Mali Ston harbour with a round stone tower, waterfront houses and moored boats beneath green hills

Heritage · Ston, Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Ston & the Pelješac Walls

Medieval walls of the Republic of Ragusa guarding the salt pans of Ston and Mali Ston

Ambient sound · similar settingFootsteps on a Mediterranean trail among cicadas

Photo: Lidija Nikolac Katić (@lily2023_) / Unsplash

Discover Ston & the Pelješac Walls

Where the Pelješac peninsula joins the mainland, two small towns face each other across a narrow isthmus: Ston, beside its shallow salt pans, and Mali Ston, a tiny harbour on a bay known for shellfish. Between them, a great line of stone walls climbs over the hill, dotted with towers and forts, built to protect one of the Dubrovnik Republic's richest assets.

Today you can walk sections of the walls for wide views over the salt pans, the bay and the hills of Pelješac, then wander the quiet lanes of both towns. It is an easy stop on the road from Dubrovnik towards Korčula or the Pelješac wine villages, and a rewarding half-day for anyone interested in the history of the Ragusan republic.

Don’t miss

01Walking sections of the walls with views over the salt pans and Mali Ston Bay
02The salt pans of Ston, still worked today
03Veliki Kaštio fortress in Ston
04Koruna fortress and the small harbour of Mali Ston
05The fort on Podzvizd hill, the high point of the wall system

History & culture

The story of Ston & the Pelješac Walls

Dubrovnik acquired Ston and the Pelješac peninsula in the 1330s, and soon began fortifying the isthmus to protect its new territory and, above all, the salt pans, a major source of income for the republic. Work on the walls continued through the 14th and 15th centuries. The system originally stretched for more than 7 km; today about 5.5 km survive, with towers, bastions and forts, anchored by the Veliki Kaštio fortress in Ston, the Koruna fortress in Mali Ston and a fort on Podzvizd hill.

After the republic fell, parts of the fortifications were taken down, a process halted after the Second World War. The walls were damaged by earthquakes in 1979 and 1996, restoration began in 2004, and part of the walls has been open to visitors since 2009. The walls are sometimes described as the second longest in Europe.

Local life & traditions

Life in Ston has long been tied to salt and the sea. The salt pans that once paid for the walls are still harvested, and the sheltered waters of Mali Ston Bay support shellfish farming, with oysters and mussels part of the local tradition. Ston is a small community of around 500 people in the town itself, and both towns keep a calm, village feel outside the summer season.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Climb the walls from Ston for views back over the town and salt pans, then follow them over the hill towards Mali Ston if you have the time and energy. Visit the salt pans to see how salt is still harvested, and stroll the waterfront of Mali Ston, where the bay is known for its shellfish farming.

Combine Ston with a drive along the Pelješac peninsula, known for its vineyards and the port town of Orebić, where ferries cross to Korčula. The Pelješac Bridge, opened in 2022, now connects the peninsula directly with the mainland to the north.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best times to walk the walls, when temperatures are mild and the views are clear. In July and August, climb early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as the walls are steep and offer no shade. The cooler months are quieter and pleasant for a stop on the road between Dubrovnik and Pelješac.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Managing body: The Walls of Ston are among the monuments presented by the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities, which also manages the Dubrovnik city walls. Source: citywallsdubrovnik.hr ↗
Structure: The system comprises the main wall, three forts (Veliki Kaštio, Koruna and Podzvizd), 41 towers, seven bastions and four pre-walls. Source: citywallsdubrovnik.hr ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

The walls are steep, with many steps; wear good shoes and bring water.
Avoid the middle of the day in summer: there is almost no shade on the walls.
Check current opening times and ticket arrangements for the walls with the official operator before you visit.
Ston is a natural stop when driving between Dubrovnik and Korčula or the Pelješac vineyards.
Allow time to visit both Ston and Mali Ston, which are linked by the walls.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Ston & the Pelješac Walls: food, markets & places to stay

Ston lies at the neck of the Pelješac peninsula, north-west of Dubrovnik along the coast road. Orebić, further along the peninsula, has car ferries to Korčula, and the Pelješac Bridge links the peninsula with the mainland near Komarna, avoiding the Neum corridor. Mali Ston has a small harbour on its bay.