Big Onofrio's Fountain
#2of 10 places to visit in DubrovnikDubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia
Also known as Velika Onofrijeva fontana
Quick answer
Opening hours: No fixed opening hours. Entry is free. Allow 15 min. Best time: Before 08:00 or after 20:00.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 3 min read
- Opening hours
- No fixed hours
- Open 24 hours; water flows continuously.
- Entry fee
- Free
- Time needed
- 15 min
- Best time of day
- Before 08:00 or after 20:00
- Best months
- May – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Address
- Placa (Stradun) at Pile Gate, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
About Big Onofrio's Fountain
Big Onofrio's Fountain in Dubrovnik is free, open 24 hours and supplies drinkable water, as of 2026. The domed stone fountain sits just inside Pile Gate, at the western end of Stradun, and has 16 sides, each with a carved face (mascaron) that spouts water. Neapolitan builder Onofrio della Cava completed it in 1438 to mark the arrival of a piped water supply that runs about 12 kilometres from the springs near the Ombla river.
Best time of day: Before 08:00 or after 20:00. When the plaza in front of Pile Gate is nearly empty.
Big Onofrio's Fountain timings
- Opening hours
- No fixed hours
Mon–Sun No fixed hours - Open 24 hours; water flows continuously.
- Closed on
- Open every day
Good to know: Maintenance can temporarily shut individual spouts; verify with the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.
Opening hours compiled from experiencedubrovnik.com and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Big Onofrio's Fountain ticket price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard ticket | Free |
| Concession (student / senior) | Free |
| Children | Free |
Big Onofrio's Fountain is free and open to the public 24 hours a day, as of 2026. The water is drinkable, so refilling a bottle costs nothing.
Prices compiled from experiencedubrovnik.com and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Best time to visit Big Onofrio's Fountain
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Busy
- Very busy
06:00 - 09:00
Morning QuietBest time to go
Few visitors and the fountain can be photographed without people in the frame.
Quiet09:00 - 12:00
Cruise Arrival
Pile Gate is the funnel for day-trip groups and the fountain plaza fills with guides and queues for the Walls.
Very busy12:00 - 17:00
Midday and Afternoon
Visitors queue to refill bottles and shelter in the fountain's shade at midday.
Busy17:00 - 22:00
Evening
Locals and dinner crowds replace day trippers and the plaza calms down.
Moderate
History of Big Onofrio's Fountain
Big Onofrio's Fountain was built by Onofrio della Cava, a Neapolitan engineer who also designed much of Dubrovnik's medieval water system. The fountain was the end point of the aqueduct that brought spring water into the walled city and it still runs on that gravity-fed system, which is why the spouts flow without pumps.
Dubrovnik's 1667 earthquake collapsed the fountain's original stone cupola and damaged the carvings, and the top was later replaced by a plainer form that visitors see today. A second, smaller fountain by the same builder stands at the other end of Stradun on Luža Square. Little Onofrio's Fountain on Luža Square is the easier one to miss, and the two together bracket the length of Stradun.
Rules & etiquette at Big Onofrio's Fountain
Big Onofrio's Fountain is a public monument, so climbing on it, wading in the basin and washing food or clothes in its water are prohibited. Visitors can drink or fill a bottle from the mascaron spouts, and locals do the same, which means a short queue is normal in summer. Stand beside the basin rather than on its stone rim when taking photographs, since the surface is polished and wet.
Big Onofrio's Fountain stands at Pile Gate, the busiest entrance to the Old Town, so give the fountain space when tour groups gather; queues to the Walls also form beside it. Keep bags zipped, as pickpocketing is reported around the plaza in peak hours, and note that wheeled suitcases are banned on the Old Town streets, so drop them at your hotel first.
Tips for visiting Big Onofrio's Fountain
- 1
Big Onofrio's Fountain is the fastest place to fill a water bottle before walking Dubrovnik City Walls, since paid drinks on the ramparts cost several euros; the water comes from the municipal supply and is safe to drink, as of 2026. Walk around all 16 sides to find the faces that spout water, and note that the stone steps and basin are worn smooth.
- 2
Dubrovnik's Franciscan Monastery is next door to the fountain, with the pharmacy and cloister open for a small fee, and the fountain marks the start of Stradun. Use it as a meeting point, since it is easy to find on arrival and lies at street level with no steps to reach it, but avoid the 09:30 to 11:30 window in summer when cruise groups arrive through Pile Gate and the plaza is packed.
How to reach Big Onofrio's Fountain
We haven't pinned Big Onofrio's Fountain's exact position yet; the map shows the other places in our Dubrovnik guide. Use the address below or the directions link.
Placa (Stradun) at Pile Gate, 20000 Dubrovnik, CroatiaDirections in Google Maps
From Pile Gate bus stop
0.1 km · 2 min
approximately EUR 2-3 single
From Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
21 km · 30-40 min
approximately EUR 10-13 one way (verify at the airport)
From Ploče Gate
0.5 km · 7-10 min
Free on foot
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.
Big Onofrio's Fountain FAQs
Is the water at Onofrio's Fountain safe to drink?
Yes. The fountain is fed by the city's municipal supply, which is regularly tested, and locals and visitors drink from it and refill bottles, as of 2026.
How much does it cost to see Onofrio's Fountain?
Nothing. The fountain is free and open 24 hours a day, as of 2026.
Who built Big Onofrio's Fountain and when?
Neapolitan engineer Onofrio della Cava completed the fountain in 1438 as the end of Dubrovnik's aqueduct, which brought spring water about 12 kilometres into the walled city.
Where is Big Onofrio's Fountain in Dubrovnik?
The fountain stands just inside Pile Gate at the western end of Stradun, beside the Franciscan Monastery and opposite the bus stop and Walls entrance.
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
