Dubrovnik Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island Visit

Dubrovnik’s stone streets and sea-facing fortifications make a convincing King’s Landing, and this tour takes you straight to the places that supplied its most memorable scenes. You’ll see Pile Gate, the West Harbour, and Fort Lovrijenac, then finish at the staircase used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

I like two things in particular: scene-by-scene explanations help you spot what the show changed or framed, and guides such as Jelena, Joseph, Ana, and Edi also bring in Dubrovnik’s history and local experience of filming. You get more than a checklist of locations.

The main consideration is the climb to Fort Lovrijenac and the many steps along the route. The fort’s entry fee is extra unless you have a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket, so factor that into the cost.

At a glance

• Pile Gate opens the story: Start near the western entrance to the Old Town, then trace scenes of King Joffrey’s procession and the city riot.
• The harbour locations are close to the action: Kolorina and the West Harbour served as docks and parts of Blackwater Bay.
• Fort Lovrijenac is the big climb: The fortress doubles as the Red Keep and takes about 45 minutes to explore on this route.
• The Walk of Shame staircase is the finale: The steps outside the Church of St. Ignatius offer the tour’s best-known photo stop.
• Lokrum adds a second setting: The optional extension visits the Qarth filming location and Dubrovnik’s official Iron Throne.
• Budget for admission: The tour starts at $24.19 per person; fort entry and the Lokrum ferry and island admission cost extra.

Following King’s Landing through Dubrovnik

The tour begins at Onofrio’s Large Fountain, inside the Old Town near the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for the representative with a red umbrella and Dubrovnik Walking Tours sign. Once the group is assembled, your guide introduces the route and leads you into the places that served as King’s Landing.

The basic walking tour lasts about two hours, while the full experience is listed at roughly two to three hours, depending on whether you add Lokrum. It is an efficient way to find filming locations that can be easy to miss when you are navigating unfamiliar lanes on your own. Just as useful, the guide connects a scene to its setting, then adds local history and stories about the filming process.

The tour is offered in English, with a maximum group size of 70. That is a fairly large cap for a walk through narrow Old Town streets, so don’t expect a private experience unless you book one. Guides have been praised for clear explanations, humor, and patience on the steps. Some groups have also used audio equipment and been split to give people a better chance to hear and ask questions, though you should not assume every tour will run in exactly the same way.

Pile Gate and the first scenes

From the fountain, the group walks to Pile Gate, the Old Town’s western entrance and the first stop on the route. In the show, the gate appears in scenes from Seasons 2 and 3, including the royal procession led by Joffrey and the angry crowd that turns on the king’s party. It also features in Jaime Lannister’s return to the city with Brienne of Tarth.

This stop is a good introduction to the tour’s format. Your guide points out the location and explains how it was used, often with scene images to help you match the real street to the finished show. If you remember the series well, you can enjoy the details of how the setting was framed. If you are less familiar with it, the Old Town’s gates and streets still make a useful orientation to the city.

Expect about 10 minutes here. That is enough to discuss the key scenes, but not a long pause for independent wandering. If you want photographs without the group in them, arrive early in Dubrovnik or return later on your own.

Kolorina and the West Harbour

The path beneath Pile Gate’s drawbridge leads to Kolorina, used as a dock in King’s Landing. The scenes tied to this area include Princess Myrcella’s departure for Dorne, the Gold Cloaks’ search for King Robert’s illegitimate children, and Tyrion’s discussion with Varys about the defence of the city.

Kolorina helps explain why the series used Dubrovnik so extensively. A short walk from the monumental gate brings you to a waterfront setting that can play a very different role on screen. Your guide describes the filming locations and the story events attached to them, while the real harbour gives the scene a physical scale that television can flatten.

The group then stops at Dubrovnik’s West Harbour, another stand-in for Blackwater Bay. It was used for wildfire scenes and for a conversation between Sansa and Shae before Littlefinger offers Sansa a way out of King’s Landing. Allow around 15 minutes here. The stop is scenic, but it is also a working part of the route, so it is best enjoyed as a place to listen and look rather than as a long harbour break.

The climb to Fort Lovrijenac

Fort Lovrijenac is the tour’s centrepiece. Set above the water outside the Old Town walls, it served as the Red Keep, the royal stronghold overlooking Blackwater Bay. The show used it for several scenes, including the Purple Wedding and the tournament held for Joffrey’s name day.

The visit takes about 45 minutes, and the climb is the most demanding part of the walk. Expect stairs and an uphill approach. The fort’s entry fee is €15 per person, but admission is free with a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket. If you already plan to buy either pass, this can improve the tour’s value; if not, include the extra cost when comparing the advertised price with your actual spend.

