Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Extended Tour

Dubrovnik becomes King’s Landing on this lively walking tour, with the city walls, steep lanes, fortress steps, and harbor serving as your set. You’ll climb to Fort Lovrijenac, retrace Cersei’s route, find the Sept of Baelor, and pose with swords and props used to bring the scenes back to life.

I like the small group of no more than nine people, which gives the guide room to answer questions and help with photos. I also like the guides’ direct connection to the production. Robert worked as an extra and shares behind-the-scenes details, while Toni has added his own stories to the route.

The catch is the physical effort. You’ll climb about 300 steps, and Lovrijenac Fortress requires a separate entrance ticket. The tour is best for anyone comfortable walking uphill on stone streets, not for people with mobility limits or anyone looking for a gentle city stroll.

Key points at a glance

• About 300 steps: Expect a proper uphill walk, including the climb to Fort Lovrijenac.
• Small English-language group: The group is limited to nine participants, with occasional quieter-season tours becoming almost private.
• Guides with set experience: Robert has worked as an extra, and guides such as Toni and Parco add personal production stories.
• Props make the stops fun: Handle replicas of Longclaw, Needle, a Dothraki arakh, and other weapons.
• Many locations in 150 minutes: The route covers King’s Landing, the Red Keep, Qarth, the Sept of Baelor, and harbor views.
• Lokrum comes into view: You receive a printed map of Game of Thrones locations on Lokrum, useful if you plan a separate visit.

Starting at Pile Gate and climbing to the Red Keep

Your guide waits outside Pile Gate, near Amerling’s Fountain, holding a Lannister banner. That makes the meeting point easy to spot, especially in the busy area just outside Dubrovnik’s main western entrance. Check that your name appears on the guide’s list before setting off.

The first major task is the climb toward Fort Lovrijenac, the dramatic fortress used for the Red Keep. The route immediately shows you what kind of tour this is: part television location walk, part Dubrovnik viewpoint walk, and part stair workout.

From the fortress area, you get broad views back toward the Old Town. The city walls, terracotta roofs, and sea make it easy to understand why Dubrovnik worked so well as King’s Landing. Your guide also points out scenes filmed below and around the city, using visual references to connect the real place with the finished show.

Lovrijenac Fortress itself is not included in the tour price. You need to pay its entrance fee separately, so factor that into the advertised $64 cost. This is important because the fortress is one of the tour’s central locations, not a minor extra.

The high position is also exposed. One October group dealt with very strong winds, so I would not treat this as a purely warm-weather activity. Comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen are sensible, while a light layer is useful when the wind picks up.

The pier where the Stark family says goodbye

Near Pile Gate, the route reaches a less obvious corner of the city used for the Starks’ final reunion and farewell at King’s Landing. This stop works well because it feels removed from the main flow of the Old Town, giving you a chance to picture the scene without a major crowd pressing around you.

Your guide recreates the setting with still images and explanations of how the location appeared on screen. It is a good example of why a location tour needs more than a list of addresses. Dubrovnik’s actual corners do not always look exactly like the finished television scene, and the guide helps explain what was changed, framed, or combined for filming.

The tour also visits the beach connected with Myrcella’s departure for and return from Dorne. That gives the walk a welcome change of pace after the fortress climb. You move from high views and stone walls to a location tied to one of the show’s more emotional story lines.

Entering King’s Landing through Dubrovnik’s gates

The city gates are among the most satisfying parts of the walk. You enter the Old Town as Jaime returns home, then continue through streets used for the rebellion scenes involving Joffrey.

Here, the real pleasure is scale. Dubrovnik’s lanes are narrow, worn, and full of sharp turns. On screen, those same lanes become a tense stage for arguments, chases, and political trouble. Your guide uses scene images to help you spot the difference between the actual street and the fictional city built around it.

You’ll also visit the location associated with Littlefinger’s brothel. The stop is tucked into the ordinary fabric of the Old Town, which makes it more interesting than a grand monument. You are not simply looking at a famous building. You are seeing how the production used everyday architectural details to create King’s Landing.

Because the tour stays on foot, there is no waiting for a bus or moving between distant locations. The tradeoff is that the route keeps you exposed to the Old Town’s crowds, steps, and uneven stone surfaces. Your comfortable shoes matter here.

Shame at the Sept of Baelor

At the Sept of Baelor, the guide recreates one of the show’s most recognizable moments: Cersei’s public walk of penance. The setting is one of the tour’s best opportunities to compare the real Dubrovnik location with the scene as it appeared on screen.

The guide’s visual material is useful at this stop. A single staircase or doorway can look different once costumes, extras, camera angles, and digital changes are added. The explanation turns the location from a photo stop into a lesson in how the production shaped Dubrovnik.

You then pass into the Chancellor’s Palace, another location with a prominent role in the series. The route keeps shifting between famous scenes and smaller details, so it does not depend on one large landmark carrying the whole experience.

This is also where the guide’s general knowledge of Dubrovnik and Croatia adds value. Robert, in particular, has been praised for explaining local culture and national history alongside his Game of Thrones stories. That wider context helps if you are interested in the city itself, not only the show.

Crossing the Narrow Sea to Qarth

The route then moves to the Spice King of Qarth’s palace, the Dubrovnik setting used for an important scene across the Narrow Sea. This is a good reminder that one city can represent several places in the fictional world.

