Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island

Winter is coming, but Dubrovnik brings the sunshine. This Game of Thrones tour combines famous filming locations with the real stories of the Old Town, and I like the way it gives you both cinematic fun and solid local context. I also like the choice of adding Lokrum Island, where you can swim, hike, visit the Iron Throne, and see the setting used for Qarth. The main catch is extra cost: Fort Lovrijenac is €15 unless covered by a Dubrovnik Pass, and the Lokrum ferry costs €30 when that option is not included.

Your guide meets you outside Nautika Restaurant, beside Pile Gate. From there, you climb to Fort Lovrijenac, walk through the Old Town, pause at the Jesuit Steps, and finish with the optional ferry to Lokrum. The tour lasts about two to three hours, though Lokrum can easily turn the outing into a much longer half-day visit.

I would especially look for a guide such as Katarina, Petra, Indira, Ivan, or Dubravka. The strongest guides make the tour feel like a conversation, using scene photos, questions, production stories, and Dubrovnik facts rather than simply pointing at stone walls. Just bring good shoes. Dubrovnik’s polished and pebble streets can be narrow, steep, and slippery.

Key points before you book

• Fort Lovrijenac sets the scene: You get wide views over the Adriatic and the real-world location used for many scenes connected with King’s Landing.
• Blackwater Bay is right beside Pile Gate: Pile Bay is easy to recognize once your guide matches the filming view with the actual waterfront.
• The Old Town adds more than fan service: Stradun, the Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s Palace, the Cathedral, and the 1667 earthquake give the tour a proper sense of place.
• The Jesuit Steps recreate the Walk of Shame: This is one of the best photo stops, though it can be crowded and exposed to the sun.
• Lokrum is an optional change of pace: The short ferry ride leads to swimming, walking trails, gardens, legends, and the official HBO Iron Throne.
• A Dubrovnik Pass can save money: It can cover Fort Lovrijenac and other city sights, making the extra €15 entrance fee less painful.

Starting at Nautika and climbing to Fort Lovrijenac

The meeting point is outside Nautika Restaurant near Brsalje Street, just beyond Pile Gate. This is a sensible place to begin because you are already close to several major filming locations, and the guide can quickly connect the modern city with the fictional capital of Westeros.

The first serious stop is Fort Lovrijenac. You reach it by climbing, so this is where the tour asks the most from your legs. The fort is a medieval defensive work set above the water, with strong views back toward Dubrovnik’s walls and across the Adriatic.

For Game of Thrones fans, the fort is familiar as part of King’s Landing. For everyone else, it is still worthwhile because the setting explains why filmmakers chose Dubrovnik. The high position, thick stone walls, and open sea make the place look dramatic without much help from a camera.

The entrance fee is not included in the basic price. It costs €15 on site, but you can enter free with a valid Dubrovnik Pass. If you are already planning to walk the city walls or visit several paid sights, check the pass before the tour. It may be better value than paying separately.

This is also a point where the tour is less suitable for anyone with mobility problems. There are steps, uneven surfaces, and exposed sections. Wear trainers or other shoes with a firm grip, and do not count on sandals being comfortable for the whole route.

Pile Gate and the Blackwater Bay waterfront

After the fort, the route returns toward Pile Gate and Pile Bay. The waterfront was used as Blackwater Bay, and it is one of the easiest places to connect the show with the real city.

Your guide should help you see how the camera transformed this ordinary working waterfront into a major setting. It is a simple but effective part of the tour: you stand near the pier, look back toward the fort and walls, and suddenly the familiar scenes make sense.

The Aphrodite and Pan statue is passed along the way. It is not a major stop, but it helps the route feel like a walk through Dubrovnik rather than a series of isolated photo calls. The guide can also use these early minutes to explain how filming affected the city and how scenes were altered for television.

The area near Pile Gate can be crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. An earlier start would help with heat and foot traffic, though starting times depend on availability. If you are visiting in summer, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and water are sensible additions.

