Dubrovnik: The Original Game of Thrones Tour & Lokrum Option

Dubrovnik supplied the walls, stairs, harbor, and stone streets for King’s Landing, and this tour shows you exactly how the city became part of Game of Thrones. You’ll see Cersei’s Walk of Shame route, Blackwater Bay, the Red Keep at Lovrijenac Fortress, and streets used for riots, markets, and palace scenes.

I like the mix of filming trivia and Dubrovnik history, especially when guides such as Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, and Karmen explain how a scene was shot from a particular camera angle. I also like the option to continue to Lokrum, where you can see the official Iron Throne and have time to swim or relax.

The main drawback is cost and effort beyond the advertised $26. Lovrijenac Fortress costs €15 unless your Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket covers it, and the Lokrum option adds €30 for adults for the ferry and island admission. Expect stairs, uneven streets, and a fair amount of walking.

Key points to know before you book

• Cersei’s Walk of Shame route: Follow the famous path through Dubrovnik’s old streets and hear how the scene was created.
• Lovrijenac Fortress views: See the Red Keep location above the sea, but budget €15 for entry unless you already have a qualifying ticket.
• Lokrum’s official Iron Throne: Add the three-hour option for the replica throne, Qarth locations, and free island time.
• Guides who bring scene photos: Pictures help you match modern Dubrovnik with the show’s finished scenes.
• A useful Dubrovnik orientation: The route covers major Old Town sights, so it helps even if you are not a devoted fan.
• A stair-heavy walk: This is not a good choice for wheelchair users, mobility scooters, or anyone troubled by heights or vertigo.

Dubrovnik becomes King’s Landing

The tour begins by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, beside the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for the representative with a red umbrella. There are three listed starting-point references around the fountain, so arrive a little early and use the umbrella as your landmark.

From there, you enter the Old Town and begin linking real Dubrovnik places with fictional King’s Landing. This is the right way to approach the experience. You are not simply checking off movie locations. You are learning how a working historic city became a set, and how familiar streets looked different once dressed for a medieval fantasy world.

Your English-speaking guide uses scene photographs and behind-the-scenes details to show the difference between the real location and what appeared on screen. That matters because Dubrovnik often looks recognizable, but not always instantly so. A photo can show you where actors stood, where the camera faced, and how much of the final scene depended on editing.

The guides vary, but the names repeatedly associated with strong tours include Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, Karmen, Josip, Eddie, Ivo, Bruno, and Boris. The best part of the guiding style is the combination of clear show knowledge, local stories, and humor. Tihomir is praised for keeping the tour lively while adding Croatian history, while Jelena and Karmen are noted for their clear explanations and friendly approach.

Pile Gate and Blackwater Bay

Pile Gate is your first major filming stop. It is one of Dubrovnik’s most important entrances, and on screen it became part of the approach to King’s Landing. Your guide sets the scene here, then connects the gate to the nearby locations used for Blackwater Bay.

This is a good early stop because it gives you a sense of scale. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is compact, but its walls, gates, and sea-facing fortifications create the grand setting the show needed. You can also begin to see how the production used real stonework rather than building every location from scratch.

Blackwater Bay is especially rewarding if you remember the harbor scenes. The real setting is attractive in its own right, but the guide’s photographs help you place the fictional action. You may find the location less dramatic than it appeared on television, which is normal. Filming angles, digital effects, costumes, and sound did much of the work.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep

The route then takes you toward Lovrijenac Fortress, often called Dubrovnik’s Red Keep in the show. The fortress sits outside the main Old Town area on a rocky height, so getting there involves steps and an uphill approach. The reward is a strong view back toward Dubrovnik and out over the sea.

Inside, you can connect the fortress with scenes involving Tyrion and Varys, along with other Red Keep moments. It is one of the tour’s most important locations because the building itself feels cinematic. Heavy stone walls and open views make the setting easy to recognize even before your guide points out the exact filming areas.

