Dubrovnik Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island Visit

Dubrovnik makes a convincing King’s Landing because its real fortresses, gates, harbor, and stone stairways need very little help from television magic. This Game of Thrones walking tour takes you from Pile Gate to Fort Lovrijenac, then through the Old Town to Cersei’s Walk of Shame staircase.

I like two things in particular: the guide handles the route and scene matching, so you do not waste time hunting for locations, and the best guides add local stories about filming and daily life during the show’s production. The views from Lovrijenac are another clear reward.

The main catch is the climb. Fort Lovrijenac means stairs, and its €15 entrance fee is not included unless you have a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket. The optional Lokrum extension also costs extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Start beside the Large Onofrio Fountain: Find the red umbrella marked Dubrovnik Walking Tours near the Hard Rock Cafe at the Old Town’s western entrance.
• See the Red Keep at Fort Lovrijenac: Allow for a substantial stair climb and a separate €15 entrance fee.
• Walk Cersei’s famous route: The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola provides the tour’s most recognizable photo stop.
• Expect more than TV trivia: Guides including Jelena, Joseph, Ana, Edi, and Josip are praised for mixing filming details with Dubrovnik history.
• Add Lokrum for Qarth: The upgrade includes a ferry ride, the island’s filming sites, and Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne photo opportunity.
• Plan for a group tour: The maximum group size is 70, though groups may be split for better contact with the guide.

Why Dubrovnik works so well as King’s Landing

This is not a tour of a film set built for visitors. You walk through working streets and real defensive walls, then see how camera angles turned Dubrovnik into the capital of Westeros.

The route connects several locations that are easy to miss if you explore on your own. A guide can point out the exact harbor, gate, stairway, or pier used in a scene, then show a still image or explain what was changed for the production. That comparison is the heart of the experience.

You do not need to be an expert fan to enjoy it. The tour works best if you have seen at least some of the series, but it also includes local history and stories about how filming affected Dubrovnik. If you know the show well, you get the extra pleasure of recognizing Season 2 and Season 3 scenes almost as soon as you arrive.

The standard route takes about two hours, though the full experience can run closer to three hours with the Lokrum option. You will be walking outdoors, climbing stairs, and moving between the Old Town, the harbor, and the fortress, so comfortable shoes matter more than a costume or a detailed knowledge of the plot.

Meeting at the Large Onofrio Fountain

The tour begins beside the Large Onofrio Fountain, inside the Old Town near the western entrance and the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for the red umbrella with the Dubrovnik Walking Tours sign.

This is a sensible meeting point because Pile Gate is close by, and the first filming location arrives almost immediately. You do not spend the opening of the tour listening to a long introduction in an ordinary street. After the group gathers, the guide explains the plan and leads everyone toward the gate.

The group may be large, with a maximum of 70 people. That is worth considering if you prefer a quiet, intimate walk. Audio guides have been used effectively, and groups may be divided so the guide can speak with better contact and leave time for questions.

Guides vary by departure. Names praised for clear explanations, humor, and strong knowledge of both the show and the city include Jelena, Joseph, Ana, Edi, Ivica, and Josip. You cannot assume a particular guide will lead your departure, but the repeated praise for individual guides points to the importance of the person leading the walk.

Pile Gate and the first King’s Landing scenes

Pile Gate is the Old Town’s western entrance and your first proper filming stop. Here, your guide connects the gate and surrounding approach with scenes from Seasons 2 and 3.

The location appeared during the tense royal procession involving King Joffrey and the starving crowd. It also links to the riot that follows Joffrey’s order to attack the crowd, as well as Jaime Lannister’s return to the city with Brienne of Tarth.

This stop is short, about 10 minutes, but it gives you the basic method used throughout the tour. You see the real place first, then match it to the show’s version. The guide may explain how background action, camera placement, and set dressing changed the mood of the same stone entrance.

Pile Gate is also a busy passage into Dubrovnik, so do not expect the area to feel like a private set. The appeal comes from seeing how familiar city infrastructure became part of the story.

Kolorina and the docks of King’s Landing

Under the drawbridge near Pile Gate, the route reaches Kolorina. This beach and dock area served as part of the waterfront of King’s Landing.

The guide ties the shore to the royal entourage seeing Princess Myrcella off to Dorne. Joffrey, Cersei, Tyrion, and Sansa all appear in the related scenes. The location also connects to the Gold Cloaks’ orders to kill King Robert Baratheon’s bastards and to Tyrion’s strategic discussions with Lord Varys near the city walls.

Kolorina gives the tour a change of pace. After the stone gate and crowded entrance, you get open water and a clearer sense of how Dubrovnik’s geography helped the production. The stop lasts about 10 minutes, so it is more about identifying scenes and hearing the story than lingering at the shore.

Dubrovnik West Harbour and Blackwater Bay

The route continues to Dubrovnik’s West Harbour, where several piers doubled for parts of Blackwater Bay. This was also used for scenes involving wildfire.

The harbor is especially useful for understanding the show’s visual tricks. On screen, a modest waterfront can become a major military setting when framed against the walls and cliffs. Your guide also points out the pier associated with Sansa and Shae’s conversation about ships and the world beyond King’s Landing, before Littlefinger arrives with his offer of escape.

This stop takes about 15 minutes. It is a good place to pause and hear behind-the-scenes details because the setting itself does much of the work. You can see why the production chose Dubrovnik without needing a large set or elaborate explanation.

Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep above the sea

Fort Lovrijenac is the physical high point of the tour and the location that demands the most effort. The fortress represents the Red Keep, including exterior views and scenes connected with the Purple Wedding and King Joffrey’s name-day tourney.

