Dubrovnik: Epic Game of Thrones Tour + Lokrum & Saver Option

Dubrovnik is not merely dressed up as King’s Landing. Its stone walls, steep lanes, sea views, and fortress look remarkably close to the world on screen. This tour connects the real city to Blackwater Bay, the Red Keep, and Cersei’s Walk of Shame, using scene photos and behind-the-scenes stories to show how Dubrovnik became Westeros.

I like the choice of three formats, from a brisk 90-minute route to a three-hour outing with Lokrum Island. I also like the guides’ mix of show knowledge and local insight. Davor, Bogdan, Alex, Ivo, Darko, and others are repeatedly praised for their humor and personal touch. The main catch is cost and effort: Fort Lovrijenac and Lokrum require extra tickets, and the fort means about 180 steps.

Key points at a glance

• Three tour lengths: Choose the 1.5-hour Super Saver, the 2-hour Signature Tour, or the 3-hour Lokrum option.
• The best filming stops: See the Jesuit Stairs, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Landing riot locations, and the setting used for the Red Keep.
• A guide-led history lesson: The tour explains Dubrovnik’s past alongside Game of Thrones production details.
• The Lokrum bonus: The longest option includes Qarth, the official Iron Throne, and time to stay on the island.
• Extra fees matter: Fort Lovrijenac costs €15 unless covered by a City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass. Lokrum costs €30 for adults, including ferry and admission.
• Bring stamina: The basic route is the easiest choice, while the fort portion includes around 180 steps.

Why Dubrovnik makes such a convincing King’s Landing

The best part of this outing is the contrast between fiction and reality. You may know Dubrovnik from the show as a city of scheming nobles, naval attacks, and public humiliation. In person, you see a beautiful walled Adriatic city shaped by centuries of trade, defense, faith, and local life.

Your guide points out where the production team used existing streets and stonework, then explains what was changed with computer effects. A folder of scene photos is especially useful. You can look at the screen version while standing in the actual spot, which makes the production tricks easier to understand.

This is also a good introduction to Dubrovnik itself. Guides such as Bogdan and Alex have been praised for blending show facts with the city’s past, while Davor is known for adding stories about Croatia, the Balkans, and filming. The tone is informal. Expect jokes, quizzes, questions, and the occasional dry bit of local humor rather than a formal lecture.

You do not need to be a devoted fan to enjoy it. The city’s walls, harbor, stairs, and views provide the real attraction. If you have never watched an episode, the guide can still make the locations interesting, though fans will get the biggest thrill from recognizing specific scenes.

Meeting at Pile and walking toward the harbor

The meeting point is in front of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board at Brsalje 5, beside the Pile bus stop. Look for the purple balloon. This is a useful system in a crowded part of town, especially when several groups are gathering near the Old Town entrance.

Pile is easy to reach by bus. Routes from Lapad, Babin Kuk, and Gruž stop nearby, including buses 4, 6, 1A, and 1B. A taxi or Uber can drop you at the same bus stop.

If you arrive by cruise ship at Gruž, shuttle buses, taxis, and public buses reach Pile in about 15 to 20 minutes. Ships using the Old Port are closer, roughly a 10-minute walk away. Since 2025, roads around the Old Town have restricted access, so driving directly to Pile is not a simple option. The nearest stated parking choice is the Best in Parking garage, with its turnoff before the red traffic light at the restricted zone.

From the Tourist Board, the route heads toward Dubrovnik’s West Harbour. This opening walk gives you a fine view of the water and the city’s fortifications before the tour gets into its main collection of filming sites.

West Harbour and Blackwater Bay

West Harbour is one of the most recognizable Game of Thrones locations on the route. On screen, it became Blackwater Bay, a place linked to naval warfare and the Battle of King’s Landing.

The guide helps separate what was physically filmed here from what was added later. That distinction is valuable because the real harbor is compact, while the show often presents it as part of a much larger military setting.

This is one of the strongest stops for photographs. You get the water, the old stone fortifications, and the familiar outline of Dubrovnik in one view. It also gives you a sense of how the series used the city’s natural setting rather than building every location from scratch.

Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep

The Signature Tour and Lokrum option continue to Fort Lovrijenac, the fortress used as the Red Keep. It sits outside the main walls on a rocky promontory, with broad views back toward Dubrovnik.

