Dubrovnik: The Original Game of Thrones Tour & Lokrum Option

Dubrovnik supplied the stone walls, narrow lanes, sea views, and stern fortresses that made King’s Landing feel real. This tour takes you from Pile Gate and Stradun to the Jesuit Steps and Lovrijenac Fortress, with scene photos that show how familiar places appeared on screen. I like the strong mix of filming locations and Dubrovnik history, and I like that guides such as Tihomir, Jelena, Eddie, and Karmen bring plenty of local personality.

The optional Lokrum extension adds a ferry ride, Qarth filming sites, and a chance to sit on the official Iron Throne. The main drawback is cost: the listed tour price is $26, but the fortress entrance and Lokrum ferry and island admission are extra. You’ll also face many steps, steep streets, and possible height or motion issues.

Key points at a glance

• See the real Walk of Shame route: Follow the streets and steps used for Cersei’s infamous procession.
• Visit Lovrijenac Fortress: The Red Keep location brings excellent views, but the €15 entry fee is separate.
• Use scene photos to match the screen: Guides show how camera angles transformed ordinary Dubrovnik corners.
• Choose Lokrum for the Iron Throne: The 3-hour option adds Qarth locations, a 15-minute ferry ride, and free time on the island.
• Expect strong local storytelling: Guides including Boris, Tihomir, Jelena, Joseph, Eddie, and Karmen mix show trivia with city history.
• Plan for stairs: This is a walking tour through an old stone city, not an easy flat stroll.

Why Dubrovnik works so well as King’s Landing

Dubrovnik is more than a backdrop here. Its fortified walls, old stone streets, gates, stairways, and Adriatic views already have the stern look that the series needed for King’s Landing. As you walk, the city’s real past and the show’s fictional politics sit side by side.

That blend is the best reason to book this tour even if you are not a devoted fan. You’ll see places connected with major scenes, but you’ll also learn how the city is arranged and why its fortifications mattered. Several people who had never watched the series still found the mixture of show material and local history worthwhile.

The guide uses photographs from the production at many stops. This matters because some locations look quite different without costumes, extras, digital effects, and carefully chosen camera angles. A stone stairway may seem ordinary until you see the same view filled with characters and set dressing.

The experience is in English, with a live guide. Private groups are available, which may suit families or friends who want a more personal pace and more room for questions.

Starting by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain

The meeting point is easy to identify: look for a representative with a red umbrella by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Three references are given for the same fountain, Velika Onofrijeva Fontana, Large Onofrio’s Fountain, and Onofrio’s Large Fountain, so you should not be confused if your confirmation uses a slightly different name.

This is a useful place to begin because you are already near the Old Town’s main entrance area. Arrive ready to walk on uneven stone and climb stairs. Comfortable shoes matter more here than anything tied to the television show.

The tour lasts about two hours in its standard form. That is enough time to cover a good number of locations without turning the outing into a full-day commitment. The pace includes stops for explanations, photos, and scene comparisons rather than simply rushing from one address to the next.

Pile Gate and the approach to King’s Landing

Pile Gate is one of the tour’s first important stops. It is a memorable entry into Dubrovnik’s Old Town and one of the clearest places to connect the real city with King’s Landing.

Your guide explains how the gate and surrounding streets were used, then places the scene in context with production photos. This is where a good guide earns the fee. You are not just told that a scene was filmed here. You can see the angle, identify the stonework, and understand how the setting was framed.

Pile Gate can also be busy, particularly at popular times. The tour gives you a fixed starting point, but the exact feel of the stop depends on the day and time. Keep your group close and listen carefully near the entrance.

Lovrijenac Fortress, the Red Keep above the sea

The walk continues to Lovrijenac Fortress, the setting used for the Red Keep. It is one of the most rewarding parts of the tour, both for fans and for anyone interested in Dubrovnik’s defenses.

