Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Walking, Car and Boat Tour

Dubrovnik’s streets, shoreline and gardens have played several parts in Westeros. This seven-hour experience links more than 15 filming locations by foot, boat and car, so you can see how the city became King’s Landing, Qarth and the Red Keep without trying to piece together the sites on your own.

I like the three-part format, which covers very different corners of Dubrovnik, and the show screenshots your guide uses to match real places with their scenes. The Iron Throne photo stop on Lokrum is another fun touch, especially if you want a souvenir that is more personal than another view of the city walls.

The main consideration is the pace and the physical demands: this is a full day of walking and changing transport, and the tour is not suited to people with mobility impairments, back problems or a tendency toward seasickness. You can also take the three parts on separate days, which makes the itinerary easier to fit around a longer stay.

Key points to know

• More than 15 filming locations: Visit places used for the Red Keep, Qarth, Blackwater Bay, the King’s Road and the Walk of Shame.
• Three ways to see Dubrovnik: The experience combines a two-hour walking tour, a 15-minute boat ride to Lokrum and a car tour outside the Old Town.
• Screenshots help you spot the scenes: Your guide brings a book of images from the show so you can compare the on-screen setting with the actual location.
• Lokrum adds a photo stop and free time: Walk through gardens used as Qarth, visit a Benedictine Monastery and sit on the Iron Throne.
• Admission is bundled in: The price includes St. Lawrence Fortress, Trsteno Arboretum and Lokrum National Reserve, as well as the round-trip boat ticket.
• You can split the tour up: Take the walking, boat and car portions on separate days rather than fitting all three into one long outing.

A three-part route through Westeros

This is more than a walk through Dubrovnik’s Old Town with a few filming anecdotes. The format pairs a two-hour guided walk with a boat trip to Lokrum and a car tour to sites beyond the center. Together, the three sections show why Dubrovnik worked so well as a stand-in for several places in the series: stone streets and fortifications in town, gardens on an island, and expansive views from the surrounding area.

The total experience takes about seven hours, but the activities can be taken on separate days. That flexibility matters. If you have limited energy, young children, or simply prefer a slower pace, splitting the outings gives you time to enjoy each place without turning the day into a race to the next filming site.

Each section has its own guide. Guides Mikki and Dorotea have been noted for mixing Game of Thrones details with information about Dubrovnik and the places along the route. Their friendly banter and quick wit can make a long itinerary feel lighter, while the local context gives the tour more substance than a hunt for screen locations alone.

Old Town: the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay and the Walk of Shame

The walking portion starts near Pile Gate, by the Amerling fountain and next to Dubravka restaurant. This is the west entrance to the Old Town, at Brsalje bb. Arrive at the stated meeting point with your confirmation details in hand. The tour asks you to print the whole confirmation document, not just the ticket.

Over two hours, your guide leads you through filming locations woven into Dubrovnik’s famous landmarks. You’ll see sites used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay and the Walk of Shame, along with other places that helped create King’s Landing. The pleasure is in comparing a familiar scene with its real setting: a street or fortification can look quite different when the camera angle, costumes and show’s fictional geography are removed.

The guide’s book of screenshots helps bridge that gap. Instead of relying on memory alone, you can look at the image and the location side by side. That is useful even if you watched the series years ago, and it gives non-experts a clearer reason to care about each stop.

This part also includes entry to St. Lawrence Fortress, a practical inclusion for anyone who wants to see a key site rather than only hear about it from outside. The tour’s appeal is not limited to filming trivia: your guide also shares facts about the actors, production and behind-the-scenes stories, along with information about Dubrovnik.

If you’re a dedicated fan, you’ll likely enjoy connecting scenes to real places. If you only know the show casually, the city itself still gives the walk a strong setting. The trade-off is that this is a guided route through an active historic center, not a private photo session at each location. Keep your expectations focused on seeing a range of sites and getting context as you go.

Lokrum by boat: Qarth gardens and the Iron Throne

The second section begins with a ferry ride to Lokrum. The trip takes about 15 minutes, and the boat journey gives you a view of Villa Šeherazade, where Tyrion spent time conspiring on a balcony in the series. Even this short crossing changes the pace from narrow Old Town lanes to an island visit.

On Lokrum, you’ll walk through gardens used as the city of Qarth and visit a Benedictine Monastery, where your guide explains the fictional history of Westeros. The island setting makes this part feel distinct from the urban filming locations. It also gives the tour room for a simple pleasure that fans tend to appreciate: a chance to sit on the Iron Throne and take a photo.

The experience includes the round-trip boat ticket and admission to Lokrum National Reserve. You also have free time to explore before returning by boat. That free time is a useful counterbalance to the guided sections, since you’re not being led from one scene to another for every minute of the island visit.

One practical caution: the tour is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. The crossing is brief, but it is still a boat ride, and the itinerary includes travel by water. If that is a concern, consider whether you want to take the walking and car sections separately instead.

