Dubrovnik: The Original Game of Thrones Tour & Lokrum Option

Dubrovnik makes a convincing King’s Landing even before a guide points out the camera angles. This tour takes you from Pile Gate and Blackwater Bay to the Jesuit Steps, Lovrijenac Fortress, and streets used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame. I like the mix of show trivia and real Dubrovnik history, and I like that guides such as Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, and Eddie are praised for keeping the pace lively rather than simply naming locations. The main catch is extra cost: Lovrijenac is €15 unless your Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket covers it, and the Lokrum option adds €30 for an adult ferry and island ticket.

The two-hour route is the sensible choice if you want a focused introduction to the filming sites. The three-hour version gives you the official Iron Throne on Lokrum, plus time to swim, walk, eat, or relax, but it works best when you have room in your day and do not mind paying the added ferry and admission fees.

Key points at a glance

• Cersei’s Walk of Shame: Follow the route through Dubrovnik’s Old Town and see how the real streets became one of the show’s most memorable scenes.
• Lovrijenac Fortress: Visit the stone stronghold used as the Red Keep, with broad views and a €15 entrance fee unless covered by a Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket.
• Local guides with personality: Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, Eddie, Karmen, and others are noted for clear storytelling, humor, and useful Dubrovnik context.
• Lokrum’s official Iron Throne: The longer option adds a 15-minute ferry ride, Qarth locations, the replica throne, and free time on the island.
• A useful city orientation: The route links major Old Town sights, so you get a quick sense of Dubrovnik as well as its television locations.
• Stairs are part of the deal: Expect steps and uneven walking, making this a poor fit for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, serious mobility limits, or anyone uncomfortable with heights.

Starting at the Large Onofrio’s Fountain

Your meeting point is easy to find in the Old Town. Look for the representative with a red umbrella beside the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. The fountain sits near Pile Gate, so it is a practical place to begin before the streets become more crowded.

The route starts with a helpful bit of orientation. Dubrovnik’s Old Town is compact, but its stone streets and stairways can make a first visit feel confusing. A guide who explains both the show and the city helps you get your bearings quickly.

The tour is offered in English, and a private group option is available. The usual experience lasts about two hours, while the Lokrum version runs about three hours, not counting any extra time you choose to spend on the island.

Pile Gate and the road into King’s Landing

Pile Gate is one of the strongest opening stops because it works in two ways. For Game of Thrones fans, it is a recognizable entrance into King’s Landing. For everyone else, it is an important gateway into Dubrovnik’s walled Old Town.

Here, your guide uses scene images to show how the television crew framed the location. This is more useful than simply being told that a scene was filmed nearby. You can compare the real stonework with the finished screen image and see how camera position, costumes, and set dressing changed the place.

The tour also touches on Blackwater Bay and other locations around the Old Town. Dubrovnik’s fortifications, narrow streets, and sea views do much of the work naturally. The guide’s job is to connect those physical details to the scenes without letting the show completely take over the city.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep above the sea

Lovrijenac is the major paid stop on the two-hour route. This fortress, often called St. Lawrence Fortress, was used as the Red Keep, and it gives you a chance to see the setting associated with Tyrion and Varys plotting and scheming.

The fortress is also one of the tour’s best scenic moments. You get views toward Dubrovnik, the sea, and the walls, and the elevated position helps explain why the location works so well on screen. It is not just a prop-filled film set. It is a real defensive structure with a strong physical presence.

There is an important cost detail here. Entry is €15 per person, with free admission for children under seven. You can also enter at no charge if you hold a valid Dubrovnik Pass or a City Walls ticket from the same day or the previous day.

That can change the value calculation. If you already plan to walk the city walls, this tour gives you an extra reason to use that ticket. If you have not bought either pass, add the fortress fee to the advertised $26 tour price.

The approach and fortress itself involve steps. People who have trouble walking, use wheelchairs or mobility scooters, are pregnant, have respiratory problems, or feel uneasy with heights should think carefully before booking. The experience is not designed for those needs.

Stradun, the Purple Wedding, and city streets

Back inside the Old Town, the tour follows Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street. This broad stone thoroughfare provides a sharp contrast to the smaller lanes and stairways used elsewhere in the show.

Your guide points out locations connected with the Purple Wedding, city markets, and other King’s Landing scenes. The value here is in the connections. A street that first appears to be a simple passageway may have been used for a crowd scene, a confrontation, or a quick establishing shot.

The best guides also make room for the city itself. Tihomir is repeatedly praised for mixing show details with Croatian history and local stories. Jelena is described as clear and engaging, while Joseph and Eddie are noted for humor and an easy way of explaining what happened on set.

That combination matters if you are not a devoted fan. One guest specifically found the tour enjoyable without having watched the series, and that makes sense. Dubrovnik is still the main subject beneath the television references.

Orlando’s Column and the Jesuit Steps

Orlando’s Column is another Old Town stop where the guide can place the show within Dubrovnik’s civic center. It is close to the Jesuit Steps, a particularly photogenic staircase and one of the most recognizable filming locations connected to Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

The steps are steep, so take your time. They are also a reminder that the walk is not flat or effortless. You will be stopping often for explanations and photos, but you should still wear sensible shoes and expect uneven stone underfoot.

