Dubrovnik: The Original Game of Thrones Tour & Lokrum Option

Dubrovnik makes a convincing King’s Landing without much help from television magic. On this tour, you’ll walk from Pile Gate through the Old Town, climb the Jesuit Stairs, look across Blackwater Bay, and visit Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep in the series. I like the way the guides pair filming trivia with Dubrovnik’s own story, and I like that you can choose a focused two-hour walk or add Lokrum Island and the Iron Throne.

The main caution is practical: this is a stair-heavy walk, and Lovrijenac adds a €15 entrance fee unless you have a Dubrovnik Pass or a valid City Walls ticket. The Lokrum option also costs more than the advertised $26, since the ferry and island admission are separate.

Key points to know before booking

• Cersei’s Walk of Shame route: Follow the real Dubrovnik streets used for one of the show’s best-known scenes.
• Lovrijenac Fortress: See the Red Keep location and excellent coastal views, but budget €15 unless your pass covers entry.
• Scene photos help: Guides use stills from the series to show how each real street was framed on screen.
• Lokrum adds the Iron Throne: The three-hour option includes a ferry ride, Qarth locations, and time to swim, stroll, or relax.
• Local storytelling matters: Guides including Tihomir, Jelena, Eddie, Joseph, and Karmen are praised for mixing show facts with Croatian history.
• Expect stairs: The route is not suitable for wheelchair users and may be difficult if you have mobility issues, vertigo, or a fear of heights.

Why Dubrovnik works so well as King’s Landing

Game of Thrones did not need to invent much for Dubrovnik. The Old Town’s stone lanes, massive walls, sea views, and steep stairways already provide the look of a powerful medieval capital. The fun comes from seeing the ordinary city beneath the screen version.

Your guide helps bridge that gap. At one stop, you may be looking at a normal street used for a dramatic confrontation. At another, a familiar square becomes easier to recognize once you see a scene photograph taken from the same angle. That visual comparison is one of the strongest parts of the experience.

This is not only a fan tour. The guides also explain Dubrovnik’s past and point out how the city’s architecture and setting shaped the production. That balance is important if you are traveling with someone who has not watched the show. The route still gives you a useful introduction to Dubrovnik itself.

The tour is conducted in English, and guide assignments vary. Recent departures have included Tihomir, Jelena, Eddie, Joseph, Josip, Karmen, Bruno, Ivo, and Boris. The strongest descriptions of the experience repeatedly focus on clear storytelling, humor, patience, and the ability to connect each location to both the show and the city.

Meeting at the Large Onofrio’s Fountain

The meeting point is by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative holding a red umbrella. Three nearby starting-point labels may appear when you book, but they refer to the same general fountain area, so allow a little time to find the correct representative in the busy Old Town.

The fountain is near Pile Gate, one of Dubrovnik’s main entrances. That makes it a sensible place to begin, since the route quickly moves into one of the show’s key areas. It also gives you a central starting point if you are staying near the Old Town.

Bring water, especially in warm weather. Dubrovnik’s stone streets can reflect heat, and the route includes stairs and uphill sections. Wear shoes with a good grip. This is not a tour for pushing a stroller easily or rolling along without effort.

Pile Gate and Blackwater Bay

Pile Gate is your first important screen location. In the series, the gate and nearby approaches help create the fortified entrance to King’s Landing. In real life, it is one of Dubrovnik’s grandest access points, built into the city’s defensive system.

From here, the guide puts the filming into context. You may see a scene image and then compare it with the same arch, wall, or approach as it looks today. This is where a guide’s presentation makes a difference. A list of filming spots would be fairly thin, but a clear explanation of camera position and set changes gives the location meaning.

Blackwater Bay is another strong early stop. The coast below Dubrovnik provides the dramatic setting that made the city useful for King’s Landing scenes. You get more than a television reference here: the views show why Dubrovnik was chosen in the first place.

The route around Pile Gate is also useful for getting your bearings in Dubrovnik. Several people who have taken the walk appreciated that the guide explained the city as well as the show. I would consider taking this tour early in your stay if you want help understanding the Old Town layout.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep

Lovrijenac Fortress is the visual centerpiece of the two-hour route. Perched outside the main walls, it played the Red Keep. The setting gives you open views over the Adriatic and back toward Dubrovnik, so this stop earns its place even if you are only a casual fan.

The fortress is linked with scenes involving Tyrion and Varys, as well as other King’s Landing material. Your guide explains which parts were filmed on site and uses images to make the connection clearer. The views are a bonus, but the climb and entrance fee are real considerations.

Entry is not included in the tour price. The standard cost is €15 per person, while children under seven enter free. You can enter without paying this separate fee if you hold a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

That detail can change the value calculation. If you already plan to walk Dubrovnik’s walls, the fortress may cost you nothing extra. If you are booking this tour alone and do not have either ticket, add €15 to the advertised $26 price.

The fortress has stairs and exposed viewpoints. Anyone uneasy with heights should think carefully before choosing this route. The views are excellent, but the setting is not designed for a completely flat, low-effort visit.

Stradun, the Purple Wedding, and city scenes

Back inside the Old Town, the tour continues along Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. It is a handsome, broad stone thoroughfare, and it has appeared in several King’s Landing scenes. Here, the guide can show you how the production used the street as a public space, sometimes with changes to signs, stalls, costumes, or crowd movement.

The connection to the Purple Wedding is one of the more memorable story links. You also see locations associated with city markets and other scenes spread through King’s Landing. These stops help you understand that the show did not rely on one single set. Dubrovnik’s streets were repeatedly adapted to play different parts of the fictional capital.

