Private Total Game of Thrones Day Trip

Dubrovnik makes a fine outdoor set, and this private tour lets you connect the show’s scenes with the real places behind them. You’ll stand in Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep, look across the city from Mount Srd, and finish on Lokrum Island, the setting for Qarth and its famous Iron Throne.

I like the private format, which gives your guide room to adjust the pace and help with photos. I also like the mix of screen locations and real Dubrovnik, especially Trsteno Arboretum and Lokrum, where the scenery matters even if you are not a devoted fan.

The main caution is timing. The tour lasts about 5 hours and 30 minutes, includes many steps, and ends on Lokrum rather than returning you to your hotel or cruise ship. Entrance tickets are extra, and a late pickup or long stop can mean missing part of the route.

Key things to know before booking

• You finish on Lokrum Island: Plan your onward route before you set out, since drop-off is not included.
• The Red Keep requires about 250 stairs: Fort Lovrijenac is rewarding, but this is not a low-effort sightseeing day.
• Three major admission fees are extra: Budget about €52 to €55 per person for Trsteno Arboretum, Fort Lovrijenac, and Lokrum, depending on the current Lokrum charge.
• Mount Srd is reached by road: You get several viewpoints from a panoramic drive instead of taking the cable car.
• Private guiding improves the show-and-tell: Guides including Roko, Deša Glanz, Ivana, Ines, Matea, Andrea, and Gorin have been praised for combining filming details with Dubrovnik’s story.
• Swimming is possible on Lokrum: Pack a swimsuit and towel if you want to use your free island time by the Adriatic.

Why this makes sense for a Game of Thrones fan

A standard Dubrovnik walk can point out a few show locations, but this outing covers sites beyond the Old Town. That wider reach is the real reason to consider it. You are not confined to one cluster of streets. You travel into the countryside, climb to a fortress, drive above the city, and take a ferry to an island.

The private setup also changes the feel of the day. Your guide can spend more time on the scenes you care about, pause for photographs, or add general information about Dubrovnik and Croatia. Several guides have been singled out for bringing printed scene images or using visual references to show how a location appeared on screen.

I would not book this only for trivia. The tour works best when the filming sites are a doorway into the place itself. Trsteno is a beautiful garden, Lovrijenac is a dramatic stone fort, and Lokrum gives you a pleasant island break. The show adds a layer of recognition, but Dubrovnik supplies the setting.

Trsteno Arboretum and the gardens of Kings Landing

About 20 minutes from Dubrovnik, Trsteno Arboretum is the first major stop. It is one of the oldest arboretums in this part of Europe and served as the Gardens of Kings Landing.

You have about an hour here, which is enough to walk around and take photographs without turning the stop into a rushed roadside pause. I like this part because it gives the tour a change of pace after the city. Instead of fortifications and crowded lanes, you get planted grounds and a calmer setting connected to the show.

The admission ticket is not included. The stated price is €10 per person. Carry some room in your budget for this and the other two paid stops.

This is also a place where a guide who knows both the production details and local background can add real value. The setting may be familiar from television, but the garden is worth seeing on its own. If you are traveling with someone who is less interested in Game of Thrones, this is one of the stops most likely to keep the whole group happy.

Mount Srd by road, not by cable car

The route then heads toward Mount Srd, the high point above Dubrovnik. Instead of using the cable car, the tour takes a panoramic drive and stops at viewpoints along the way.

You have about 45 minutes here. The attraction is the broad view over Dubrovnik, the Old Town, and the surrounding coast. A private vehicle makes this section practical, since your guide can stop at different angles rather than leaving you with a single viewpoint at the top.

There is no admission charge for this stop. It is also a useful photo break after the arboretum and before the stairs at Lovrijenac.

One small point matters here: the tour does not use the cable car experience. If riding the cable car is important to you, this route will not provide it. If you prefer a vehicle and several roadside views, the drive is the better fit.

Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep

Fort Lovrijenac is the tour’s most physical stop. Reaching it involves about 250 stairs, so I would wear firm walking shoes and bring water. The effort pays off with views and a setting used for scenes including the Battle of Blackwater Bay and the Purple Wedding.

You get about an hour at the fort, with time to take photographs and look across the water. The fort’s position makes it easy to understand why it works so well on screen. It feels separate from the Old Town while remaining closely tied to Dubrovnik’s defensive story.

Admission is not included. The listed fee is €15 per person. Because prices can change, check the current amount at booking or before departure.

The order can matter. One account described visiting the fort early, when it was less busy, as a smart choice. The exact sequence may vary, but an earlier visit can help if you want clearer photographs and a quieter climb.

This is the stop I would assess most carefully before booking. The stairs are not a minor detail, and the tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness. If you have trouble with steep steps, ask the operator about the route before paying.

Old Town scenes and the Walk of Shame

Back in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, you spend about an hour seeing filming locations and the city’s main sights. The Walk of Shame location is the headline stop, but the value comes from seeing how ordinary streets and public spaces were adapted for the series.

A private guide can make this more than a location hunt. Guides such as Roko, Deša Glanz, Ivana, Ines, and Andrea have been praised for combining filming information with details about Dubrovnik itself. Andrea was also noted for tailoring the route to the interests of the couple she guided.

I like having the Old Town portion after the wider excursions. By this point, you have seen the fort and the city from above. The familiar streets then make more sense as part of a larger setting rather than as isolated movie backdrops.

