Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones Walking, Car and Boat Tour

Westeros begins behind Dubrovnik’s old walls. This seven-hour outing combines walking, driving, and cruising, so you see far more than you could on a single city tour. I especially like the side-by-side show screenshots and the chance to sit on the Iron Throne, two details that turn familiar TV scenes into real places.

The main drawback is the pace. You spend much of the day moving between locations, walking on historic streets, and riding a boat, so this is not a relaxed sightseeing trip. People with back or mobility problems, or anyone prone to seasickness, should think twice. Still, guides Mikki and Dorotea earned high praise for their quick wit, friendly banter, and strong grasp of both Dubrovnik and the series.

Key points at a glance

• Three different ways to tour: A two-hour walking tour, a boat trip to Lokrum, and a car excursion cover more ground than a standard Game of Thrones outing.
• More than 15 filming locations: You visit places linked to the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, Qarth, the King’s Road, and the Walk of Shame.
• Screenshots make the magic click: Your guide carries images from the show so you can compare the filmed version with Dubrovnik today.
• Lokrum supplies the Iron Throne photo: You can sit on the throne after seeing gardens used as Qarth.
• Trsteno adds value beyond television: Its botanical gardens make the car tour worthwhile even if you are only a casual fan.
• The price reflects a full-day program: At $294 per person, this works best for people who want a focused, guided Game of Thrones experience rather than a quick photo stop.

Why this tour covers Dubrovnik better than a single walking route

Dubrovnik’s Game of Thrones locations are scattered. Some are inside or beside the Old Town, while others require a boat or a car. This tour solves that problem by joining three separate outings into one seven-hour experience.

You begin near Pile Gate, the west entrance to the Old Town, close to the Amerling fountain and Dubravka restaurant. That location is practical because it sits at the main approach to the historic center, but you should arrive ready to walk. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and comfortable shoes are essential.

I like the variety here. The walking section gives you Dubrovnik’s stone streets and fortifications. The boat ride changes the view completely, showing the coast from the water. The car trip then reaches sites beyond the city, including Trsteno Arboretum and the abandoned Hotel Belvedere.

The structure also gives you a choice in how to use your time. You can complete all three parts in one day, or take the walking, boat, and car tours on separate days. Spreading them out may suit you better if you want time to explore Dubrovnik itself between outings.

The two-hour walk through King’s Landing

The walking portion lasts about two hours and focuses on famous locations near Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Your guide points out places used for the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, and the Walk of Shame.

This part works best when you want the real setting beneath the production tricks. Dubrovnik’s walls, gates, steps, and narrow lanes already have the severe medieval look the series needed. Your guide helps you separate what the camera showed from what is actually there.

The Walk of Shame location is one of the most memorable stops because the scene is so closely tied to the city’s stone streets. You also learn about filming, actors, and behind-the-scenes details. The supplied description promises some spicy stories, so the talk is not limited to dry production facts.

A useful feature is the guide’s book of screenshots. You can look at a scene from the show, then compare it with the same spot in front of you. This matters because television often combines several real locations, changes angles, and adds digital effects. The book gives you a clear visual reference instead of leaving you to guess where a scene was filmed.

The walking tour includes entry to St. Lawrence Fortress. That is an important inclusion because the fortress is not just a filming backdrop. It adds a substantial historic site to the morning or afternoon, depending on how your schedule is arranged.

You should expect stairs and uneven historic surfaces. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or back problems, and comfortable clothing will make the experience easier. If you have only watched a few episodes, you can still enjoy the city sights, but committed fans will get more from the scene-by-scene commentary.

Lokrum by boat, with Qarth and the Iron Throne

The second part begins with a ferry ride to Lokrum. The boat trip takes about 15 minutes, giving you a short coastal break between the walking and driving sections.

On the way, you see Villa Seherezada, identified here as the place where Tyrion spent time conspiring on a balcony. From the water, the setting makes more sense than it does in a fast-moving TV scene. You get a better sense of the villa’s position and its relationship to the coast.

Lokrum supplied the gardens used for the city of Qarth. Your guide leads you through those areas and then takes you to a Benedictine Monastery, where the fictional story of Westeros continues. This is a nice change of mood from the crowded stone streets of the Old Town. The setting is quieter and more open, with the series connection woven into an actual island visit.

The Iron Throne is the obvious photo stop. You can sit on it and take a souvenir picture, which gives this part a simple, tangible payoff. The throne is not merely something your guide points toward. You get to use it for the classic photo.

You also have free time to explore Lokrum before returning by boat. The schedule does not specify how much free time you receive, so do not assume you can see every part of the island. Think of this as a Game of Thrones stop with some independent exploring, not a full island tour.

There is one practical warning. If you are prone to seasickness, the boat portion may be uncomfortable even though the ride is short. The return trip is included, as is the entry fee for the Lokrum national reserve, so you do not need to arrange those parts separately.

Trsteno Arboretum and the gardens of King’s Landing

The car section takes you beyond Dubrovnik to Trsteno Arboretum. The site was used for many garden scenes in King’s Landing, but its value does not depend entirely on the television connection.

Trsteno is described as the oldest botanical garden in the world and contains exotic plants. Even if you are not a serious fan, this gives the drive a worthwhile destination rather than making it feel like a hunt for isolated camera angles.

Again, the screenshot book improves the visit. A garden can look ordinary until you see how the production framed it. Your guide can show you the TV image and help identify what remains recognizable in the real setting.

The entry fee to Trsteno Arboretum is included. That matters at a price of $294, since the tour is not simply charging you for transport and commentary. You are also paying for access to several major sites across the region.

The car ride is also the most efficient way to reach these outlying locations. A walking tour cannot reasonably include them, and arranging separate transport would take more planning. The tradeoff is that you spend part of the day in transit rather than in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.

