Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Walking, Car and Boat Tour

Dubrovnik doubles as Westeros in this seven-hour Game of Thrones tour, linking more than 15 filming sites by foot, car, and boat. You will see the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Qarth, the King’s Road, and the setting for the Walk of Shame, then compare show screenshots with the real places.

I like the variety: you get Dubrovnik’s old streets, a short cruise to Lokrum, and a drive into the countryside. I also like the guides’ mix of filming trivia and local detail. Guides Mikki and Dorotea earned special praise for their friendly banter and sharp knowledge. The main drawback is the physical effort. Uneven streets, stairs, a boat ride, and several transfers make this a poor fit if you have mobility limits, back problems, or seasickness.

Key points at a glance

• Three ways to see Westeros: Combine a walking tour, a Lokrum boat trip, and a car excursion through the Dubrovnik area.
• More than 15 filming locations: Visit sites used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Qarth, the King’s Road, and the Walk of Shame.
• A real Iron Throne photo: Sit on the throne at Lokrum’s Benedictine Monastery.
• Useful screen comparisons: Your guide carries a book of show images so you can match each location to its TV appearance.
• Strong guiding is part of the value: Mikki and Dorotea are praised for warm humor, enthusiasm, and detailed storytelling.
• You can split the experience: Take all three parts in one day or arrange them on separate days.

Why this tour works for Game of Thrones fans

Dubrovnik is not treated as a simple backdrop here. The tour shows how courtyards, fortifications, gardens, and coastal views were reshaped into places such as King’s Landing and Qarth.

That matters because the show often changes the scale and mood of a location. A narrow stone passage can become a major royal approach on screen. A peaceful garden can serve as a setting for political plotting. Seeing the real place beside a screenshot helps you understand the trick.

You do not need to be an expert on every character to enjoy the outing. The tour also covers Dubrovnik landmarks, local settings, and the practical business of filming. If you remember the major locations and storylines, you will get more out of the jokes and behind-the-scenes details.

The price is $294 per person. That is a serious spend, but it covers three separate formats, admission to St. Lawrence Fortress, entry to Trsteno Arboretum, the return boat to Lokrum, and the Lokrum National Reserve fee. You are paying for transport and several admissions as well as guiding.

The value is strongest if you want a full day built around the show and would otherwise need to arrange a car, boat tickets, and separate site visits. It is less attractive if you only want a quick photo at one or two filming spots.

Starting near Pile Gate and St. Lawrence Fortress

The meeting point is by the Amerling fountain, next to Dubravka restaurant, near the west entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town at Pile Gate. This is a handy place to begin because the walking section starts close to the historic center and the city’s best-known fortifications.

The walking tour lasts about two hours. Expect a steady route through old streets and around locations used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, and the Walk of Shame. The entry fee to St. Lawrence Fortress is included, which gives the tour a strong opening site and saves you from arranging that admission separately.

St. Lawrence Fortress is especially useful for understanding the show’s visual language. Its stone walls and position above the water helped create the setting for King’s Landing. Your guide can point out what the camera used and what Dubrovnik looks like without the digital additions.

The Walk of Shame location has a different appeal. It is a place where a familiar scene feels more immediate because you can see the actual route, walls, and surrounding buildings. A screenshot book is helpful here. Without it, some filming locations can look like ordinary corners of the Old Town.

The walking portion is also where the guides’ personality matters most. Mikki and Dorotea were singled out for friendly banter, quick wit, and strong command of both the show and Dubrovnik. Ask questions as you go. This is the part of the day where local context can keep the experience from becoming a simple list of filming stops.

Wear comfortable shoes. Dubrovnik’s historic center is made for walking, but the stone surfaces and fortification areas can be tiring. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so arrive with only what you need for the outing.

The 15-minute boat ride to Lokrum

The second part begins with a boat trip to Lokrum. The crossing takes about 15 minutes, giving you a short break from the streets and a fresh view back toward Dubrovnik.