Beyond the city: Trsteno Arboretum and the King’s Road

The car portion takes you beyond Dubrovnik to Trsteno Arboretum, which supplied garden settings for scenes in King’s Landing. It was used for many of the show’s garden scenes, but the place has an appeal beyond television: it is described as the oldest botanical garden in the world and is filled with exotic plants.

That makes Trsteno a particularly good stop for mixed-interest groups. A serious fan can compare the garden with show scenes, while someone less invested in Westeros still has a botanical garden to explore. The tour includes admission, so you don’t need to arrange a separate ticket for this stop.

The guide’s screenshot book comes in handy here, too. Gardens can be harder to identify from memory than a fortress or a famous street, and the images help show which details belong to the real site and which came from the production. It’s a small tool, but one that makes the filming connection easier to understand.

The route also visits the abandoned Hotel Belvedere, the setting for the fight between the Mountain and Oberyn Martell. This is a striking stop for fans of that scene, though its interest is tied closely to the show. If you don’t know the sequence, your guide’s explanation and screenshot can help place it in context.

The tour ends on the King’s Road, where you get a panoramic view over Dubrovnik’s Old Town. That final look back at the city is a fitting way to connect the parts of the itinerary: you’ve walked through the center, crossed to Lokrum and driven to sites outside it. The view also gives you a sense of how Dubrovnik’s setting helped the production create a fictional capital.

What the $294 price includes

At $294 per person, this is a substantial purchase, particularly if you’re looking only for a quick Game of Thrones walk. The better way to assess the value is to consider what the price bundles: three separate guided outings, entry to St. Lawrence Fortress and Trsteno Arboretum, Lokrum National Reserve admission and the round-trip boat ticket.

You’re also paying for a route that reaches locations outside the Old Town, rather than stopping at the easiest sites to reach on foot. The car portion and the island visit widen the experience, while the guide’s screenshots make the filming details more legible. For someone who wants a full day centered on the show, that combination can justify the cost.

Still, the tour is a specialist activity. If you’re not interested in the series, the Old Town and Trsteno Arboretum have attractions of their own, but the itinerary’s explanations and many of its stops are designed around filming. You may get better value from a general Dubrovnik tour if the series is only a passing interest.

Food and drink are not included, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off. Plan those costs and arrangements separately. The tour language is English, and guides are provided for each part.

How to plan the day, or split it up

You can do all three tours in a day or take them on separate days. Doing everything together makes sense if your Dubrovnik schedule is short and you want one focused day. Splitting the sections gives you more breathing room and lets you choose which part best fits each day’s plans.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. The itinerary includes walking in the Old Town, exploring Lokrum and visiting the arboretum, so comfort matters more than dressing for a single short stop. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the tour.

Infant seats are available if requested at booking. If you need one, advise the operator at that time. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or back problems, so take those limits seriously when deciding whether the combination of walking, boat travel and car touring will work for you.

The meeting point is by the Amerling fountain near Pile Gate, beside Dubravka restaurant. Hotel transfers are not included, so make your own way there. The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available.

Who will get the most from this tour?

This experience makes the most sense for Game of Thrones fans who want more than the Old Town locations. You’ll get a broader look at the region’s filming sites, a comparison between screen images and real places, and the pleasure of posing on the Iron Throne. The variety of transport also keeps the route from becoming one long city walk.

It can work for a group with mixed interests, particularly because Trsteno Arboretum and Dubrovnik’s historic setting have appeal beyond the show. But be honest about how much filming trivia you want. Several stops are most meaningful when you recognize the scenes, and the price is hard to justify if you would rather spend the day on Dubrovnik’s history alone.

I’d book it if the series is a real interest and you have the time and stamina for a full day, or if you can divide the sections across your stay. I’d pass if you need an easy, short outing, have mobility or back concerns, or are uneasy on boats. For the right fan, the mix of locations, local context and visual comparisons makes this a fuller Dubrovnik experience than a simple checklist of filming spots.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The full experience takes about seven hours. You can also take the walking, boat and car tours on separate days.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet near Pile Gate, by the Amerling fountain next to Dubravka restaurant. The address is Brsalje bb, 20 000 Dubrovnik.

What filming locations will I see?

The route includes locations used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, the Walk of Shame, Qarth, the King’s Road and gardens in King’s Landing. It visits more than 15 Game of Thrones filming locations.

Is the boat ticket included?

Yes. The price includes a round-trip boat ticket to Lokrum and admission to Lokrum National Reserve. The boat ride to the island takes about 15 minutes.

Are admission fees included?

Yes. Entry to St. Lawrence Fortress and Trsteno Arboretum is included, along with Lokrum National Reserve admission.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments or seasickness?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, back problems or those prone to seasickness.

What should I bring, and are meals included?

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Food and drink are not included, and luggage or large bags are not allowed.