Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island

Dubrovnik supplied the backdrop for King’s Landing, and this tour shows you why the city worked so well on screen. You’ll climb Fort Lovrijenac, look across Pile Bay as Blackwater Bay, and walk the Jesuit Steps where Cersei’s Walk of Shame was filmed. The setting is real, the show is the hook, and the old city supplies plenty of history between filming stops.

I like the way the guides connect production details with Dubrovnik’s past. Guides such as Katarina, Petra, Indira, and Ivan have been praised for lively explanations, scene comparisons, and local stories. I also like the Lokrum option, since it turns a short film-location walk into a longer outing with swimming, trails, gardens, and the official Iron Throne.

The main catch is cost and effort. The basic tour is listed at $28, but Fort Lovrijenac costs €15 unless you have a Dubrovnik Pass, and the Lokrum ferry is an added expense unless you choose the combo. Expect steps, uneven pebble streets, heat, and limited access for anyone with mobility problems.

Key points at a glance

• Fort Lovrijenac comes first: Climb the fortress above Pile Bay for filming sites and wide Adriatic views.
• Blackwater Bay is really Pile Bay: The pier offers one of the clearest photo moments on the walk.
• The Old Town tour is not only about television: You’ll pass the Franciscan Monastery, Stradun, Rector’s Palace, the Cathedral, and other major sights.
• The Jesuit Steps recreate the Walk of Shame: This is one of the tour’s most recognizable photo stops.
• Lokrum changes the pace: Add the island for a 10 minute ferry ride, swimming, walking, and the official HBO Iron Throne.
• The Dubrovnik Pass can save money: A valid pass includes entry to Fort Lovrijenac, which otherwise costs €15.

Starting at Nautika and climbing Fort Lovrijenac

Meet your guide outside Nautika Restaurant on Brsalje Street, near Pile Gate. This is a handy starting point because the tour reaches Fort Lovrijenac before moving into the Old Town, and the meeting place is easy to connect with from the main entrance area.

The first brief stop is the statue of Aphrodite and Pan. You pass it rather than spend much time there, but it helps set the tone: Dubrovnik’s old stone paths are full of small details, and the guide uses the walk to explain both the city and the show.

Then comes the first major stop, Fort Lovrijenac. The fortress sits on a steep rock above the sea and was built as a defensive post. For Game of Thrones fans, it served as part of King’s Landing, including scenes linked with the Red Keep. Even if you are not devoted to the series, the fortress is worth your time for its position above the water and its view back toward the Old Town.

You need to pay €15 for entry unless you have a valid Dubrovnik Pass. This matters because the fort is a guided stop, not simply a quick look from outside. A Dubrovnik Pass can therefore improve the value of the outing, especially if you also plan to visit other paid sights in the city.

Allow for stairs here. The climb is manageable for many people, but the route is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the stone can be slippery. Wear shoes with a good grip, bring water, and avoid treating this as a polished museum visit. It is a fortress, with uneven surfaces and exposed steps.

Pile Bay becomes Blackwater Bay

After the fort, the route descends toward Pile Bay. The small harbor and its stone surroundings appeared as Blackwater Bay, giving you one of the easiest places to connect the real view with the screen version.

This is a good photo stop because the location needs little explanation. You can look across the water and understand why the production used Dubrovnik so often. The guide fills in what was filmed on location and what was altered later, a useful distinction when the finished scenes look larger than the actual harbor.

The walk between Fort Lovrijenac and Pile Gate also gives you a practical introduction to Dubrovnik’s terrain. This is not a flat stroll through a modern city. There are slopes, steps, narrow lanes, and smooth stone worn by many feet. In hot weather, shaded pauses make a real difference, and guides such as Katarina have been praised for adjusting the pace and taking account of the heat.

Through Pile Gate and along Stradun

The group enters the Old Town through Pile Gate, one of Dubrovnik’s grand historic entrances. From there, the tour passes Large Onofrio’s Fountain before reaching Stradun, the main street through the walled city.

Stradun is broad compared with many of the side streets, but it can become crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. One useful suggestion is to choose an early start when possible. You’ll have a better chance of hearing the guide clearly and taking photos without a constant stream of people behind you.

The route also passes Orlando’s Column and the Church of St. Blaise. These are sightseeing stops rather than long interior visits, so the tour keeps its focus on the street plan and filming locations. Still, this part is important. Dubrovnik is not just a set with a few famous corners. Its stone buildings, formal squares, and narrow lanes give the show its medieval feel.

You’ll also pass the Rector’s Palace, one of the Old Town’s most important historic buildings, and the Cathedral. The guide combines local history with production stories, which helps include people in your group who have never watched Game of Thrones. Several guides, including Dubravka and Katarina, have been praised for making the tour work for mixed groups by explaining the city as well as the series.

The Jesuit Steps and the Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Steps are one of the strongest stops for fans of the show. Their broad staircase, framed by old stone buildings, was used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

Your guide pauses here for photos and explains how the scene was created. This is where visual memory does most of the work. You do not need a long lecture to recognize the place, but the behind-the-scenes details make the stop more than a simple photo opportunity.

Bring patience if the area is busy. The steps are a public passage, not a private attraction, so other people may be moving through while your group stops. The stone can also be slick, especially if wet. Comfortable shoes are not optional on this route.

From the Jesuit Steps, the tour continues toward the Old Town Port. Along the way, you get a final portion of the central city before deciding whether to continue to Lokrum. The route is planned to take around two to three hours, though the exact feel depends on the size of the group, walking pace, photo stops, and the island option.