Inside, the fortress gives you strong views over the coast and back toward the Old Town. The setting helps explain why the production used it for scenes involving power, threat, and strategy. Tyrion and Varys were shown plotting and scheming here, and the location has the severe, isolated feel those scenes needed.

There is an important extra cost. Entry is €15 per person, with free admission for children under seven. You can also enter without paying this separate fee if you have a valid City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass.

That detail can change the value calculation. If you already plan to walk Dubrovnik’s walls, the fortress may be free for you. If not, add €15 to the advertised tour price. The fortress also involves steps and height, so it is not a comfortable stop for anyone with vertigo, a fear of heights, or significant mobility limits.

Stradun, Orlando’s Column, and the city scenes

The route then moves through Stradun, Dubrovnik’s main street, before reaching Orlando’s Column. These stops show how the production used ordinary public spaces as parts of King’s Landing.

Stradun is especially useful for understanding the scale of the Old Town. It is not a single set built for television. It is a working historic street, and the series fitted its action into a real urban setting.

At Orlando’s Column, your guide connects the landmark to scenes filmed around the city. This is also a chance to notice how much of the show’s effect came from framing. The camera could make a familiar street feel like a royal center, a market, or a place on the edge of disorder.

The tour includes places linked with the Purple Wedding, city markets, and other King’s Landing scenes. You may recognize locations instantly, while others become clear only after the guide shows the production image. That variety keeps the walk from feeling like a list of famous addresses.

The Jesuit Steps and the Walk of Shame

The Jesuit Steps are one of the most recognizable stops. Their broad stone stairway was used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame, one of the series’ most discussed sequences.

Standing at the bottom and looking up gives the scene a physical scale that television cannot quite convey. You can see the steep climb, the tight surrounding streets, and the way the steps focus attention toward the church above.

This is also one of the better photo stops, though it can be busy. Be considerate of people using the steps for ordinary city life, and expect to pause rather than occupy the entire stairway.

The steps are a clear example of the tour’s physical demands. You will climb and descend stone stairs, and the route is not suitable for wheelchair users, mobility scooters, or people with major mobility impairments. The activity is also not recommended for pregnant women, people with respiratory problems, or anyone prone to motion sickness.

The optional Lokrum trip and Qarth

The 3-hour version includes all the Old Town stops, then continues to Lokrum Island. A ferry ride takes about 15 minutes, and the island was used as Qarth in Season 2.

Lokrum changes the mood of the outing. The Old Town section is built around streets, walls, and filming details. The island section gives you more open space and free time after the guided portion.

You will visit the official Iron Throne on Lokrum, making this the better choice if sitting on the throne is high on your list. It is the obvious place for a souvenir photograph, and the island setting gives you a break from Dubrovnik’s crowded stone lanes.

The guide also points out how Lokrum was adapted for filming. Afterward, you can use your free time to swim in a hidden cove, walk through the botanical gardens, sit in the shade, or stop for a drink or lunch. You return to Dubrovnik at your own pace rather than staying with a fully guided schedule.

The Lokrum option has meaningful extra costs. Round-trip ferry transportation and island admission are €30 for adults and €5 for children aged five to 17. A 3-day Dubrovnik Pass gives you 20 percent off the Lokrum ferry, while a 7-day pass gives you 30 percent off.

That means the island choice is best for a half-day outing, not simply an add-on you squeeze between other fixed plans. You need to allow time for the ferry, the island visit, and your return to the city.

What makes the guides important

The route is set, but the guide shapes the experience. Strong guides explain not only where a scene was filmed, but also what changed between the real location and the finished episode.

Tihomir is repeatedly praised for storytelling, humor, patience, and the way he links Croatian history with the show. Jelena is described as clear, engaging, and proud of Dubrovnik. Eddie brings humor and strong local detail, while Karmen is friendly, patient, and helpful with photographs.

Boris has been praised for making the experience feel personal, especially in the quieter season when a scheduled group may become very small. Joseph is another guide associated with an easy mix of humor, filming facts, and city background.

