Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Walking, Car and Boat Tour

Dubrovnik makes a remarkably convincing Westeros. On this seven-hour combination tour, you walk through locations used for King’s Landing, sail to Lokrum for Qarth and the Iron Throne, then drive beyond town to gardens and battle sites. I like the mix of transport and the screenshot book, which lets you compare the television scenes with the real places in front of you.

I also like that the guides bring Dubrovnik itself into the story. Guides Mikki and Dorotea were praised for their friendly banter, quick wit, and strong knowledge of both the show and the city. The main drawback is the pace: walking, a ferry ride, car travel, and several visits make this a full day, and steep or uneven ground plus boat motion may trouble some people.

Key details before you book

• More than 15 filming locations: See places used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Road, Qarth, and the Walk of Shame.
• Three ways to explore: The experience combines a two-hour walking tour, a boat trip to Lokrum, and a car tour outside Dubrovnik.
• A real Iron Throne photo: Visit Lokrum’s Benedictine Monastery area and sit on the throne for a memorable souvenir.
• Useful screen comparisons: Your guide carries a book of show screenshots to match television scenes with the actual sites.
• A full-day commitment: The total duration is seven hours, though the walking, boat, and car portions can be taken on separate days.
• Best for fans who also want Dubrovnik: Trsteno Arboretum, the Old Town views, and Lokrum add value beyond the television connection.

Why this tour works for Game of Thrones fans

Many film-location tours stop at one or two recognizable corners and leave you to imagine the rest. This one gives you a broader look at Dubrovnik’s Westeros role. You see palace walls, harbor views, gardens, fortress settings, and open roads, each tied to a different part of the series.

The biggest advantage is variety. You begin on foot in and around the Old Town, switch to a boat for Lokrum, and finish in a car at sites that are too far away for a practical walking visit. I like this format because it shows how filmmakers used different parts of the Dubrovnik area to create one fictional world.

The screenshot book is another smart touch. A familiar scene can look ordinary when the actors, costumes, lighting, and camera angles are gone. With the television image beside the real view, you can see how a Dubrovnik wall became the Red Keep or how a garden was reshaped into a royal setting. That comparison gives the stops more meaning than simply hearing a location name.

The tour also has enough Dubrovnik content to work for someone who is interested in the city as well as the show. Your guides explain filming details, actors, and behind-the-scenes stories, while also giving context about the places you visit. Based on the strongest comments about Mikki and Dorotea, you can expect an approach that mixes information with humor rather than a dry list of production facts.

Starting near Pile Gate and entering King’s Landing

The meeting point is near Pile Gate, the western entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, by the Amerling Fountain next to Dubravka restaurant. This is a practical place to begin because Pile Gate is one of the main access points to the historic center.

The walking portion lasts about two hours. You’ll visit several locations connected with the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, and the infamous Walk of Shame. The guide uses scenes from the show to help you recognize the setting, which is especially useful when a location has changed appearance through digital effects or set decoration.

St. Lawrence Fortress is included in this section, with admission covered by the tour. The fortress provides one of the key settings associated with King’s Landing and gives you a strong sense of the stone defenses that helped Dubrovnik fit the show’s medieval world.

You should wear shoes with a solid grip. Dubrovnik’s historic center includes stone paving and stairs, and this is not a tour for someone who needs flat, effortless walking. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so bring only what you need for the day.

The walking tour is also the most crowded-feeling part of the experience simply because it takes place around the Old Town’s major sights. The benefit is that you are close to famous Dubrovnik landmarks. The tradeoff is that the Game of Thrones connection shares space with the city’s regular sightseeing traffic.

Blackwater Bay, the Red Keep, and the Walk of Shame

The Old Town section is where the show’s fantasy world and Dubrovnik’s real identity meet most directly. You’ll hear how streets, walls, and waterfront views were used to represent King’s Landing. The guide points out the filming angles, then helps you compare the on-screen version with the stonework and sea views you can see today.

Blackwater Bay is especially effective because the location works as both a real harbor view and a fictional setting. The same water that looks like a Dubrovnik inlet in person becomes part of the political world of Westeros on screen. You’ll get more from the stop if you pay attention to the camera direction and the surrounding walls, not just the view itself.

