Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones&Lokrum Island Walking Tour

The Seven Kingdoms begin in Dubrovnik. This three-hour tour ties Game of Thrones filming sites to the real stories of the city, moving from Lovrijenac fortress through the Old Town and across to Lokrum Island. I like the mix of screen trivia and Croatian history, and I especially like that the tour ends on an island where you can stay for a swim instead of being rushed straight back to town. The main drawback is cost: the advertised $41 price does not include the €15 entrance fee for Lovrijenac or the €30 Lokrum entrance fee.

I also like the small-group feel reported by several people, along with guides such as Michaela, Ines, Josip, Andrea, Marko, and Davor, who bring humor and local stories to the walk. This is a good choice even if only one person in your group has seen the series. Just remember that the tour involves hills, stairs, sun, and rocky ground, so comfortable shoes and water matter.

Key points to know before you book

• Lovrijenac is the major opening stop: Allow about an hour here for the Red Keep setting, views, and Game of Thrones context.
• You visit several famous Old Town locations: Pile Gate, Stradun, the Jesuit Stairs, Rector’s Palace, and the Old Port all appear during the walk.
• The Iron Throne is on Lokrum: The throne was given to Dubrovnik by HBO, making the island stop more than a simple photo opportunity.
• The tour ends on Lokrum Island: You can return by ferry or remain on the island for swimming, cafés, ruins, peacocks, and rabbits.
• Extra charges affect the real price: Lovrijenac costs €15, and Lokrum costs €30, in addition to the tour price.
• The guide makes or breaks the experience: The strongest praise goes to guides who balance show details with Dubrovnik and Croatian history.

Why Dubrovnik became King’s Landing

Dubrovnik works so well as King’s Landing because its stone walls, sea views, narrow lanes, and fortresses already look like a finished fantasy set. The city does not need much decoration. A gate, staircase, harbor, or fortress can suggest political intrigue with very little help from the film crew.

Your guide uses that setting to explain how the fictional capital was built from real places. This is more satisfying than simply walking from one photo stop to another. You get the fun of recognizing scenes, but you also learn how the locations fit into Dubrovnik itself.

The guides have been praised for adding Croatian history rather than treating the city as a television backdrop. That balance matters. If you have watched every episode, you get the filming details and behind-the-scenes stories. If you have not seen the series, you still get a useful introduction to the Old Town and its landmarks.

Michaela, Ines, Josip, Andrea, Marko, Davor, Darko, and other guides have received particularly warm praise for their humor, patience, and ability to answer questions. The exact guide depends on the day, but the pattern is clear: a lively local guide is the heart of this experience.

Meeting at Pile Square

The meeting point is the Amerling Fountain at Pile Square, just outside Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Look near the Dubravka restaurant for the blue umbrella marked with the DUtheTour logo.

Pile is a sensible place to begin. It sits beside the main western entrance to the walled city, and it is also close to Lovrijenac. Arrive with enough time to find the fountain and locate the blue umbrella. Starting outside the walls also lets you see Dubrovnik in the way the tour presents it, first as a fortified coastal city, then as King’s Landing.

The tour is offered in English or German. A private group option is available, although group size and private pricing are not specified here. The experience lasts three hours, but that includes the ferry ride and the Lokrum visit, so the walking portion is active and fairly tightly scheduled.

Lovrijenac, the Red Keep, and the first big view

The first major stop is Lovrijenac, a fortress perched above the sea outside the Old Town. In the series, it serves as the Red Keep, making it one of the most important filming locations on the route.

About an hour is set aside for a guided visit and sightseeing. That gives your guide time to connect the fortress to major scenes, explain where cameras were placed, and point out the views that help explain why the location worked so well on screen.

The fortress is also valuable if you are not a fan. Its position above the water gives you a striking look back toward Dubrovnik’s walls and coastline. You get a strong sense of the city’s defensive character before entering the crowded lanes of the Old Town.

The entrance ticket is not included and costs €15. This is an important part of the budget. The fortress is not just a quick exterior photo stop, so the fee supports a substantial portion of the tour. Still, if you are trying to keep costs down, you should know about it before booking.

Wear shoes with a firm sole. A fortress visit means stone surfaces, steps, and open areas exposed to the sun. You will want your hands free for photos and your water bottle easy to reach.

Pile Gate and the road into King’s Landing

After Lovrijenac, the tour moves to Pile Gate for about ten minutes. This is the traditional western entrance into the Old Town and one of the easiest places to recognize from the show.

