Dubrovnik: Epic Game of Thrones Tour + Lokrum & Saver Option

Dubrovnik provided the stone walls, sea views, and steep stairways for King’s Landing, and this tour shows you exactly where the series filmed its biggest scenes. You’ll see Blackwater Bay, the Red Keep, the Jesuit Stairs, and the streets used for the riots and Cersei’s Walk of Shame. The guide adds filming stories, production photos, and plenty of Dubrovnik history.

I like the mix of fantasy and real city history, which keeps the tour worthwhile even if you are only a casual Game of Thrones fan. I also like the choice of three lengths: a sharp 90-minute walk, a two-hour version with Fort Lovrijenac, or a three-hour outing that continues to Lokrum Island and the official Iron Throne.

The main caution is cost and effort. The advertised $25 price covers the guided experience, but the longer choices require extra tickets. Fort Lovrijenac adds €15 unless your City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass covers it, while the Lokrum option adds €30 for adults. The fort also requires about 180 steps.

Key points at a glance

• The 90-minute Super Saver covers the essential filming sites and is the best choice if you want a compact introduction without extra entrance fees.
• Fort Lovrijenac is the real prize of the two-hour tour, giving you the Red Keep setting and broad views over the sea.
• Lokrum adds Qarth, the official Iron Throne, and time in nature, not just another filming stop.
• Guides such as Davor, Bogdan, Alex, Ivo, and Darko bring humor and production photos, while also explaining Dubrovnik’s past.
• The tour starts by Pile Gate at the Tourist Board, with a purple balloon making the meeting point easy to spot.
• The fort options are physically demanding, while the Super Saver is wheelchair accessible.

Why Dubrovnik makes such a good King’s Landing

Dubrovnik’s Old Town already feels theatrical before a guide mentions television. Pale stone walls rise above the Adriatic, narrow lanes lead into open squares, and the city’s gates and fortresses give the place a clear medieval shape. Game of Thrones used those features as the bones of King’s Landing, then added costumes, crowds, props, and computer effects.

That contrast is the fun of the tour. You are not walking through a preserved film set. You are looking at an actual Croatian city and learning how a familiar television scene was built around it.

A good guide helps you connect the two versions. Guides including Bogdan, Davor, Alex, Ivo, and Darko have been praised for combining show facts with local stories and humor. Several guides use printed images from the series, holding them up at the filming spot so you can compare the screen version with the street or harbor in front of you.

That visual comparison matters. Dubrovnik often looks more ordinary without the digital additions. A harbor can become a battle site, and a stairway can become one of the most tense scenes in the series. Seeing the real setting gives you a better sense of how much work went into the production.

You do not need to have watched every episode. One person who had never seen the series still found the city and explanations engaging enough to want to watch the show afterward. Still, serious fans will get more from the small production details and scene references.

Meeting at Pile and walking toward Blackwater Bay

The tour begins in front of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board at Brsalje 5, beside the Pile bus stop. Look for the guide holding a purple balloon. This is a useful detail because the area around Pile can be crowded and confusing, especially when cruise passengers arrive.

Pile is the natural starting point for a walk through the Old Town. City buses from Lapad, Babin Kuk, and Gruž stop nearby. Bus routes listed for the area include numbers 4, 6, 1A, and 1B, depending on where you start. A taxi or Uber can drop you at the Pile bus stop.

From there, the route heads toward Dubrovnik’s West Harbour. This is one of the first places where the city’s sea-facing defenses make sense on screen. The harbor and walls supplied the setting for Blackwater Bay, where some of the series’ most dramatic battles took place.

The stop works best when the guide explains what the camera saw and what was added later. You get a clear view of the water, the fortifications, and the rocky coast, then learn how the production turned that real setting into a strategic part of King’s Landing.

Take a moment for photos here. The views are a major part of the experience, even if you are not interested in television. The route is outdoors, and the quality of the walk will depend on heat, wind, and crowd levels.

Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep above the sea

The two-hour Signature Tour and the three-hour Lokrum option continue to Fort Lovrijenac. Fans know it as the Red Keep, the seat of royal power in King’s Landing. In real life, it is a fortress perched above the water outside the Old Town walls.

This is the most important extra stop if your priority is filming locations. Inside, the guide can point out where political plots were made and where the show’s Purple Wedding scenes were filmed. The fort also provides scenic views back toward Dubrovnik and the coast.

There is a catch: reaching the fort involves roughly 180 steps. That makes the Signature and Lokrum choices unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or serious back problems. Wear shoes with a good grip and take the climb at a steady pace.

Entry costs €15. You do not pay this separate fee if you hold a valid City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass, and children under seven enter free. It is worth checking what you already plan to visit before choosing an option. If you are already buying a City Wall ticket, the added value of the two-hour tour improves.

If you are not especially interested in Game of Thrones, the fort can still justify the longer walk. Its location and views give you a stronger sense of Dubrovnik’s defensive position than a simple street tour does.

