Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones&Lokrum Island Walking Tour

Dubrovnik makes a convincing King’s Landing because its stone walls, steep lanes, fortress, and sea views need very little help from Hollywood. This three-hour tour takes you from Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep, through the Old Town filming sites, then across to Lokrum for the Iron Throne.

I like the mix of show trivia and real Dubrovnik history, which works even if someone in your group has never watched Game of Thrones. I also like that the tour ends on Lokrum, so you can stay for a swim and explore instead of rushing straight back to town. The catch is the extra cost: the Red Keep entrance and Lokrum entrance are not included in the $41 tour price.

Key points at a glance

• Lovrijenac sets the scene: Spend about an hour at the fortress used as the Red Keep, with views toward the old harbor and city walls.
• The Old Town locations are packed close together: See the Walk of Shame route, Blackwater Bay, the Purple Wedding setting, Jesuit Stairs, and other recognizable spots.
• Local guides add more than show trivia: Guides including Michaela, Ines, Josip, Marko, Andrea, and Davor have mixed filming details with Croatian and Dubrovnik history.
• Lokrum changes the pace: A short ferry ride takes you to the former City of Qarth, with monastery ruins, peacocks, bunnies, and rocky swimming spots.
• The Iron Throne photo is part of the finish: HBO gave the throne to Dubrovnik, and you can sit on it for a souvenir picture.
• The tour price needs careful reading: The advertised $41 covers the walking tour and guide, but Red Keep and Lokrum entrance fees are extra.

Why Dubrovnik became King’s Landing

Dubrovnik was chosen for Game of Thrones because it already had the ingredients needed for the fictional capital of Westeros: thick stone walls, a compact medieval core, fortress towers, steep stairways, and a dramatic position above the Adriatic.

That matters on this tour. You are not simply looking at a prop or a temporary set. The real city supplies most of the atmosphere. A narrow lane can be a royal passage in one scene and an ordinary route to a café in the next.

The guide helps connect those two versions of Dubrovnik. You see the filming spot, then hear what was happening in the plot, how the location was used, and what the real place means to the city. The strongest part of the experience is this blend of fantasy and fact.

The tour has earned a 4.8 rating from 245 bookings, and the praise is notably consistent about the guides. Michaela is described as warm, funny, and passionate. Ines is praised for combining show details with local history. Josip is noted for patience, while Marko is remembered for energy, humor, trivia, and behind-the-scenes stories.

Those names matter because the guide makes or breaks a themed walking tour. Here, the guide is not just pointing at walls and saying which scene was filmed there. You can expect questions, photos for context, and a steady stream of stories about the actors, scenes, and production.

Starting at Pile Square and Lovrijenac Fortress

Meet at the Amerling fountain in Pile Square, just outside the Old Town and close to the Dubravka restaurant. Look for the blue umbrella marked with the DUtheTour logo. This is a useful meeting point because Pile Gate is one of the main entrances into Dubrovnik, but give yourself time to find the fountain in the summer crowd.

The first major stop is Lovrijenac, the fortress used for the Red Keep. The guided visit lasts about an hour, making it the longest stop of the tour. That gives your guide time to explain several filming locations rather than treating the fortress as a quick photo stop.

Lovrijenac sits above the sea and provides some of the best views on the route. From here, you can look back toward Dubrovnik’s walls and understand why filmmakers used the fortress for scenes involving royal power, military threat, and political conflict.

The fortress is also where the tour begins to make sense as a history walk. Its real purpose and its fictional role overlap nicely. You get the thrill of recognizing the Red Keep while also seeing Dubrovnik as a fortified Adriatic city.

The entrance ticket to Lovrijenac, listed as the Red Keep ticket, costs €15 and is not included. Add this to the advertised price before you book. If you are comparing this tour with another Dubrovnik walk, check carefully to see if fortress admission is included there.

Pile Gate and the streets of King’s Landing

After Lovrijenac, the group heads toward Pile Gate for a short guided stop of about ten minutes. This gateway is one of the most recognizable entrances to Dubrovnik’s Old Town and an easy place to connect the real city with the show.

The stop is brief, but it helps orient you. From here, the route moves into the Old Town and along Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. The Stradun stop lasts about fifteen minutes. It is a good place for your guide to explain how the city’s central spaces were adapted for scenes involving crowds, movement, and public drama.

You will not spend the entire tour watching clips. Instead, the guide uses the actual streets, steps, walls, and views around you. That keeps the experience active and makes it easier to remember the locations after the tour.

