Pick up any guidebook to Croatia and the chances are it will have Dubrovnik's Old Town on the front cover. And usually it's that famous shot of the city walls, the old port, terracotta roof tiles and the glistening blue Adriatic Sea in the background.

Nicknamed the "Pearl of the Adriatic" it truly is a magical place to visit. I have great memories from all my travels along the Croatian coast and having visited Dubrovnik a number of times over the years, I can see why people fall in love with the place. It's somewhere you should go at least once.

First item on your Dubrovnik itinerary should be the tour of the medieval city walls that encircle the pedestrian-only Old Town. Built to protect the city from various enemies, the walls date back to 12th century, and are up to 6m thick and 25m high.

Modifications and reinforcements were carried out over several hundred years including the addition of a series of towers and bastions. The walls were never breached by force and have been fully restored following the Serbian siege between October 1991 and May 1992.

The fortresses are used in various ways today, one of them housing the Maritime Museum and Aquarium, another acting as a concert venue during the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.

The views are amazing. As you walk around, photo opportunities present themselves, and whether you're looking out to sea and the island of Lokrum, the surrounding hills or down into the streets of the Old Town, you can't help but snap away.

At nearly two kilometres in length, it's quite a walk. Allow yourself plenty of time, at least one hour, and if you like to take regular breaks to rest or take photos, then it's closer to two hours.

I would suggest you do the tour first thing in the morning, as it gets very busy later on, particularly if there is a cruise ship around. Otherwise do it late afternoon, say 1 hour before closing time.

During the summer months, specially July and August, it gets very hot up there, so keep that in mind. There aren't many shaded areas, so wear a hat and sun protection.

Also, it may be obvious, but comfortable shoes or sandals, and a bottle of water are essential. Walking all the way around may be too much for young children or the elderly, as there are many stairs to climb.

Finally, some sections are quite high and narrow, and looking down can be a little hair-raising for those with a fear of heights!

Open daily 8am - 7pm in the summer, 10am - 3pm in winter.

Entry is 50 Kunas, via Pile or Ploce gate.