The Walk of Shame location is a different kind of stop. It is memorable because the scene is so closely tied to the physical route through the Old Town. Your guide can explain the filming context and point out how the real street was used. This is one of the places where the behind-the-scenes details add something beyond a simple photo.

The guide’s style matters here. A tour with too much plot summary could feel like a television recap you already know. The better use of your time is the combination of production details, actor stories, local context, and the occasional bit of spicy behind-the-scenes information. Mikki and Dorotea were specifically praised for friendly banter and quick wit, qualities that help a two-hour walk pass quickly.

Sailing to Lokrum for Qarth and the Iron Throne

The second part begins with a boat ride to Lokrum. The crossing takes about 15 minutes, giving you a short break from the walking and a chance to view Villa Seherezada from the water. In the show, Tyrion spent time conspiring on its balcony, so the boat provides a useful angle that you would not get from an ordinary street tour.

Lokrum supplies the setting for Qarth. Once you arrive, you’ll walk through gardens used to represent the city. The contrast with the Old Town is part of the appeal. Instead of stone lanes and fortifications, you get garden paths and a more open setting, showing how Dubrovnik’s surroundings helped create different parts of the fictional world.

You’ll also visit a Benedictine Monastery and hear the fictional history connected with Westeros. The tour includes the return boat ticket and the entry fee for the Lokrum National Reserve, so you do not need to arrange those separately.

The Iron Throne photo is the playful centerpiece of the Lokrum stop. You can sit on it and take a souvenir picture, an easy win for dedicated fans and families. It also gives the tour a physical prop rather than leaving you with only landscape photographs.

You have free time on Lokrum before returning by boat. That flexibility is useful because you can spend a little longer looking around rather than being marched from one photo point to the next. At the same time, the total day remains structured around the boat schedule and the larger tour plan.

If you are prone to seasickness, take the warning seriously. The ride is short, but the experience specifically lists seasickness as a concern. Anyone who dislikes boat travel may find the Lokrum portion less enjoyable than the walking and car sections.

Trsteno Arboretum and the gardens of King’s Landing

The car portion takes you farther from Dubrovnik to Trsteno Arboretum. This is one of the best parts of the experience for anyone who wants more than Old Town streets. The arboretum supplied garden settings for scenes in King’s Landing, and it has enough botanical interest to justify the visit even if you do not care about the show.

The site is described as the oldest botanical garden in the world and contains exotic plants. You can use the screenshot book here to see how the gardens were framed and altered for the series. The real setting is not just a backdrop. It has its own character, and the visit gives you a better appreciation of why filmmakers chose it.

I like this stop because it broadens the day. A fan may come for a familiar scene, but you also get a garden visit and a break from the dense stonework of Dubrovnik. The car makes the stop practical, since it is outside the Old Town and not part of an easy walk.

You should still expect a fair amount of movement. The tour is not a simple drive-by photo circuit. You will get out, walk through the arboretum, and spend time matching locations to scenes. Comfortable clothing and shoes are essential.

The Belvedere Hotel and the Mountain versus Oberyn

The car tour also visits the abandoned Hotel Belvedere, used for the famous battle between the Mountain and Oberyn Martell. This stop appeals to fans who remember the show’s major confrontations and want to see the actual setting rather than a polished tourist attraction.

An abandoned hotel has a different atmosphere from the Old Town or Trsteno Arboretum. The setting connects to the rougher, more dramatic side of the production. Your guide helps explain how the site was used, while the screenshot book allows you to compare the battle scene with the location as it appears now.

Do not expect every filming site to look exactly as it did on television. Sets are cleaned up, decorated, lit, and edited for the final production. That is why the guide and visual comparisons matter. The fun is often in spotting the original shape of a place beneath the show’s fictional treatment.

The tour’s mobility warning is relevant here. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or significant back problems. It also may not suit anyone who finds a long day of changing vehicles and walking tiring.

The King’s Road and the final Dubrovnik view

The final stop is the King’s Road, where you get a panoramic view over Dubrovnik’s Old Town. This provides a strong closing scene because you can look back at the city after seeing it from street level, the water, and the surrounding countryside.

The view also ties together the day’s central idea. Dubrovnik is not one single Game of Thrones location. It is a collection of settings that filmmakers joined together through editing and story. From the King’s Road, you can understand the wider geography more clearly.