Guide assignments can change, so you should not book on the assumption that one named guide will lead your departure. The useful point is that the experience depends heavily on the guide’s ability to tell a story and show the right camera angle. The strongest feedback focuses on clear explanations, fun delivery, and a good balance between the show and Dubrovnik itself.

Is the $26 price good value?

At $26 per person, the 2-hour tour is fairly priced if you want a structured introduction to both the series locations and the Old Town. You are paying for a live English-speaking guide, scene photos, local context, and a route that would take effort to assemble on your own.

The advertised price does not include Lovrijenac Fortress. Add €15 unless your City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass covers entry. Food and drinks are also separate.

The Lokrum option requires more careful budgeting. Add €30 for an adult ferry and island ticket, or €5 for a child aged five to 17. Once you include the base tour and the island cost, it becomes a larger half-day purchase, but you also receive the official Iron Throne, Qarth locations, and free time on Lokrum.

I see the 2-hour option as the better value for casual fans or first-time visitors with a full Dubrovnik schedule. I would choose the 3-hour version if the Iron Throne and Qarth matter to you, or if you want a slower day with swimming and island time.

Who should book this Dubrovnik tour?

You’ll get the most from it if you have watched Game of Thrones and want help recognizing the real places behind the scenes. The tour also works for curious visitors who enjoy architecture, city stories, and the mechanics of film production.

It is a good pick for a first day in Dubrovnik because the route helps you get your bearings around the Old Town. Several guides also offer practical local context along the way, and the walking route connects major areas you may want to revisit later.

You should think twice if stairs are difficult, you dislike steep drops, or you have motion sickness. The route includes old stone streets, steps, and the ferry option adds movement on the water.

For families, check the extra fees before booking. Children under seven enter Lovrijenac free, while the Lokrum transportation and admission price is €5 for children aged five to 17.

Booking is flexible, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Starting times vary, so check availability for the date you want.

My verdict: choose the route that matches your interest

I would book the 2-hour walk if you want the best balance of cost, time, and coverage. You will see the major King’s Landing locations, walk the Walk of Shame route, visit the Red Keep setting, and learn enough Dubrovnik history to make the city more than a film set.

Choose the Lokrum option if the official Iron Throne is essential, or if you want Qarth, swimming, gardens, and a more relaxed island finish. Just include the €30 adult ferry and admission cost in your budget, and allow enough time for the return.

The tour is not a flat, effortless stroll, and Lovrijenac costs extra unless your city pass covers it. For fans who accept those practical points, it offers a lively way to connect Dubrovnik’s real streets with one of television’s most recognizable fictional cities.

FAQ

How long does the Game of Thrones tour last?

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

Where does the tour meet?

Meet by the Large Onofrio’s Fountain, next to the Hard Rock Cafe. Look for a representative carrying a red umbrella.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live guided tour is offered in English.

Is Lovrijenac Fortress included in the tour price?

The guided visit is part of the route, but entrance costs €15 per person. Children under seven enter free. Entry is also free with a valid City Walls ticket or Dubrovnik Pass.

Can I use a Dubrovnik Pass at Lovrijenac Fortress?

Yes. A valid Dubrovnik Pass provides free entrance to the fortress.

What does the Lokrum option include?

It includes the Old Town Game of Thrones locations, a ferry ride to Lokrum, Qarth filming locations, a visit to the official Iron Throne, and free time on the island.

Are the ferry and Lokrum admission included?

No. Round-trip ferry transportation and Lokrum admission cost €30 for adults and €5 for children aged five to 17.

How long is the ferry ride to Lokrum?

The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes.

What can I do during free time on Lokrum?

You can swim in hidden coves, walk through the botanical gardens, relax in the shade, or have a drink or lunch.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour includes stairs and uneven streets and is not suitable for wheelchair users, mobility scooters, or people with significant mobility issues.