The Most Beautiful Hike Overlooking Dubrovnik

No matter where we go we always try and find viewpoints or hikes overlooking the cities we visit. Just like we did in Montenegro when we went hiking to the top of Kotor Fortress to see the city from above, we thought it would be awesome to do the Mount Srd Hike and see the famous Old Town Dubrovnik from above.

There are other ways to get to the top of Mount Srd like by private hire, cable car, or even taking your own car up near the top. But hiking up to Mount Srd is by far the most scenic way and the most rewarding one as well!

The summit of Mount Srd is located within walking distance from the Old Town of Dubrovnik so it’s easily doable if you have a few hours. In our opinion, it’s one of the best viewpoints/spots to watch the sunset in Dubrovnik.

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Hiking up to Mount Srd for sunset

Similar to hiking up the Kotor Fortress in Montenegro (you have to do this!!) you can expect some killer views from Mount Srd as well overlooking all of Dubrovnik and the Old Town.

Since there’s quite a bit of elevation gain, the view from the top of Mt Srd is crazy. The hike itself starts right in the city between buildings and everything you wouldn’t expect this mountain right outside of the city walls.

You can also expect a lot less tourists around you on this hike since most people will be exploring and doing all the things to do in Old Town Dubrovnik. You can still expect a few people but it will definitely be a lot less congested than the city.

Hiking up to Mount Srd is quite easy to follow (however, pretty steep) and not too long, so there isn’t too much you need to prepare for when you go. There are lots of steps and rocks and hiking shoes are definitely nice to have but not necessary.

Another thing to take into consideration is to either have a full battery on your phone to use the flashlight on it or buy a small head torch that you can take with you anywhere. Again, it’s not a long hike but walking down back to Dubrovnik in the dark when you can’t really see isn’t that fun!

We left right after the sun set so we still had light for about half the hike down before it got really dark. With all the steps and rocks it was a little hectic but we took our time and eventually got back to the road that leads to Old Town.

Other than that, it’s a short and relatively easy trail that will take you up and above Dubrovnik. One of the best viewpoints in Dubrovnik!

Practical information about hiking in Dubrovnik up to Mt Srd

Distance: 6.1 km return / 3.79miles return
Elevation: 391 m / 1282 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 2.5-3 hours return (depending if you start at option #1 or #2)
Difficulty: Moderate (elevation)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Mt Srd hike.

Hiking in Dubrovnik up to Mt Srd

If you’re up for it we would recommend going for sunset or sunrise to really take advantage of the natural beauty of all the surroundings. You have the rolling hills on one side and the Adriatic Sea full of Croatian islands on the other and it is so beautiful!

We ended up doing the sunset hike to Mt Srd and we took some of the coolest photos of the sun setting over the Adriatic. We spent an hour there just watching the sun slowly set over the sea and all the tiny Croatian Islands scattered all over the place. 

What to expect on this hike in Dubrovnik

Try and start the hike 1.5 – 2 hours before sunset to give you some time to make your way to the top and find a spot to admire the views. You will see a fair bit of locals and tourists making the hike up to the top of Mt Srd as well. We’re sure it will be similar for sunrise too. Fortunately, once you’re at the top there’s so much space, so you can just walk a little ways and you’ll get some space for yourself. 

The hike itself is quite fun since the whole way you’re just zig zagging up the mountain while taking in the views at every turn – and as you get higher up, the views just get better and better. At almost every bend in the zig zags you can rest and take some cool photos. 

We would rate this hike as a moderately difficult hike due to the fact that you’re so exposed to the sun the whole way up and because of the steepness. There is little to almost no shade, and if you didn’t know, Croatia gets HOT! You can see the weather for Dubrovnik here. The path is very well paved and easy to follow but there are lots of rocks so please don’t wear sandals! You’ll regret it!

Different ways to get to the top of Srd

So there are basically two starting points if you’re looking to hike up to Mt Srd. You can either start from downtown Dubrovnik and hike all the way up or you can take a bus closer to the trailhead and hike up from there.

1. The first option is from Old Town, which is where we started the hike up to Mt Srd. For some reason google maps does’t work great in Old Town Dubrovnik so for this specific hike we used MapyCz. You can find the directions here from Old Town to Srd.
   
   It’s a nice addition to the hike since you get to walk through all the narrow cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik and see a bit of the city before the actual hike begins.
   
   There’s a good chance you will see some grenade marks and bullet holes as you walk up too, since the Yugoslavian war happened quite recently and lots of marks from the war still remain.
   
2. The second option is that you take a bus right up to the start of the hike. This is what we would have done if we weren’t already in the Old Town. Since we were already in the city we decided to just walk up.
   
   Busses go quite close to the beginning of the hike so you can just hop off and get started. If you put “Staza prema utvrdi Imperial” into Google Maps you will know exactly where to get off the bus.

No matter what time of day you go you will get amazing views as long as the sky is clear and the sun is shining. You’ll love hiking around Dubrovnik because you will see the city and the views from a perspective that 90% of tourists won’t get to experience. Plus the sunset we saw was one of the best sunsets we saw in all of Croatia.

