10 Picture-Perfect Walled Cities Around The World

Times Now Digital, TN Lifestyle Desk

May 05, 2025

​Dubrovnik, Croatia​

Often called the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik stuns with its red-roofed buildings, dramatic sea views, and UNESCO-listed medieval walls. You can walk the entire 2 km circuit atop its ramparts, passing old forts, watchtowers, and picture-perfect views of the sea.

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​Carcassonne, France​

This fairy-tale fortified city in southern France looks like it jumped out of a medieval storybook. With its double walls, 53 towers, and cobbled lanes, Carcassonne is every castle-lover’s dream. Inside the walls, you’ll find charming cafés and old chapels.

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​Jerusalem, Israel​

Jerusalem is surrounded by towering ancient stone walls dating back to the 16th century. Within them lie some of the holiest sites for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike—including the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock.

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​York, England​

Charming and compact, York is home to the longest intact medieval walls in England. A walk along its city walls offers sweeping views of gothic spires (especially the York Minster), quaint streets, and a deep sense of history.

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​Xi’an, China​

Once the starting point of the Silk Road, Xi’an is famed for its massive, square-shaped city wall—one of the oldest and best-preserved in China. The 14 km wall is so wide you can rent a bike and cycle along its top, soaking in panoramic views of the modern city

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​Pingyao, China​

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pingyao is one of China’s best-preserved walled towns, complete with Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Walking its walls reveals ancient temples, courtyards, and red lantern-lined streets.

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​Taroudant, Morocco​

Often called the "Grandmother of Marrakech," Taroudant is a lesser-known gem in southern Morocco with ochre-colored walls that glow in the evening sun. The city’s ramparts stretch for over 7 km and are punctuated by gates leading into souks full of spices, silver & Berber carpets

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​Ávila, Spain​

Spain's city of saints and stones, Ávila boasts some of the most impressive medieval walls in all of Europe—nearly 2.5 km long and punctuated by 88 towers. Built in the 11th century, they enclose a city known for its Romanesque churches and its connection to Saint Teresa

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​Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany​

If you've ever imagined what a real-life gingerbread town looks like, it’s this one. Rothenburg is Germany’s best-preserved walled town, with timber-framed houses, flower-boxed windows, and cobbled squares. Walking the old city walls, you'll feel like you've entered a fairy tale

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​Mdina, Malta​

Nicknamed the "Silent City," Mdina sits on a hill in central Malta, and is all golden-stone alleyways, Baroque architecture, and lamp-lit quiet. Enclosed by thick walls and a moat, the city is a peaceful escape into medieval and Roman history.

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