You’ll hear about Qarth and Khaleesi’s scenes, then compare a built set with the actual Dubrovnik location at the Drogon’s Skybridge. The contrast is part of the fun. The production did not simply point a camera at the city and leave everything untouched. It adapted real spaces to serve the story.

The guide also covers the wider world around these scenes, including Oberyn, the Mountain, and the Dothraki deserts. The tour therefore works best when the guide explains how locations were repurposed, rather than merely naming the episode or character connected with each stop.

You receive a printed map showing Game of Thrones locations on Lokrum, the island used for Qarth. Lokrum is not included in this walking tour, but the map gives you useful directions for a separate visit. If Qarth is one of your favorite parts of the series, leave extra time in your Dubrovnik schedule for the island.

Weapons, Cersei’s route, and the Red Keep

The walk follows Cersei’s footsteps to a Red Keep location inside Dubrovnik. This is the point where the tour becomes more hands-on, with time to handle and pose with replica weapons and props.

The collection includes Longclaw, Needle, a Dothraki arakh, and other recognizable pieces. You should not expect original production props, but replicas make the stop more personal than a standard guided walk. They also give you something to do while the guide explains the scene.

For families with older children, couples, and committed fans, this playful element can be a welcome break from listening. If you prefer a strictly historical tour, it may feel less important. The guide keeps the focus on filming locations, but the swords clearly add a fan-oriented touch.

Robert’s experience as an extra is especially useful here. He can describe what it was like to be around the production, and other guides may add their own stories. The exact guide is not guaranteed, but Robert, Toni, and Parco are names associated with the tour’s guiding team.

Revelin Fortress, Lokrum, and the final view

The final stop is a terrace in front of Revelin Fortress. From here, you can look toward Lokrum Island, the Duel Arena, and the old port. After the enclosed lanes of the Old Town, the open view gives the tour a satisfying finish.

Your guide uses this last section to bring together several threads: Qarth, the Dothraki storyline, Oberyn, the Mountain, and the final King’s Landing scenes involving Jon Snow. Looking across the port while discussing Jon’s departure for the Night’s Watch gives the ending a clear sense of place.

I like this closing viewpoint because it shows Dubrovnik as more than a backdrop. The old port, fortress, island, and walls explain why the city could play several fictional locations without feeling repetitive. You also leave with a better sense of how close the filming areas are to one another.

The terrace is a good photo stop, but the view does not remove the need to watch your footing. You have already completed most of the climbing by this stage, and the route can be tiring in hot sun.

What $64 buys you

At $64 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Dubrovnik. You are paying for a 150-minute guided walk, a small group, visual aids, props, and a guide who may have worked directly on the production. The separate Lovrijenac entrance ticket raises the total cost.

The value improves if you care about the show’s filming process. A self-guided walk can take you to some of the same streets, but it will not explain which parts were altered for filming or provide personal set stories. The guide also helps you cover many locations efficiently, which saves you from piecing together a route on your own.

The small group matters. With up to nine people, it is easier to hear the guide in narrow streets and ask questions. In quieter months, the group may be very small. One February booking became a private tour because only one person had reserved, and the tour went ahead rather than being canceled.

You receive the printed Lokrum map and directions, plus the props and visual material. Food, drinks, transport, and hotel pickup are not included, so you should arrive at Pile Gate independently and carry water.

Who should book this walk?

I would choose this tour if you have watched Game of Thrones and want to connect scenes with real places. It is especially good for people who enjoy behind-the-scenes information, photography, and guides who can add personal production stories.

You can also enjoy it without knowing the show. The Dubrovnik views, Old Town streets, fortresses, and local context give the walk enough substance on their own. Still, the props and character references will mean more if you know the major story lines.

I would be cautious about booking if you dislike stairs or struggle on uneven surfaces. The tour includes around 300 steps, a climb to Lovrijenac, and walking through historic streets. Pregnant people and anyone with mobility impairments should choose another activity.

Book an early start if you want cooler conditions and a better chance of avoiding the strongest crowds, but check the available times for your date. The tour runs in English, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dubrovnik schedule is still shifting.

Should you book the extended tour?

Book it if you want more than a few famous photo locations. The route covers a wide range of scenes, includes one of Dubrovnik’s best viewpoints, and gives you a guide who can explain both the show and the city. Robert has been especially well received for his humor, set experience, and local tips, while Toni and Parco have also guided memorable tours.

Skip it if you want a relaxed walk with little climbing, or if you are counting on the fortress entrance being included. For most physically active fans, though, the combination of small-group attention, props, location comparisons, and personal filming stories makes $64 a reasonable price for two and a half hours.

FAQ

How long does the Game of Thrones tour last?

The tour lasts 150 minutes, or two and a half hours.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet your guide outside Dubrovnik’s Pile Gate, near Amerling’s Fountain. The guide holds a Lannister banner.

How will I recognize the correct guide?

The guide should be holding a Lannister banner at Amerling’s Fountain. You should also ask to see your name on the guide’s list.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live guided tour is conducted in English.

How large is the group?

The group is limited to nine participants. In quieter periods, the tour may have very few participants and can become almost private.

How many steps are involved?

You will climb around 300 steps during the tour.

Is Lovrijenac Fortress included in the price?

No. The entrance ticket to Lovrijenac Fortress is not included and must be paid separately.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the Pile Gate meeting point yourself.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. A light layer may also be useful because the fortress area can be windy.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I pay later?

Yes. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.