If you have watched the series recently, you may recognize details quickly. If you have not, the Croatian history and city setting give you something useful to follow. One family group specifically enjoyed the balance because some members were Game of Thrones fans and others had never seen the show.

That makes this a better choice for mixed groups than a tour focused only on plot references. You can enjoy the architecture and local stories without needing to identify every character.

Jesuit Stairs and the Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Stairs are one of the tour’s most memorable Old Town stops. Their curved stone design and position above the surrounding lanes made them a natural choice for Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

Your guide explains how the scene used the stairs and nearby streets, then gives you a chance to take photos. This is one of the locations where the physical setting is especially easy to match with the screen version.

The stairs are also a practical reminder that Dubrovnik is not flat. You will be walking over stone streets and climbing steps, so comfortable shoes are sensible. The tour is only three hours, but it packs several locations into that time.

The stairs can be busy, especially in high season. Your guide’s timing and ability to position the group matter here. Guides such as Marko have been praised for allowing photo time while keeping the group moving.

Do not expect a quiet movie set. You are seeing working public streets in one of Croatia’s most visited cities. That is part of the charm, but it means you may need patience when other people stop for pictures.

Rector’s Palace, Blackwater Bay, and the Old Port

The route continues to Rector’s Palace for roughly ten minutes. The palace adds another layer to the tour because it represents Dubrovnik’s political and civic past as well as its screen identity.

You then continue to the Old Port, with another ten-minute guided stop. This area helps explain the show’s use of Dubrovnik as a coastal capital. The harbor, stone buildings, and open sea create the setting associated with Blackwater Bay and other waterfront scenes.

I like this section because it gives you a break from stairways and narrow lanes. It also shows how much of the city’s appeal comes from the relationship between stone and sea. The tour is not only about finding a famous step or doorway. It is about seeing why the whole city worked so well on camera.

Your guide may also share production stories and behind-the-scenes facts here. Marko, for example, has been praised for bringing photos and trivia into the walk, while other guides have been noted for answering questions about both the show and Dubrovnik.

The Old Port is a useful point to pause and take stock. By now, you have seen several central filming sites without needing a separate transfer between them. The route is efficient, but the pace can feel brisk if you want long photo sessions at every stop.

The 15-minute ferry to Lokrum

From the Old Port, you board a ferry for the short crossing to Lokrum. The ride takes about fifteen minutes and gives you a welcome change of scene.

Lokrum represented the City of Qarth in Game of Thrones. The island also serves a completely different purpose for local people and visitors: it is a protected forest reserve close to Dubrovnik, with shaded paths, old structures, rocky shorelines, and open places to relax.

The tour includes a guided visit to the Benedictine Monastery, which takes about fifteen minutes. The monastery ruins provide a quieter contrast to the Old Town. They also give the guide another way to connect the island’s real past with its role in the series.

Lokrum’s animals are part of the fun. Peacocks and bunnies live on the island and are often close to people. You should not expect a zoo or formal animal encounter. They are simply part of the island setting, and seeing them adds a light note after the more dramatic fortress and execution scenes.

The Lokrum entrance ticket is listed separately at €30. That is a substantial addition to a $41 tour, so include it in your budget. The fee covers access to the island, while the tour price covers the guide and walking experience.

Sitting on the official Iron Throne

The Iron Throne is the tour’s final featured stop. HBO gave the throne to Dubrovnik, and it is displayed on Lokrum as part of the island’s Game of Thrones visitor center.

You get about ten minutes for a photo stop and visit. This is the clearest souvenir moment of the day. After seeing the fictional throne room references around Dubrovnik, you can actually sit on the throne and take a picture.

Ten minutes is enough for the main photo, but do not expect a long museum visit. The appeal is the object itself and the fact that it is located on the island used for Qarth.

The tour finishes here rather than returning you to Pile Square. You can take the ferry back to Dubrovnik after the guided portion, or stay on Lokrum for the rest of the day.

That flexible ending is one of the tour’s best features. Game of Thrones fans can finish with the throne, while anyone wanting a slower afternoon can turn the excursion into a half-day island visit.

Staying on Lokrum for swimming and nature

Bring swim gear, a towel, and sunscreen if you want to remain on Lokrum. The island has rocky beaches rather than a broad sandy resort beach, so sturdy footwear may also make the shoreline easier to manage.

You can spend the rest of the day exploring the island, relaxing near the water, or enjoying its natural setting. Cafés are available on the island, and the ruins, peacocks, bunnies, and paths give non-fans a good reason to stay.