Stradun, Onofrio’s Fountain, and the Old Town

The tour then enters Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. The large Onofrio’s Fountain marks the entrance to the historic center and is passed during the walk. From there, you follow Stradun, the broad main street paved with pale stone.

Stradun is not simply a backdrop for the show. It is the city’s main public spine, and it gives you a quick sense of Dubrovnik’s layout. The stone buildings, narrow side lanes, and smooth central street contrast with the rougher steps and slopes around the walls.

Your guide also points out the Franciscan Monastery, Orlando’s Column, the Church of St. Blaise, Rector’s Palace, and the Cathedral. You do not get a full interior tour of each place, so think of these as carefully chosen reference points rather than museum visits.

That balance works well. A Game of Thrones tour can become thin if it only names filming locations, but this route keeps tying the show to Dubrovnik’s own story. The 1667 earthquake, Renaissance architecture, local buildings, and the city’s defensive role give you reasons to care about the setting even if you are not a devoted fan.

The Old Town section involves regular walking on hard stone. The streets can be narrow, and some surfaces become slippery. A small group is especially helpful here because it is easier to hear the guide and stop for photographs without blocking the passage.

The Jesuit Steps and the famous Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Steps are one of the most memorable stops. Their grand sweep was used for Cersei Lannister’s Walk of Shame, and they offer a strong chance for photographs that immediately communicate the scene.

This stop works best when the guide brings along a clear image from the production and points out what changed between filming and the finished episode. Katarina was praised for using scene images in this way, helping you match the television frame to the real steps.

The location can be busy, and the stone catches the sun. You may have to wait for a clear photo, especially during the middle of the day. Still, the steps are close enough to the other sights that the pause feels worthwhile rather than like a detour.

This is also a good moment for non-fans. Even if you have never watched the show, the architecture is striking, and the guide can explain the scene without assuming that everyone knows every character or plot line.

Old Port and the ten-minute ferry to Lokrum

The walking portion continues to the Old Town Port. Here, you can take a photograph and, if you selected the combined experience, board the ferry to Lokrum Island. The crossing takes about ten minutes.

Lokrum is not compulsory. The walking tour alone is the better choice if you want a compact introduction to Dubrovnik and have other plans for the afternoon. The combined option makes more sense if you want to slow down, swim, walk, and see another side of the area.

The ferry tickets are included only with the selected Lokrum option. If they are not included in your booking, the stated price is €30. Advance arrangements are sensible because queues can be long, particularly at busy times.

The ferry ride itself is short, so do not expect a full sightseeing cruise. Its value is practical: it takes you from the dense Old Town to a greener island setting in a few minutes. Once there, the pace changes from guided street walking to free time.

Lokrum Island, Qarth, and the Iron Throne

Lokrum was used as Qarth in Game of Thrones. The island also has gardens, paths, historic points of interest, swimming spots, and places to eat, making it more than a quick fan photo stop.

You can use your free time for a swim, a walk, or a visit toward the fort. The route to the fort includes a long and partly steep hill, so comfortable shoes matter even more here than in the Old Town. If you plan to swim, bring your beach items with you from the start.

The official HBO Iron Throne is the island’s star attraction. You can sit on it and take your own photograph, which gives the experience a clear finale. The queue may be shorter later in the afternoon, though opening arrangements can vary.

Lokrum also has local legends and a quieter feel than the Old Town. Your guide provides context about the island when the selected option includes guiding there, then you have time to explore at your own pace. Some people will want only an hour; others could happily spend the rest of the day swimming, walking, and using the café facilities.

Bad weather can change the ending. If the ferry cannot operate because of weather or another incident, the tour finishes in the Old Town, where you can still take a photograph with an Iron Throne replica. That is a useful fallback, though it is not the same as visiting Lokrum.

What makes the guides important

The guide can make or break this experience. The route is attractive on its own, but the real value comes from connecting a stone staircase, fort, or harbor with the filming process and the city’s past.