The ride is brief, but it adds something a bus-only film tour cannot provide. From the water, you can see Villa Šeherzada, the setting for many of Tyrion’s scenes and balcony conversations. The view helps connect the fictional world to the coast around Dubrovnik.

Boat travel also has a practical downside. The experience is not suitable for people prone to seasickness, even though the ride is short. If that is a concern, consider taking motion-sickness precautions that work for you, or ask the operator whether the walking and car sections can be scheduled separately.

The return boat ticket and Lokrum National Reserve entry are included. You also get free time on the island after the guided portion, so this is not a rushed stop where you are marched from one photo point to the next.

Qarth, the monastery, and the Iron Throne

Lokrum supplies the setting for Qarth, one of the show’s more distinctive locations. The gardens used in the series are the main attraction, but the island is worth attention beyond its TV connection.

Your guide takes you through the gardens and to the Benedictine Monastery, where you hear the fictional history tied to Westeros. The mixture of real religious architecture, island greenery, and fantasy storytelling gives this part a different mood from the crowded stone streets of the Old Town.

The Iron Throne is the obvious photo stop. You can sit on it and take a souvenir picture, making this more than a walk past a filming location. If you are traveling with family or friends, this is likely to be one of the easiest moments for everyone to enjoy, including people who are only casual fans.

Free time on Lokrum gives you room to slow down. You can explore at your own pace before returning by boat when ready, within the arrangements of the tour. Do not expect the island section to feel like a tightly packed checklist. Its appeal is the chance to see the gardens, visit the monastery, take the throne photo, and have a pause in the middle of a long day.

Trsteno Arboretum and King’s Landing gardens

The car portion reaches farther from Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Its main stop is Trsteno Arboretum, used for many garden scenes in King’s Landing.

This is one of the best inclusions for people who want more than fortress walls. The arboretum is known for exotic plants and is described as the oldest botanical garden in the world. Even without the show connection, it gives the day a calmer setting and a useful change of pace.

Your guide carries screenshots from the series and uses them to compare the real gardens with their filmed versions. That comparison is important at Trsteno because the show’s editing and camera angles can make a location appear larger or more formal than it feels in person.

The car ride also changes the scale of the experience. Instead of staying inside Dubrovnik, you see how the production used different settings around the region. This is one reason the $294 price can make sense for a fan with limited time. You are not just buying a talk in the Old Town. You are reaching places that are awkward to connect on foot.

The tradeoff is time spent moving between sites. A seven-hour day that includes walking, driving, a boat crossing, and several admissions will feel full. If you prefer a slow botanical visit, the schedule may not give you as much quiet time as an independent outing.

Belvedere and the fight between the Mountain and Oberyn

The next major car stop is the abandoned Hotel Belvedere. It was used for the dramatic battle between the Mountain and Oberyn Martell.

This location has a rougher, more atmospheric character than the polished Old Town and gardens. The abandoned setting helps explain why it worked for one of the show’s most memorable fights. Your guide can use the screenshot book to show how the production framed the space and where the action took place.

The appeal here is partly visual and partly behind the scenes. You get a location that feels less like a standard Dubrovnik sightseeing stop, along with the story of how a real place became a highly charged scene.

Take the warning about comfort seriously. The full experience is not suitable for people with back problems or mobility impairments. The combination of uneven ground, walking, and transfers can make Belvedere and the other stops difficult if you need level access or frequent rest.

The King’s Road view over Dubrovnik

The final stop is on the King’s Road, where you get a wide view over Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It is a fitting finish because it lets you see the city as a whole after spending the day studying individual walls, streets, and gardens.

This is also a good point for the screenshot comparison idea to come together. You have seen close-up filming sites, then reach a viewpoint that shows the setting around them. The view is not only for a photo. It gives you a better sense of why Dubrovnik could represent a powerful capital city on screen.

