Dubrovnik Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island Visit

Fort Lovrijenac is the star of this Dubrovnik Game of Thrones walk. High above the sea, the old fortress becomes the Red Keep, while the streets, harbor, and staircases below turn into King’s Landing. You’ll see the real places behind scenes with Joffrey, Tyrion, Sansa, Cersei, and Jaime, then hear how filming worked in a living Croatian city.

I like the way the tour joins show locations with Dubrovnik’s own story, rather than treating the Old Town as a movie set. I also like the practical route: your guide leads you from Pile Gate to the harbor, up the fort, and back through the lanes to the Walk of Shame staircase. The main caution is the climb to Fort Lovrijenac, plus a separate €15 entrance fee unless you have a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket.

Key points at a glance

• Fort Lovrijenac is the big payoff: See the fortress used as the Red Keep, including locations tied to the Purple Wedding and Joffrey’s name-day tourney.
• Cersei’s staircase is the best photo stop: The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola provides the setting for the famous Walk of Shame scene.
• The route reaches beyond the Old Town walls: Kolorina beach and Dubrovnik West Harbour served as docks, piers, and battle locations in King’s Landing.
• Local guides add more than show trivia: Guides such as Jelena, Joseph, Ana, Edi, Ivica, and Josip have been praised for mixing filming details with local history and humor.
• Lokrum makes a good optional extension: Add a ferry ride, Qarth filming locations, and Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne for €30 per adult or €5 per child aged 5 to 17.
• Plan for stairs and sun: Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and check your fort admission before you arrive.

Starting beside the Large Onofrio Fountain

The meeting point is easy to find inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town, beside the Large Onofrio Fountain and near the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative with a red umbrella marked Dubrovnik Walking Tours.

This is a useful place to begin because you are already near the western entrance to the walled city. After the group gathers, the guide introduces the route and starts the walk toward Pile Gate. The standard visit takes about two hours, though the full experience can run two to three hours depending on the group and the optional Lokrum addition.

The tour is offered in English. A group can include as many as 70 people, so the size may vary considerably. One useful feature reported on some departures is the use of audio equipment and splitting a large group in half, giving each guide more time to answer questions. That arrangement is not something to assume on every departure, but it shows why the organization matters on a busy day.

Pile Gate puts you into King’s Landing

Pile Gate is your first filming stop, and it arrives almost at once. This western entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town appeared in scenes from Seasons 2 and 3, including the angry crowd confronting King Joffrey.

Your guide connects the gate and the drawbridge with the scenes of Joffrey’s royal procession, the starving people’s jeers, and the riot that follows his order to attack the crowd. You’ll also hear how Jaime Lannister returns to the city with Brienne of Tarth without being recognized.

This stop works best if you have watched the series recently, since the guide can place the scene in its story. If you have not watched Game of Thrones, the location still gives you a clear introduction to the show’s use of Dubrovnik. The guide also adds facts about the gate and the city, so you are not left out during the plot references.

Kolorina beach becomes the docks of King’s Landing

Just outside Pile Gate, the path under the drawbridge leads to Kolorina. The small beach served as one of the docks of King’s Landing.

Here, you can picture the royal party seeing Princess Myrcella off to Dorne. The location also connects with the storyline involving the Gold Cloaks and the search for King Robert Baratheon’s bastards. Tyrion’s movements near the city walls and Fort Bokar are part of the same group of filming references.

Kolorina is a good reminder that Dubrovnik’s appeal to filmmakers is not limited to grand stone buildings. The harbor, rock, water, and fortifications provide a complete setting within a short walk. The drawback is that this is a brief stop, so your experience depends heavily on how well the guide explains the scene and shows you the matching images.

West Harbour and the Blackwater scenes

The route continues to Dubrovnik’s West Harbour, where the tour pauses at one of the piers. This area doubled for parts of Blackwater Bay and appeared in scenes involving wildfire.

The harbor also connects with conversations between Sansa and Shae about ships and escape. Littlefinger’s arrival changes the mood, as he explains his plan to help Sansa return to her family.

This stop gives the tour a welcome change of pace. You leave the narrow streets and get a wider view across the water before tackling the steep route to Fort Lovrijenac. I find this kind of stop especially useful because it helps you understand how filmmakers combine several nearby locations to create one fictional city.

The climb to Fort Lovrijenac

Fort Lovrijenac is the most substantial part of the walk, with about 45 minutes set aside for the visit. The fortress sits above the water and served as the Red Keep, the royal stronghold of King’s Landing.

Inside and around the fort, your guide explains how the site appeared in scenes connected with the Purple Wedding and the tourney held for King Joffrey’s name day. You’ll also learn how the fortress represented exterior areas and quarters of the Red Keep.

The views are a major part of the reward. From the fort, you can look back toward Dubrovnik’s walls and the Old Town, which makes the fictional connection easy to understand. The real fort is more interesting than a simple backdrop, and the guide’s local context helps you see it as a Dubrovnik landmark first.

You do need to budget for the entrance. Admission is €15 per person, though it is free with a Dubrovnik Pass or a City Wall Ticket. This cost matters when comparing the tour’s low advertised price with your likely total. If you already plan to walk the city walls, check the ticket terms before paying separately.

The climb is manageable for many people, but it is not flat. Several people praised guides, especially Jelena and Joseph, for pausing and helping older members of the group with the stairs. Still, you should wear shoes with a firm sole and be ready for a warm, exposed walk in good weather.

