‘Game of Thrones’ Walking Tour in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik makes an unusually convincing King’s Landing: stone lanes wind between tall walls, and red rooftops spill toward the Adriatic. This walking tour connects those real places to scenes from Game of Thrones, with Fort Lovrijenac, the so-called Red Keep, as a major stop.

I like that Fort Lovrijenac admission is included and that the guide adds Dubrovnik’s own story to the show’s fictional one. I also like the chance to see the city on foot, from narrow Old Town lanes to views over the rooftops and sea.

One thing to check before booking is the exact length and wall access in your chosen option. The advertised tour lasts about three hours, but the stop timings provided do not fit neatly into that window, and the 4.5-hour Arboretum upgrade adds a separate outing. Bring comfortable shoes and be ready for stairs.

Key things to know

• Fort Lovrijenac is included: Plan on about 45 minutes at the cliff-top fortress, with views over the coast and the Old Town.
• You can add the City Walls: The three-hour and 4.5-hour options include wall admission, but confirm how the visit fits into your schedule.
• Trsteno Arboretum is a longer upgrade: The 4.5-hour option includes minibus transport to the gardens used as the palace gardens in season three.
• The tour starts at Pile Square: Meet by the Dubravka 1836 restaurant, outside the Old Town walls, for the 10:30 a.m. start.
• Expect a small group: The maximum is 18 people, though the group can still be hard to hear in busy streets.
• The guides add more than filming trivia: Guides such as Sara, Tea, Marina, Ivana, and Kruno have been praised for combining show details with local history.

King’s Landing begins at Pile Gate

The meeting point is at Pile Square, near the Dubravka 1836 restaurant and the western entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. You begin outside the walls, where the guide can point out the gate, the fort, and the stone defenses that will shape the route.

This short introduction helps you get oriented before entering the crowded historic core. It also gives the guide a chance to explain how Dubrovnik came to represent King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. The city’s coastal position, high stone walls, and red-tiled roofs do much of the work. You can recognize the show’s setting, but you are also standing in a real city with centuries of its own history.

The meeting instructions name the restaurant as the landmark, so arrive with enough time to find the group. One practical improvement would be a visible sign or board, especially if you arrive early. A few people have found it less obvious than expected where to wait.

Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep above the sea

The tour’s most striking early stop is Fort Lovrijenac, often called Dubrovnik Gibraltar. It sits on a rocky rise about 37 meters above sea level, just beyond the Old Town walls. Built in the 11th century, the fortress served a defensive purpose long before it became a television location.

For Game of Thrones fans, the fort is recognizable as the Red Keep and as a setting for battle scenes, including events connected with the Battle of Blackwater. For everyone else, it is a fine place to look back at the city and understand its geography. The high walls, harbor, and nearby fortifications make the show’s choice of location easy to understand.

Admission is included in every option, which is a useful part of the price. The stop is listed as about 45 minutes, enough to explore and take in the views without turning the visit into a full fortress tour. As with the rest of Dubrovnik, expect steps and uneven stone underfoot.

Old Town lanes and the show’s familiar scenes

After passing through Pile Gate, you walk through the streets and alleys where scenes were filmed. The guide ties locations to characters and storylines, including the Starks, Baratheons, and Targaryens. You may follow Arya Stark’s route through the streets and hear how particular corners and open spaces were used on screen.

The best guides do more than hold up a still from the show and name the scene. You want someone who can connect the image to what is in front of you, explain how Dubrovnik’s real buildings served the production, and offer local context along the way. Sara, Tea, Marina, Ivana, and Kruno are among the guides praised for balancing filming details with the city’s own past. Sara and Sora have also shared stories from their time as extras in the series, a rare bit of firsthand production context.

That balance matters even if you are a dedicated fan. You likely know the plot already, so a scene recap alone may not add much. The value is in learning where the camera stood, how a real street became part of King’s Landing, and what the city was like before the television crew arrived.

The Old Town is a busy place, and the group may need to pause or gather close so everyone can hear. Some visitors have had trouble hearing a guide, particularly when the streets are crowded or the guide is not using a microphone clearly. If you cannot hear, speak up early rather than spending half the tour guessing at the story.

Walking the City Walls above the rooftops

The City Walls are one of Dubrovnik’s defining sights: a stone defensive circuit built over several centuries, from the 13th to the 17th century. The walls run for nearly two kilometers, and at some points rise about 25 meters. From above, you get the view many people picture when they think of King’s Landing: a sea of red roofs framed by stone and water.

The tour includes wall admission with the three-hour and 4.5-hour options. The itinerary gives the walls a 90-minute stop, but the overall tour is described as about three hours, alongside two hours in the Old Town and 45 minutes at the fort. Those stated times do not add up. Check with the operator before booking so you know whether the group walks the walls during the guided tour, or whether your ticket gives you a chance to visit later.