Expect walking on stone surfaces and through busy public areas. The tour description does not give a separate step count for the Old Town, but combined with the fort, this is a day for comfortable shoes rather than sandals with little support.

Lokrum Island and the Iron Throne

The final section takes you by ferry to Lokrum Island, a ride of about 15 minutes. Lokrum served as the City of Qarth, and the Iron Throne is the main photo opportunity.

You have about an hour on the island, and the tour finishes there. That ending can be a pleasure rather than a problem if you want to keep exploring, have a drink, or swim. The Adriatic water is described as clear, and the operator suggests bringing swimwear and towels.

The island ticket is extra. The supplied pricing gives both €30 and €27 per person, so you should confirm the current charge before departure. This is the largest single admission cost on the route, but it also covers an island visit rather than only access to a filming set.

You should think about the ending in practical terms. No drop-off is included, and the guide may leave you to enjoy the island independently. That gives you freedom, but it also means you must arrange your return from Lokrum and your next transport. If you are on a cruise schedule, this deserves special attention.

The island portion can be the tour’s most relaxed hour. You can take the Iron Throne photograph, walk around, sit for a drink, or swim if conditions suit you. Bring a towel, but do not assume that all island facilities or food costs are included in the tour price.

How the private format affects the day

The tour includes private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup, and a private guide. Only your own group participates, which is useful when you want to stop for photos or ask questions without waiting for a large party.

Hotel pickup removes one of the annoying parts of sightseeing in Dubrovnik. You do not need to find a meeting point before the day starts. Pickup details still deserve confirmation, particularly if you are arriving by cruise ship or using a tender. One group had a mix-up over the tender location, and the guide eventually found them, but the delay cut into the day.

That example points to a broader lesson: give the operator exact arrival information. A private vehicle cannot make up every lost minute when the itinerary includes a ferry, a garden, a fortress, and a city walk.

The tour is offered in English. Guides who have been especially praised include Roko, Deša, Ivana, Ines, Matea, Andrea, and Gorin. You cannot assume that a particular guide will be assigned, but you can request a preferred guide if the company allows it.

What the $253 price really buys you

At $253 per person, this is not a budget outing. The price covers the private vehicle, pickup, transportation between sites, and guide service. It does not cover the three main admission fees, food, drinks, or your onward transport after Lokrum.

For one person, the extra tickets add roughly €52 to €55 at the stated rates:

• Trsteno Arboretum: €10
• Fort Lovrijenac: €15
• Lokrum Island: €27 to €30

That puts the total cost noticeably above the advertised tour price. For a couple or family, the private format can still make sense because you are paying for a dedicated vehicle and guide rather than buying separate seats on a large group trip.

I see the best value for families, couples, and small groups who want control over the pace. It is also a sensible choice for a short Dubrovnik stay, since one half-day covers sites that would otherwise require several separate trips.

The value is weaker if you only want a quick Old Town location walk. In that case, paying for private transport to Trsteno, Mount Srd, and Lokrum may be more than you need. The tour earns its price through the range of places covered, not through low admission costs.

Timing, fitness, and practical preparation

The full experience takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes. The listed visits total about 4 hours and 45 minutes, leaving the rest for driving, the ferry, pickup, and transitions. That timetable is workable, but it has little room for delays.

I would plan for:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water and sun protection
• A swimsuit and towel for Lokrum
• Extra money for three admission tickets
• A plan for leaving Lokrum
• Accurate pickup details, especially from a cruise tender point

The tour requires moderate physical fitness. The 250 stairs at Lovrijenac are the clearest test, but the Old Town and island also add walking. If you want to take your time at every stop, tell your guide early. A private tour gives you flexibility, but it cannot extend indefinitely if the ferry schedule or your onward plans are fixed.

Weather matters too. The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and the cut-off uses local time.

Who should book this Dubrovnik tour

I would choose this for a committed Game of Thrones fan who wants more than the Old Town. The fort, arboretum, mountain road, and island create a full picture of Dubrovnik’s role in the series.

It also suits a small group that values privacy. You can ask detailed questions, take your time with photographs, and adjust the emphasis toward local culture or filming facts. The guide can make the difference, so requesting a guide with strong show knowledge may be worthwhile.

I would be more cautious if you have limited mobility, a tight cruise schedule, or no interest in island time. The stairs, extra fees, ferry, and lack of included drop-off all matter. A late start can also force a choice between Lokrum and another stop.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a full filming-location day with private transport and a guide who can connect the scenes to Dubrovnik itself. The strongest parts are the Red Keep, the broad views from Mount Srd, and the relaxed finish on Lokrum.

Before booking, confirm the pickup point, current ticket prices, and your return plan from Lokrum. If you can handle the stairs and accept the added costs, this is a well-rounded way to see the city beyond its famous walls. If you need a guaranteed return to a ship or want a shorter, less active outing, choose a tour with transport back included.

FAQ

How long does the private Game of Thrones tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included. Drop-off is not included.

Does the tour include admission tickets?

No. The listed additional fees are €10 per person for Trsteno Arboretum, €15 per person for Fort Lovrijenac, and €27 to €30 per person for Lokrum Island.

How many stairs are there to Fort Lovrijenac?

You should expect to climb approximately 250 stairs to reach the fort.

Does the tour use the Dubrovnik cable car?

No. The Mount Srd portion uses a panoramic drive instead of the cable car, with opportunities to stop at different viewpoints.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes on Lokrum Island. You need to arrange your onward transportation because drop-off is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.