Dubrovnik: The Original Game of Thrones Tour & Lokrum Option

Dubrovnik did not need much help looking like King’s Landing, but this tour shows you exactly how the city became one of television’s most famous backdrops. I like the mix of filming locations and Dubrovnik history, and I like that guides use scene photos to show you the camera angles and finished shots. The route includes Cersei’s Walk of Shame, Blackwater Bay, the Purple Wedding sites, and Lovrijenac Fortress, the real-world Red Keep.

The two-hour walk is the best value for most fans. The three-hour option adds Lokrum Island, Qarth filming locations, and a photograph on the official Iron Throne. The main drawback is cost beyond the advertised $26: Lovrijenac costs €15 unless covered by a Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket, and the Lokrum option requires another €30 for an adult ferry and island ticket.

Key points at a glance

• Cersei’s Walk of Shame: Follow the stone steps and lanes used for one of the show’s most memorable scenes.
• Lovrijenac Fortress: See the Red Keep location and enjoy fine views, but budget €15 for entry unless your pass covers it.
• Scene photos: Guides use images from the series to explain camera positions and make ordinary streets easier to recognize.
• Lokrum’s official Iron Throne: The longer tour adds a ferry ride, Qarth locations, and time on the island.
• Strong local storytelling: Guides including Boris, Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, Karmen, and Edi combine show trivia with city history.
• Stair-heavy route: Dubrovnik’s steps make this a poor choice for wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, and anyone uneasy with heights.

Why Dubrovnik makes such a convincing King’s Landing

The clever part of this experience is that you are not walking through a purpose-built film set. You are moving through Dubrovnik’s actual Old Town, where polished stone streets, steep stairways, gates, walls, and sea views supplied much of King’s Landing’s character.

Your guide connects the real city to the fictional one. A market lane may become part of a street scene. A stairway may turn into a route used by Cersei. A waterfront view may be presented as Blackwater Bay. The finished television image often hides how close these locations are to ordinary homes, shops, cafés, and historic monuments.

I especially like the use of scene photos. Dubrovnik can be so visually striking that it is easy to admire the buildings without seeing the filming details. A guide holding up a still from the series helps you match a doorway, staircase, or viewpoint with what appeared on screen.

The guides also bring different strengths. Boris has been praised for a personable style and for helping visitors get their bearings in Dubrovnik. Tihomir is known for strong storytelling, humor, and a good grasp of both the show and Croatian history. Jelena, Joseph, Karmen, Ivo, Bruno, Josip, and Edi are also named as engaging guides who add energy and clear explanations.

You do not need to be a devoted fan to enjoy the route. The historical side gives the tour a purpose beyond spotting television locations. If you have never watched Game of Thrones, you can still see Dubrovnik’s gates, lanes, churches, fort, and views while learning how the production used them.

Starting at Large Onofrio’s Fountain

The meeting point is by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, beside the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative carrying a red umbrella. This is a useful landmark in a busy part of the Old Town, but arrive with enough time to find the fountain because there are several historic streets and entrances nearby.

The experience has three possible starting locations listed around the same central area. Your booking details should tell you the exact meeting point, but the red umbrella is the practical clue to remember.

From here, the group heads toward Pile Gate. The walk begins in the Old Town, so expect paved streets and steps rather than a smooth, flat route. Comfortable shoes matter, and you will want water in warm weather.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. A private group option is available, which may suit you if your party wants more control over questions and photo stops. The standard experience is designed to last two hours, or three hours if you choose Lokrum.

Pile Gate and the route into King’s Landing

Pile Gate is one of Dubrovnik’s most important entrances and one of the clearest places to understand the city’s film appeal. The gate gives you a strong visual sense of how Dubrovnik can appear fortified, crowded, and politically important without much alteration.

Here, your guide explains how scenes were staged and how the production worked with the existing architecture. I find this kind of context more useful than a simple list of filming sites. You learn not only where a scene was shot, but also why that particular angle worked.

The Old Town route continues through streets connected with King’s Landing scenes, the city markets, and the Purple Wedding. Some locations may look ordinary when no actors, costumes, or set dressing are present. That is exactly why the photographs help.

The route is also a practical introduction to Dubrovnik. Several people who enjoyed the tour found that it helped them understand the city’s layout. If this is your first activity in town, the walk can help you get your bearings before exploring on your own.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep above the sea

Lovrijenac is the dramatic centerpiece of the standard tour. The fortress sits outside the Old Town walls, above the sea, and supplied the exterior identity of the Red Keep. It is also linked with scenes involving Tyrion and Varys, along with views that make the setting feel much larger than a compact coastal city.

The approach includes scenic views, and the fortress gives the tour a welcome change from narrow lanes. I like this stop because it works for both audiences. Fans get a major Game of Thrones location, while anyone interested in Dubrovnik gets a strong historic fort and a different view of the city.

Entry is not included in the $26 tour price. The fee is €15 per person, with free admission for children under seven. You can also enter at no extra cost if you hold a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

This detail changes the value calculation. If you already plan to walk Dubrovnik’s walls, the two-hour tour becomes more attractive because the fort may be covered. If not, add €15 before comparing this tour with other city activities.

The fort includes stairs and may be uncomfortable for people with limited mobility, vertigo, or a fear of heights. The views are a major reward, but the route is not designed for wheelchair users or mobility scooters.

Stradun, Orlando’s Column, and the Jesuit Stairs

Back inside the Old Town, the route reaches Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. This broad stone thoroughfare gives you a better sense of the city’s scale and provides another setting used throughout King’s Landing scenes.

Orlando’s Column is another stop where the show and the real city overlap. Your guide explains the filming connection while placing the monument in its Dubrovnik setting. These stops are short, but they help you see that Game of Thrones used many different parts of the city rather than relying on one famous corner.

The Jesuit Stairs are among the most recognizable stops on the walk. They are connected with Cersei’s Walk of Shame and make the physical demands of the scene easier to understand. On television, editing can make a route seem endless. Standing on the stairs shows you the slope, the stonework, and the tight urban setting.

This area also has a market and restaurants, making it a useful place to return after the tour. The guide may point out places nearby, and you can finish the walk with a meal or drink on your own, since food and beverages are not included.

What makes the guides worth having

A self-guided search can locate many Game of Thrones sites, but it will not easily provide the production context. The guide shows you where actors stood, which direction the camera faced, and how one real street served more than one fictional purpose.

I also value the local perspective. The best moments are not only about plot details. Guides such as Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, Karmen, Edi, and Boris add stories about Dubrovnik and explain how filming affected the city. Several guides are described as funny, patient, interactive, and passionate about their home.

The quality of a walking tour depends heavily on the person leading it, so the guide’s role matters here. The repeated praise for clear explanations, good pacing, humor, and scene knowledge suggests that storytelling is a major part of the experience. Still, no guide can remove the physical challenge of Dubrovnik’s stairs or guarantee a particular guide at every departure.

The tour can also suit a mixed group. A dedicated fan gets filming facts and visual references. Someone who has not watched the series gets architecture, views, local background, and a guided walk through the Old Town.

Choosing the Lokrum Island option

The three-hour version includes the entire Old Town route, then continues by ferry to Lokrum. The boat ride takes about 15 minutes. The island served as Qarth in Season 2, giving the extended tour a different look from the stone streets and fortifications of Dubrovnik.

Lokrum adds the official Iron Throne, where you can sit and take photographs. This is the clearest fan-focused extra and the main reason to choose the longer option. You also visit the Benedictine Monastery and see how the island’s setting was adapted for filming.

After the guided section, you have free time. You can swim in a secluded cove, walk through the botanical gardens, sit in the shade, or stop for a drink or lunch. You then return to Dubrovnik at your own pace, according to the available ferry arrangements.

The extra time makes the Lokrum version feel less rushed, but it also adds expense and planning. Round-trip ferry transport and island admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged five to 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives 20 percent off the Lokrum ferry, while a seven-day pass gives 30 percent off.

I would choose Lokrum if you want a half-day outing that combines the show with swimming, gardens, and open space. I would stay with the two-hour tour if your main goal is to see the Old Town locations, especially if you have a tight schedule or are already paying for other Dubrovnik attractions.

Price, timing, and overall value

At $26 per person, the two-hour tour is fairly priced for a guided walk through several major locations, especially if you care about the show and want more than a map with pins. The value improves if the guide is strong and if you use the historical information to understand Dubrovnik itself.

The advertised price does not cover Lovrijenac. That is not a small detail, so include it in your budget. A Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket can make a difference, since either may provide free fort entry under the stated conditions.

The Lokrum option is not simply a small upgrade. It adds a ferry, island admission, a new filming area, the Iron Throne, and free time outdoors. For adults, the additional €30 is significant beside the tour price. For children, the €5 island fee is much easier to justify, though you should still confirm the applicable ticket arrangements when booking.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and reserve-now, pay-later booking make the activity easier to fit into a changeable schedule. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Who should book, and who should skip it

I would recommend the two-hour route to Game of Thrones fans, first-time visitors to Dubrovnik, and anyone who wants a guided introduction to the Old Town. It is also a good choice for mixed groups because the city history and views keep the experience worthwhile for people who are not familiar with the show.

Choose the Lokrum option if sitting on the official Iron Throne matters to you, or if you want time for swimming and gardens after the guided walk. The island changes the experience from a focused city tour into a longer outing.

I would skip this tour if you need step-free access, use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, have serious breathing problems, or are uncomfortable with heights. It is also not recommended for pregnant women or people prone to motion sickness, particularly if the ferry ride could be difficult for you.

Bring good walking shoes, water, sun protection in hot weather, and room in your budget for the fort or Lokrum. A City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass may save money, but only if you already planned to buy one.

Should you book this Game of Thrones tour?

Book it if you want the story behind the scenes, not just a photograph outside a famous gate. The guides add camera angles, production details, local history, and enough humor to keep the two-hour route moving.

For the best value, choose the Old Town tour and use a City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass to cover Lovrijenac. Pick Lokrum when the Iron Throne and island free time are worth the extra €30. With its strong guide-led format and clear connection between Dubrovnik and King’s Landing, this is a sensible choice for fans who also want to understand the real city.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

Meet by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative with 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 includes Lokrum Island.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is Lovrijenac Fortress included in the tour price?

No. Entry costs €15, with free admission for children under seven. Entry is also free with a valid City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass under the stated conditions.

How much does the Lokrum option cost?

The round-trip ferry and Lokrum admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged five to 17. These costs are separate from the tour price.

What can I see on Lokrum Island?

You can visit Game of Thrones filming locations connected with Qarth, see the Benedictine Monastery, and photograph yourself on Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne. Free time is available for swimming, walking, relaxing, or eating.

How long is the ferry ride to Lokrum?

The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour includes steps and stairs and is not suitable for wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, or people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers reserve-now, pay-later booking.