Entry is not included in the tour price. The normal fee is €15, with free admission for children under seven. You can also enter without paying this extra fee if you have a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

That ticket detail can change the value of the tour. If you already plan to walk Dubrovnik’s walls, the fortress may be covered, making the $26 tour more attractive. If you do not have either pass or ticket, add €15 per person before deciding. You should also be ready for stairs, exposed heights, and uneven surfaces. The fortress is not suitable for wheelchair users, mobility scooters, or people with serious mobility limits.

Stradun, Orlando’s Column, and the city’s central streets

Back inside the Old Town, the walk continues along Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. This broad stone thoroughfare appears in several city scenes and gives you a chance to pause from the steeper sections of the route.

Stradun is also where the tour becomes useful for general sightseeing. Your guide can help you understand how the Old Town fits together, which is handy if Dubrovnik is new to you. Several people who enjoyed the experience appreciated that it helped them get their bearings while still keeping Game of Thrones at the center.

Orlando’s Column adds another recognizable city landmark. The stop is brief, but it helps you see how the show used ordinary public spaces as part of the fictional capital. You will hear about scenes connected with public life, city gatherings, and the political drama that filled King’s Landing.

The tour also covers locations tied to the Purple Wedding, city markets, and the Kings Landing riots. These stops may not have the same instant impact as the Iron Throne or the Walk of Shame route, but they are valuable if you want more than the three most famous photo points. The guide’s scene images are particularly helpful here.

Cersei’s Walk of Shame and the Jesuit Stairs

The Walk of Shame route is the emotional center of the Old Town portion. You follow the streets used for Cersei’s notorious procession, including the approach to the Jesuit Stairs.

The stairs are one of Dubrovnik’s most memorable architectural spots, even without the television connection. They rise steeply and create a dramatic view toward the church above. In the show, that shape gave the scene its sense of public spectacle and exposure.

You should take your time here. The steps are a practical warning about the tour as a whole. Dubrovnik is full of polished stone, inclines, and sudden stairways. Wear shoes with a firm grip, and do not book this walk if stairs are a serious problem for you. The activity is also not recommended for pregnant women, people with respiratory issues, or anyone with vertigo or a strong fear of heights.

The Jesuit Stairs are near restaurants and market activity, so they can also help you choose where to stop later. The walking tour generally ends around the Jesuit Steps for those taking the shorter option.

The two-hour Old Town tour

The standard tour lasts about two hours. It covers the main filming points around and outside the Old Town, including Pile Gate, Blackwater Bay, Lovrijenac Fortress, Stradun, Orlando’s Column, the Jesuit Stairs, the Purple Wedding area, market locations, and streets used in King’s Landing scenes.

At $26 per person, the base price is reasonable if you care about the series and want a local guide rather than a printed map. You get a structured route, an English-speaking guide, scene photographs, and the chance to ask questions. The value is better still if you also want a quick introduction to Dubrovnik’s layout.

The tour is not only for devoted fans. If you have watched little or none of the show, you can still enjoy the architecture, viewpoints, and local stories. One guide, Karmen, is especially praised for balancing the series with general information about the city. Still, the experience makes most sense if you recognize at least some major characters and scenes.

The group may be private if you select that option. A private group can be useful for families or friends who want to set the pace, but the available information does not promise a private guide by default. In the quieter season, a regular booking may also feel very small.

Lokrum Island and the official Iron Throne

The extended option lasts about three hours and adds Lokrum Island after the Old Town walk. The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes. You then visit locations connected with Qarth in Season 2, including the Benedictine Monastery area.

The main prize is the official replica Iron Throne. This is the strongest reason to choose the island option if you want a classic photo. The throne gives you something physical and playful after spending the earlier part of the tour matching streets and fortifications with scenes.

Lokrum is not only a television stop. After the guided portion, you have free time to stroll through the botanical gardens, sit in the shade, swim in hidden coves, or buy a drink or lunch. You return to Dubrovnik at your own pace, so the island option feels less hurried than a simple photo stop.

