Eight places to see incredible views in Dubrovnik

A trip to Dubrovnik wouldn't be complete without walking the circuit of its City Walls. From here, you not only get a gorgeous view of the Adriatic, you also get a real sense of quite how powerful and canny the Ragusa republic was, fending off Venice and the Ottomans for centuries. It's up to you which direction you decide to walk in, but ideally you'll finish up at the Pile Gate at the opposite end of Stradun.

Mount Srd soars above the terracotta rooftops of the Old Town, a dry scrubland speckled with twisting masquis trees. Probably the best place to observe the vastness of Dubrovnik's architectural treasures, it's a relaxed hike to the peak of its summit, or a short glide on the cable car, where the shifting landscape becomes more spectacular as you ascend, with abundant views of the Old Town, Lokrum and the Elafiti islands.

Cliff bars welcome sunbathers, divers, drinkers and film fans. Follow the wall is daubed '8-20 Topless Nudist'. Down a stone staircase are bar tables and metal steps towards the sea. Jaw-dropping views make this the perfect place to sip your sundowner.

A crescent-shaped bay surrounded by rocks, Sveti Jakov is everyone's favourite beach, but rarely becomes crowded. The sun stays warm until late in the evening, bathing the Old Town in a golden light. It is accessed via a long stairway you’ll be reluctant to climb back up.

Perhaps the most recognisable of Dubrovnik's landmarks, especially for followers of Game of Thrones, Fort Lovrijenac occupies the western wall of Dubrovnik. Standing high above sea level, the fortress offers a dramatic panorama of terracotta rooftops, framed by a blazing blue Adriatic sea.

Peline runs along the northern wall, and over the lattice of steep cobblestone alleyways ascending from Stradun. This thoroughfare offers a few opportunities for your perfect insta snap: Minčeta Tower, usually entered from the City Walls, can also be visited here without any tourists getting in the way of your shot. Facing the direction of Stradun, you'll stand above the Old Town's patchwork of stone alleyways illuminated by oil lanterns. A scenic basketball court is also situated off Peline.

Dotted with diverse ruins and remnants - medieval and ecclesiastical, Napoleonic, Habsburg - Lokrum has long been given over to nature. In late summer, stunning fluorescent blue damselfish appear through seagrass brushed by starfish and sea urchins. A more idyllic setting so close to Dubrovnik you could not imagine.

As you look out to sea from the City Walls or sit down for your sundowner at Buza, you'll spot a small army of red kayaks battling the waves. Sea kayaking offers a unique perspective of the city and the rocky coastline which inhabits it.