Attraction
City Walls of Dubrovnik
Almost two kilometres of medieval ramparts wrapped around Dubrovnik's Old Town, walkable in a full circuit with views over terracotta roofs and the open Adriatic.
Stradun
The polished limestone main street of Dubrovnik's Old Town, running about 300 metres from the Pile Gate to the Bell Tower between uniform post-earthquake houses.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic main street
- Area
- Old Town, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Good to know
- Free
- Pedestrianised
- Open 24 hours
Why we recommend it
Stradun, officially called Placa, is the spine of Dubrovnik's Old Town and the street almost every visitor walks first. It runs for about 300 metres in a straight line from the Pile Gate in the west to the Bell Tower and Ploče side in the east, paved in limestone worn so smooth by centuries of feet that it shines after rain and in evening lamplight.
The street follows the line of a marshy channel that once separated the island settlement of Ragusa from the mainland village of Dubrava. The channel was filled in the 13th century, joining the two halves into one city, and Stradun became the main thoroughfare. Before 1667 its houses were varied, many with arcades and decoration, but the great earthquake of that year and the fire that followed destroyed most of them. The Republic then laid down rules for rebuilding, which is why the facades today look so uniform: each house has a shop on the ground floor with a door and a window set together under a single rounded arch, storage behind, living rooms above and the kitchen in the attic. Shelling damaged the street in 1991 and 1992, but the damage has largely been repaired.
At the western end you find the large 15th-century Onofrio's Fountain, built as the end point of the city's aqueduct, and the bell tower of the Franciscan Monastery. At the eastern end stand the small Onofrio's Fountain, the Bell Tower and Luža Square, with the Church of St Blaise, Sponza Palace and Orlando's Column grouped around it. Narrow stepped lanes climb north and south from Stradun, lined with restaurants, small shops and houses with washing hung across the alleys.
There is no ticket, and Stradun never closes, so you can choose your moment. In summer it is crowded from mid-morning to late afternoon when cruise passengers arrive; early morning, when the cafés are setting out tables and the stone has just been washed, and late evening are the most atmospheric times. On 3 February each year the procession for the Feast of St Blaise, the city's patron saint, passes along the street. Pushchairs and wheelchairs can manage Stradun itself, which is flat, but the side lanes are steep and stepped.
City buses stop just outside the Pile Gate. Walk the full length, then use the street as your base for the walls, the monasteries and the old harbour.
Stradun FAQs
How long is Stradun?
About 300 metres from the Pile Gate to the Bell Tower.
Why do all the houses look the same?
After the 1667 earthquake the Republic set rules for rebuilding, so the houses share one pattern with a ground-floor shop under an arched door and window.
Is there a charge to walk Stradun?
No. It is a public street, free and open at all hours.
What is at each end of the street?
The Pile Gate, the large Onofrio's Fountain and the Franciscan bell tower in the west; the small Onofrio's Fountain, the Bell Tower and Luža Square in the east.
When is the quietest time to visit?
Early morning and late evening, before and after the daytime cruise crowds.
Is Stradun accessible for wheelchairs?
The main street is flat and smooth, but most side lanes are steep and stepped.
What is Stradun's other name?
Its official name is Placa.
What happens on 3 February?
The procession for the Feast of St Blaise, Dubrovnik's patron saint, passes along Stradun.