Game of Thrones Locations in Dubrovnik: A Complete Site-by-Site Guide

The stone alleys and mighty fortresses of Things to Do in Dubrovnik are more than a medieval marvel. They are King’s Landing, the beating heart of Westeros, and a handful of other unforgettable Game of Thrones settings. For seven seasons, HBO’s production teams turned the Old Town, its walls, and the islands beyond into a living fantasy, and nearly every one of those locations is still here, waiting for you to walk through them.

Whether you want to stand where Cersei began her Walk of Shame, climb the fortress that doubled as the Red Keep, or track down the Iron Throne on Lokrum Island, this guide maps every spot, explains the scenes, and points you to the best tours and self-guided routes.

Was Game of Thrones Filmed in Dubrovnik?

Yes, Dubrovnik stood in for King’s Landing and the city of Qarth across multiple seasons. The production chose Dubrovnik because its remarkably intact medieval walls, stone streets, and terracotta rooftops could become a coastal fantasy capital with almost no digital alteration. Filming took place from Season 2 through Season 7, and the crew returned year after year, transforming the Old Town, Fort Lovrijenac, and nearby islands into some of the show’s most memorable scenes.

Dubrovnik’s first appearance was in Season 2, when the city’s streets and harbour portrayed the prosperous trading port of Qarth. The following season, the Old Town became the permanent home of King’s Landing, and the production expanded to Lokrum Island, the Trsteno Arboretum, and several other spots. The city’s 16th-century walls, narrow staircases, and historic palaces required almost no CGI to look the part, only a few green screens and some prop embellishments. The city walls of Dubrovnik themselves were used repeatedly, and the walk along them is one of the best ways to grasp the scale of the production.

The arrangement was a perfect match. Dubrovnik offered the authentic medieval atmosphere that a purpose-built set could never quite replicate, and the show brought an enormous tourism boost that continues to this day. By the final season, dozens of locations had been used, and most of them are still accessible to the public, either as free-to-roam streets or as ticketed sights.

Can I Visit Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Dubrovnik?

Almost all of them are open to the public. The Red Keep (Fort Lovrijenac), the Walk of Shame staircase (the Jesuit Stairs), the Purple Wedding site (Gradac Park), the House of the Undying (Minčeta Tower), and the Qarth garden (Trsteno Arboretum) are all accessible, either on a self-guided walk or on a dedicated tour. Some locations require a ticket, while others are simply part of the Old Town’s streets and squares that you can explore for free.

The most critical thing to know is that the fortress of Lovrijenac and the city walls share a combined ticket, and that ticket is also included in the Dubrovnik Pass. So if you are planning to walk the walls anyway, you already have access to the Red Keep exteriors. The Trsteno Arboretum, about 20 minutes north of the city by bus, charges a separate small admission fee. Lokrum Island, where you will find the Iron Throne and the Qarth scenes, requires a 30-euro ticket that includes the return boat transfer.

If you would rather have a guide who can point out every scene and show you the exact camera angles, two excellent Game of Thrones-specific tours cover the core locations, and both include a boat trip to Lokrum. The tours are popular, and booking ahead secures your spot, especially in the busy September and October cruise months.

Can You Show Me a Map of the Game of Thrones Locations in Dubrovnik?

The filming spots are concentrated in three clusters: the western Old Town and Pile Gate area, the eastern Old Town around the Jesuit Stairs and the harbour, and Lokrum Island. The map below plots every major location, and the table that follows lists the scenes, addresses, and ticket requirements so you can plan your own route.

Most of the spots are within a few minutes’ walk of each other, so you can easily cover them in a single morning or afternoon, whether you join a tour or follow a self-guided route. The only location that requires a short boat ride is Lokrum, with departures from the Old City Harbour at 09:00 and then every 15 minutes from 10:00 to 18:00.

The table gives you the bare bones, but the scenes themselves are far more vivid when you stand in the exact spot. The next section walks you through the most iconic ones.

Which Game of Thrones Castle Is in Dubrovnik?

Fort Lovrijenac, a 16th-century fortress perched on a 37-metre sea rock just outside the western walls, served as the Red Keep. The exteriors of the royal castle were filmed here, along with the throne room scenes and the famous "Power is power" conversation between Littlefinger and Varys. The Red Keep's courtyards and gardens were a combination of Lovrijenac and the Trsteno Arboretum.

Lovrijenac was built to defend the city from Venetian attack, but its high-walled battlements and sea-girt isolation made it the perfect stand-in for the seat of the Iron Throne. The show used the fort's interior courtyard, its upper terrace, and the toppled tower at its base. The throne room was constructed from those stone walls, and when you visit, you can climb the same steps that Joffrey and Cersei walked. The view from the terrace is exactly the one that Littlefinger and Varys shared while plotting over the city.

The fortress is included in the 40-euro City Walls ticket (main season, 1 March to 30 November), so you can pair it with a walk along the walls. In December the walls ticket drops to 20 euro, but the pass is not on sale then. The Lovrijenac entry is a one-time visit, and the ticket is also valid for the Western Outer Wall and the Coin Collection.

A guided tour makes the connection between stone and screen much richer. The top-rated tour includes the Lovrijenac-Red Keep, the Walk of Shame staircase, and a boat to Lokrum for the Iron Throne, so you cover the three most important stops in a single morning. If you are wondering whether a Game of Thrones tour is worth it in Dubrovnik, the answer is a firm yes for any fan who wants more than a photo.

