Lovrijenac Fortress
#8of 10 places to visit in DubrovnikDubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia
Also known as Fort Lovrijenac · St Lawrence Fortress · Dubrovnik Gibraltar
Quick answer
Opening hours: 08:00–19:30 and 08:00–18:30 and 08:00–15:00. Entry: €15. Allow 45 min. Best time: 08:00 to 09:30.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read
- Opening hours
- 08:00–15:00
- Approximately 08:00-19:30 June-September, 08:00-18:30 April-May and October, 08:00-15:00 November-March per reseller listings.
- Entry fee
- €15
- Ticket from
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time of day
- 08:00 to 09:30
- Best months
- May – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Address
- Fort Lovrijenac, on the rock outside Pile Gate (Tabakarija side), 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
About Lovrijenac Fortress
Lovrijenac Fortress stands on a limestone crag 37 metres above the Adriatic just outside Pile Gate and costs EUR 15, or nothing extra with a City Walls ticket, as of 2026. The fort guards the western sea approach to Dubrovnik, and its outer walls are up to about 12 metres thick where they face the sea, against roughly 60 centimetres on the city-facing side. That asymmetry was deliberate, so that any attacker who seized the fort could not use it against the town.
Best time of day: 08:00 to 09:30. Before the tour groups reach the fort from Pile Gate.
Lovrijenac Fortress timings
- Opening hours
- 08:00–15:00
Mon–Sun 08:00–19:30 and 08:00–18:30 and 08:00–15:00 - Approximately 08:00-19:30 June-September, 08:00-18:30 April-May and October, 08:00-15:00 November-March per reseller listings.
- Closed on
- Open every day
Good to know: Lovrijenac is used as an open-air stage during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, closing to sightseers on performance evenings; verify at the official site.
Opening hours compiled from citywallsdubrovnik.hr and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Lovrijenac Fortress ticket price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard ticket | €15 |
| Concession (student / senior) | €15 |
| Children | €15 |
Lovrijenac Fortress costs EUR 15 as a standalone ticket and is included in the Dubrovnik City Walls ticket (EUR 40 adults March-October, as of 2026); resellers report the Walls ticket stays valid for Lovrijenac for up to three days. Child and concession rates for standalone entry were not confirmed - as of 2026, verify at the official Walls webshop.
Prices compiled from citywallsdubrovnik.hr and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Best time to visit Lovrijenac Fortress
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Busy
08:00 - 09:30
OpeningBest time to go
Tour groups have not arrived yet and the courtyard is close to empty.
Quiet09:30 - 13:00
Group Mid-Morning
Cruise excursions add Lovrijenac to their Walls itinerary; the stair up is one-file at times.
Busy13:00 - 16:00
Midday Lull
Many visitors are at lunch in the Old Town, though the courtyard has little shade.
Moderate16:00 - closing
Late Light
Crowds thin and the low sun lights the ramparts; check last entry before climbing.
Quiet
History of Lovrijenac Fortress
Lovrijenac Fortress is first mentioned in written records in 1301, though local tradition claims the site was fortified from the 11th century, and legends of a race with Venice to seize the rock are unverified. Later Ragusan builders reworked it in the 15th and 16th centuries with a roughly triangular plan, a central courtyard and cannon terraces facing the sea, and the fort stayed in Ragusan hands until the Republic fell in 1808.
Above the entrance, an inscription in Latin reads Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro, roughly translated as freedom is not sold for all the gold in the world. The fortress served as the Red Keep in HBO's Game of Thrones and, in summer, is a stage for Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, performed in the courtyard.
Rules & etiquette at Lovrijenac Fortress
Lovrijenac Fortress is reached by a steep stone staircase from the Pile Gate side and is not wheelchair accessible, with no lift to the upper terrace; visitors with vertigo should know the upper terrace has low parapets over a drop into the sea. Wear shoes with grip, since the worn limestone treads are slick after rain.
Lovrijenac's courtyard is used for performances, so staff may close it to sightseers before events. Sitting on the parapets and climbing on the gun emplacements is not allowed. Drones need a Croatian aviation permit and are not practical this close to the Old Town, and photography for personal use is free elsewhere in the fort; tripods are impractical on the narrow terraces and stairs.
Tips for visiting Lovrijenac Fortress
- 1
Lovrijenac Fortress is best visited before the Walls circuit, at 08:00, when the interior is nearly empty; many visitors skip it in favour of the Walls, which leaves the courtyard quiet even in July and the fortress is mostly unvisited by day trippers who stop at the Walls. The best photo of the Old Town's western ramparts is taken from the fort's upper terrace looking back at Pile Gate, so bring a wide lens or phone panorama mode.
- 2
Lovrijenac Fortress overlooks the rocky Tabakarija bay, where locals swim from the stones, so pack a swimsuit and towel if the timing suits and cool off after the climb. If you have a City Walls ticket, present it at the fort gate rather than buying a second ticket, and keep it until the visit is done.
How to reach Lovrijenac Fortress
We haven't pinned Lovrijenac Fortress's exact position yet; the map shows the other places in our Dubrovnik guide. Use the address below or the directions link.
Fort Lovrijenac, on the rock outside Pile Gate (Tabakarija side), 20000 Dubrovnik, CroatiaDirections in Google Maps
From Pile Gate
0.3 km · 5 min
Free on foot
From Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
21 km · 35-45 min
approximately EUR 10-13 one way (verify at the airport)
From Gruž ferry and bus terminal
3 km · 20-30 min
approximately EUR 2-3 single
Nearest airport
From Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) at Čilipi
approximately 21 km, 30-40 minutes by airport shuttle bus to Pile Gate or by taxi.
Nearest station
From Dubrovnik has no railway station; the nearest public transport hubs are the Pile Gate bus stop (city buses and airport shuttle) and Gruž bus station, about 3 km away.
Lovrijenac Fortress FAQs
How much does Lovrijenac Fortress cost?
Lovrijenac costs EUR 15 as a standalone ticket, as of 2026, and is included free with a Dubrovnik City Walls ticket. Confirm the ticket validity window at the official webshop.
Is Lovrijenac Fortress worth visiting?
Yes, for the view back at Pile Gate and the Old Town walls, and because it is often quiet. Allow 30 to 45 minutes and expect a steep stone staircase up from the Pile Gate side.
Was Lovrijenac used in Game of Thrones?
Yes. The fortress stood in for the Red Keep in HBO's Game of Thrones, and it is used as a theatre stage for Hamlet during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
Can you reach Lovrijenac without the Walls ticket?
Yes. A standalone EUR 15 ticket exists, as of 2026, so a Walls ticket is not required, but the combined ticket is better value if you also plan the walk.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated . How we rank and check places