I would not treat the fort as a quick photo stop. The time here gives your guide room to explain how the location represented different parts of the Red Keep and to point out the views over the Old Town and coast. The views are a reward in their own right, even if you are not committed to every detail of Westerosi politics.

The climb may be tiring, especially if you have already spent the day walking Dubrovnik’s stone streets. Wear comfortable shoes and take the ascent at a steady pace. Guides have been praised for pausing and helping people manage the stairs, but this remains a walking tour with an uphill fort visit, not a step-free outing.

Old Town lanes and Cersei’s staircase

After the fort, the route descends into the Old Town and follows streets used for several King’s Landing storylines. Stops include places connected with the riot after Joffrey’s order, the events following the Purple Wedding, Jaime’s return, Littlefinger’s brothel, and Tyrion’s meeting with Oberyn Martell.

This portion lasts about 15 minutes, so the emphasis is on linking a series of locations rather than lingering at each one. The Old Town is more than a collection of television backdrops: it is a lived-in city, and your guide’s local perspective can make the filming stories more meaningful. Guides have discussed the local involvement in the production and what the Game of Thrones phenomenon meant for Dubrovnik.

The route ends at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, where the steps were used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame. It is the tour’s most recognizable photo opportunity and a natural finale. You can stand on the staircase and see how the long run of steps creates a dramatic stage for the scene.

This is a popular stopping point, so be prepared to share the space with other people. The location is still part of Dubrovnik, not a set reserved for the tour. Your guide can explain the scene and help with the photo moment, but you may want to return later if you hope for a quieter picture.

Is the Lokrum extension worth adding?

The optional Lokrum visit takes the tour beyond the Old Town. From Veliki Muo, you take a ferry to the island, which served as Qarth in Season 2. The extension includes the locations covered on the walking tour, then adds time on Lokrum, a visit to the official Iron Throne, and more filming stories.

The listed Lokrum portion is about 30 minutes, but the add-on also involves round-trip ferry transport and island admission. Those costs are €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. The Iron Throne photo opportunity is included with the tour, while the ferry and island admission are additional expenses. Check the full cost before booking so the attractive base price does not catch you off guard.

I would add Lokrum if you are a committed fan and want the Qarth setting and Iron Throne photo as part of the same outing. If you mainly want the best-known King’s Landing locations, the Old Town and fort route already gives you the heart of the experience. The extension is also a different kind of outing: you leave the city centre and take a ferry, so allow for the extra time rather than treating it as just one more quick stop.

What the price buys you

At $24.19 per person, the base tour is reasonably priced for a guided walk that covers several well-known locations and includes filming context. The guide is the main value. You could walk past Pile Gate, the harbour, and the church steps without knowing which scenes were filmed there, but it takes local knowledge and show-specific detail to connect the places in a coherent route.

The advertised price does not cover Fort Lovrijenac admission, which costs €15 unless you have the Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket. The Lokrum option adds €30 per adult or €5 per child aged 5 to 17 for transport and island admission. Group discounts are available, and the tour uses a mobile ticket.

Tours are booked an average of 28 days ahead, so planning early is sensible if your travel dates are fixed. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made later are not refunded, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who should book this walk?

This is a natural choice for Game of Thrones fans who want to see the show’s Dubrovnik locations without mapping them out alone. It works especially well if you like a guide who can explain both the filming and the city itself. Guides including Jelena, Joseph, Ana, and Edi have been praised for combining those subjects with humor and a lively delivery, though guide assignments vary.

You do not need to have watched every episode to enjoy the route. The fort, harbours, gates, and Old Town streets make sense as places in their own right, and the tour also covers Dubrovnik history. But if you have no interest in the series and prefer a broad historical tour, this specialised walk may not be the best use of your time.

Think about the stairs before booking. Most people can take part, but the fort climb and the Old Town’s steps call for comfortable footwear and a bit of stamina. If you want the Iron Throne and Qarth locations, choose the Lokrum option and budget for the extra fee. If you want a compact introduction to King’s Landing in Dubrovnik, the basic tour is enough.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The tour lasts about two hours without Lokrum. The overall experience is listed at roughly two to three hours, with the island option adding a ferry visit and about 30 minutes on Lokrum.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at Onofrio’s Large Fountain inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town, near the Hard Rock Cafe. The tour representative carries a red umbrella marked Dubrovnik Walking Tours.

Is Fort Lovrijenac admission included?

No. Entry costs €15 per person, but it is free with a Dubrovnik Pass or City Wall Ticket.

How much does the Lokrum option cost?

Round-trip transport and Lokrum Island admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. These fees apply only to the Lokrum option.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded.