Mount Srd Hike: Dubrovnik’s Most Scenic Viewpoint

There’s no denying that Dubrovnik is a seriously pretty city. Affectionately nicknamed “the Pearl of the Adriatic,” its iconic Old Town is adorned with Baroque buildings, colourful markets, and mighty limestone walls. Walking the cobblestone streets is a great way to admire this historic city, but why not head up into the surrounding hills to take in the view from above?

The summit of Mount Srd is arguably Dubrovnik’s most scenic viewpoint. From the top of this 412m hill, the Old Town looks postcard-perfect — its iconic red roofs illuminated by the sun, while the Adriatic Sea glitters into the horizon.

You can get up to the Mount Srd viewpoint by car, by hiking, or by taking the cable car. The choice is yours, of course, but the Mount Srd hike is fairly easy, and I wholeheartedly recommend it — the effort is worth it!

The trailhead to the summit is just a 20-minute walk from the Old Town, and while it begins by going through some forest, it will soon take you up above the tree line, where you’ll be treated to gorgeous views.

Mount Srd hike map and logistics

Start/Finish: Jadranska Cesta (a 20-minute walk from Pile Gate in the Old Town)

Distance: 2.1 km (one way)

Time: 1.5 – 2 hours total (40 mins – 1 hour up, 30 – 40 mins down)

Difficulty: Easy to moderate; the distance is short but the walk up can be tough in the blazing sun.

How to get to the Mount Srd trailhead from the Old Town

It takes roughly 20 minutes to walk from Pile Gate in the Old Town to the Mount Srd trailhead. The trailhead is located right beside the main road, Jadranska Cesta, where you should spot a brown signpost pointing the way to Imperijal Srd. You’ll want to follow this signpost into the forest and onto the trail.

Here is a map which shows the best route to take from Pile Gate to the Mount Srd trailhead:

The Mount Srd hike itself

I recommend completely the Mount Srd hike later in the day when the sun is due to start setting. Not only will it be a cooler and easier walk, but the sunset over Dubrovnik’s Old Town and the Adriatic is a beautiful sight.

From the road, the Mount Srd trail immediately enters the forest and begins to climb uphill. The track is pretty rocky with lots of loose stone, so you’ll want to be wearing closed-toe shoes. I wore trainers and these suited me just fine.

The trail is comprised of a series of about 15 switchback turns that climb gently up the mountain. This means that the hike isn’t just an uphill slog, but instead ascends gradually.

After less than 10 minutes of walking, the trail breaks out above the tree line. From here, you’ll be rewarded with increasingly better views of Dubrovnik and the Old Town as you gain height. That being said, there is no shade above the tree line, so be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a sun hat.

At each switchback, you’ll see a copper slab depicting images of Jesus. Many people call this hike the “Way of the Cross”, as it’s supposed to symbolize Jesus’ journey from trial to tomb.

It should take roughly 45 minutes to an hour to reach the top of Mount Srd.

At the top of Mount Srd

Once you arrive at the top of Mount Srd, you’ll find a rather ugly communications tower and a parking lot. Head right past the comms tower, though, and you’ll come to a fort and a white stone cross.

The fort — Fort Imperial — was built by the French in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars. You can visit the museum that’s now inside (the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence) to understand how Fort Imperial became a symbol of strength for its people, as well as learn about the recent history of Dubrovnik.

There’s also a panoramic restaurant at the top, where you can sit to have a drink and take in the views. It’s very expensive, though — an iced tea set me back 50kn (almost 7€).

Experience Mount Srd by cable car

If you’re not sure about tackling the Mount Srd hike, you can instead take the cable car.

The cable car runs from just outside the Old Town directly up to the summit of Mount Srd. This is by far the most popular way of getting up and down the mountain — no doubt because it’s the quickest and easiest way.

I didn’t ride the cable car personally, but I imagine it’s an enjoyable way of reaching the summit and will have great views on the way up. If you only want to do the Mount Srd hike one way, you can always take the cable car up and walk down, or vice versa.

You can book tickets directly at the cable car stations:
Adult round-trip: 200kn
Adult one-way: 110kn
Child round-trip (4-12 years): 50kn
Child one-way (4-12 years): 30kn

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