There is a clear tradeoff. Round-trip ferry transportation and Lokrum admission are not included. The combined cost is €30 for adults and €5 for children ages five through 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives you a 20 percent ferry discount, while a seven-day pass gives you 30 percent off.

That extra cost is worth considering alongside your plans for the day. If you want only filming locations, the two-hour route is the efficient choice. If you have several hours, like swimming or garden walks, and want the Iron Throne photo, Lokrum gives you a fuller outing.

How the guides shape the experience

This tour depends heavily on the guide. The route itself is easy to follow, but the difference between a flat location checklist and an enjoyable tour comes from the stories, timing, and scene comparisons.

The strongest guides use humor without letting the show take over the city. Tihomir is described as an excellent storyteller who connects the show with Croatian history. Joseph is praised for making the walk both informative and funny. Boris is noted for being personable, while Eddie is repeatedly associated with energy and a good sense of humor.

You should expect explanations about filming methods, the camera angles used, where cast members stayed and walked, and how local residents lived alongside production. Those details give the tour more substance than simply standing in front of a staircase for a photograph.

A guide may also help with practical questions about Dubrovnik. That is useful because the tour passes through central areas where you may want to return later. Think of it as part television location walk and part orientation tour.

Timing, price, and practical planning

The advertised price is $26 per person for the basic experience. It includes the guide, the walking tour, and the Iron Throne photo opportunity only if you choose the Lokrum option. The fortress, ferry, island entry, food, and drinks are extra.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Bring water, comfortable shoes, and sun protection in warm weather. The route includes stairs, exposed areas, and uneven stone. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and mobility scooters are not permitted.

The tour is offered in English. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, pregnant women, people with vertigo or a fear of heights, or people with respiratory problems or motion sickness. The ferry portion may also be a poor fit if you are prone to motion sickness.

Should you book it?

Book the two-hour tour if you want a focused introduction to Dubrovnik’s filming locations, especially Cersei’s Walk of Shame, Blackwater Bay, and Lovrijenac Fortress. It is also a smart choice if you want city history mixed into your television trivia and do not want to spend a full afternoon on an island.

Choose the Lokrum option if the official Iron Throne matters to you, or if you would enjoy swimming, gardens, and free time after the guided walk. Just calculate the added €30 adult transport and admission cost, and check whether your Dubrovnik Pass reduces the ferry price.

I would skip this experience only if stairs, heights, or extra admission fees are likely to frustrate you. For everyone else, the combination of striking Dubrovnik locations, sharp scene comparisons, and personable guides such as Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, and Karmen makes this a strong-value way to see how King’s Landing was built from a real Croatian city.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

The meeting point is by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative holding a red umbrella.

How long does the tour last?

The Old Town walking tour lasts about two hours. The extended option lasts about three hours and adds Lokrum Island.

What locations are included on the two-hour tour?

The route includes Pile Gate, Blackwater Bay, Lovrijenac Fortress, Stradun, Orlando’s Column, the Jesuit Stairs, the Walk of Shame route, Purple Wedding locations, markets, and other King’s Landing streets.

Is entrance to Lovrijenac Fortress included?

No. Entrance costs €15, and children under seven enter free. Admission is also free with a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

What does the Lokrum option add?

It adds a 15-minute ferry ride to Lokrum, Qarth filming locations, the Benedictine Monastery area, and a photo opportunity on the official Iron Throne. You also receive free time on the island.

How much do the Lokrum ferry and island admission cost?

The round-trip transportation and Lokrum admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children ages five through 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives 20 percent off the ferry, while a seven-day pass gives 30 percent off.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. On Lokrum, you have free time to buy a drink or lunch.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour includes steps, stairs, uneven streets, and areas with heights. It is not suitable for wheelchair users or mobility scooters, and it is not recommended for people with mobility impairments, vertigo, a fear of heights, respiratory issues, or motion sickness.