Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones&Lokrum Island Walking Tour

Dubrovnik served as King’s Landing, and this tour shows you why. You’ll walk from Pile Gate through the old town, visit Lovrijenac Fortress as the Red Keep, and finish on Lokrum Island, where the official Iron Throne waits for its photo session. I especially like the mix of filming spots and real Croatian history, plus the chance to stay on Lokrum after the guided portion. The main catch is price: the advertised $41 does not include the €15 Red Keep entrance or the €30 Lokrum ticket.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Michaela, Ines, Josip, Andrea, Marko, Davor, Darko, and others have been praised for humor, show trivia, and clear explanations. I also like that non-fans can enjoy the tour, since the best guides add Dubrovnik’s story rather than firing off Game of Thrones references alone. Allow for steep steps, summer heat, and extra costs beyond the base price.

Key points to know before you book

• Lovrijenac becomes the Red Keep: Spend about an hour at the fortress, with fine views and some of the tour’s strongest filming connections.
• The old town scenes come thick and fast: Pile Gate, Stradun, the Jesuit Stairs, Rector’s Palace, and the old port all connect Dubrovnik to King’s Landing.
• Lokrum changes the pace: After the city streets, you take a 15-minute ferry to a wooded island with peacocks, bunnies, monastery ruins, rocky swimming spots, and the Iron Throne.
• The tour ends on Lokrum: You can return to Dubrovnik or stay for the rest of the day, but you must catch the last ferry and cannot sleep on the island.
• The guide makes or breaks the mood: Names praised for lively delivery include Michaela, Ines, Josip, Andrea, Marko, Davor, and Darko, though no particular guide is guaranteed.
• Budget beyond the headline price: The Red Keep entrance costs €15 and Lokrum entrance costs €30, both listed separately from the $41 tour price.

Why Dubrovnik works so well as King’s Landing

Dubrovnik gives Game of Thrones a convincing capital city without much help from computer effects. Its stone walls, narrow lanes, steep stairways, fortress, and sea views create a setting that feels dramatic before a guide explains a single scene.

The tour begins outside the old town at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square, close to the Dubravka restaurant. Look for the blue umbrella marked with the DUtheTour logo. This is a sensible meeting point because Pile Gate is the main western entrance to Dubrovnik’s old center and an important filming location in its own right.

I’d arrive early. The meeting point is outside the walls, and the old town can be crowded in summer. Once the group gathers, the guide leads you through the city rather than simply pointing out a few famous corners and sending you off with a map.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep in real life

The first major stop is Lovrijenac, also called Fort Lawrence. The guided visit lasts about an hour, making it the longest stop on the route and one of the most worthwhile.

In the show, the fortress represents the Red Keep. In reality, it sits on a rocky outcrop beyond the western walls, above the sea. The location gives you two kinds of reward: the filming connection and a strong view back toward Dubrovnik’s fortifications.

This is also where the tour begins to feel more than a television checklist. A good guide can explain how the real fortress fits into Dubrovnik’s defensive story while showing you where scenes were staged. Past guides such as Michaela, Marko, and Davor have been praised for balancing show details with Croatian history, which matters here. Without that local context, Lovrijenac can become little more than a backdrop.

The drawback is physical. Expect stairs and uneven stone surfaces. You’ll want practical shoes, especially if the stone is warm or slick. The fortress entrance is not included in the $41 price, so add €15 per person before deciding that this is a bargain.

From Pile Gate to the Walk of Shame

After Lovrijenac, the route returns to the old town through Pile Gate. The stop itself is short, about 10 minutes, but the gate is one of Dubrovnik’s clearest links to King’s Landing.

The tour then moves along Stradun, the polished main street of the old town. You get about 15 minutes here. Stradun is not only useful for fans trying to match scenes to places. It also gives you a quick sense of Dubrovnik’s layout, with the main street running through the historic center and smaller lanes climbing away on either side.

The Jesuit Stairs receive about 15 minutes and are among the most recognizable stops. They were used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame. Your guide can help you place the scene, explain what was changed for filming, and point out the surrounding details that are easy to miss when you are simply climbing the steps.

This stop is likely to be busy, particularly in the warmer months. Your best photos may require patience rather than a quick snap. The stairs are also steep, so take your time. If you have not watched the series, the location is still worthwhile as one of Dubrovnik’s more striking stairways.

Rector’s Palace and the old port

Rector’s Palace is another short stop, listed at about 10 minutes. In Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik’s architecture often plays several different places, and a guide helps you understand how the city stood in for different parts of King’s Landing.

The palace is also useful for visitors who care more about Dubrovnik than the show. Its stone courtyards and formal setting shift the tour away from fortifications and stairs. You get another glimpse of the city’s political past, while the guide links the real building to its fictional role.

The route continues to the old port for roughly 10 minutes. This is where the sea becomes part of the story in a direct way, with connections to Blackwater Bay and other waterfront scenes. You also get a change from the enclosed lanes of the old town.

The short timing at each central stop keeps the tour moving, but it means you should not expect long visits inside every building. This is a location tour, not a full museum tour of Dubrovnik. If your priority is the city’s art, architecture, or religious collections, plan separate visits.

The ferry to Lokrum and the shift to Qarth

From the old port, you board a ferry for a ride of about 15 minutes to Lokrum Island. This is one of the best design choices in the experience. The ferry breaks up the walking and gives you a fresh view of Dubrovnik from the water.