The Most Iconic Game of Thrones Filming Spots in Dubrovnik

The Walk of Shame, the Purple Wedding, and the House of the Undying are the three scenes that visitors most want to stand in. The Walk of Shame staircase is the Jesuit Stairs, the Purple Wedding was filmed in Gradac Park, and the House of the Undying is inside Minčeta Tower on the city walls. Each one is free to visit except Minčeta, which requires the walls ticket.

The Jesuit Stairs are instantly recognisable. Cersei's long, brutal walk began at the top of these steps, and every stone and archway matches the scene, as detailed in our guide to the Walk of Shame location in Dubrovnik. The stairs are a public street, so you can stand at the top and re-create the moment without paying a cent. The neighbouring St Ignatius Church and the Baroque square are also worth a look.

Gradac Park, a few steps above Pile Gate, was the setting for the Purple Wedding, where Joffrey drank poisoned wine and died. The park's stone terrace and the view over the bay are exactly as they appeared on screen, and it is a peaceful spot for a mid-afternoon break. The park is free and rarely crowded, so you can take your time.

Minčeta Tower became the House of the Undying. Daenerys walked through its winding corridors and emerged on the roof to find the warlocks' chamber. The climb to the top is steep, but the view and the sense of being inside the scene are remarkable. You need the walls ticket, which is 40 euro in main season.

A self-guided route can link all of these in a single afternoon, but a tour adds the context and the behind-the-scenes details that make the locations come alive. The walking tours in Dubrovnik range from quick overviews to half-day deep dives with boat trips included.

Game of Thrones Walking Tours: Which One to Choose

Two highly rated tours cover the essentials, and a third is a free, pay-what-you-want option. The first tour includes the Red Keep, the Walk of Shame, and a boat to Lokrum for the Iron Throne. The second tour adds the option of the Iron Throne after the walk. The free tour is a shorter, Old Town-only walk that covers the key filming spots without a boat trip.

The top-rated tour, with 4.8 stars across 6,132 reviews, covers the most ground. It starts in the Old Town, covers the Pile Gate, the Purple Wedding location, the Walk of Shame staircase, and then takes you to Fort Lovrijenac. After that, you board a boat to Lokrum Island, where you can sit on the Iron Throne and explore the Qarth filming spots. The whole experience runs about three to four hours, and the guide's screen-to-street comparisons are the highlight.

The second tour, with a 4.9 rating across 5,201 reviews, follows a similar route but gives you the choice of whether to add the Iron Throne option. It is a flexible pick if you are not sure you want to commit to the boat trip.

A third choice, the GoT Walking Tour Only, is a two-hour walk through the Old Town's filming spots at a lower price point. It does not include the boat trip, but it covers the core street-level locations and works well if you are short on time or plan to visit Lokrum on your own.

For a budget-friendly alternative, the free Game of Thrones and history walk on GuruWalk is a pay-what-you-want tour that covers the Old Town locations in about an hour and a half. It does not include Lokrum or the Red Keep interior, but it is an excellent introduction to the filming spots, and you can tip the guide what you think the tour was worth.

All four tours are reviewed on the live listings, and the paid ones offer free cancellation. The free tour is a great way to get your bearings and learn the story behind the scenes before diving deeper into the locations on your own.

A Self-Guided Walk Through Dubrovnik's Game of Thrones Sights

You can easily see all the core Old Town locations in about two hours on foot. Start at Pile Gate, walk to Gradac Park, then to Fort Lovrijenac, back through the gate to the Jesuit Stairs, then to St Dominic Street, and end at the Old City Harbour. The route is flat and well-paved, with only a few staircases, and you can follow it without a map if you know the highlights.

This self-guided loop covers the scenes that are all within the Old Town and its immediate outskirts. It does not include Lokrum Island or Trsteno, but it is a perfect pre-lunch walk that hits every major street-level spot. The city walls can be added at the end if you want to include Minčeta Tower.

The walk is best done in the early morning, especially from June to September. The Old Town crowds build quickly, and by 9:00 a.m. the Jesuit Stairs can be packed with tour groups. An 8:00 a.m. start gives you the quietest streets and the best light for photos. The cruise passenger numbers peak in September and October, so mid-autumn is actually busier than midsummer. Plan your timing accordingly.

You can extend the walk by buying a City Walls ticket and climbing to Minčeta Tower for the House of the Undying. The walls open at 8:00 a.m., and the climb to the tower is steep but worth it for the view and the connection to the scene.

Practical Tips for Visiting GoT Locations in Dubrovnik

The best time to visit is at 8:00 a.m., when the streets are still quiet and the light is soft. The walls and Fort Lovrijenac open at 8:00, and the Jesuit Stairs are empty before the first tour groups arrive. The main season runs from 1 March to 30 November, and the combined walls ticket is 40 euro during that period.

The city's Old Town crowd counters show that the numbers climb rapidly after 9:00 a.m. On a typical day in September, the count rises from 5,419 at 8:00 to 7,297 at 9:00 and peaks at 7,739 at 10:00. A pre-9:00 start lets you see the most iconic spots without the crush. In December the walls ticket drops to 20 euro, but the Dubrovnik Pass is not on sale, and some locations may have reduced hours.

Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. The limestone streets and staircases are polished smooth by centuries of foot traffic, and they can be slippery, especially after rain. The walk to Lovrijenac involves a climb, and the city walls have many steps. A water bottle is essential in the summer months, and a hat is a good idea because much of the route is in direct sun.

The sea temperature in September averages about 23.6 degrees, a long-run open-water climatological average, not a beach reading. Sheltered bays run warmer, and a dip off Lokrum can be a refreshing way to end a hot day of filming-location hunting. The island's Dead Sea, a small salt lake, is a popular swimming spot.

Common Questions About Game of Thrones Locations in Dubrovnik