That distinction can be helpful. One person described receiving QR codes that allowed a return visit to the walls later in the day, which made it possible to go near sunset when the light over the rooftops was especially good. Treat that as a possible arrangement, not a promise for every departure. Confirm the ticket details for your selected option.

The walls are also the part of the tour most likely to test your legs. You will be walking and climbing, often on stone steps, so supportive shoes are a better choice than sandals with slippery soles. A hat is recommended, and it is sensible to bring water, especially in warm weather. Food and drinks are not included, and there is no planned lunch stop in the description.

The Trsteno Arboretum upgrade

The longer option adds a minibus trip to Trsteno Arboretum, one of Croatia’s oldest arboretums. It is known as a filming location for the palace gardens in King’s Landing during the show’s third season. In contrast to the steep stone lanes and walls of Dubrovnik, the arboretum offers trees, exotic plants, and a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque details.

The upgrade takes the outing to about 4.5 hours and includes round-trip transport from the Old Town. The listed visit is about 1 hour and 25 minutes. The guide continues the show’s story here, including the War of the Five Kings, while you explore the grounds and look out over the area.

This is the right add-on if you want more than the central Dubrovnik filming locations and have time for a half-day tour. It is not a substitute for the city walk, and it does not include a boat trip to Lokrum Island or a visit to the Game of Thrones chair there. Those are separate experiences, so read the selected option carefully if that is what you had in mind.

A complaint about a rushed outing and a late arrival at the gardens is a useful reminder: the extra stop adds travel time as well as sightseeing. Since no meal is included, plan to eat before or after rather than counting on a lunch break during the tour.

Is $85.86 a fair price?

At $85.86 per person, this is not the cheapest way to find Dubrovnik’s filming locations. You could look up many spots yourself. The stronger case for paying is the included Fort Lovrijenac entry, the City Walls ticket with the relevant options, and a guide who can explain both the television production and the city’s setting.

The tour offers better value if you are a fan who wants the locations placed in context, or if you are new to Dubrovnik and would like an organized introduction to the Old Town. Guide stories can bring out details that a map cannot, and some guides have shared behind-the-scenes accounts from their own involvement in the show. The small-group cap of 18 also gives the walk a more personal feel than a large bus outing, though a full group can still be difficult to hear in narrow, noisy streets.

The value is less clear if you expect a boat ride, lunch, a visit to Lokrum, or a full day of filming locations. None of those is included. You are paying for a guided walking tour, Fort Lovrijenac admission, and, with the listed options, City Walls access or an Arboretum trip. Decide based on those specific inclusions.

The tour is recommended by 92 percent of participants and has a 4.7 rating from 945 reviews. That is a strong overall record, but the occasional problems are practical ones: unclear meeting-point signage, difficulty hearing, or a schedule that feels rushed. Ask about the exact wall arrangement and Arboretum timing before you commit.

Practical details before you go

The tour is offered in English, starts at 10:30 a.m., and meets at Pile Square by the Dubravka 1836 restaurant. It ends back at the meeting point. A mobile ticket is accepted, and the maximum group size is 18. The provider is Elite Travel LTD.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat. The route includes the Old Town, a cliff-top fort, and potentially the City Walls, so expect plenty of walking and stairs. Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The experience depends on good weather. If poor weather cancels the tour, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted.

Should you book this Dubrovnik tour?

Book it if Game of Thrones is part of why you came to Dubrovnik, or if you want a guided introduction that mixes filming sites with local history. Fort Lovrijenac is a strong inclusion, and the City Walls can make the walk worthwhile even for people who are less interested in the show.

Choose the Trsteno Arboretum upgrade if you have extra time and want to see the palace garden location beyond the Old Town. Skip the tour if you expect lunch, a boat ride, or the Lokrum chair, or if you prefer to explore at your own pace. Before paying, confirm how the City Walls fit into your chosen tour length. That one question can make the difference between a well-paced visit and a schedule that feels squeezed.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The standard tour is listed as approximately three hours. The Trsteno Arboretum upgrade takes about 4.5 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 10:30 a.m.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at Pile Square by the Dubravka 1836 restaurant, at Brsalje ul. 1 in Dubrovnik. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is Fort Lovrijenac admission included?

Yes. Admission to Fort Lovrijenac is included in all tour options.

Is the City Walls ticket included?

Yes, the City Walls entrance ticket is included with the three-hour and 4.5-hour options. Confirm with the operator how the wall visit fits into your selected schedule.

What does the Trsteno Arboretum upgrade include?

It includes round-trip transport by minibus from the Old Town and a visit to Trsteno Arboretum, a filming location used as the palace gardens in season three.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 18 people.

What should I bring?

Comfortable shoes and a hat are highly recommended. The tour involves walking, and the route includes historic streets and fortifications.