Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Tour & Optional Lokrum Island

Dubrovnik gives you a rare two-for-one experience: a beautiful medieval city and the setting for King’s Landing. This tour takes you from Fort Lovrijenac and Blackwater Bay through the Old Town, then offers a ferry to Lokrum, the filming site for Qarth. The show connections are fun, but the city itself is the real star.

I like the mix of screen trivia and local history, especially the way guides such as Katarina, Petra, Ivan, and Indira connect filming details with Dubrovnik’s earthquake, churches, palaces, and daily life. I also like the choice between a focused walking tour and a longer island visit with swimming and the official HBO Iron Throne.

The main catch is cost and mobility. The $28 starting price does not include the €15 entrance to Fort Lovrijenac, although a valid Dubrovnik Pass can cover it. The route includes stairs, uneven stone, narrow streets, and slippery paving, so it is not a good fit for anyone with limited mobility.

Quick take: what makes this tour worth considering

• Fort Lovrijenac sets the scene: Begin above Pile Bay with broad views of the Adriatic and Dubrovnik’s walls.
• Blackwater Bay is a real place: The pier at Pile Bay gives you one of the clearest filming-location connections in the city.
• The Old Town receives proper attention: Stradun, the Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s Palace, the Cathedral, and other landmarks add substance beyond television trivia.
• The Jesuit Steps recreate a famous moment: This is the key photo stop for the Walk of Shame scene.
• Lokrum changes the pace: Add the island for a 10-minute ferry, swimming, walking, gardens, and Qarth filming sites.
• Guides make or break the experience: The strongest part of this tour is the personal storytelling from guides including Katarina, Petra, Dubravka, Boris, and Indira.

Starting at Nautika and climbing to the Red Keep

Meet at the entrance to Nautika Restaurant on Brsalje ul. 3, just outside the Old Town near Pile Gate. This is a useful starting point because you are close to Fort Lovrijenac and Pile Bay from the first minute.

The first short walk passes the Aphrodite and Pan statue before reaching Fort Lovrijenac. The fort sits on a rocky outcrop above the sea and is one of Dubrovnik’s most memorable sights, even if you have never watched Game of Thrones. Its walls and open views explain why it worked so well as a film setting.

Inside, your guide explains how the fort was used for King’s Landing scenes and points out the parts of the setting that were altered for the show. Guides have different strengths, but the most praised names include Katarina, Petra, Ivan, Dubravka, Indira, and Boris. Some guides use printed scene images to help you match the television frame to the real location.

The climb is not extreme for most people, but it does involve steps and uneven stone. Wear shoes with a firm sole. The fort entrance costs €15 unless you have a valid DU Pass or Dubrovnik Pass that includes access. This extra charge matters because the fort is a central part of the tour, not a quick optional glance from outside.

Blackwater Bay at Pile Gate

After the fort, the route comes down toward Pile Gate and the pier at Pile Bay. This is the place shown as Blackwater Bay, and it gives you an immediate sense of how Dubrovnik’s walls, sea, and stone streets became the world of the series.

The stop works well for photographs because you can look back toward the fort and the Old Town from the water’s edge. Your guide may compare the actual view with the finished scene and explain how camera angles, set dressing, and digital work changed what appeared on screen.

Pile Gate is also one of the busiest entrances into Dubrovnik. If your tour begins when cruise ships have sent large crowds into the Old Town, the first section can feel tight. An earlier start would help with heat and congestion, though available times vary.

From Onofrio’s Fountain to Stradun

The group enters the Old Town and passes the Large Onofrio’s Fountain before reaching Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main stone street. The tour does not treat the city as a backdrop only. You get context about the 1667 earthquake, Renaissance architecture, and the way the old center has been rebuilt and cared for.

Stradun is a good place to understand Dubrovnik’s layout. It runs through the center of the walled city, linking the western entrance with the eastern side. The smooth central paving can be busy, and side streets quickly become steep stairways, so keep your group in sight.

The route passes the Franciscan Monastery, Orlando’s Column, the Church of St. Blaise, Rector’s Palace, and the Cathedral. These stops are generally viewed from outside or passed during the walk rather than treated as long interior visits. That keeps the tour moving, but you should not book it expecting a full guided visit to every building.

I like this balance. If you are a serious Game of Thrones fan, you get the filming locations you came for. If someone in your group has not watched the show, the city history gives them plenty to follow. Guides such as Dubravka have made a point of including nonfans, while Katarina and Indira are praised for using questions, humor, and scene comparisons to keep the group involved.

The Jesuit Steps and the Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Steps are one of the clearest television stops in the Old Town. Their broad staircase and surrounding Baroque buildings formed the setting for Cersei’s Walk of Shame.

This is the moment when the tour feels most theatrical. Your guide can show you where the scene was staged and give you time for photographs. The steps are also a practical warning about the route: Dubrovnik is full of smooth, worn stone and stairways that become slippery in damp conditions.

The tour does not promise a costume or a staged re-creation. The appeal comes from standing in the actual setting and seeing how a familiar scene fits into the real city. If you want your own photo, ask your guide for help. Several guides are praised for taking pictures and allowing enough time at major stops.

The Old Port and the optional ferry to Lokrum

The walking portion continues to Dubrovnik’s Old Port. If you choose the Lokrum option, this is where the tour changes from a city walk to an island visit. The ferry crossing takes about 10 minutes.

Lokrum was used as Qarth in Game of Thrones, but it offers more than another filming location. It is a nature reserve with gardens, historic remains, walking paths, sea views, places to swim, and cafe facilities. You can use the island as a second half-day outing if you are prepared for a slower, less structured afternoon.

The island option is scheduled at the end of the tour. That is convenient if you want the walking tour first, but it means you should bring what you need for the rest of the day. Comfortable clothes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and cash are sensible. If you plan to reach the fort on Lokrum, wear proper walking shoes because the route includes a long and sometimes steep hill.

The ferry ticket is included with the selected combination option, not with the walking-only choice. The supplied information also lists a €30 ferry cost when purchased separately, so check the exact option and inclusions before paying. Booking or buying ferry tickets ahead of time can save you from long queues, especially during busy periods.

The Iron Throne and time on Lokrum

The official HBO Iron Throne on Lokrum is the most obvious souvenir opportunity on the tour. You can sit for a photograph, although access can be affected by holidays or other closures. One scheduled visit did not include the throne because it was unavailable, so treat it as a planned feature rather than an absolute guarantee.

The island is where the tour becomes less about following a guide and more about choosing your own pace. You can walk, swim, eat at the cafe, or seek out the island’s historic points. Some people may want only a quick look at the filming sites, while others could comfortably spend several hours there.

The Lokrum portion is especially useful if you have a full day in Dubrovnik and want to combine sightseeing with time beside the sea. It is less useful if you need to return quickly to a ship, hotel, or scheduled event. The ferry and island visit add flexibility, but they also make the overall day less predictable than the 2 to 3-hour walking option.

If weather or an incident prevents the ferry from running, the tour ends in the Old Town. You can still take a photo at an Iron Throne replica there, but you will miss Lokrum itself.

What the guides add to the experience

The guide is the strongest reason to book this tour rather than simply visit filming locations on your own. A map can show you the locations, but it cannot explain how the city was changed for filming, where a scene was altered, or how production worked in a busy historic center.

Katarina receives repeated praise for her humor, scene knowledge, questions, and use of images. Petra is noted for behind-the-scenes stories and, in some cases, personal links to production. Indira combines filming details with Dubrovnik’s past, while Ivan is praised for giving smaller groups a more personal walk and useful food and drink suggestions.

Some guides have direct connections to the production. One was an extra on the show, and others have family links to people involved in filming. Those details can add color, but the standard of the tour should still depend on the guide assigned that day.

One practical point: earphones are not listed as part of the tour. A small group may hear easily, but in a larger group or noisy street, stay close to the guide. Several experiences were in groups of four to six, which allowed more questions and made the walk feel personal, but group size is not guaranteed.

Price, passes, and what you really pay

The advertised price is $28 per person, which is a fair starting point for a guided walk through several major Old Town areas. It becomes better value if you care about the show and would otherwise pay separately to enter Fort Lovrijenac.

The €15 fort ticket is the key extra cost. A Dubrovnik Pass or DU Pass can cover the entrance, and it may also help if you plan to visit other city sights. Check what your pass includes before purchasing this tour, since the pass may change the total value for your day.

The Lokrum option costs more because it includes the ferry and island guiding. Its value depends on your plans. If you want only Game of Thrones locations, the walking tour is enough. If you want swimming, island walks, sea views, and the Iron Throne, the combination option can save you from arranging a separate visit.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and reserve-now, pay-later booking. Those terms are useful when your Dubrovnik schedule depends on ferry conditions, weather, or a cruise itinerary.

Who should book it, and who should skip it

I would recommend the walking tour to Game of Thrones fans who want context rather than a checklist of photo stops. It also works for mixed groups because the Old Town history is substantial enough to keep nonfans interested.

The Lokrum option suits you if you want to turn the excursion into a longer outing. Pack for swimming, allow extra time, and expect uneven paths. It is a poor choice if you need a tightly timed return or dislike combining a guided walk with an open-ended island visit.

You should skip this tour if you have trouble with stairs, uneven paving, or slippery stone. The route is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the fort, Jesuit Steps, and Lokrum paths all add physical demands.

Practical advice before you go

• Wear comfortable shoes with good grip.
• Bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat.
• Carry cash for small purchases and island facilities.
• Check whether your Dubrovnik Pass covers Fort Lovrijenac.
• Stay near the guide because earphones are not listed.
• If adding Lokrum, arrange ferry tickets early and bring swimwear.
• Avoid scheduling a tight appointment immediately after the island option.
• Expect crowds and heat in the Old Town, particularly around cruise arrivals.

Should you book the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones tour?

Book it if you want the story behind the locations, not just a list of streets. The best guides make the tour feel like a walk through both Dubrovnik and the production process, with Fort Lovrijenac, Blackwater Bay, the Jesuit Steps, and the city’s major landmarks all fitting into one clear route.

Choose the walking-only version for the best value and simplest schedule. Add Lokrum if you have several free hours and want swimming, nature, Qarth, and the Iron Throne. Just budget for the fort entrance unless your pass covers it, wear sturdy shoes, and accept that the island portion depends on ferry and weather conditions.

FAQ

Where does the Game of Thrones tour meet?

The meeting point is at the entrance of Nautika Restaurant on Brsalje ul. 3, near Pile Gate.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about 2 to 3 hours, depending on the option selected and the schedule.

Is the Lokrum Island visit included?

Lokrum is included only with the selected combination option. The walking-only tour does not include the island visit or ferry ticket.

How long is the ferry ride to Lokrum?

The ferry crossing takes about 10 minutes.

Do I need to pay to enter Fort Lovrijenac?

The entrance fee is €15 when purchased on site. Entry is free with a valid DU Pass or Dubrovnik Pass that covers the fort.

What happens if bad weather stops the ferry?

The tour ends in the Old Town if the ferry cannot operate. You can still take a photograph at an Iron Throne replica there.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The route includes steps, uneven and sometimes slippery stone, narrow streets, Fort Lovrijenac, and possible steep paths on Lokrum.