This was one trip I was quite looking forward to. I had been wanting to go here for awhile now but like most of my trips, I was waiting for the perfect moment. So what better moment to live out my GOT fantasy then my birthday!
There are two options for GOT tours in Dubrovnik, either do your own or do a guided tour. I found that most of the sites are easily done yourself and at your own pace so that is what I did. Most tours were 20$ and there were at least 15 different tours companies if you choose that route. I highly recommend buying the city pass as you get entrance to the city walls and a few museums. I actually broke mine up into two separate days due to the time I arrived. However, you can easily do the city walls and the filming locations in one day, even in winter when the sun set at 4:30 pm!
Below I have compiled my list of GOT locations with a bit of background information. Dubrovnik was mainly used for the filming of King’s Landing, The Red Keep, Qarth, and BlackWater Bay. I also recommend printing out these pictures and taking with you! It makes it easier to recognize the locations and it was a bit more fun trying to capture the same picture!
**I started at Jesutis Staircase as my hostel was less than a minute walk from here but feel free to start wherever! Its bit easier start at either Place Gate or Fort Lovrijenac.
Jesuits Staircase
This is probably most well known for the shame scene but it was home to a few different scenes actually! In Season 5 Episode 1, Cersi arrives for Tywin Lamnnister funeral and these are the steps she walks up. The stairs are function as the steps up to the Great Sept of Baelor.
Probably the most famous scene was Season 5 Episode 10 when Cersi is forced to walk her atonement naked through the streets. She has to walk home (to the Red Keep) while everyone is yelling “Shame” at her and it was epic. I believe you can even follow part of her walk through old town, but I did not.
I caught a snippet of what a tour guide was saying nearby and apparently this was the most expensive? (or one of the most expensive) shots in GOT. This is due to the fact that all the shops and businesses had to be closed down and paid for a full day of work, not to mention all the extras in the scene as well. They also made the people living in the buildings sign a guarantee that they would not peek out their windows during the scene! See who needs a tour guide when you can just listen nearby!
Side Street
There is a side street near the stairs that was featured in Season 2, Episode 6 where Sansa is running away from the riots. Now I am not sure I found the right street, as it didn’t quite right but I saw a tour group near it so I believe it was here, or it was somewhere else! I am not sure but all I know is the blogs say it is right near the stairs and this is the only one I found that looked like it.
Ethnographic Museum
This museum is featured in Season 4, Episode 1 when Oberyn meets Tyrion to seek vengeance for his family. It also serves as the exterior of Little Fingers Brothel. I actually went to it once they were closed so I can not say if the museum was good or not but it is included in the one day city pass.
Rector’s Palace
This now museum used to be a palace for the Rector residing in Dubrovnik. The museum was ok and you normally have to pay, but if you have the city pass it is free. I would not recommend paying for this museum if you can’t get in free as there in not much there.
This interior was used in Season 2, Episode 6 when Daenerys request ships to carry her army across the narrow sea from the Spice Kings (one of the rulers of Qarth) but is denied. Also if you don’t pay to go in, you can peak inside and see most of the filming area.
Dominican Monastery
This was actually one location that I walked right by without realizing it. Funny enough I took picture because I thought it was cool, not realizing it was one of the scenes!
This monastery was used in Season 2, Episode 5 where Tyrion and Bronn overhear a group protesting the Lannisters as they are walking.
Ploce Gate
This serves as the Eastern gate into the old town. It was used in Season 2, Episode 5 when Tyrion has a talk with Lancel inside the carriage.
It was also featured in Season 5, Episode 10 when Cersi ends her walk of shame. The gate serves as the entrance to the Red Keep.
From here I walked down the main strip (Placa Stradun) to the other main gate, Pile Gate. It takes just a few minutes to walk. This is why it makes sense to start here and go from there.
Pile Gate
Pile Gat3 was featured in Season 3, Episode 10 when Jamie returns home after being captured by Robb Stark.
It was also featured in one of the other big scenes, which is the riot scene. This was in Season 2, Episode 6 when Joffrey is walking back to the Red Keep and someone throws manure at his face. You can feel the unrest and Joffrey orders his guards to kill everyone (a bit dramatic right) and the massive riot starts. Hence the unnamed street location above.
Pile Harbor
This harbor is used for the harbor of Kings Landing. Normally this is the spot where you rent kayaks and if you go during the summer, it is filled with them. However if you go in November like me, the harbour will be empty and it even has a tiny beach area to relax!
This harbor was featured a few times including Season 2, Episode 6 when Myrcella is shipped off to Dorne and then again in Season 6, Episode 1 when Cersi is waiting for Jamie to bring Myrcella home.
West Pier
This was used for several scenes, the most famous being the Battle of BlackWater. It was also used in Season 3 Episode 1 when Little Finger comes to talk to Sansa with a way to escape King’s Landing. Shae is watching over Sansa on the pier as she watches the ships and talks to Little Finger.
West Harbor
Right next to the West Pier and Pile Harbor is the West Harbor. All within a minute walk of each other, this was used used in Season 2, Episode 1 when Joffrey orders his guards to hunt down and kill all of Robert Baratheon’s bastard children. This was because they threaten his right to rule so he wanted them eliminated before that could happen.
**Now this is where I ended my tour the first day since I didn’t have my city pass and you need it to go into the fort for free. However I still went up there to get an awesome view of the city and a view of the sun setting.