Lokrum represented Qarth in the show. The island feels different from the old town, with trees, open paths, rocky shorelines, and a calmer pace. After several hours of stone streets and stairs, the change is welcome.

Lokrum is a protected forest reserve, and the island’s appeal is not limited to Game of Thrones. Peacocks and bunnies roam around the island, and the tour information describes them as friendly. You might find the island more appealing than expected if your interest in the show is modest.

The tour visits the Benedictine Monastery for about 15 minutes. The ruins add an older, quieter note to the day and help show why Lokrum can double as a fictional place so easily. The island has its own character, rather than feeling like a film set built for tourists.

The Iron Throne photo stop

The official Iron Throne is the island’s headline attraction for many fans. HBO gifted it to Dubrovnik, and it is displayed in a Game of Thrones visitor center on Lokrum.

The scheduled photo stop lasts about 10 minutes. That is enough for a quick turn on the throne, but not a long museum visit. Your guide can put the island’s filming role into context, then give you time for the essential photograph.

I’d save your best energy for this part of the tour. The Iron Throne is a fun finale because it gives you something tangible after seeing streets and buildings that were adapted for the series. It also works well for a mixed group: one person can enjoy the photo while another appreciates the island itself.

Staying on Lokrum after the tour

The guided tour finishes on Lokrum, and you do not have to leave with the group. You can take a later ferry back to Dubrovnik and use the rest of the day for swimming, walking, or relaxing among the trees.

Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen if you plan to stay. The beaches are rocky, so do not expect a broad sandy beach. The island’s appeal is its natural setting and clear access to the water rather than a polished resort experience.

This flexible ending adds real value. You are not forced into another hurried walk through Dubrovnik after the Iron Throne. You can make the tour a focused three-hour visit, or turn it into most of a day on Lokrum.

There are two important limits. You must leave by the last ferry, and overnight stays are not allowed. Check the return timing with your guide so that a relaxed swim does not become a stressful race to the dock.

What the $41 price really covers

The base price is $41 per person and includes the Game of Thrones walking tour and a professional guide. It does not include the €15 entrance to Lovrijenac or the €30 entrance to Lokrum Island.

That means the real cost is notably higher if you follow the full route. The listed prices are in different currencies, so check the current exchange rate before booking, but the two extra tickets together are substantial. For a fan who wants the full Red Keep and Lokrum experience, the value depends on how much you want guided context rather than simply visiting the sites alone.

I think the price makes better sense for people who want the stories behind the locations. Guides have been praised for sharing filming anecdotes, using photos for context, asking trivia questions, and explaining what actors and production crews did on site. You are paying for interpretation and a planned route, not just admission.

Small groups can make the experience feel more personal, and private groups are available. The standard group size is not specified, so do not assume that every departure will be intimate. English and German tours are offered.

Who will enjoy this tour most

You should book this if you have watched Game of Thrones and want to connect scenes with real places. The route covers major references including the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, the Walk of Shame, the Purple Wedding, Qarth, and the Iron Throne.

It also suits a mixed group. Several guides have been praised for adding enough Dubrovnik and Croatian history to keep non-fans interested. One particularly useful feature is the way the tour can work for someone who has never seen the show, provided the guide maintains that balance.

You might skip it if you want a quiet architectural tour or a long visit inside museums. The pace is active, the city stops are fairly brief, and the strongest emphasis is on locations and stories from the production.

The tour is also a good choice for a first visit to Dubrovnik because it covers several central landmarks in one organized walk. Just remember that it is not a substitute for a full day exploring the old town independently.

Practical tips for a smoother visit

Meet at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square, outside the old town walls. Look for the blue DUtheTour umbrella near the Dubravka restaurant.

Wear shoes suited to stone streets and steps. Lovrijenac and the Jesuit Stairs are the clearest physical challenges on the route.

Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat in summer. The tour combines exposed fortress viewpoints, busy streets, and an island visit.

If Lokrum sounds appealing, pack swim gear and a towel from the start. You may decide to stay after the tour, and returning to your accommodation first would waste the advantage of ending on the island.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Starting times vary, so check availability when choosing your date.

Should you book the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones and Lokrum tour?

Book it if you want the show’s major Dubrovnik locations explained by a lively local guide, with enough Croatian history to make the day worthwhile for non-fans. The combination of Lovrijenac, the old town, the ferry, Lokrum, and the Iron Throne gives you more variety than a simple city walking tour.

I would be cautious only about the final price and the physical pace. Add €15 for the Red Keep and €30 for Lokrum, wear sensible shoes, and leave room in your day if you want to swim or explore the island. For fans, the Iron Throne and filming stories are the payoff. For everyone else, Dubrovnik’s old town, fortress views, and Lokrum’s peacocks and rocky shores provide a solid reason to come along.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square, outside Dubrovnik’s old town. The fountain is near the Dubravka restaurant. Look for the blue umbrella with the DUtheTour logo.

How long does the tour last?

The guided experience lasts three hours. It includes the walk through Dubrovnik, the ferry to Lokrum, and the main island visits.

Which languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and German.

Are the Red Keep and Lokrum entrance tickets included?

No. The entrance ticket to Lovrijenac, the Red Keep filming location, costs €15. The Lokrum Island entrance ticket costs €30. Both are separate from the tour price.

Can I stay on Lokrum after the guided tour?

Yes. The tour finishes on Lokrum, and you can stay for swimming or exploring before returning to Dubrovnik. You must leave on the last ferry, and overnight stays are not allowed.

Is cancellation available?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.