The stop works best if you have enough energy left to take it in. After two hours on foot, a boat trip, Lokrum, Trsteno, and Belvedere, the day may feel long. That is the price of trying to cover the major filming locations in one outing.

One day or three separate outings

The walking, boat, and car sections can be taken on separate days. This is a major advantage, especially in summer or if you are planning several other activities in Dubrovnik.

Taking everything in one day gives you a clear story arc. You start in the Old Town, move out to Lokrum, then travel by car to Trsteno, Belvedere, and the King’s Road. It is efficient and lets you make one large Game of Thrones day of your holiday.

Splitting the sections gives you more breathing room. You might take the walking tour when you are already exploring the Old Town, visit Lokrum on a lighter day, and schedule the car tour when you want to see places beyond the center.

The separate-day option is also useful if weather or energy becomes an issue. The boat section is the most dependent on your comfort at sea, while the walking and car portions offer different physical demands. Confirm the available starting times when booking, since the total duration and schedule depend on availability.

Guides, language, and the tone of the day

The tours are conducted in English with a live guide. You should expect stories about filming, actors, and behind-the-scenes details rather than only dates and architectural facts.

That tone is important. A Game of Thrones tour works best when the guide can move between real Dubrovnik and fictional Westeros without making either side feel like filler. The strongest praise for this experience goes to the guides’ enthusiasm, friendly banter, and quick wit.

Mikki and Dorotea are the two names associated with particularly strong guiding. If one of them is leading your departure, expect an energetic style based on the feedback available. Guides can change, so the main thing to look for is the same combination of show knowledge and local detail.

The tour is not designed as a food experience. Food and drink are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. Plan your own refreshments around the schedule, and avoid bringing large bags or luggage.

Infant seats are available on request if you advise the operator when booking. The experience is otherwise best suited to people who are comfortable walking, riding in a car, boarding a boat, and spending much of a day outdoors.

Who should book it?

I would choose this tour if you are a committed Game of Thrones fan and want to see the widest range of Dubrovnik filming sites without arranging each transfer yourself. The Iron Throne photo, Lokrum boat ride, Trsteno Arboretum, and Belvedere visit give you more variety than a standard Old Town walk.

It also suits first-time visitors who want a guided introduction to Dubrovnik alongside the show locations. The guides add local context, while the screenshot book helps you see why each stop matters.

I would hesitate if you are only mildly interested in the series, dislike full days with several changes of transport, or have mobility or seasickness concerns. At $294, this is not a casual add-on. You should value the combination of admissions, guiding, boat travel, and access to outlying sites.

FAQ

How long does the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour last?

The full experience lasts seven hours. The walking portion alone lasts about two hours, and the boat ride to Lokrum takes about 15 minutes.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet near Pile Gate, the west entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, by the Amerling fountain next to Dubravka restaurant. The address is Brsalje bb, 20 000 Dubrovnik.

Is the Iron Throne included?

Yes. On Lokrum, you can visit the Benedictine Monastery and sit on the Iron Throne for a photo.

Are admission fees and boat tickets included?

Yes. The package includes entry to St. Lawrence Fortress, Trsteno Arboretum, and Lokrum National Reserve, plus a return boat ticket to Lokrum.

Can I take the walking, boat, and car tours on different days?

Yes. The three parts can be completed in one day or scheduled on separate days.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility problems or seasickness?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or a tendency toward seasickness. Comfortable shoes and clothes are recommended, and large bags or luggage are not allowed.

My booking advice

Book this tour if you want a full, guided Game of Thrones day with real variety: fortress walls, Old Town streets, an island monastery, gardens, a boat ride, and a panoramic finish. The strongest reason to choose it is the combination of locations and transport, not any single stop.

Skip it if you want a short fan photo or prefer exploring at your own pace. For the right person, though, the price buys a well-connected route through Dubrovnik’s most recognizable Westeros settings, with guides such as Mikki and Dorotea adding the humor and detail that keep a long day moving.