The stop is brief, but it sets up the rest of the walk. Your guide can explain how the gate and surrounding walls were used to create the entrances and streets of King’s Landing. It is also a useful place to understand the transition from modern Dubrovnik to the enclosed medieval city.

Do not expect a long stop here. Ten minutes is enough for an explanation and photographs, but not for lingering. If you want a clean photo of the gate, stay close to the guide and be ready when the group arrives.

Stradun, Dubrovnik’s grand stone street

Stradun is the Old Town’s main street, a broad, polished stone route running through the center of the city. The tour spends about fifteen minutes here.

In Game of Thrones terms, Stradun helps you see how ordinary urban spaces were transformed into royal and political settings. In real life, it is Dubrovnik’s central gathering place and the natural spine of the Old Town.

This part of the walk gives you a chance to look beyond the television connection. Notice the pale stone, the uniform façades, and the way side streets branch off from the main route. Your guide may also use the walk between stops to add more city history and behind-the-scenes details.

The pavement can be hard on your feet, especially in summer. The route is not a strenuous hike, but three hours of walking on stone is enough to make supportive shoes worthwhile.

The Jesuit Stairs and Cersei’s Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Stairs are among the most memorable stops for Game of Thrones fans. They were used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame, one of the show’s most intense scenes.

The visit lasts about fifteen minutes, enough to explain the scene, compare the real staircase with its television appearance, and take photographs. This is one of the places where your guide’s storytelling matters most. A good explanation helps you understand how a real Dubrovnik staircase became a major dramatic stage.

The stairs are also a good reminder that screen geography can be misleading. Locations may be edited together to suggest one continuous route, even when the real places are separated. Your guide can help you separate what was filmed here from what was created through editing.

This stop may be less enjoyable for anyone who dislikes stairs or crowded passageways. Take your time, keep to the side when possible, and avoid blocking the route for people going about their day.

Rector’s Palace and the royal side of the story

Rector’s Palace receives about ten minutes of guided sightseeing. In the series, it contributes to the world of royal power and ceremony. In Dubrovnik, it is one of the city’s most important historic buildings.

The short visit works best as part of the larger pattern. The tour is showing you how different buildings supplied different pieces of King’s Landing: a fortress for military power, a staircase for public spectacle, and a palace for authority.

You will not have time for an extended museum visit during this stop. Think of it as a filmed-location explanation and an exterior sightseeing pause rather than a full cultural visit. If Rector’s Palace interests you beyond the series, you may want to return later on your own.

Old Port and the Blackwater Bay connection

The walk continues to Dubrovnik’s Old Port, with about ten minutes for a guided stop. The harbor provides one of the clearest links to the sea-facing world of the show, including the setting used for Blackwater Bay.

This is a good point to pause and consider Dubrovnik as a working coastal city, not just a collection of old stones. The port connects the city to the water, ferries, and island life, and it helps explain the setting’s importance to the series.

The Old Port also prepares you for the next part of the experience. From here, the tour boards a ferry to Lokrum Island. The crossing takes about fifteen minutes, offering a short break after the walk.

The ferry is part of the appeal, but schedules and conditions can affect the pace. Keep your belongings together and listen for instructions, since the tour ends on the island and you may choose to remain there.

Lokrum Island, the City of Qarth, and the Iron Throne

Lokrum is presented in Game of Thrones as the City of Qarth. In real life, it is a protected forest reserve and a popular place for locals to escape the summer heat.

The island visit includes the Benedictine Monastery, with about fifteen minutes for a guided visit. The ruins add a different mood from Dubrovnik’s busy Old Town. You get shady paths, old stone remains, and a sense of the island as a place with its own story rather than just another filming location.

The highlight for many fans is the official Iron Throne. HBO gave the throne to Dubrovnik, and it is available for photographs. A ten-minute photo stop is included, so you should have time for a picture without treating the throne as the entire reason to visit the island.

Lokrum also works well for people who do not care about the show. Peacocks and rabbits live on the island and are often friendly around people. There are cafés, natural areas, rocky swimming spots, a monastery, and a fort, according to the experience details and past descriptions of the island.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and water if you plan to stay. The beaches are rocky, not broad sandy stretches, so a careful approach is wise. The island is protected, which means you should respect the natural setting and follow local rules.

