Dubrovnik: The Original Game of Thrones Tour & Lokrum Option

King’s Landing begins in Dubrovnik. This tour connects the show’s most recognizable scenes with the real city around them, from Pile Gate and Blackwater Bay to the Jesuit Steps and Lovrijenac Fortress. I like the way it combines Game of Thrones locations with Dubrovnik’s past, rather than treating the Old Town as a film set alone. I also like the chance to continue to Lokrum Island for the replica Iron Throne and the Qarth locations.

The main drawback is cost beyond the advertised $26. Lovrijenac Fortress costs €15 unless your Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket covers it, and the Lokrum option requires another €30 for an adult ferry ticket and island admission. The streets and fortress also involve steps, so this is not a comfortable choice for wheelchair users or anyone with serious mobility concerns.

Five details that shape the experience

• Cersei’s Walk of Shame route gives you a clear sense of how ordinary Dubrovnik streets became one of the show’s most famous scenes.
• Lovrijenac Fortress supplies the strongest views and the Red Keep connection, but entrance costs extra unless you already have qualifying city admission.
• Lokrum’s replica Iron Throne is included as a photo stop with the extended option, while the ferry and island entry are separate costs.
• Scene photographs and camera-angle explanations help you match the real streets with what appeared on screen.
• Guides such as Tihomir, Jelena, Eddie, Joseph, Karmen, and Josip are praised for mixing show trivia with local stories and humor.
• The two-hour route is enough for the main sites, while the three-hour version adds time for swimming, gardens, food, and quiet island time.

Starting at Large Onofrio’s Fountain

Your meeting point is easy to find: look for a representative with a red umbrella beside Large Onofrio’s Fountain, near the Hard Rock Cafe. There are three listed starting points around the fountain area, so check your booking details carefully and arrive with the fountain as your main landmark.

This is a useful place to begin because you are already inside Dubrovnik’s Old Town. The tour quickly puts you into the narrow streets and open squares that served as King’s Landing. Your English-speaking guide uses photographs from the show to explain what was filmed at each stop and how the location looked on screen.

The guide matters here. Tihomir is often praised for storytelling and humor, while Jelena, Eddie, Joseph, Karmen, Josip, Ivo, Bruno, and others are described as clear, friendly, and well prepared. The strongest part of this experience appears to be the human connection: you are not simply pointed toward a wall and told that a scene happened there.

Pile Gate and the first King’s Landing views

Pile Gate is one of the most useful early stops. It is a major entrance into Dubrovnik’s Old Town, and in the series it helps create the fortified character of King’s Landing. Your guide can place the gate in the story while also explaining how the actual city works as a historic entrance.

From here, the tour moves through locations connected with Blackwater Bay. The real Adriatic setting gives the fictional capital its broad sense of power and danger. You will see how the production used Dubrovnik’s walls, stone streets, and sea views to create a place that feels larger than the Old Town itself.

This part is also useful if you are new to Dubrovnik. The guide helps you get your bearings among the gates, streets, and viewpoints. Several people praised the way the tour made the city easier to understand, not just the television references.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep above the sea

Lovrijenac is one of the tour’s major rewards. The fortress is associated with the Red Keep, and it is where Tyrion and Varys were shown plotting and scheming. It also gives you striking views back toward Dubrovnik and across the water.

The approach includes stairs and uneven surfaces, so wear practical shoes. If you are afraid of heights, have vertigo, or find steep routes difficult, this stop may be uncomfortable. The tour data specifically warns that it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, pregnant women, or certain respiratory and motion-related conditions.

Entrance is not part of the base price. Expect to pay €15 per person, with free admission for children under seven. You can avoid that extra fee if you have a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day. This makes the fortress much better value if you already planned to walk the city walls.

I would not skip Lovrijenac simply because it costs extra, especially if you want the strongest combination of scenery and filming context. But calculate the total before booking. The low starting price is attractive, yet the fort fee can change the value for a couple or family.

Stradun, Orlando’s Column, and everyday King’s Landing

The route continues along Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. Here, the pleasure is partly visual. The pale stone paving, compact buildings, and carefully framed views explain why the city could double for a royal capital without much alteration.

At Orlando’s Column, your guide adds another layer of Dubrovnik’s civic story. The stop also shows how the production used central landmarks rather than relying only on remote corners. You are walking through the city’s real public spaces while learning how they were adapted for scenes from King’s Landing.

This is where the tour works for people who have not watched every season. You can still appreciate the architecture, the staging, and the local background. One guide, Karmen, was particularly praised for making the mix of show material and city information enjoyable for someone who was not a dedicated fan.

The Jesuit Steps and the Purple Wedding

The Jesuit Steps are among the most recognizable Game of Thrones locations in Dubrovnik. They are linked with the route of Cersei’s Walk of Shame, and the guide uses the stairs and surrounding streets to show how the scene was planned.

You will also hear about the Purple Wedding and other scenes filmed near the city markets and nearby lanes. Scene photographs are especially useful here. A staircase can look familiar on screen, then surprisingly ordinary in person, until you see the exact camera angle and framing.

The steps are also a practical warning. Dubrovnik’s beauty comes with serious stair climbing. Take your time, especially in warm weather or when the stones are wet. The tour is only two hours, but it is not a flat, effortless stroll.

