Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island

Fort Lovrijenac gives this tour its best opening scene: high above the Adriatic, you look across at Dubrovnik’s walls and understand why the city doubled for King’s Landing. Then you walk into the Old Town, where Blackwater Bay, the Jesuit Steps, and familiar streets make the show feel unusually close to real life.

I like the mix of filming lore and Dubrovnik history, especially the way guides connect Game of Thrones scenes with the 1667 earthquake, Renaissance buildings, and everyday city life. I also like the optional Lokrum add-on, since it turns a short film-location walk into a half-day outing with a ferry, swimming, forest paths, and the official HBO Iron Throne.

The main catch is cost and footing. The $28 starting price does not include the €15 entrance to Fort Lovrijenac, unless you have a valid Dubrovnik Pass, and the Lokrum ferry is an extra €30 unless you choose a package that includes it. Dubrovnik’s polished stone streets and many steps can also be slippery, so this is not a good fit for anyone with mobility limits.

Key points at a glance

• Fort Lovrijenac comes first: Begin above Pile Bay, with wide views of Dubrovnik and the Adriatic.
• Blackwater Bay is real: Pile Bay provides one of the tour’s most recognizable Game of Thrones photo spots.
• The Walk of Shame location is included: The Jesuit Steps offer a chance to recreate one of the show’s defining scenes.
• Guides make the difference: Katarina, Petra, Indira, Ivan, and other local guides have been praised for humor, production details, and personal filming connections.
• Lokrum changes the pace: The optional ferry takes about 10 minutes and leads to Qarth, swimming areas, paths, gardens, and the Iron Throne.
• The Dubrovnik Pass can save money: It may cover Fort Lovrijenac and other sights, making the tour’s added fees easier to manage.

Starting at Nautika and climbing to Fort Lovrijenac

Meet at the entrance of Nautika Restaurant on Brsalje Street, close to Pile Gate. The location is easy to identify, but arrive ready to walk uphill soon after meeting your guide.

The first stop is the Aphrodite and Pan statue, which you pass on the way to Fort Lovrijenac. The statue is a small detail beside the larger drama of the climb, but it helps place you in Dubrovnik’s old western approach.

Fort Lovrijenac is the first major payoff. This 11th-century defensive fortress sits on a rocky outcrop above the sea, and its position explains why filmmakers used it so often. From the walls, you get one of the finest views of Dubrovnik’s western side, Pile Bay, and the Old Town ramparts.

For Game of Thrones fans, the fort is closely tied to King’s Landing. Your guide uses the setting to explain how real stonework was adapted for the series, where scenes were filmed, and how production changes can make a location look larger or different on screen. Several guides, including Petra and Katarina, have shared behind-the-scenes details about filming logistics. Some guides have also had direct connections to the production, either as extras or through relatives who took part.

You should budget for the entrance fee here. It is €15 when paid on site, but a valid DU Pass can include admission. That pass may also help if you plan to visit other Dubrovnik sights, so check its value before booking separate tickets.

The fort has steps and uneven surfaces. You can enjoy the views from several points, but the climb is not gentle, and hot weather makes it harder. Wear shoes with a firm sole rather than smooth sandals.

Pile Gate and Blackwater Bay

After Fort Lovrijenac, the route returns toward Pile Gate and descends to the pier at Pile Bay. This is the place that became Blackwater Bay, one of the most familiar outdoor settings in the series.

The attraction here is not a set or reconstruction. It is Dubrovnik itself, with the fortress above, the water in front, and the Old Town entrance close by. Your guide points out how camera angles and digital work changed the appearance of the bay. You get time for photographs, and this is one of the easiest spots to appreciate even if you are not a serious fan.

Pile Gate also introduces the practical side of the walk. This is a busy part of Dubrovnik, particularly when cruise ships bring large numbers of people into town. If your schedule offers a choice, an earlier start should mean cooler conditions and fewer crowds, though the exact starting times vary.

Walking Stradun through the UNESCO-listed Old Town

From Pile Gate, you enter Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The route passes the Large Onofrio’s Fountain before reaching Stradun, the broad main street paved with pale limestone.

Stradun is more than a backdrop. It is the city’s main public corridor, lined with historic buildings and worn smooth by centuries of foot traffic. Your guide uses the walk to explain how Dubrovnik developed and how the 1667 earthquake reshaped much of the city.

This section is where the tour works for people with mixed interests. A Game of Thrones fan gets filming connections, while a companion who has never watched the show can still follow the city’s architecture and past. Several guides, including Dubravka and Ivan, have been praised for keeping nonfans involved rather than turning the entire walk into a quiz about fictional families.

You pass Orlando’s Column and the Church of St. Blaise, two central landmarks that show how much history is packed into a small area. The route continues by Rector’s Palace, a major civic and cultural building with an elegant stone façade.

The tour does not include the city walls. That matters if you are hoping to see Dubrovnik from the famous ramparts. You can add the walls separately, and a Dubrovnik Pass may be useful if you intend to visit them along with Fort Lovrijenac.

The Jesuit Steps and the Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Steps are one of the tour’s clearest links between Dubrovnik and Game of Thrones. Their broad stone staircase became the setting for Cersei’s Walk of Shame, and the location is easy to recognize once your guide shows you the scene in context.

This is a photo stop rather than a long indoor visit. You will have time to look around, hear how the production used the steps, and take pictures. Guides often make this section interactive, asking questions or inviting you to match the screen moment to the real setting.

The steps can be crowded, especially in the middle of the day. Be considerate when taking photos, since this is also a working part of the Old Town and not a closed film set. The stone can be slick, so take your time going up and down.