Hotel Belvedere and the Mountain versus Oberyn

The abandoned Hotel Belvedere is another stop on the car route. It was used for the battle between the Mountain and Oberyn Martell, one of the series’ most dramatic confrontations.

This location is likely to appeal most to fans who remember the fight clearly. The power of the stop comes from connecting a real, now-abandoned setting with a specific event rather than with a general city backdrop.

You should keep your expectations measured. The description identifies the hotel as abandoned, but it does not promise a long interior visit or a fully developed tour of the property. The value is in seeing the filming place and hearing how it fit into the production.

That distinction is useful. Some Game of Thrones stops are beautiful parts of Dubrovnik that you would visit anyway. Others are primarily valuable because you recognize the scene. Hotel Belvedere belongs more to the second group.

The King’s Road view over Dubrovnik

The final stop is on the King’s Road, with a panoramic view over Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It is a fitting ending because you finish by seeing the city as a whole rather than focusing on one doorway, wall, or garden.

I like this kind of finish. After spending hours comparing fictional Westeros with real places, you get a broad view that puts the entire experience into context. The Old Town’s position, its walls, and its coastal setting explain why Dubrovnik worked so well on screen.

The exact location and length of the stop are not specified, so plan on a viewpoint rather than a long hike. It should be particularly useful for photographs, but remember that the tour is already a full day.

What $294 includes, and where the value lies

The price is $294 per person. That is a substantial fee, and I would not recommend it automatically to every person who has watched the show.

The cost makes more sense when you consider what is included:

• A guide for each of the three tours
• Entry to St. Lawrence Fortress
• Round-trip boat transportation to Lokrum
• Entry to the Lokrum national reserve
• Entry to Trsteno Arboretum

You are also getting access to more than 15 filming locations and transportation between sites that are spread around Dubrovnik. If you tried to arrange the walking tour, ferry, island admission, car transport, and arboretum entry separately, the planning would be more complicated.

The strongest value comes from the range of places covered. A short Old Town walk would cost less and suit a casual fan. This outing is aimed at someone who wants the full production trail, including Qarth, the Red Keep, Blackwater Bay, the Walk of Shame, Trsteno, Hotel Belvedere, and the King’s Road.

The seven-hour duration also affects the calculation. You are giving the tour most of a day, so you should book it when Game of Thrones is one of your main Dubrovnik interests. If your priority is simply seeing the city’s historic core, the price may feel high.

The guides are part of the value. Mikki and Dorotea received especially warm praise for their friendly banter, quick wit, and ability to discuss both Dubrovnik and the show. That combination matters because a long tour can drag when the commentary is flat. Here, the guiding style appears to be a major reason the time passes easily.

Timing, comfort, and practical planning

You can take the three parts on separate days, which is useful if you dislike long outings or want to leave room for other Dubrovnik plans. It also lets you match each section to your energy level, though the available starting times depend on the schedule at booking.

Meet near Pile Gate, by the Amerling fountain next to Dubravka restaurant, at Brsalje bb. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

Wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. The Old Town walking portion, fortress visit, and island exploration all make sensible footwear important. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so pack lightly.

Infant seats are available if requested when you book. You should also print the entire confirmation document with all its details, not only the ticket. That is an easy instruction to overlook, but it could save you trouble at the meeting point.

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms provide some flexibility, but the physical demands of the tour remain the bigger planning issue.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this experience if you can answer yes to most of these points:

• You watched enough of Game of Thrones to recognize major locations.
• You want to see more than the Old Town.
• You enjoy comparing film sets with real places.
• You are comfortable walking, riding a boat, and spending time in a car.
• You want guides to explain filming stories instead of simply pointing out buildings.
• You are happy to spend most of a day on one theme.

It suits dedicated fans particularly well because the route reaches several different parts of the Dubrovnik area. It also works for a mixed group if one person likes the show and the others enjoy fortresses, gardens, island scenery, and city views.

I would avoid it if you have limited mobility, back problems, or seasickness. I would also choose a shorter Old Town experience if you only want a quick look at the most famous filming sites.

Should you book this Game of Thrones tour?

Book it if you want the complete Dubrovnik filming experience and can handle a busy seven-hour day. The combination of walking, boat travel, and car transport gives you access to places that a basic city tour cannot reach, while the screenshot book helps you understand exactly how Dubrovnik became Westeros.

The $294 price is high, but the included admissions, ferry, three guides, and wide range of locations make it easier to defend for serious fans. The best reason to choose it is not just the Iron Throne photo. It is the chance to see the Red Keep, Qarth, Trsteno’s gardens, Hotel Belvedere, and the King’s Road as parts of one connected story.

Skip it if you want a slow day, dislike boats, or mainly want Dubrovnik’s non-television sights. For everyone else, especially fans who appreciate lively guiding, Mikki and Dorotea’s style and the tour’s strong mix of settings make this a memorable way to understand the city on screen and off it.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is near Pile Gate, the west entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, by the Amerling fountain next to Dubravka restaurant, at Brsalje bb, 20 000 Dubrovnik.

How long does the experience last?

The complete experience lasts seven hours. Check availability for the available starting times.

Can I take the three tours on separate days?

Yes. The walking, boat, and car tours can be taken on separate days instead of all at once.

What languages are available?

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

Is transportation to Lokrum included?

Yes. A round-trip boat ticket to Lokrum is included, as well as entry to the Lokrum national reserve.

Which admissions are included?

Entry to St. Lawrence Fortress, Trsteno Arboretum, and the Lokrum national reserve is included.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility problems or seasickness?

No. The experience is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or a tendency toward seasickness.