Pile Gate, Stradun, and the city beneath the fantasy

After the harbor and fort area, the route returns through Pile Gate and into the Old Town. Pile Gate is one of Dubrovnik’s main entrances, and it helps you understand how people entered the walled city long before it became a television location.

The walk continues along Stradun, Dubrovnik’s broad central street. This is a practical part of the tour because your guide can point out how the city’s public spaces were used during filming while also explaining the everyday importance of the street.

I like this section because it prevents the tour from becoming a string of isolated photo stops. You are moving through the city’s main historic center, seeing how the real streets function, and then matching them to scenes from the show.

The guide may also answer questions about filming and the cast. Several guides are known for behind-the-scenes anecdotes, dry humor, and a willingness to handle questions rather than rush everyone along. The pace is generally described as neither too fast nor too slow, with time for photos.

Expect other people in the Old Town, particularly during the main season and cruise-ship hours. Your guide can explain the sites, but cannot make the streets empty. Early or later tour times may feel more comfortable, though starting times vary and must be checked when booking.

The Jesuit Stairs and Cersei’s Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Stairs are one of the tour’s clearest moments. Their curved stone design is instantly recognizable as the location used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame. Even visitors who do not remember every plot detail usually recognize the setting once the guide shows the matching scene.

This stop also shows why a guide is useful. You can stand at the bottom or on the stairs and look at the real proportions of the space, then see how camera angles, costumes, extras, and editing changed its feel on screen.

The stairs are not difficult to identify, but they are still stairs in a busy historic center. Anyone with knee, balance, or mobility concerns should think carefully about this part of the route. The 1.5-hour Super Saver is described as wheelchair accessible, but the longer fort and Lokrum options are not suitable for wheelchair users.

The Super Saver includes the Jesuit Stairs, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Landing riots, the House of the Undying, and the Battle of King’s Landing. For many people, that is enough. You see the iconic scenes without paying extra entrance fees or committing half a day to the outing.

Choosing between the three tour options

The three choices are easy to understand once you match them to your schedule and interests.

The 1.5-hour Super Saver is the practical pick. It has no extra costs, includes the core locations, and is the best fit if you have only a morning or afternoon in Dubrovnik. It is also the option to consider if accessibility matters, though the supplier gives a general warning that the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. Confirm your needs before booking if you require fully step-free access.

The two-hour Signature Tour adds Fort Lovrijenac and the Red Keep. Pay €15 at the fort unless your City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass covers admission. Choose this if the Red Keep and Purple Wedding matter to you, or if you want the best combination of Game of Thrones content, city context, and views.

The three-hour Lokrum Bestseller extends the Signature route by ferry to Lokrum Island, the setting used for Qarth. The price includes the guided experience and the Iron Throne photo opportunity, but you pay separately for the fort and Lokrum ticket. The island ticket costs €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17, including the return ferry and admission. Three-day and seven-day Dubrovnik Passes offer discounts.

The Lokrum option is only available from April through the end of October. Ferry crossings run every 30 to 60 minutes and take about 15 minutes, so weather and boat schedules can affect the day. Strong winds have caused the crossing to be missed, and late December is outside the normal operating season for this option.

Lokrum Island, Qarth, and the Iron Throne

Lokrum gives the tour a change of pace. After the stone streets and fortifications of Dubrovnik, you reach an island with walking paths, coastal swimming spots, and more open space. The island supplied the setting for Qarth, adding another major location to the Game of Thrones route.

The Benedictine Monastery is a photo stop, and the Bay of Portoč is part of the guided walk. The island is also home to the official Iron Throne, where you can sit for a photograph. That is available only with the Lokrum option, so fans who want the classic souvenir need to choose the full version.

The best part of Lokrum may be what happens after the guided portion ends. You can remain on the island for a swim, a walk, lunch, or a quiet break before returning on the ferry. The island includes the Dead Sea lagoon, and peacocks wander freely in the grounds.

I would not choose Lokrum solely for the extra television references. The Qarth locations and Iron Throne are appealing, but the island’s real value is the chance to spend time beside the Adriatic and away from the Old Town crowds. If you have enough time, pack swimwear and allow extra hours after the official tour.

The add-on is not cheap. €30 for an adult ferry and admission is a serious extra on top of the tour price. It makes the most sense if you already want to visit Lokrum, plan to swim or walk there, and can spare the time. If your only goal is to see the famous Dubrovnik filming sites, the Super Saver or Signature option is better value.

How the price works in real terms

The base price of $25 per person is attractive for a guided walk of 90 minutes to three hours. You receive an official licensed guide and access to the main Game of Thrones locations without extra costs on the shortest option.

The advertised price needs careful reading for the longer versions. The Signature choice adds €15 for Fort Lovrijenac, although the charge disappears with a valid City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass. The Lokrum version adds both the fort fee and the €30 adult island ticket.

That does not make the longer tours poor value. It simply means you should compare the total cost, not the headline price. The Signature tour gives you two hours of guided explanation and the Red Keep setting. The Lokrum choice gives you a ferry, island admission, Qarth, the Iron Throne, and the option to stay for swimming or lunch.

Food, drinks, and hotel or cruise-port transfers are not included. If you arrive by cruise ship at Gruž, public buses 1A and 1B, a shuttle if available, or a taxi can get you to Pile in about 15 to 20 minutes. Ships docking near the Old Port are about a 10-minute walk from the meeting area.

Since 2025, roads around the Old Town have restricted access to vehicles without special permission. If you drive, the closest listed parking choice is the Best in Parking garage, with its turnoff before the red traffic light that marks the restricted zone.

Guide quality and the tone of the walk

The guide can make or break a film-location tour, and this experience depends heavily on personality. Davor is described as witty and direct, Bogdan as funny and well prepared, and Alex as warm, engaging, and helpful with restaurant suggestions. Ivo, Darko, Doris, Makaila, and Luca are also named as guides who combine show details with local information.

The tone is not formal. Expect jokes, quizzes, production stories, and personal enthusiasm for Dubrovnik. Some guides use a dry Slavic sense of humor, which may appeal to you if you like a little sarcasm with your history.

The strongest part is the balance. The guide does not simply point and say this was in episode X. You also hear about Dubrovnik and Croatia, which gives the streets a purpose beyond their role on television.

The experience is offered in English and German. Tour groups can vary in size, and the guide may need to pause for questions or help the group stay together in crowded areas. That is part of the trade-off with a shared walk, but the reported pacing is generally comfortable.

What to bring and who should book

Wear comfortable shoes. The route includes Old Town streets, stairways, the climb to Fort Lovrijenac on the longer options, and walking on Lokrum if you choose the island. Bring water, especially in hot weather, and sun protection for the harbor and ferry portions.

For Lokrum, bring swimwear and a towel if you want to use the island after the guided tour. Leave time for the ferry connection and remember that wind can affect boat service.

I would recommend this tour to:

• Game of Thrones fans who want the real locations rather than a general city walk
• First-time visitors who want a lively introduction to Dubrovnik
• Cruise passengers with enough time to reach Pile and return to the ship
• Casual viewers who enjoy film production stories and city history
• Families with older children who can manage the walking and stairs

I would choose another format if you want a quiet, private visit, dislike television-themed sightseeing, or have difficulty with steps. In that case, the shorter option may still work, but check the accessibility details carefully.

Should you book it?

Book the Super Saver if you want the essential locations, a manageable 90-minute walk, and no surprise admission costs. It offers the cleanest value.

Choose the Signature Tour if Fort Lovrijenac is important to you or you already hold a City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass. The fort adds the Red Keep, Purple Wedding references, and some of the best views.

Choose Lokrum only if you want a half-day outing that combines Game of Thrones with swimming, walking, lunch, and the Iron Throne photo. The extra €30 adult island charge is worthwhile for a full island visit, but hard to justify for a quick Qarth stop alone.

The strongest reason to book is the guide-led comparison between Dubrovnik as it is and King’s Landing as it appeared on screen. If you want that mix, this is a well-priced and entertaining way to see the city. If you mainly want an island day, book Lokrum with the tour only when you also value the filming connection.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

Meet in front of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board at Brsalje 5, next to the Pile bus stop. Look for someone holding a purple balloon.

How long does the tour last?

The options last 1.5 hours, 2 hours, or 3 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your preferred date.

Which Game of Thrones locations are included?

All options include Cersei’s Walk of Shame, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Landing riots, the House of the Undying, and the Battle of King’s Landing. The longer options also include the Red Keep and Purple Wedding, while Lokrum adds Qarth and the official Iron Throne.

Is Fort Lovrijenac included in the tour price?

The Signature and Lokrum options visit Fort Lovrijenac, but its €15 entrance fee is extra. Admission is free for holders of a valid City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass and for children under seven.

How much does the Lokrum option cost beyond the tour?

The Lokrum option requires a separate island ticket costing €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. This includes the return ferry and island admission. Three-day and seven-day Dubrovnik Passes provide discounts.

Can I stay on Lokrum after the guided tour?

Yes. After the guided portion, you can remain on Lokrum to swim, walk, have lunch, relax, or explore the island.

How long is the ferry to Lokrum?

The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes. Ferries run every 30 to 60 minutes, and strong winds can affect the crossing.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The 1.5-hour Super Saver option is described as wheelchair accessible. The fort options involve about 180 steps and are not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Is hotel or cruise-port transportation included?

No. Hotel and cruise-port pickup and drop-off are not included. From Gruž, buses 1A and 1B, available shuttles, or taxis reach Pile in about 15 to 20 minutes.