Katarina received repeated praise for her humor, questions, scene photos, and ability to include people with different levels of Game of Thrones knowledge. Petra was noted for behind-the-scenes details and production stories. Indira mixed Dubrovnik history with filming information, while Ivan was praised for making smaller groups feel personal and offering food and drink suggestions.

Some guides had direct links to the production. One guide had worked as an extra, and another had family members involved in filming. That can add unusual details about how the show used Dubrovnik, though the exact guide you receive depends on the departure.

The group size can also shape the outing. Several bookings were described as small, including groups of four, five, or six. That makes it easier to ask questions and get help with photographs. One useful criticism was the lack of earphones in a noisy setting, so stay close to the guide when the Old Town is crowded.

Is $28 good value?

At $28, the walking tour is fairly priced for a two to three hour guided visit, especially because it combines Fort Lovrijenac, Pile Bay, the Old Town, and the Jesuit Steps. The price is not the whole story, though.

Add €15 for the fort unless your Dubrovnik Pass covers it. Add the Lokrum ferry cost if you choose the island option without included tickets. The pass deserves a quick look if you also want other Dubrovnik sights, since it can reduce the cost of the fort and make the day easier.

The strongest value comes if you want both the show and the city. A fan who only wants quick filming-location photos may find the historical stops longer than expected. A first-time visitor who wants a guided introduction to Dubrovnik gets more for the money because the route also covers major landmarks.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now, pay-later terms give you some useful flexibility. The tour is offered in English and Croatian, with live guiding rather than an audio recording.

Who should choose this Dubrovnik tour?

You should book it if you watched Game of Thrones and want to see King’s Landing in real streets, forts, and harbors. It also suits couples, families with older children, and mixed groups where one person is a fan and another is not.

The tour works for non-fans because the guide explains Dubrovnik as well as the production. Several guides have made a point of including people who had never watched the show, and the city sights remain worthwhile on their own.

Choose the Lokrum option if you have enough time for swimming, walking, and a slower afternoon. Choose the walking tour only if you have a tight schedule, do not want the extra ferry cost, or prefer to focus on the Old Town.

I would avoid it if steep steps, uneven streets, heat, or long periods on your feet are a serious concern. The fort and Lokrum both require walking, and the old streets are not designed for easy mobility.

Should you book the Game of Thrones tour?

I would book the walking tour for the mix of filming locations and Dubrovnik context. Fort Lovrijenac, Blackwater Bay, Stradun, and the Jesuit Steps give you a solid route, while a good guide adds the production details that photographs alone cannot provide.

I would add Lokrum if you can spare several more hours and want swimming or a relaxed island visit. Check the ferry and fort costs before paying, carry sun protection and cash, and consider the Dubrovnik Pass if you plan to visit other sights.

For serious fans, the Iron Throne and behind-the-scenes stories make the extra effort worthwhile. For everyone else, the tour is still a practical way to see several important parts of Dubrovnik without spending the day indoors.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is at the entrance of Nautika Restaurant on Brsalje Street, near Pile Gate.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about two to three hours. The Lokrum option adds the island visit and can take up more of your day.

Is Lokrum Island included?

Lokrum is optional. Ferry tickets and guiding on the island are included only with the selected Lokrum option.

How long is the ferry ride to Lokrum?

The ferry crossing takes about ten minutes.

How much does entry to Fort Lovrijenac cost?

Entry costs €15 when purchased on site. It is free with a valid Dubrovnik Pass.

Can I take a photograph on the Iron Throne?

Yes. The tour includes a photo opportunity on the official HBO Iron Throne when the Lokrum option operates. If bad weather stops the ferry, an Iron Throne replica is available in the Old Town.

What languages are available?

The live tour is available in English and Croatian.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and cash. Good footwear is especially useful on Dubrovnik’s narrow, slippery streets and on the hill to the fort on Lokrum.