The island is a protected forest reserve, so treat it as a natural area rather than a theme park. Overnight stays are not allowed. Everyone must leave on the last ferry at the latest, so check the return schedule before settling in for an afternoon swim.

The finish requires some planning. If you have a cruise departure, dinner booking, or another timed activity, returning directly after the guided visit is the safer choice. If your schedule is open, staying on Lokrum gives you more value from the separate island admission.

Is the $41 price good value?

At $41 per person, the base price is reasonable for a three-hour guided walk that includes the Old Town route, Lovrijenac, the ferry crossing, Lokrum, and the Iron Throne stop. A good guide can add real value because the tour connects locations that would be easy to miss on your own.

But the headline price does not tell the full story. You must also pay €15 for the Red Keep entrance and €30 for Lokrum Island, according to the listed exclusions. That makes the total considerably higher, especially for a family or larger group.

I would judge the value this way:

• If you are a serious Game of Thrones fan, the fortress, filming locations, and Iron Throne make the added fees easier to justify.
• If only one person in your group watches the show, the Croatian history and Dubrovnik sightseeing help keep the experience worthwhile.
• If you mainly want to visit Lokrum for swimming, compare the cost with visiting the island independently.
• If you want context, photos, and stories rather than simply checking locations off a map, the guide is the main reason to choose this tour.

The private group option may suit families or friends who want a more personal pace. The standard experience has also been described as small enough for personal interaction, though the exact group size is not specified.

Timing, languages, and practical planning

The experience lasts three hours, but staying on Lokrum can turn it into a full afternoon. English and German tours are available, and a live guide leads the walk.

Wear shoes suited to stone streets, stairs, and rocky island paths. Bring water, sun protection, and a camera. For a swim, pack a towel and bathing clothes before you leave your hotel, since the tour ends on Lokrum.

The meeting point is outside the Old Town at the Amerling fountain in Pile Square. Find the blue DUtheTour umbrella near Dubravka restaurant. This is not the same as meeting inside the Old Town, so do not wait near the Stradun.

The tour can be canceled up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Who should book this Dubrovnik tour?

I would choose this experience for a Game of Thrones fan who also wants a useful first look at Dubrovnik. It covers the major screen locations without spending the entire day on show trivia.

It also suits mixed groups. The history of Dubrovnik, the fortress views, the ferry, and Lokrum give non-fans plenty to enjoy. Families should note the stairs, heat, stone footing, and extra entrance fees before booking.

I would be less inclined to choose it if you dislike guided walks, want to spend a long time at each filming location, or only want a quick photo at the Iron Throne. The schedule moves through many stops, and the three-hour format favors variety over slow exploration.

FAQ

Where does the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour start?

Meet at the Amerling fountain in Pile Square, outside Dubrovnik’s Old Town and close to the Dubravka restaurant. Look for the blue umbrella with the DUtheTour logo.

How long does the tour last?

The guided experience lasts three hours. It includes the Dubrovnik walking route, the ferry to Lokrum, and the guided island stops.

Which Game of Thrones locations are included?

The route includes Lovrijenac, used as the Red Keep, along with Pile Gate, Stradun, the Jesuit Stairs, Rector’s Palace, and the Old Port. The tour also visits Lokrum, which represented the City of Qarth.

Can I sit on the Iron Throne?

Yes. The tour includes a visit and photo stop at the official Iron Throne on Lokrum Island.

Are the Red Keep and Lokrum entrance fees included?

No. The Red Keep entrance costs €15, and Lokrum Island entrance costs €30. These fees are separate from the $41 tour price.

Can I stay on Lokrum after the guided tour?

Yes. The tour ends on Lokrum, and you can remain there for swimming, nature, and further exploration. Bring swim gear, a towel, and sunscreen if you plan to stay.

How do I return from Lokrum?

You can return to Dubrovnik by ferry after the tour. Everyone must leave the island by the last ferry because overnight stays are not allowed.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the major Dubrovnik filming sites explained by a lively local guide, then want the added pleasure of Lokrum and the Iron Throne. The strongest guides, including Michaela, Ines, Josip, Marko, Andrea, and Davor, have been praised for humor, patience, show knowledge, and Croatian history.

Before booking, add the €45 in separate entrance fees to the $41 price and decide if the total fits your plans. If it does, the combination of fortress, Old Town, ferry, island, and throne makes this a well-packed introduction to Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones side, with a pleasant real-world escape to Lokrum at the end.