The route is well paced at around two hours, according to the activity details. Several guide descriptions also point to the walk being full rather than hurried, with time for questions and photographs. Still, this is a city walk, not a private studio visit. You will share narrow streets with normal Old Town activity, and some stops may be busy.

Orlando’s Column and the Jesuit Stairs

Orlando’s Column is another Old Town landmark used during the tour. It sits in a major public space and helps show how Dubrovnik’s historic center became a working film set. Your guide explains the connection while also giving you the local context of the monument and surrounding square.

The Jesuit Stairs are one of the tour’s most recognizable locations. Their long, curving design creates a strong visual line, and they are associated with Cersei’s Walk of Shame. Seeing the stairs in person gives you a better feel for the physical demands of the scene than a television screen can.

Take the steps slowly. They are photogenic, but they are not a minor detail for anyone with knee, balance, or breathing problems. The tour is specifically not recommended for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, pregnant women, or people with vertigo or a fear of heights. It is also not suitable for people with respiratory issues or motion sickness.

The area around the Jesuit Stairs has restaurants and market activity, making it a useful spot to return to after the tour. A guide may also take your photograph here, which is a small but welcome help when you are traveling without a group member who can handle the camera.

The Lokrum option and Qarth

The longer version adds about an hour and continues to Lokrum Island by ferry. The boat ride takes about 15 minutes. Lokrum served as Qarth in Season 2, so this option shifts the experience from Dubrovnik’s stone streets to a wooded island setting.

The guided portion includes filming locations connected with the Benedictine Monastery and other island sites. The monastery provides a different kind of backdrop from the fortress and streets, and the island gives you a chance to see how the production used a contrasting location for Qarth.

The main extra attraction is Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne. You can sit on it and take photographs. For many dedicated fans, this is the most appealing reason to choose the Lokrum version. It gives you a clear souvenir moment rather than only a collection of places to recognize.

After the guided section, you have free time on Lokrum. You can swim in a cove, walk through the botanical gardens, sit in the shade, or stop for a drink or lunch. This makes the longer option more than an extra hour of filming trivia. It is also a small island outing.

The tradeoff is cost and timing. The round-trip ferry and Lokrum admission are not included. The stated combined cost is €30 for adults and €5 for children aged five to 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives a 20 percent ferry discount, while a seven-day pass gives 30 percent off.

You return to Dubrovnik at your own pace after the guided portion. That flexibility is useful if you want to stay longer on the island, but you need to pay attention to ferry arrangements and timing. Food and drinks are also your responsibility.

How much value do you get for $26?

At $26 per person, the two-hour walk is reasonably priced for Dubrovnik, particularly if you care about both the filming locations and the city itself. You are paying for an English-speaking guide, not just access to a route, and the scene images add something you cannot get by walking around with a map.

The value is strongest when your guide is a good storyteller. The guide names vary, but Tihomir, Jelena, Eddie, Joseph, Josip, Karmen, Bruno, Ivo, and Boris have all been singled out for clear explanations, humor, local knowledge, and strong pacing. That variation means the exact tone may differ, but the repeated praise for the guiding suggests that the human part of the tour is central to its appeal.

The €15 fortress charge needs to be included in your budget. If you already have a Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket, the calculation improves considerably. If you choose Lokrum, the separate €30 adult ferry and island cost means the total is much higher than the headline price.

I would choose the two-hour route if you want a compact introduction or have a tight cruise-day schedule. I would choose Lokrum if you have more time, want the Iron Throne photograph, and like the idea of pairing a city walk with swimming or quiet island time.

Who should take this tour?

This is a natural choice for Game of Thrones fans who want the real places behind the scenes. It is also suitable for curious visitors who enjoy architecture, local history, and the practical details of filming.

You do not need to know every character or episode. The tour works best when the guide explains the scene, shows you the image, and then places it in Dubrovnik’s story. If you have never watched the series, you may care less about exact plot references, but the Old Town, fortress, views, and island still give you plenty to see.

I would avoid it if you need an accessible route, dislike stairs, feel uncomfortable on elevated viewpoints, or are prone to motion sickness. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and food and drinks are not included.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and allows you to reserve while paying later. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date rather than assuming the same departure time every day. Private groups are available if you prefer a more personal format.

Should you book the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour?

Book the two-hour version if you want a well-organized look at King’s Landing locations with useful Dubrovnik context. The strongest reason to go is the guide-led interpretation: scene photographs, camera angles, production stories, and local history turn familiar streets into something more revealing.

Add Lokrum if the official Iron Throne matters to you or if you want swimming, gardens, and island time after the guided walk. Just treat the €30 adult ferry and admission cost as part of the price, not as a small surprise.

I would skip the tour only if stairs and fortress access will make the outing uncomfortable. For everyone else, the $26 base price offers a practical way to see several major filming sites without spending a full day on the subject.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative carrying a red umbrella.

How long is the Game of Thrones tour?

The main walking tour lasts two hours. The extended option lasts three hours and adds Lokrum Island.

Is entry to Lovrijenac Fortress included?

No. Entry costs €15, although children under seven enter free. Admission is also free with a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

What does the Lokrum option include?

It includes the Dubrovnik Old Town filming locations, a ferry ride to Lokrum, Qarth filming locations, the official Iron Throne, and guided stops at places including the Benedictine Monastery. The ferry ticket and island admission are separate costs.

How much do the Lokrum ferry and island admission cost?

The stated combined cost is €30 for adults and €5 for children aged five to 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives 20 percent off the ferry, while a seven-day pass gives 30 percent off.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility issues?

No. The route includes steps and stairs and is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It is also not recommended for pregnant women, people with vertigo or a fear of heights, or those with respiratory issues or motion sickness.