Being in Dubrovnik is other-worldly. You can see why the Game of Thrones producers chose it to be the main filming location for the capital of Westeros, Kings Landing for numerous seasons of the hit HBO show. The whole city is like something from another age, unspoilt and completely beautiful. If you love the show, there are many walking tours that show you the key locations. If you want to take one of those, we’d recommend there are some options here:
However, we found that none of these tours cover everything, so this is our guide to some of the key filming locations that you can visit on your own…
Lovrijenac Fort (The Red Keep) – After making the climb up to the fort on entering it’s just like being in the Red Keep. So many of the scenes were filmed here – from Cersei marching through the corridors (the public toilet CGI’d) to scenes like Joffrey’s name day. The IMP looked out to the sea from the walls, by the well in the main courtyard Cersei and Littlefinger conspired.
Lovrijenac Fort: Visiting information…
Gradac Park (The Purple Wedding) – From the top of the Lovrijenac Fort, there is a view over a parking lot and Gradac Park, where the Purple Wedding was filmed. You can make the effort to visit the park, but it’s quite a climb on foot. We were happy just seeing it from the fort as it’s probably one of the world’d most underwhelming parks. That said, it was dressed up so much when it was used as the venue for King Joffrey’s wedding and then subsequent death.
Minčeta Tower (The House of Undying) – It’s at the highest part of the city walls so get ready for yet more steps. In Season 2, Danaerys dragons are stolen. She and Ser Jorah run to the House of Undying, a huge structure with no door. Danaerys starts circling the tower, with Jorah right behind her, except that when she turns a corner she disappears, magically accessing the tower. This scene has been shot on the walls of Dubrovnik, around the Minčeta tower. Although there was a bit of CGI added to make the tower look bigger you can still get the idea – there is however a door that you need no magic to walk through. Another scene filmed here showed the torture of a blacksmith as a search was launched for illegitimate children of Robert Baratheon.
Dubrovnik Walls: Visiting information…
Fort Bokar (Kings Landing Walls) – Fort Bokar is part of the Dubrovnik Old Town walls. It was used very often throughout all seasons of Game of Thrones when they showed people walking along the city walls of Kings Landing. You may remember the scene where Tyrion and Lord Varys are looking out at sea discussing the defence strategies for Kings Landing with the Red Keep visible in the background. Sadly when you walk the walls today you can’t access the fort, but you do get a great view of it.
Dubrovnik Walls: Visiting information…
Dubrovnik Pile Harbour (Blackwater Bay) – The famous battle of Blackwater Bay. This little bay has become famous for that epic battle scene, but it has actually been used for a lot of other scenes too. These days there are a number of bars with seating so you can sit and enjoy the view – one of our favourite in the whole city.
Pile Pier (Kings Landing Harbour) – The beach on this side of the bay, closer to the Old Town walls, has been used as the harbour of Kings Landing. If a boat was departing Kings landing the chances are it was from here, such as when Myrcella leaves for Dorne, and then again in season when Cersei is waiting for Myrcella to return. When the Starks and Lannisters aren’t frequenting it you’ll find cayacking groups using it as their base.
Whilst at the Pier, you’ll also see a couple of seriously cute door embedded in the rocks just below the fort. These were used when soldiers were sent to find all of King Robert’s illegitimate children and kill them.
Pile Gate (King’s Landing Flea Bottom) – The Flea Bottom riot is another of the most famous scenes in Game of Thrones. The royal entourage is on its way back to the Red Keep when someone throws manure at Joffrey’s face. Joffrey keeps everything in perspective and orders the guards to kill everyone in the crowd and a riot starts. This scene is filmed in a space between the outer walls of the Old Town and the Old Town itself. It’s also here where the Sansa is almost raped before the Hound comes to her rescue.
Dubrovnik Old Town: Visiting information…
Jesuit Staircase (Walk of Shame) – The Jesuit Staircase by Saint Ignatius Church is the backdrop to one of the most famous scenes in Game of Thrones. Cersei is forced to walk naked in the streets of Kings Landing from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep. I can not imagine if you any GoT fan that’s stood here and not repeatedly said “shame”, and wanted to ring a bell. It’s from this staircase that Cersei derobes before walking naked in front of the crowds.
Trsteno Arboretum (Kings Landing gardens) – A short drive or bus ride along the coast from Dubrovnik are the beautiful gardens which were used for filming several notable scenes in Game Of Thrones. Much scheming was carried out in these gardens, particularly by the Tyrell family. The views of the ocean here are superb and it made a great backdrop for the many in the series which were shot here. We loved walking around the gardens and imagining we were having lunch with Olenna Tyrell under the canopy. Visiting the gardens will take a bit of co-ordination (we ended up hiring a car to do it), but it’s definitely worth it.
Trsteno Arboretum: Visiting information…
Hotel Belvedere (Red viper fight) – An abandoned 5 star hotel with views of the walls of Dubrovnik, was the location for the dual fight between ‘the Mountain’ and Oberyn.It’s one of the most memorable scenes in the series and the concrete steps were well disguised by the set dressers. Visiting this site is slightly problematic as the former hotel is in a decaying state. You can walk from Dubrovnik old town though quite easily.
Hotel Belvedere: Visiting information…
Lokrum Island (Qarth) – This island is easily accessible from the many boat trips offered from Dubrovnik harbour. The island’s former monastery was used in Game Of Thrones for filming many scenes in Qarth where Daenerys seeks refuge with her baby dragons, which are ultimately stolen. In the visitor’s centre there is a genuine Iron Throne donated by the HBO series.
Lokrum Island: Visiting information…