The area around the Jesuit Steps has cafes and restaurants, so it can be a good place to continue your day after the guided walk. The route does not include food or drinks, and you should plan accordingly.

Why the two-hour tour works well

The standard option lasts about two hours and covers the main Game of Thrones sites in and around the Old Town. You see Pile Gate, Blackwater Bay, Lovrijenac, Stradun, Orlando’s Column, the Jesuit Steps, and locations linked with markets and major scenes.

For $26 per person, this is a fair price if your main goal is to understand the filming locations without giving up half a day. The value improves when the guide brings photographs, explains production choices, and adds Dubrovnik’s story rather than reciting scene names.

The pace also suits a first visit. You get a useful introduction to the Old Town while still having the rest of the day for the city walls, museums, meals, or independent wandering. The tour can be booked as a private group, but the standard experience is guided in English.

If you are a serious fan who wants every possible location, the two-hour route may feel compact. You will see the main sites, but this is not a full production-history seminar. It is a practical walking tour with enough behind-the-scenes detail to make the places meaningful.

Adding Lokrum Island and the Qarth scenes

The three-hour option continues to Lokrum after the Old Town route. The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes, and the island served as Qarth in Season 2. This changes the character of the outing from a focused city walk into a short city-and-island excursion.

On Lokrum, you visit the official Iron Throne display, presented as a replica for photographs. This is the obvious reward for dedicated fans, and it gives you a physical souvenir of the show beyond pictures of stone streets.

The guided portion also covers how the island was adapted for filming. Afterward, you have free time to walk through the botanical gardens, find shade, swim in hidden coves, or stop for a drink or lunch. You return to Dubrovnik at your own pace after the island visit.

The island option is worth considering if you want breathing room after the Old Town’s steps and crowds. It is less efficient if you only want filming locations, since the ferry and free time make the outing longer. Bring the right expectations: it is not three straight hours of guided Game of Thrones material.

The extra costs are important. Round-trip ferry transportation and Lokrum admission are €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives 20 percent off the Lokrum ferry, while a seven-day pass gives 30 percent off. Food and drinks remain your responsibility.

The Iron Throne photo stop

The Iron Throne is included with the Lokrum option as a photo opportunity. It is a simple feature, but it gives the extended tour a clear finish and a playful moment after the more serious fortresses and historic streets.

If your group includes children or devoted fans, this may be the extra that makes the island worthwhile. If you are only mildly interested in the series, the Old Town route probably offers better value. You can still enjoy Lokrum for its swimming, gardens, and quiet spaces, but those are separate from the show itself.

How the guides shape the day

The repeated strength of this tour is guide performance. Tihomir is praised for being interactive, funny, and generous with information. Eddie is described as both entertaining and deeply familiar with Dubrovnik and the show. Joseph combines filming details with city background, while Jelena is praised for clear explanations and an obvious affection for her hometown.

Other guides named in the feedback include Ivo, Bruno, Karmen, Josip, and Boris. The names may vary by departure, so you should not book expecting one particular person unless the operator confirms it. What you can reasonably expect is a guide-led experience in English with scene images, production anecdotes, and local context.

That balance is important. The best version of a Game of Thrones tour does not reduce Dubrovnik to a backdrop. It helps you see the city as a living place that happened to become King’s Landing for the cameras.

Timing, comfort, and practical value

The tour runs for two or three hours, depending on your choice. Starting times vary, so check availability when you book. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Dubrovnik schedule is still changing.

Wear shoes with a solid grip and bring water. The route includes stairs, the fortress visit, and stone streets. Mobility scooters, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed, and the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with major mobility limitations.

Motion sickness may matter for the Lokrum option because of the ferry. The supplied information also lists respiratory issues, vertigo, fear of heights, and pregnancy among reasons the experience may not be suitable. These warnings are worth taking seriously rather than treating them as fine print.

Should you book this Dubrovnik tour?

Book the two-hour version if you want a well-priced introduction to Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones locations, especially Cersei’s Walk of Shame route, Lovrijenac, and the Old Town streets. It suits fans who want scene recognition, and it also works for curious people who care more about the city than the series.

Choose the Lokrum extension if the Iron Throne matters to you, or if you like the idea of adding swimming, gardens, and island time. Just budget the €30 adult ferry and admission cost, and allow for the extra travel.

I would skip this tour only if you cannot manage stairs, dislike guided walks, or have no interest in the show and want a purely historical Dubrovnik tour. For everyone else, the combination of clear storytelling, strong views, filming details, and local background makes it a useful way to see why Dubrovnik became one of television’s most recognizable cities.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

Meet by Large Onofrio’s Fountain in Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Look for a representative holding a red umbrella next to the Hard Rock Cafe.

How long does the tour last?

The main walking tour lasts two hours. The extended option lasts three hours and includes Lokrum Island.

Is Lovrijenac Fortress admission included?

No. Admission costs €15, with free entry for children under seven. Entry is also free if you have a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

Is the Lokrum ferry included?

No. The round-trip ferry and Lokrum Island admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged 5 to 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass gives 20 percent off the ferry, and a seven-day pass gives 30 percent off.

Can I see the Iron Throne?

Yes, the Lokrum option includes a photo opportunity at the replica of the official Iron Throne.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The route includes steps and stairs and is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It is also not recommended for people with vertigo, a fear of heights, motion sickness, respiratory issues, or pregnancy.