Dubrovnik Cable Car

The Dubrovnik Cable Car climbs from a station just above the Old Town to the top of Mount Srđ, the ridge that rises steeply behind the city. The ride is short, only a few minutes, but the height gain is large, and the view that opens as the cabin leaves the lower station is the reason most people come: the orange roofs of the Old Town, the sea walls, the island of Lokrum and the open Adriatic.

The line was first opened in 1969 and was badly damaged during the siege of Dubrovnik in 1991. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2010, and today it carries visitors from the lower station to a terrace at roughly 400 metres above sea level. Because the mountain faces the sea, the views are widest on a clear day, when the coast and the nearby islands are visible for many kilometres. The cabins keep the same route throughout the day, and the angle of light changes the scene from bright blue at noon to soft gold in the evening.

At the top there is more than a viewpoint. A large cross stands on the ridge, and the Imperial Fort, built under French rule in the early 19th century, houses a museum about the Homeland War, with exhibits that explain the defence of the city in 1991. The Panorama Restaurant & Bar serves meals and drinks on a terrace over the view, and there are small shops. Several tour operators run a Buggy Safari on the trails nearby, and walkers can follow paths across the rocky, scrubby upland.

Timing matters. Sunset is the most popular time, and queues build up in high season, so going earlier in the day or later in the evening helps. Wind can stop the cable car, so it is best to check on the day, and book ahead in summer if you can. Some visitors ride up and walk down along the zigzag road, which takes some time and goes in sun, so take water and good shoes.

The cable car suits families, photographers and anyone who wants to understand the geography of Dubrovnik at a glance, before heading down to the Old Town's main street, the Stradun, and nearby sights such as the Pile Gate and Fort Lovrijenac. The station is reached on foot, by a short taxi ride or by local bus from the walls.