For Game of Thrones fans, this is the most important upgrade from the basic tour. You are not just looking at a street where a scene happened. You are entering the place presented as the political heart of King’s Landing, including settings linked to the Purple Wedding.

There is a practical price and fitness issue. Entry costs €15, although it is free with a valid City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass, and children under seven enter free. The climb involves about 180 steps, so comfortable shoes and a realistic view of your stamina are essential.

The fort is also worth considering as a Dubrovnik sight in its own right. Its position gives you a memorable view over the sea and toward the Old Town. If you already plan to walk the city walls, check your ticket before paying again.

Pile Gate, Stradun, and the city’s real history

The route returns through Pile Gate, one of Dubrovnik’s grand entrances. The gate is more than a backdrop. It is the threshold between the modern approach to the city and the dense medieval core inside the walls.

From here, the tour reaches Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. The polished stone pavement and pale buildings make it one of the city’s defining places, and your guide uses it to explain how the fictional capital was built from a real urban center.

This portion is a good reason to choose the tour even if your interest in the show is moderate. You get help reading the city, not just checking off filming points. Guides also answer questions about what was filmed, how locations were altered, and how the cast and crew worked in Dubrovnik.

Crowds can affect the feel of this section, particularly in the busiest months. The narrow streets and popular photo stops may make the group pause or bunch together. A guide helps you find the right locations, but the tour cannot remove the city’s natural congestion.

The Jesuit Stairs and Cersei’s Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Stairs are one of the tour’s clearest screen-to-reality moments. They were used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame, and fans will recognize the staircase immediately.

The stop works because the setting has a strong visual identity. The steps rise from a small square and create a dramatic route into the Old Town. Your guide explains the scene, points out the filming position, and gives you time for photos.

This is also where the walking pace can become demanding. Dubrovnik is full of stairs, and the Jesuit steps are only one part of a route that may include uneven stone surfaces. The Super Saver is described as wheelchair accessible, but the full activity is also marked as unsuitable for wheelchair users and people with mobility or back problems. If accessibility is important to you, confirm that the exact option and route fit your needs before booking.

Choosing between the three tour options

The 1.5-hour Super Saver is the sensible choice if you have limited time, want the main locations, or prefer to keep costs predictable. It includes Cersei’s Walk of Shame, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Landing riots, the House of the Undying location, and the Battle of King’s Landing area.

This option includes no added entrance fees and focuses on the central walking route. It is also the stated accessible choice, though the general mobility warning means you should verify the details for your circumstances.

The 2-hour Signature Tour adds Fort Lovrijenac and the Red Keep. Choose it if Game of Thrones is a major reason for your visit, or if you want the most important fortress setting explained from inside. The €15 entry fee changes the value calculation, but a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall ticket can remove that extra cost.

The 3-hour Lokrum Bestseller includes the Signature route and a boat trip to Lokrum Island. You see the location used as Qarth and get a photograph on the official Iron Throne. This is the most complete version, but it also carries the highest added cost: €15 for the fort unless covered by a pass, plus €30 for an adult Lokrum ticket. The island ticket includes the round-trip ferry and admission. Children aged five to 17 pay €5, and three-day or seven-day Dubrovnik Passes offer discounts.

My advice is simple: pick Lokrum because you want Lokrum, not only because of the Iron Throne. The island adds swimming, hiking paths, a lunch break, and quiet time among nature. Several people have found it a lovely change from the stone streets, while others felt the €30 boat and admission cost was high for the extra time.

Crossing to Lokrum and seeing Qarth

The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes, and boats run every 30 to 60 minutes. The Lokrum option is available from April through the end of October, so do not plan on this version in late December or other winter dates.

At Lokrum, the guided portion includes the Bay of Portoč and a photo stop near the Benedictine Monastery. The island served as Qarth, giving the tour a different visual setting from the narrow streets and fortifications of Dubrovnik.

The official Iron Throne is the signature photo opportunity. It gives fans a concrete souvenir from the show, though the island’s natural appeal may be the better reason to stay. You can swim in the Adriatic, walk the trails, eat lunch, relax, or visit the Dead Sea lagoon. Peacocks wander freely around the island, adding another memorable detail unrelated to the television series.