Stay on Lokrum or take the ferry back

The tour finishes on Lokrum, which is one of its best features. You are not forced to leave the island as soon as the guided portion ends. You can return to Dubrovnik’s Old Town or spend the rest of the day exploring, swimming, and relaxing.

This flexibility changes the value of the experience. If you only want filming locations, you can treat the island as the final stop and head back. If you want a half-day outing with nature and swimming, bring the right gear and make more of the island visit.

You must leave Lokrum on the last ferry at the latest. Overnight stays are not allowed. Check the return ferry timing with your guide before separating from the group, especially if you plan to wander away from the Iron Throne area.

What the $41 price really means

At $41 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a three-hour guided walk with a professional guide and ferry transport. The value is strongest if you want someone to connect the scenes, locations, and city history for you instead of finding each place alone.

The real expense is higher because two major admissions are separate. Lovrijenac costs €15, and Lokrum Island costs €30. Those charges bring the day’s total well above the advertised tour price, particularly for a family or larger group.

Still, you are paying for more than a checklist of locations. You receive a guided visit to the Red Keep, a walk through several Old Town settings, ferry transport, the Lokrum stop, and access to the Iron Throne photo opportunity. You also gain the option to use the island as a longer afternoon outing.

I would consider it good value for a committed fan, a first-time Dubrovnik visitor, or a mixed group where some people want Game of Thrones and others prefer local history. It is less attractive if you only want a quick Iron Throne picture or if you are avoiding extra entrance fees.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Game of Thrones fans who want the key Dubrovnik locations in one organized walk
• Couples and families with mixed levels of interest in the series
• First-time visitors who want history included with their filming locations
• People who like combining city sightseeing with a ferry ride and time outdoors
• Anyone who prefers a guide with humor, stories, and room for questions

You may want a different plan if you dislike stairs, hot weather, rocky swimming areas, or a set three-hour schedule. You should also think twice if you want a slow architectural tour, since the route covers many stops in a limited time.

The strongest praise has focused on guides who make the experience fun without leaving nonfans behind. One family noted that even members who had never watched the show enjoyed the Croatian history. That is a useful sign for mixed groups.

Practical details that can improve your day

Meet at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square and look for the blue DUtheTour umbrella. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and carry sun protection.

If you plan to swim, pack your towel and swim gear before leaving your accommodation. You may not want to return to Dubrovnik just to collect them, especially since the tour finishes on Lokrum.

Keep the extra fees in your budget. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. English and German tours are offered, with private groups available.

Because the tour moves through active public spaces, you should stay near the guide at each transition. The Old Town, ferry, and island all have different rhythms, and a little attention keeps the day pleasant.

Should you book the Game of Thrones and Lokrum tour?

Book it if you want the major Dubrovnik filming locations explained by a lively guide, and if Lokrum sounds appealing as more than a quick television stop. The combination of Lovrijenac, the Old Town, the ferry, the Iron Throne, and free time on the island gives you a varied three-hour outing.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to mixed groups. Fans get the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Walk of Shame, Qarth, and the Iron Throne. Nonfans get Dubrovnik’s fortifications, streets, harbor, history, and a pleasant island visit.

Skip it if your budget cannot absorb the €45 in separate entrance fees, or if you want a quiet, unhurried visit to each landmark. For most people who enjoy the series and want to see Dubrovnik beyond the main street, this is a well-planned introduction with a useful bonus: your tour ends somewhere you can stay and enjoy.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square, outside Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Look for the blue umbrella with the DUtheTour logo near the Dubravka restaurant.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts three hours, including the walking tour, ferry crossing, and Lokrum Island visit.

Which languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and German.

Is Lovrijenac included in the tour price?

The guided visit is part of the experience, but the €15 entrance ticket to Lovrijenac, also called the Red Keep, is not included.

Is the Lokrum entrance fee included?

No. The Lokrum Island entrance ticket costs €30 and is not included in the tour price.

Can I take a picture on the Iron Throne?

Yes. The official Iron Throne is on Lokrum Island, and a photo stop is included.

Can I stay on Lokrum after the guided tour ends?

Yes. The tour finishes on Lokrum, and you can remain on the island for swimming, nature, cafés, and sightseeing, or return to Dubrovnik.

Can I stay overnight on Lokrum Island?

No. All visitors must leave by the last ferry, and overnight stays are not allowed.

What should I bring if I want to swim?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and suitable footwear for the island’s rocky beaches.