The climb is not extreme for everyone, but it is real. Several reviews specifically warn about the steps, while others note that guides such as Jelena paused when needed and helped people navigate them. If you have limited stamina or dislike stairs, this is the part to assess carefully before booking.

The reward is substantial. From the fortress, you get broad views back toward Dubrovnik’s Old Town and the water. The guide explains the fort’s role in the show while also giving context about the building itself. That mix keeps the stop from feeling like a string of television references.

Plan for roughly 45 minutes here. The entrance fee is €15 per person and is not included in the tour price. It is free with a Dubrovnik Pass or a City Wall Ticket, so check what else you plan to see in Dubrovnik before paying separately. If you already intend to walk the city walls, the pass may make better financial sense.

The Old Town streets after the Purple Wedding

After descending from Lovrijenac, the tour returns to the Old Town and follows streets used for several King’s Landing scenes. This section lasts about 15 minutes and brings the show back into the dense medieval core.

You hear about the aftermath of the Purple Wedding, Sansa’s escape toward a ship, Jaime’s return after imprisonment, and scenes linked with Littlefinger’s brothel. The route also includes the place where Tyrion speaks with Prince Oberyn Martell, known as the Red Viper of Dorne.

This part is less about a single dramatic viewpoint and more about connections. A guide helps you understand how different streets were combined to create one fictional city. It also gives you a useful orientation to the Old Town, which is an advantage if this is your first visit.

Expect ordinary Dubrovnik foot traffic and uneven movement through the streets. The guide keeps the walk moving, but you should stay close enough to hear the explanations, especially in a large group.

The Walk of Shame staircase

The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola is the tour’s signature stop. Its grand staircase became the route for Cersei’s Walk of Shame, when she is forced to walk before the people of King’s Landing while a septa rings a bell and calls out shame.

You get time for photos here, about 15 minutes. The staircase is one of those locations that looks familiar even if you have not memorized every filming site. It is also a good place for the guide to explain how the scene’s religious and political setting was created from a real Dubrovnik location.

The stairs are another reminder to wear shoes with a firm grip. You have already climbed toward the fortress, so the cumulative effort matters more than any one flight.

Lokrum Island and the Iron Throne option

The basic walking tour finishes near Veliki Muo, where you can continue to Lokrum Island if you select the upgrade. The ferry ride and island admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17, separate from the base tour price.

Lokrum represented Qarth in Season 2. The extension includes the locations from the main walk, then adds the island’s filming connections and an official Iron Throne photo opportunity.

This option makes sense if you have enough time in Dubrovnik and want a fuller Game of Thrones day. Lokrum also changes the mood from urban streets and fortifications to a natural island setting. The tradeoff is cost and time. The standard walk already covers the most important King’s Landing locations, so fans on a tight schedule can stop after the Church of St. Ignatius.

The Iron Throne is a simple but satisfying finish, especially if you want a clear souvenir photo rather than only pictures of streets and walls. Transportation and admission are not included in the base price, so calculate the full amount before selecting the upgrade.

What the $24.19 price really buys you

At $24.19 per person, the base tour is fairly priced for a guided two-hour route through several hard-to-identify filming spots. You are paying mainly for the guide’s route planning, scene knowledge, local context, and access to Fort Lovrijenac with an additional fee.

The price is strongest for first-time visitors. You could find Pile Gate, the harbor, the church staircase, and the fort on your own, but you would not necessarily know which angle matches which scene. You would also miss the stories about filming logistics and the effect of the production on local residents.

The value drops slightly if you have already taken a general Dubrovnik walking tour and know the Old Town well. Even then, the Game of Thrones focus gives the route a clear purpose.

Group discounts may be available, and the tour is offered in English with a mobile ticket. Confirmation arrives at booking. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this walk most

I would choose this tour for a Game of Thrones fan who wants the real places, not just a photo stop. It is also a good choice for couples or families with mixed interest, since the local history and Dubrovnik orientation give nonfans something to follow.

It suits you particularly well if:

• You want a guide to match real locations with scenes
• You enjoy behind-the-scenes filming stories
• You can manage a two-hour walk with stairs
• You want Fort Lovrijenac without planning the route yourself
• You are considering Lokrum and want Qarth explained in context
• You would like a local guide who can recommend places to eat or explore afterward

It is less suitable if you want a private, slow-paced experience or if stairs are a serious problem. The maximum group size is 70, and the route includes the fortress climb. The guides are often praised for humor, clear explanations, and patience, but the experience still depends on the pace of the group and the guide assigned that day.

Should you book the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour?

Book it if the series is one of the reasons you came to Dubrovnik, or if you want a lively way to get your bearings in the Old Town. The combination of Pile Gate, the harbor, Fort Lovrijenac, and the Walk of Shame staircase gives you a strong set of locations in about two hours.

I would book the standard tour first unless you have extra time for Lokrum. Add the island if the Qarth scenes and Iron Throne photo matter to you, and remember to budget the €30 adult transportation and admission charge. Most important, bring comfortable shoes, check the fort fee against your Dubrovnik Pass plans, and be ready for stairs.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts beside the Large Onofrio Fountain inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town, near the Hard Rock Cafe and the western entrance.

How long does the main tour last?

The main walking tour takes about two hours. The overall experience may last two to three hours, depending on the selected option.

Is Fort Lovrijenac included in the tour price?

The entrance fee is not included. It costs €15 per person, though admission is free with a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket.

Does the tour include Lokrum Island?

Lokrum is an optional upgrade. The round-trip transportation and island admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17.

What can you see on Lokrum Island?

The island includes Game of Thrones filming locations connected with Qarth in Season 2 and Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne photo opportunity.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 70 people. Groups may be split so guides can maintain better interaction and allow time for questions.

Can you cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund.