Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones&Lokrum Island Walking Tour

King’s Landing is real enough. This three-hour tour turns Dubrovnik’s Old Town into a living Game of Thrones set, then carries you by ferry to Lokrum Island, the show’s City of Qarth. I especially like the mix of filming locations and Croatian history, plus the chance to sit on the official Iron Throne. The main catch is cost: the $41 tour price does not include the Red Keep or Lokrum entrance fees.

The tour works well even if your group is split between devoted fans and people who never watched the series. Guides such as Michaela, Ines, Josip, Andrea, and Marko have earned praise for mixing show trivia with local stories and humor. Just remember that the tour finishes on Lokrum, so you need to plan your return ferry, swim gear, towel, and sunscreen if you want to stay.

Key points to know before you book

• The tour covers Dubrovnik’s major Game of Thrones sites, including Lovrijenac, the Walk of Shame stairs, Blackwater Bay, the Purple Wedding setting, and the Red Keep.
• Lokrum adds more than a photo stop, with a ferry ride, Benedictine monastery, peacocks, bunnies, rocky swimming spots, and the official Iron Throne.
• The guide makes or breaks the experience, and past tours have featured engaging local guides including Michaela, Ines, Josip, Andrea, Marko, Darko, and Davor.
• The $41 price is only the starting cost, since the Red Keep entrance is €15 and Lokrum entrance is €30.
• The three-hour finish on Lokrum gives you flexibility, since you can return to Dubrovnik or stay for the rest of the day.
• The tour suits mixed-interest groups, thanks to its balance of Game of Thrones scenes, Dubrovnik history, views, and behind-the-scenes stories.

Meeting at Pile Square and entering King’s Landing

You meet at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square, just outside Dubrovnik’s Old Town and near the Dubravka restaurant. Look for the blue umbrella marked with the DUtheTour logo. This is a useful meeting point because Pile Gate is one of the city’s main entrances, and you begin close to Lovrijenac rather than wasting time crossing town.

The tour starts with a short walk toward Lovrijenac, the fortress used as the Red Keep. Before the fantasy kingdom takes over, your guide helps place Dubrovnik in its Croatian setting. That balance matters. The city is not just a backdrop for royal intrigue, and the strongest guides make sure you see both the real place and its television double.

The tour has received a high overall rating of 4.8 from 245 reviews, with guide quality praised again and again. That does not mean every group gets the same personality, but the pattern is clear: this is a guide-led experience, not a simple checklist of photo locations. Michaela was praised for passion and humor, while Ines, Josip, Andrea, and Marko were singled out for clear explanations and good energy.

Lovrijenac, the Red Keep, and the price question

Lovrijenac receives about an hour of guided sightseeing, making it the longest stop. That is sensible. The fortress is one of the most important Game of Thrones locations, and it also offers a strong introduction to Dubrovnik’s defensive architecture and setting above the sea.

This is where you see the real value of a good guide. Instead of merely pointing out a stone wall and naming a scene, the guide can explain how the location was used in the series, share filming stories, and show photos for comparison. Marko, in particular, was praised for using images, trivia, humor, and behind-the-scenes details to connect the real fortress with the show.

The Red Keep entrance fee is not included. It is listed as €15, so check the current arrangement when booking and bring that extra cost into your budget. At $41 per person before this fee, the tour is not the cheapest way to see Dubrovnik. Still, you are paying for a professional guide, a carefully arranged route, and the Lokrum portion rather than only a short Old Town walk.

If you are mainly interested in the fortress and do not care about Lokrum, the added expense may feel less attractive. For a fan who wants the full King’s Landing experience, the fee is easier to justify, especially when the guide adds historical context rather than repeating television references.

Pile Gate and the first Old Town scenes

After Lovrijenac, the route returns toward Pile Gate for about ten minutes of guided touring. Pile Gate is one of the clearest transition points between modern Dubrovnik and the stone lanes inside the Old Town. It also helps you understand the physical layout before the tour moves into narrower streets and stairways.

You will not spend long here, but the stop helps connect the fortress to the city scenes. Take your pictures quickly and stay close to the group, since the route continues through busy public spaces rather than a closed set.

From Pile Gate, the tour follows Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street, for roughly fifteen minutes. This broad limestone street is one of the easiest places to get your bearings. It also gives the guide room to explain how Dubrovnik was transformed into King’s Landing without losing sight of the actual city around you.

I like this part for groups with mixed interests. A Game of Thrones fan gets location details, while a nonfan can focus on Dubrovnik’s architecture, street plan, and local history. That was a recurring strength of the guides. One family group noted that even members who had never watched the show stayed interested because Croatian history was woven into the tour.

Jesuit Stairs and the Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Stairs are one of the tour’s most recognizable stops. The visit lasts about fifteen minutes, giving you time to connect the famous staircase with Cersei’s Walk of Shame and take photographs.

This is also one of the tour’s more crowded and theatrical moments. The stairs are a real public passage, not a staged attraction, so you may need patience when taking pictures. Your guide can explain how the scene used the location, point out the filming angle, and add the sort of small production stories that fans remember.

The stop works even better when the guide gives you some context about the scene rather than simply saying where it was filmed. Past guides have been praised for showing pictures and explaining plot relevance, which is useful because many Dubrovnik locations look different when you are standing in them without the show’s camera angles.

Rector’s Palace and the Purple Wedding setting

The route then reaches Rector’s Palace for around ten minutes of guided sightseeing. In the world of the show, this area connects with the Purple Wedding storyline and other royal scenes. In real life, it adds another layer to the tour because the palace is one of Dubrovnik’s best-known historic sites.

This shorter stop is more about orientation and explanation than a long museum visit. If you are hoping to spend a great deal of time inside the palace, this tour may feel brisk. Its purpose is to show how the space fits into the filming map, then keep the group moving toward the Old Port.

That pace is typical of the whole experience. You see several locations in three hours, but you do not get long, unstructured periods at each one. I would choose this format if you want a broad overview with a guide. If you prefer to study one site at length, plan a separate visit.

Old Port and Blackwater Bay

The Old Port receives about ten minutes of guided attention. It is tied to Blackwater Bay and gives you another way to see how Dubrovnik’s waterfront became part of the show’s fictional world.

This stop is brief, but the harbor helps break up the walking route before the ferry. It also gives you a chance to look back toward the city and appreciate how the fortifications, port, and surrounding coastline work together visually.

Guides have been praised for adding views and local stories as they walk between locations. That is important here, since the experience is not only about matching a scene to a place. You are also moving through one of the most striking parts of Dubrovnik, and the best commentary makes the city itself worth your attention.

The ferry to Lokrum and the change of mood

The ferry ride takes about fifteen minutes. It is a short crossing, but it shifts the experience from urban sightseeing to an island visit. Lokrum served as the show’s City of Qarth, and the tour treats it as both a filming location and a separate nature stop.

The ferry is part of the appeal, but keep the extra island entrance cost in mind. Lokrum entry is listed at €30 and is not included in the tour price. Along with the €15 Red Keep fee, those charges significantly change the total cost.

Once you reach the island, the pace becomes less focused on the show. You visit the Benedictine Monastery for about fifteen minutes, with guided commentary connecting the site to the island’s role in the series and its real setting. The island is a protected forest reserve, so you should treat it as a natural area rather than a theme park.

Peacocks and bunnies are the island’s only residents, and they are described as friendly. You may find them around the paths and ruins, but do not treat the animals as a guaranteed performance. The island also has rocky beaches, so comfortable footwear is useful even though the tour information does not specify a dress code.

The Iron Throne and staying after the tour

The Iron Throne receives a ten-minute photo stop. HBO gifted the throne to Dubrovnik, and it is displayed on Lokrum as part of the Game of Thrones visitor center. This is the most obvious souvenir moment of the tour, so have your camera ready and expect time for photos rather than a long museum visit.

The tour ends on Lokrum, which is one of its best practical features. You can return to Dubrovnik after the guided portion, or stay on the island for the rest of the day. Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen if you want to use the rocky beaches.

The island is not open for overnight stays. Everyone must leave on the last ferry at the latest. Ask your guide or check the ferry timing before you settle in for an afternoon swim, because missing the final boat would create a serious problem.

I like this flexible ending because it lets different people use the tour in different ways. A serious fan can take the Iron Throne photo and return to town. Someone who wants a slower afternoon can remain among the trees, ruins, peacocks, and swimming spots.

How the guides shape the experience

The strongest praise goes to the guides. Michaela was described as funny, passionate, and able to combine filming facts with Croatian history. Ines was praised for being warm and well prepared. Josip was noted for patience, while Andrea was remembered for making the three hours pass quickly.

Marko appears repeatedly in the tour’s history, with praise for his humor, enthusiasm, trivia, and behind-the-scenes stories. Other guides, including Darko and Davor, were also praised for their command of the show and local history.

The practical lesson is simple: ask questions. The tour is built around a live guide, and your experience will be better if you engage with the commentary instead of treating the group as a moving photo queue. English and German are offered, and a private group is available if you want a more personal format.

Group size is not specified as a fixed number, but at least one past booking described a small group and a personal feel. Do not assume every departure will be tiny. If a private group matters to you, select that option when available.

Who should book this three-hour tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to Game of Thrones fans who also want to see Dubrovnik beyond the television set. You get the big locations, the Walk of Shame, the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, the Purple Wedding setting, City of Qarth, and the Iron Throne in one outing.

It is also a good choice for mixed groups. The local history, fortress views, Old Town streets, ferry ride, and island nature give nonfans enough to enjoy. One useful advantage is that the show references are explained in a way that does not require everyone in your party to know every character.

You should think twice if you want a cheap walking tour or a slow, detailed visit to every historic building. The extra Red Keep and Lokrum fees push up the final cost, and three hours is enough for highlights rather than full museum visits.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if your Dubrovnik schedule is uncertain, but the main decision is still whether the combined city and island format suits your day.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a lively, guide-led route through Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones locations, followed by an easy escape to Lokrum. The best reason to go is not simply the Iron Throne photo. It is the way a strong guide can connect filming choices, Croatian history, production stories, and the real city beneath the fantasy.

Skip it if you only want a quick picture at one location or if the added entrance fees strain your budget. For most fans, and for families or friends with mixed interest in the show, the broad route and flexible Lokrum finish make this a useful three-hour introduction to Dubrovnik’s screen life.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

Meet at the Amerling Fountain in Pile Square, outside Dubrovnik’s Old Town and close to the Dubravka restaurant. Look for the blue umbrella with the DUtheTour logo.

How long does the tour last?

The guided experience lasts three hours.

Which languages are available?

The live tour guide is available in English or German.

Is the Red Keep entrance included?

No. The Red Keep entrance ticket costs €15 and is not included in the tour price.

Is Lokrum Island entry included?

No. Lokrum Island entry costs €30 and is not included.

Can I stay on Lokrum after the guided tour?

Yes. The tour finishes on Lokrum, and you can stay for the rest of the day, swim, and enjoy the island. You must leave on the last ferry because overnight stays are not allowed.

Can I take a photo on the Iron Throne?

Yes. The official Iron Throne, gifted to Dubrovnik by HBO, is on Lokrum and included as a photo stop during the tour.

Can I cancel the booking for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.