Some sections are quite hilly, with steep stone stairs and cobblestone roads, so you'll need comfortable footwear for your explorations. Most of the main sites can be seen without negotiating the steps and steep alleyways leading off the main street.

Dubrovnik is exceptionally hilly, characterized by its dramatic position at the foot of Mount Srdj. While the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, the Stradun, is flat (as it was originally a marshy channel filled in during the 13th century), almost every street branching off from it consists of steep, narrow stone staircases. Navigating the city involves a constant climb, especially if you are staying in the residential areas of Ploče or Lapad, which rise sharply from the coastline. The famous City Walls themselves are a series of inclines and declines, offering panoramic views because of the elevation changes. For those who want the view without the hike, a cable car runs to the summit of Mount Srdj. If you have mobility issues, Dubrovnik can be challenging, as there are very few "flat" routes once you step away from the immediate vicinity of the main square or the harbor. In 2026, "stair-climbing" remains the unofficial primary exercise for any visitor to the "Pearl of the Adriatic."