From the Old Port to Lokrum by ferry

The walking portion ends at Dubrovnik’s Old Port. From here, you can finish with the Old Town tour or take the optional ferry to Lokrum Island.

The crossing takes about 10 minutes. It is short, but it gives you a welcome change from the tight lanes and stone paving of the Old Town. Ferry arrangements depend on the option you select. The supplied details list ferry tickets at €30 when purchased separately, while selected combination options include the tickets.

Lokrum served as Qarth in Game of Thrones. The island itself is a nature reserve with gardens, wooded paths, historic features, and open sea views. The show connection is fun, but the island is valuable even if you have had enough of fictional kingdoms by this point.

Bring swimwear if you want to use the time well. You can swim, walk, eat at the café facilities, and visit the old fort on the island. The path to the fort includes a long and, in places, steep hill, so comfortable shoes matter here even more than they do in the Old Town.

The optional visit is not a quick guided loop followed by an immediate return. You have time to explore and relax, and several people have used the island as a place to spend the rest of the day. That makes the add-on a good choice if you want a slower afternoon after the walking tour.

The Iron Throne finale

The official HBO Iron Throne on Lokrum is the tour’s best photo opportunity for fans. You can sit on it and take your own picture, rather than simply photographing a location from the edge of a street.

If poor weather or another incident stops the ferry, the tour ends in the Old Town. You can still take a photograph on an Iron Throne replica there, but you will miss Lokrum and its outdoor time.

One practical note: holiday closures can affect access to the throne. Check the conditions for your date if this photograph is a major reason for booking. It is also worth leaving time for a queue, although one useful pattern is that lines may become shorter later in the afternoon.

What the guides add

The route is fixed, but the guide shapes the experience. The strongest part of this tour is the way local guides blend scene locations with facts about Dubrovnik.

Katarina has been especially praised for making the walk interactive, using questions, humor, and clear explanations. She also uses printed scene images to help you compare the television frame with the street or staircase in front of you. Petra has been described as charming and well prepared, with strong production details and personal links to the filming period.

Indira has combined Game of Thrones information with local legends and island history. Ivan has added useful suggestions for food and drinks, while Dubravka has made an effort to include people who are not familiar with the show. Other guides, including Boris, Marija, Ilir Sufaj, Vlato, and Duravka, have also received strong praise for their local knowledge and friendly manner.

Group size can shape the quality of the walk. Some departures have been very small, with only four to six people, which allows more questions and easier photographs. A larger group may feel less personal, and one useful criticism has been the lack of earphones on some tours. Ask questions clearly if the streets are noisy or the group spreads out.

Price, passes, and the real value

At $28 per person, the basic tour is reasonably priced for a licensed guide, a guided Old Town walk, Fort Lovrijenac context, filming stories, and an Iron Throne photo opportunity. The catch is that the headline price is not the full cost if you need to pay the fort entrance separately.

Add €15 for Lovrijenac unless your DU Pass covers it. For Lokrum, select the combination option if you want the ferry included. Otherwise, ferry tickets are listed at €30. Read the package details carefully before paying, since the optional island portion changes the total.

I think the tour offers good value if you want both a guided introduction to Dubrovnik and a clear connection to the series. It is less compelling if you only want to photograph the most famous locations, since you could visit some Old Town spots independently. The guide earns the extra cost by explaining what the camera changed, why the location was chosen, and how the show fits into the city around you.

Who should book it

I would book this for a Game of Thrones fan visiting Dubrovnik for the first time, especially if you want context rather than a list of photo stops. It also suits couples or families with mixed interests because the guide covers Dubrovnik’s architecture, the 1667 earthquake, and major landmarks alongside the filming stories.

Choose the Lokrum option if you have several free hours and want swimming, paths, gardens, and a ferry ride. Skip it if you are short on time, dislike steep paths, or mainly want the Old Town locations.

Wear comfortable clothes, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes. Carry cash for possible entrance costs and personal purchases. The Old Town streets are narrow and can be slippery, and the island fort requires another uphill walk.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Live guiding is available in English and Croatian.

Should you book this Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour?

Yes, if you want stories as well as scenery. Fort Lovrijenac and Blackwater Bay make a strong start, the Jesuit Steps deliver the most recognizable scene, and Lokrum adds enough time outdoors to justify the extra cost for many people.

Before booking, price the full package: tour, fort entrance, ferry, and any Dubrovnik Pass you plan to buy. If the Iron Throne and Qarth matter to you, confirm that you selected the Lokrum option and check for possible holiday closures. For most fans, the combination of local history, filming details, and a short island escape makes this one of Dubrovnik’s better themed tours.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the entrance of Nautika Restaurant on Brsalje Street 3, near Pile Gate.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts about 2 to 3 hours. The Lokrum portion is optional and takes place at the end.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered in English and Croatian.

Is Fort Lovrijenac included in the tour price?

The guided visit is part of the route, but the €15 entrance fee is not included unless you have a valid DU Pass.

Can the Dubrovnik Pass be used at Fort Lovrijenac?

Yes. A valid DU Pass can provide free access to Fort Lovrijenac.

Is the Lokrum ferry included?

Ferry tickets are included only with the selected combination options. The listed separate ferry cost is €30.

How long is the ferry ride to Lokrum?

The ferry crossing takes about 10 minutes.

What can I do on Lokrum Island?

You can walk, hike, swim, eat at the café facilities, enjoy the gardens and sea views, visit the fort, and take a photograph on the official HBO Iron Throne.

What happens if bad weather stops the ferry?

The tour ends in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, where you can still take a photograph on an Iron Throne replica.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The route includes steps, uneven surfaces, narrow streets, slippery stone, and uphill sections at Fort Lovrijenac and on Lokrum Island.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.