I would save a little energy for this final stop. After several hours, it is tempting to treat the last viewpoint as an optional extra. It is worth paying attention to because the elevated view helps you recognize how the Old Town, coastline, and nearby sites relate to one another.

The car tour also reduces the strain of trying to reach these outlying places independently. You avoid arranging separate transport to Trsteno, the Belvedere site, and the King’s Road. That convenience is a major part of the value of a combined tour.

Is $294 a fair price?

At $294 per person, this is not a budget activity. The price makes the most sense if you want all three parts: the guided Old Town walk, the Lokrum boat and reserve entry, and the car tour to Trsteno and the outlying filming locations.

Several costs are included. You get a guide for each tour, admission to St. Lawrence Fortress, entry to Trsteno Arboretum, the round-trip Lokrum boat, and the Lokrum National Reserve fee. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off.

The value comes from combining transport, admissions, and interpretation in one booking. If you tried to arrange the distant sites and Lokrum separately, you would need to manage boat tickets, reserve access, transport, and your own research about the filming locations. The guides also save you from wandering past a site without realizing what happened there.

Still, the price is harder to justify if you only want a quick photo at a few Old Town locations. In that case, a shorter walking tour may suit you better. This experience earns its higher cost through its breadth and the full-day structure, not through luxury extras.

You can take the walking, boat, and car tours on separate days. That option improves the value for people staying in Dubrovnik long enough to spread out the activity. It also lets you avoid one exhausting seven-hour block. If your schedule allows, splitting the sections may be the most comfortable way to use the experience.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to a committed Game of Thrones fan who wants to see more than the obvious Old Town locations. It is also a good choice for you if you appreciate guided storytelling, want practical transport to Trsteno and the Belvedere site, and like having a guide point out exact screen matches.

It suits couples, families with older children, and friends who enjoy taking themed photos. The Iron Throne gives younger fans a clear highlight, while the arboretum and Dubrovnik views offer something for people who are less devoted to the series.

I would hesitate if you have back problems, limited mobility, or trouble with uneven walking. I would also think twice if you strongly dislike boats or prefer unstructured sightseeing. This is a planned, active day with several changes of setting.

The English-language guiding is the only language option given. Guides such as Mikki and Dorotea have been praised for their enthusiasm, humor, and ability to connect the show with Dubrovnik. That personal delivery is important because the locations themselves do not always explain their television role.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Meet near Pile Gate by the Amerling Fountain, next to Dubravka restaurant. Check the starting time carefully, since availability can vary, and print the full confirmation document with all details rather than bringing only the ticket.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Bring water and any personal essentials you need, but leave luggage and large bags behind. Food and drinks are not included, so plan accordingly within the tour schedule.

Infant seats are available on request if you advise the provider at booking. The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dubrovnik plans are still changing.

Should you book this Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour?

Book it if you want the widest possible look at Dubrovnik’s filming locations and value having guides, transport, boat tickets, and admissions handled together. The combination of St. Lawrence Fortress, Lokrum, Trsteno Arboretum, Hotel Belvedere, and the King’s Road gives you far more range than a short Old Town walk.

Skip it if you only want one or two familiar scenes, need a low-effort activity, or find boat rides uncomfortable. For everyone else, especially fans who enjoy comparing real places with screen images, the $294 price can be fair when you use all three sections. Splitting the tour across separate days is the smartest choice if you have enough time.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is near Pile Gate, the west entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, by the Amerling Fountain next to Dubravka restaurant at Brsalje bb, 20 000 Dubrovnik.

How long does the full experience last?

The combined experience lasts seven hours. The walking, boat, and car tours can also be taken on separate days.

Which Game of Thrones locations are included?

You visit more than 15 filming locations, including sites used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Qarth, the King’s Road, and the Walk of Shame.

Does the tour visit the Iron Throne?

Yes. On Lokrum, you can visit the Benedictine Monastery area and take a photo sitting on the Iron Throne.

Is the boat ride included?

Yes. A round-trip boat ticket to Lokrum and the entry fee for the Lokrum National Reserve are included. The trip to Lokrum takes about 15 minutes.

Are meals and hotel transfers included?

No. Food, drinks, hotel pickup, and hotel drop-off are not included.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility problems or seasickness?

The experience is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or a tendency toward seasickness. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended.