Early Bird tour comes in. Instead of battling massive groups all bumping into you, you more or less glide along the walls, with plenty of space to breathe, to gaze, and, possibly, to snap some very, very stunning photos. And this is where the Dubrovnik City Walls come to life, at its own speed, that makes this early experience worth waking up for!
Okay so, aside from the smaller crowds, you get another huge perk with the early start: it’s so much cooler, seriously. Walking the walls in the blistering midday sun doesn’t sound fun to me, it’s just hard work. The early morning air feels so very crisp and refreshing, actually. It makes the whole walk just a bit more enjoyable. I was really able to soak in the scenery without feeling like I was melting away; that sounds just perfect.
A Photographer’s Paradise
If, say, you’re into photography, oh boy, are you in for a real treat here. Early morning light just does something pretty special to those ancient stones, just casting these like very soft, flattering shadows. The terracotta rooftops sort of glow, and the Adriatic looks exceptionally blue, seriously. I, myself, must have taken hundreds of photos; each one almost seemed like a professional shot, right? So too, it’s almost a pleasure walking on this wall that tells it’s own story.
What to Expect on the Tour, that is Important?
Okay, so usually, these Early Bird tours kick off around 8:00 AM, give or take a little bit, is that cool? And basically, there is this meeting point near the Pile Gate; it’s rather very easy to find. You get to meet your guide, and this is important, often they are super knowledgeable locals who really just seem to know everything about the walls, that’s nice!
And so, the tour more or less goes around the entire perimeter of the walls, about 2 kilometers in total; it’s still important that you bring very comfy shoes! You’ll want that so, you see every tower, every fortress, and basically get these just spectacular views of the Old Town and the sea. The guides, like yours truly, really give you these amazing stories and historical context. So, in that way, you are not just walking; that may be really important. You are getting this history lesson, too! I will be very honest; I actually learned a great deal I didn’t have any idea about before!
The Highlights: Forts, Towers, and Views, wow!
There’s something the tour just had to cover; visiting Fort Bokar. This one has stunning views of Fort Lovrijenac; the first one is actually often referred to as “Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar,” like yours truly. Then, there is also the Minceta Tower; it is the tallest point on the walls. The view from up there is more or less completely unmatched.
And still, along the way, there are, too it’s almost some little shops and cafes that had really tasty food and drinks. It is so cool because you can stop for a quick refreshment while you’re admiring the views; they have those at pretty regular intervals. I sort of paused for a coffee and a pastry; that gave me that very extra boost to keep going!
Tips for Making the Most of Your Early Bird Walk
To just have the best experience walking these ancient walls here are some very handy tips.
- Book in Advance: Okay, these Early Bird tours get booked quickly, seriously. This can be important during peak season. To secure your place you can pre-book the experience online!
- Wear Comfortable Shoes: It can be important to wear very comfy shoes since the cobblestones could make you feel a bit tired!
- Bring Water: Now it can be important to keep yourself pretty well hydrated. Basically, particularly on a long walk like this you may want to consider bringing a refillable water bottle to rehydrate with!
- Sun Protection: Basically, although it is very early morning, the sun here can be pretty strong still. Consider using very good sunscreen and a sun hat.
- Camera Ready: Have your camera ready at all times. There are many photo opportunities there so it’s very important to not let these experiences go to waste, it might make your whole experience perfect.
- Listen to Your Guide: Take in what the tour guide has to say! They give amazing background on the history of the walls so take notes.
Is It Worth the Early Wake-Up? That’s Very Important!
Basically, absolutely. Now if you ask me whether I would wake up very early again? Oh yes, right away. Having the opportunity to see the Walls of Dubrovnik, still at my own pace and at peace, is worth all that effort, very much. And then being able to watch and admire the city sort of wake up is something special; those very unique experiences you may never find elsewhere. Then the quality of the photos; I took them in these lights is more than stunning; so many shots for social media.
The Early Bird tour does something right by giving more enjoyment than going on tour during the busier times. Not that, that isn’t also that great as well! But doing something the tour gives is pretty perfect. These more personalized interactions with tour guides make them such amazing human experiences too! This tour is like very uniquely capturing what a visit to this historic city would be!
Visiting those Walls gave this unique outlook on history and an amazing story I could always cherish. Anyone visiting this historic city this is important, right up on your must-do list?