Back through Dubrovnik’s lanes

After the fort, the route descends into the Old Town. The walk now focuses on streets used for the aftermath of Joffrey’s crowd riot, scenes following the Purple Wedding, Jaime’s return, and parts of Littlefinger’s brothel.

You’ll also hear about Tyrion’s meeting with Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne. This section is less about one famous landmark and more about showing how ordinary lanes became different corners of King’s Landing through camera angles and set design.

That is where a good guide makes the difference. Joseph has been praised for explaining filming tricks with humor, while Ana and Edi have been noted for combining Game of Thrones material with facts about Dubrovnik. Guides change, so you cannot book a specific personality based on these names, but the strongest part of this experience is clearly the human explanation, not simply the act of standing in a location.

Cersei’s staircase and the Walk of Shame

The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola is the final major stop on the standard route. Its long stone staircase provided the setting for Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

The guide explains the scene’s place in the Faith of the Seven and points out the route used for Cersei’s public punishment. This is usually the tour’s best photo opportunity, so have your camera ready and expect other people to be taking pictures as well.

The staircase is visually striking even if you are not a devoted fan. It also makes a fitting end to the main walk because it is instantly recognizable from the show and easy to remember later. The tour then reaches Veliki Muo, where you can choose to finish or continue to Lokrum Island.

Adding Lokrum and the official Iron Throne

The Lokrum option extends the experience beyond Dubrovnik’s walls. From Veliki Muo, you take a ferry to the island, which served as Qarth in Season 2.

The island visit includes the main city tour first, then the boat ride and a look at the filming locations. You’ll also have a photo opportunity with Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne. For many fans, this is the most playful part of the upgrade and a good way to finish the day.

The added cost is €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. That price covers round-trip transportation and Lokrum Island admission according to the tour details. It is a sizable addition to a $24.19 walking tour, so I would choose it only if you want the full fan experience and have enough time for the extra outing.

The standard tour is the better value if your main goal is to see Dubrovnik’s Old Town, Fort Lovrijenac, and the Walk of Shame staircase. Lokrum makes more sense when you want Qarth, the ferry ride, and the Iron Throne rather than just the core filming route.

What the $24.19 price really covers

At $24.19 per person, the basic tour is reasonably priced for a guided walk through several recognizable locations. You are paying for a local and professional guide, route planning, filming knowledge, and the chance to enter the fort with a group that already knows where to go.

The price does not include Fort Lovrijenac admission. Add €15 unless you have the right Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket. Since the fort is the longest and most important stop, I would not treat it as an optional extra unless cost or mobility makes the climb unsuitable.

Group discounts are available, and confirmation arrives when you book. Free cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation inside that window is not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this walk most

You’ll get the most from this tour if you know the show’s main characters and locations. Scene images, plot references, and filming stories make the stops more vivid when you can place them.

It also works for someone who has not watched the series. The city and fort remain worthwhile, and the guides bring in local history and stories about how Dubrovnik residents experienced the Game of Thrones filming period. One of the tour’s strengths is that a devoted fan and a curious companion can both find something to enjoy.

I would be more cautious if you have difficulty with stairs or want a slow, purely historical tour. The route includes the climb to Lovrijenac and several stairways in the Old Town. Guides may pause when needed, but this is still an active walking experience.

The maximum group size is 70, though some departures may be smaller. If you prefer quiet, unhurried conversation, a large group could reduce the personal feel. The audio equipment used on some tours can help, and group splitting may improve contact with the guide.

Practical advice before you go

Meet at the Large Onofrio Fountain and look for the red umbrella. Arrive ready to walk, since the first stop is Pile Gate and the route quickly moves beyond the Old Town.

Wear comfortable shoes. The walk includes stairs, a fort climb, and a descent back into the city. Bring extra money for the fort unless your Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket covers it.

If you choose Lokrum, allow extra time beyond the two-hour core walk and bring the additional €30 adult admission and transport cost. The Lokrum extension ends away from the original meeting point, so pay attention to the final meeting and departure instructions provided for your date.

The tour needs good weather. Dubrovnik’s stone streets and fort steps are not pleasant in poor conditions, and the operator may reschedule or provide a full refund if weather cancels the experience.

Should you book the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour?

I would book the standard tour if you want an efficient way to connect Dubrovnik’s major Game of Thrones locations without searching for them yourself. The combination of Pile Gate, the harbor, Fort Lovrijenac, and Cersei’s staircase gives you the essential route, while local guides add humor, filming tricks, and city context.

Choose the Lokrum extension if you are a serious fan and want Qarth and the Iron Throne. Skip it if your time or budget is tight. Either way, reserve comfortable shoes, check the fort admission before arrival, and expect a few stairs in exchange for some of Dubrovnik’s finest views.

FAQ

Where does the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour begin?

The tour begins at the Large Onofrio Fountain inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town, near the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for the representative holding a red umbrella with the Dubrovnik Walking Tours sign.

How long does the tour last?

The main walking tour takes about two hours. The overall experience is listed as approximately two to three hours, depending on whether you add the Lokrum Island visit.

Is Fort Lovrijenac included in the tour price?

No. Fort Lovrijenac admission costs €15 per person unless you have a Dubrovnik Pass or a City Wall Ticket that provides free entry.

How much does the Lokrum Island option cost?

Round-trip transportation and Lokrum Island admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. The option includes the main two-hour tour before the ferry ride.

Is the tour suitable for people who have not watched Game of Thrones?

Yes. The tour explains the filming locations and includes information about Dubrovnik, its history, and local involvement in the production. The show references are most useful if you know the series, but they are not required.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can receive a different date or a full refund.