Fort Lovrijenac
While this fort is outside of the city walls, it is included in the one day city pass. From here you can see The West Pier, The West Harbor and Fort Bokar.
This was used in several scenes that take place in the Red Keep. When you first enter, you may notice the corridor and courtyard used in Season 2, Episode 1 when Cersi and Littlefinger are discussing finding Arya. From here, you can also see the place where Joffrey name day ceremony took place in Season 2, Episode 1. However, I recommend walking up to the next level for a better view of this area. If you continue up to the following level, you get an amazing view of Dubrovnik!
Gradac Park
This site was not one I went to but had found in my research. Many blogs said it was not recognizable as too many props were added, so I decided to skip it but mention it.
This was used is Season 4, Episode 2 where the Purple Wedding took place. Joffrey is poisoned and eventually dies. It was also where Sansa flees King’s Landing. This was a major scene but not one you would recognise.
*Taken from google
The City Walls
The next 3 locations can only be viewed from the city walls tour. The full walk takes around 2 hours. I enjoyed my time and took a little bit less, but I also was one of the few people doing it. I hear during the summer it is packed and hard to walk, so if you go then, allow more time. The views are incredible and everywhere you look is just picturesque. There are a few food stops as well so if you get hot, you can grab a drink or gelato along the tour. I say tour, but please note it is self guided and at your own pace!
The walls themselves are also seen in many scenes such as Season 3, Episode 1 when Bronn, Tyrion, and Poderick are walking along the walls looking at the damage caused from the Battle of Blackwater. They are also featured in Season 4 and 5.
Fort Bokar
While you can’t actually get to this location, you can view it during the city wall tour. If you enter near Pile Gate, you can view it almost immediately. You also get a nice view of the harbor and Fort Lovrijenac.
This was featured in Season 2, Episode 8 when Lord Varys and Tyrion are discussing strategic/defensive strategies for King’s Landing. It is also featured when Cersi is talking to Jamie as well.
Minčeta tower
This is the highest point in Old Town and serves as the House of the Undying in Qarth.
In Season 2, Episode 10 Daenerys and Ser Jorah begin circling around the tower trying to find the entrance after Daenerys discovers her dragons have been stolen. At this point, I myself was wanting to scream “Where are my dragons”…
Practice Field
This is another location that you can’t get to but can view on the tour.
In Season 5, Episode 4, the practice field serves as the location where the Faith Militant arrest Sir Loras. It is also featured in Season 4, Episode 7 as the location where Cersi chooses the Mountain to be here champion in Tyrion’s trial.
Bonus Scene- Lokrum Island
Lokrum island sits just off the mainland. It is about a 15 minute boat ride from Dubrovnik and a popular day trip. Unfortunately when I went, the boats had stopped running. The boats apparently only run until November 1st, and after that you can no longer go to the island so keep that in mind when you go. I was super bummed because the island is supposed to be super cool with wild peacocks, its own dead sea, lots of hiking, home to the iron throne along with a few other filming scenes such as the location of Qarth.
The Benedictine Monastery located on the island is featured in Season 2, Episode 5 when Daenerys attends a party with the warlords.
The Lokrum Visitor Center on the island is also home to the Iron Throne! It has a small GOT exhibit plus the Iron Throne which lets be real, is the reason we all want to go. However if you can’t go like I couldn’t, there is another Iron Throne you can find!
Bonus Site – Sit on the Iron Throne
I found this gift shop by accident one day. I was walking down one of the side alleys leading to the main street when I glanced into one of the shops and saw the Iron Throne! The gift shop has a replica throne that you can either sit on for free if you buy something or you can pay 40 kaunas and they will let you take pictures. I was the only one in the store so the worker basically gave me a photo shoot on the throne. He took several pictures and told me some different poses to do and even gave me a sword to hold during some. While I am the least photogenic person ever, I still had a blast and loved it! The store is somewhere around Rudera Boskovica 9. I don’t have the exact name (I believe it was Dubrovnik City Shop) but if you walk up the store, you should see a GOT souvenir store sign! It is about a minute walk from Buza Gate.
Bonus Scene – Hotel Belvedere
This was another location I did not go to because I was under the impression that I could not. This hotel is outside just outside Dubrovnik and access is not allowed inside. However, I later read that there is a stairway you are allowed to go onto which leads to the atrium.
The atrium is featured in another famous GOT moment. This was location was used for the Season 4 finale, when Prince Oberyn fights the Mountain and the Mountain squeezes his head until it explodes.
*Taken from google
Bonus Scene – Trsteno Arboretum
This garden is located about 30 minutes away from Dubrovnik and is featured in many scenes as the King’s Landing Gardens. This too was a location I did not have time to visit but wanted too.
In Season 3, Episode 2 Sansa meets with Margaerys and Lady Tyrell. Lady Tyrell asks Sansa if Prince Joffrey will be a good husband and this is where Sansa breaks down and tells them everything of how Joffrey has treated her and her family. In Season 4, Episode 5 Prince Oberyn also promises Cersi that he will deliver a present to Myrcella here.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and you get to have your own Game of Thrones tour like I did! This was one thing I was insanely excited for and the trip did not disappoint! While the rest of my birthday trip didn’t exactly go according to plan because of the weather, these days were perfect and I loved every minute.
Let me know if you’ve done a GOT tour before and how did you enjoy it? Thanks for reading and tschuss!
Pictures from the scene and otherwise marked are taken from Google and the others are the pictures I took myself.
AJ goes abroad 