The Walk of Shame route is one of the clearest reasons to choose a dedicated tour rather than simply collecting locations from a map. The guide can show the direction of movement, explain where cameras were positioned, and use production photos to make the scene easier to recognize.

The Jesuit Steps also sit near shops, restaurants, and a small market area, making this a useful place to continue exploring after the tour. If you are arranging lunch around the experience, the stop gives you options nearby, although food and drinks are not included.

The Lokrum option and a short ferry ride

The three-hour version follows the Old Town route before taking you to Lokrum. The ferry ride lasts about 15 minutes, and the island changes the mood completely. Instead of remaining among Dubrovnik’s streets and walls, you move to a wooded natural setting used as Qarth in Season 2.

The extended tour includes a guided look at the Qarth filming locations and an explanation of how Lokrum was adapted for production. The main prize for fans is the official Iron Throne, where you can sit and take photographs.

This option gives you more than a photo stop. After the guided portion, you have free time to swim in secluded coves, walk through the botanical gardens, sit in the shade, or buy a drink or lunch. You return to Dubrovnik at your own pace, according to the arrangement for the ferry.

Budget for the extra charges. Round-trip ferry transportation and Lokrum admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children ages five through 17. A three-day Dubrovnik Pass reduces the ferry price by 20 percent, while a seven-day pass reduces it by 30 percent.

That means the Lokrum version is not simply a small upgrade to the $26 tour. For an adult, the added €30 is significant. I would choose it if you want island time, the Iron Throne, and a slower afternoon. I would stay with the two-hour route if your main goal is filming locations or if you have a packed cruise-day schedule.

How the guiding style shapes the experience

A location tour rises or falls on the guide. The sites are attractive, but a poor explanation would leave you looking at ordinary streets and wondering what you are meant to notice.

This experience benefits from guides who use photographs and explain camera angles. Tihomir is praised for storytelling, entertainment, and detailed information about how the show developed in Dubrovnik. Karmen is described as patient and generous with photo opportunities. Ivo, Bruno, Josip, Joseph, Jelena, and Eddie are also singled out for friendly delivery, humor, and clear explanations.

The consistent strength is not just television trivia. Guides connect the production to local life, including how people in Dubrovnik lived alongside filming for several years. That gives the tour more substance than a checklist of scenes.

The group may also feel nearly private during the low season. One December booking became a private tour, though you should not assume that result every time. A private group can be arranged if you want a more personal pace or have a particular interest in the series.

Time, cost, and practical value

At $26 per person, the two-hour tour is fairly priced for a guided walk that includes a local guide, the Old Town filming locations, and the Iron Throne only if you select the Lokrum version. The biggest extra is Lovrijenac, so calculate the total before booking.

A simple way to think about the options:

• The two-hour tour suits a first visit, a short port stop, or anyone who wants the main filming sites without adding an island outing.
• The three-hour Lokrum tour suits fans who want the throne and Qarth, plus a break for swimming, gardens, or lunch.
• A Dubrovnik Pass or City Walls ticket can make Lovrijenac better value, since it removes the €15 entrance charge.
• A private group makes sense for families or friends who want control over the pace, though the supplied details do not state the private-group price.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now-pay-later booking make the experience easier to fit around changing plans. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

Who should book it

I would book this tour if you enjoyed Game of Thrones and want to see how Dubrovnik supplied King’s Landing. It is also a good choice if you want a compact Old Town introduction with a local guide, even if you are only mildly interested in the show.

The two-hour route is best for most people. It covers the major locations, includes Lovrijenac if you pay the entrance fee or have the right pass, and leaves the rest of your day open.

Choose Lokrum if the Iron Throne matters to you and you like the idea of adding gardens, coves, and free island time. Skip the longer version if you dislike ferries, motion sickness, extra fees, or a less tightly scheduled afternoon.

This is not a gentle, step-free walk. People with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, pregnant women, anyone with serious respiratory trouble, and those afraid of heights or prone to vertigo should avoid it. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and mobility scooters are not suitable.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

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

How long does the tour last?

The main walking tour lasts two hours. The extended Lokrum option lasts about three hours, with a 15-minute ferry ride included in the route.

What filming locations are included?

The route includes Pile Gate, Blackwater Bay, Lovrijenac Fortress, Stradun, Orlando’s Column, the Jesuit Steps, the Walk of Shame route, Purple Wedding locations, city markets, and other Old Town streets used for King’s Landing scenes.

Is Lovrijenac Fortress included in the tour price?

The guided visit is included, but fortress entrance costs €15. Entry is free for children under seven and for people with a valid City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass.

Is the ferry to Lokrum included?

No. The round-trip ferry and Lokrum admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children ages five through 17.

What is included on the Lokrum option?

The extended tour includes the Old Town Game of Thrones route, a ferry ride to Lokrum, guided Qarth filming locations, and a photo opportunity on the official Iron Throne. Food and drinks are not included.

Can I swim or eat on Lokrum?

Yes. After the guided portion, you have free time to swim in coves, visit the botanical gardens, relax in the shade, or buy a drink or lunch.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour may not be suitable because Dubrovnik includes steps and stairs. Wheelchair users and people using mobility scooters cannot take part, and the experience is also unsuitable for people with vertigo or a fear of heights.

Is the tour available as a private experience?

Yes. A private group option is available, and the tour is conducted in English.