Choosing Lokrum Island after the city walk

Lokrum is an optional add-on, scheduled at the end of the walking tour. The ferry crossing takes about 10 minutes, and the island offers a clear change of mood after the stone lanes and city crowds.

The island is a nature reserve with gardens, historic sites, walking routes, and places to swim. You can use the time to slow down rather than follow a tight sightseeing schedule. Bring swimwear if you want to enter the sea, plus sunscreen, a hat, and water. If you plan to walk uphill to the fort, wear proper shoes. One practical account of the visit describes the climb as long and steep in places.

The island is not simply an extra filming stop. It played Qarth in Game of Thrones, but its appeal goes beyond the show. The setting gives you open sea views and a chance to spend several hours outside the Old Town. For that reason, I think the Lokrum choice makes the most sense if you have enough time to stay on the island, swim, eat, and walk.

Check the ferry arrangements carefully. The ferry costs €30 when purchased separately and is included only with selected tour options. Queues can be long, so arranging the boat ticket ahead of time can make the transition smoother. If bad weather or another incident stops the ferry, the tour finishes in the Old Town instead, and you can still take a photo on the Iron Throne replica.

The Iron Throne photo

The official HBO Iron Throne is one of the simplest and most effective parts of the experience. On Lokrum, it gives you a playful finish after the walking tour. If you choose the Old Town option without the island, a replica is available in the city, subject to access.

Do not assume it will always be available. One visit coincided with a holiday when the throne could not be used, so special closures can happen. If sitting on it matters to you, confirm the arrangements on your date and keep a little flexibility in your plan.

The timing of the photo can also affect your experience. The Lokrum version may have a queue, but one useful tip is that lines can become shorter later in the afternoon. The island visit is not rushed, so you can fit the photo around swimming or walking rather than treating it as the only reason to go.

What the guides add

The guide is the key variable on a film-location tour. The most praised guides here include Katarina, Petra, Indira, Ivan, Dubravka, Marija, and Boris. Their styles differ, but the strongest common feature is the ability to explain both what happened on screen and what the real location means.

Katarina has been praised for asking questions, using scene photos, and keeping the group involved. Petra and Indira have added production stories and local background, while some guides have had direct connections to filming as extras or through relatives involved with the show. Those details can give the walk a personal edge, though the quality of any particular story depends on the guide leading your departure.

The tours may be small. Several bookings had groups of only four to six people, which is a real advantage in narrow lanes. A small group makes it easier to ask questions, hear the explanation, and get help with photos. It also means the experience can feel less like a large guided procession.

One point to consider is audio equipment. At least one participant wished for earphones, and no headset system is specified. In a small group this may not matter, but in a larger group or on a noisy street, stay close to the guide.

Price, timing, and practical value

At $28 per person, the walking tour is a reasonable way to see several major parts of Dubrovnik while adding a focused television theme. You are paying for a local licensed guide, the Old Town walk, Fort Lovrijenac guiding, and production stories, but not the fort entrance.

The fort fee changes the calculation. Paying €15 on top of the tour can make the total feel less modest, especially if you do not plan to see other sights covered by the Dubrovnik Pass. If you already have the pass, the tour becomes better value because it can cover Lovrijenac entry.

The Lokrum option is more expensive, but it also adds a separate half-day style outing. I would not choose it simply for the Iron Throne photo. Choose it if you want an island break, swimming, outdoor time, and Qarth filming sites. If your schedule is tight, the city walk alone covers the main locations and is easier to fit around other Dubrovnik plans.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and allows you to reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful in Dubrovnik, where heat, ferry conditions, and cruise-ship schedules can affect the day.

What to bring and who should skip it

Wear comfortable shoes with grip. Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and cash. A swimsuit and towel make sense for Lokrum, though the basic walking option does not require them.

The tour is a poor match if stairs and uneven surfaces are difficult for you. The Old Town’s pebble streets can be narrow and slippery, and Fort Lovrijenac involves climbing. It is also worth thinking about the heat. Several departure times may be available, so an earlier start can help.

I would recommend the experience most to people who want a guided introduction to Dubrovnik with a strong Game of Thrones angle. It also works for mixed groups, since the history of the Old Town keeps non-fans involved. Serious fans will appreciate the scene comparisons and filming details, while casual viewers may simply enjoy seeing parts of the city they might otherwise miss.

Should you book this Dubrovnik tour?

Book the walking tour if you want an efficient first look at Dubrovnik’s main filming sites, especially Fort Lovrijenac, Blackwater Bay, and the Jesuit Steps. The strongest reason to book is the guide’s ability to connect the show with real local history, and the small-group departures can make the narrow Old Town much easier to enjoy.

Add Lokrum if you have several free hours and want swimming, walking, and a change of scenery. Skip the add-on if your day is packed, ferry costs feel high, or the Iron Throne is your only goal. Before booking, check whether your chosen option includes the ferry, confirm the fort cost, and consider using a Dubrovnik Pass.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

The meeting point is outside the entrance of Nautika Restaurant at Brsalje Street 3, near Pile Gate.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts around 2 to 3 hours. The Lokrum option adds the ferry ride and island time at the end.

Is Fort Lovrijenac included in the tour price?

Guiding at Fort Lovrijenac is included, but the €15 entrance fee is not. Entry is free with a valid Dubrovnik Pass.

Is the Lokrum ferry included?

The ferry is included with selected Lokrum options. If it is not included in your choice, the separate ferry cost is €30.

What happens if the ferry to Lokrum cannot run?

If bad weather or another incident stops the ferry, the tour ends in the Old Town. You can still take a photo on the Iron Throne replica there.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The route includes steps, uneven pebble streets, and the climb to Fort Lovrijenac, so it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.