After the guided section, you can remain on Lokrum rather than returning immediately with the group. Plan this carefully if you have a cruise departure, dinner reservation, or other timed activity. The ferry schedule and weather matter, and strong winds have prevented crossings on some dates.

The stated drop-off points are the Benedictine Monastery of St. Mary and Stradun. If you remain on the island, your own return timing becomes part of the plan.

Guides, atmosphere, and what makes the tour work

The guide is the key variable in any city walking tour, and this one depends heavily on a guide who can connect scenes, history, and humor. The strongest names associated with the experience include Davor, Bogdan, Alex, Ivo, Darko, Doris, Ivan, Luca, and Makaila.

Bogdan is especially good at using screen images, quizzes, jokes, and local background to keep the pace lively. Davor brings behind-the-scenes details and a relaxed sense of humor. Alex has been praised for answering questions, sharing restaurant suggestions, and keeping the tour engaging. Ivo is another strong choice for visitors who want historical context alongside the show.

The format suits people who like interaction. You will likely have chances to ask questions and take photos, but the exact feel can vary with the guide and group. The tour is conducted in English or German.

The overall rating is 4.9 from 5,995 ratings, with 88 percent giving the transport portion a perfect score. That points to a well-liked operation, but it does not erase the practical concerns: the island costs extra, the fort has a steep stair climb, and bad weather can alter the boat portion.

Price, value, and the small print that matters

The advertised starting price is $25 per person. That is good value for the basic route if you want a guide to locate the scenes and explain the city rather than wandering around with a map.

The Signature and Lokrum versions are different financial decisions. Add €15 for Fort Lovrijenac unless your City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass covers it. Add €30 for an adult Lokrum ticket on the longest tour, which includes the ferry and island admission.

Food, drinks, and hotel or cruise-port pickup are not included. Bring water, especially in warm weather, and wear shoes suited to stone streets and stairs. Pets are not allowed.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later. Check the available start time carefully, since the full duration ranges from 90 minutes to three hours.

Who should book it?

Book the Super Saver if you want a focused introduction to Dubrovnik’s main Game of Thrones sites, especially on a short visit or a cruise stop. It gives you the most recognizable locations without the added entrance costs.

Choose Signature if you want to enter the Red Keep setting and do not mind the 180-step climb. It is the best middle option for serious fans and for anyone already holding a City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass.

Choose Lokrum if you have enough time to stay on the island and will use the swimming, walking, lunch, or relaxation time. The Iron Throne is fun, but the real payoff is the shift from crowded stone streets to a quieter island setting.

I would book this tour for the guide-led context, especially if you enjoy seeing how television production reshapes real places. I would skip the Lokrum add-on if your schedule is tight, your budget is strict, or you only want the filming locations. For most fans with a free half-day in warm-season Dubrovnik, the island option gives the fullest day, while the Super Saver delivers the best simple value.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

Meet in front of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board at Brsalje 5, next to the Pile bus stop. Look for someone holding a purple balloon.

How long does the tour last?

The Super Saver lasts 90 minutes, the Signature Tour lasts about two hours, and the Lokrum option lasts about three hours.

Which Game of Thrones locations are included?

All options include Cersei’s Walk of Shame, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Landing riots, the House of the Undying location, and the Battle of King’s Landing area. Signature adds the Red Keep and Purple Wedding locations. Lokrum also includes Qarth and the official Iron Throne.

Is Fort Lovrijenac included in the price?

The guided visit is included with the Signature and Lokrum options, but the €15 entrance fee is extra. It is free for holders of a valid City Wall ticket or Dubrovnik Pass and for children under seven.

How much does the Lokrum option cost beyond the tour price?

The Lokrum option requires a separate ticket costing €30 for adults or €5 for children aged five to 17. This covers the round-trip ferry and island admission. Discounts are available with three-day and seven-day Dubrovnik Passes.

Can I stay on Lokrum Island after the tour?

Yes. After the guided portion, you can stay to swim, walk, eat lunch, relax, or explore the island. Ferry departures run every 30 to 60 minutes, and the ride takes about 15 minutes.

Is the Lokrum option available all year?

No. The Lokrum option is available from April through the end of October.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The Super Saver option is described as wheelchair accessible, but the general activity information says it is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility or back problems. Confirm the route and option directly before booking if accessibility affects your plans.