Enjoy the hike and if you feel like grabbing a bite to eat or a beer once you’re at the top then you can stop at Restaurant Panorama. The restaurant is a little bit more on the expensive end but if you go just for a beer it’s totally worth it for the amazing views and pictures you’ll get.

Other ways to get to Mount Srd

Dubrovnik cable car

If you’re not in the mood to hike up to Mount Srd or you’ve just done enough free things in Dubrovnik and want to spend some money and enjoy a nice ride in the Dubrovnik cable car then that’s a fun way to see the city as well.

You can see the timetable and price for the Dubrovnik cable car here. At the bottom of the page, you can also see the current weather conditions and hours of operation. It’s definitely better to choose a day where it’s nice and sunny. Or for sunset like we’ve mentioned.

The easiest and most convenient way to buy tickets is at the cable car station. If you, however, prefer to plan a bit, you can buy your ticket online here.

Taxi up to Mt Srd

Do not hop in a taxi in Old Town and ask to get driven up to Mt Srd. You will pay around 300 HRK / $43. It’s absolutely ridiculous that they take advantage of tourists like that.

Call Cammeo (local taxi company) instead, and tell them exactly where you are downtown and they will come and pick you up. It should cost 150 HRK / $22 maximum to get a taxi to bring you up to the top and back down.

We would recommend this as the last option. If you’re not in the mood to hike and the cable car is not operating then at least you have this option.

What to bring on the Mt Srd hike

What you should bring of course depends on the weather. Let’s say you’re lucky and it’s very hot outside (at least that’s what we consider lucky), then you need to bring anything that can protect you from the sun. If it’s raining and cloudy you might want to bring an extra layer that can keep you warm and dry while you’re at the top taking in the views.

Packing list for the Mt Srd hike in Dubrovnik:

• Plenty of water. We take our Lifestraw bottles with us everywhere!
• Sunscreen is a must hiking anywhere when sunny in Croatia! Even if you go early in the morning or in the late afternoon sunscreen is a necessity!
• A portable head torch is great to have on any hike in case you get lost and nighttime starts creeping in. For Mt Srd if you’re planning to go for sunset a head torch is ideal!
• It’s always nice to have some food once you summit a mountain. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the views of the Adriatic Sea with a nice PB&J in your hand!

Also, this is a great list of hiking gear that you may need on a hike!

Before you hike Mt Srd

Make sure to check the weather and plan accordingly. Click here to see exactly how the weather will be in Dubrovnik before you set out on your journey.

If the weather isn’t great then you can check out this list of 11 Fun Things to Do in Dubrovnik and you can save the hiking in Dubrovnik for another day!

There’s also some incredible wine tasting tours in Dubrovnik that are also great for day trips if the weather isn’t great in Dubrovnik.

Other related questions to hiking Mt Srd

Can you hike up Mt Srd?

Yes you can hike up Mt Srd! It’s the most popular hike in Dubrovnik. The views from the top are incredible and anyone who is fine walking roughly 2-3 hours can do this hike.

How high is Mt Srd?

Mount Srd is 412 meters above sea lever or 1,352 feet. With this height it’s one of the taller peaks in the Dinaric Alps that overlook Dubrovnik.

Can you drive up to Mt Srd?

Yes you can drive up to Mt Srd. One thing to consider is the asphalt road does get quite narrow near the top. The toad only has room for one way traffic near the top. If you’re not comfortable with that you can always take the cable car, hike, or take a taxi up to Mt Srd.

How long is the Dubrovnik cable car ride?

The Dubrovnik cable car ride isn’t that long. It takes roughly 5 minutes to get from the bottom to the top of the Dubrovnik cable car. The part that takes a while is the queue for the cable car. You can wait anywhere from 5-30 minutes depending on what time of year you visit Dubrovnik.

Is the cable car included in the Dubrovnik card?

Unfortunately, the Dubrovnik cable car is not included in the local Dubrovnik card. The cable car is privately owned and you have to buy a separate ticket to ride the gondola. You can buy a ticket for the Dubrovnik cable car here.

Where does the Dubrovnik cable car take you?

The Dubrovnik cable car takes you to the peak of Mt Srd overlooking Dubrovnik and Lokrum Island. It’s the easiest way to get to the peak if you don’t want to go hiking in Dubrovnik.

You may also like…

• 11 Exciting Things to do in Dubrovnik
• The Best Sea Kayaking Tour in Dubrovnik
• 5 Fun Boat Tours to do in Dubrovnik
• 7 Important Things to Know When Driving to Kotor
• How to Hike up to The Kotor Fortress

Recap of hiking up to Mount Srd

If you’re looking to go hiking in Dubrovnik this is the one hike we can really recommend. There are other mountains and hills near Dubrovnik but Srd definitely offers the best views over the city.

Plus it’s easy to get to the trailhead from downtown, there’s a restaurant at the top, and there’s also a cable car.

Enjoy this beautiful hike and we hope you have an amazing time exploring Dubrovnik and the area. If you have any questions about Dubrovnik or other activities to do such as wine tasting or boat tours feel free to reach out to us.

You can DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Enjoy the beautiful city of Dubrovnik and the mountain above it! 😉

Have fun!

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