Every Game of Thrones filming location in Dubrovnik

King’s Landing was right here — every location explained

Dubrovnik’s Old Town is one of the most recognisable filming locations in television history. Chosen to represent King’s Landing from Season 2 onwards, the walled city offered the production team something no studio set could: centuries of real stone, a working medieval harbour, and a skyline that needed almost no augmentation. Walking these streets today means standing in the same spots where the Battle of Blackwater was staged, where Cersei’s walk of shame was filmed, and where Tyrion negotiated the fate of half a continent.

This guide covers every significant filming location — what was filmed there, what it looks like now, and how to visit. If you want a structured tour rather than a self-guided walk, see the Game of Thrones tour vs self-guided comparison.

Lovrijenac Fortress: the Red Keep

Lovrijenac stands on a 37-metre rock just outside Pile Gate, separated from the city walls by a narrow sea channel. In Game of Thrones it served as the exterior of the Red Keep — the dominant shots of the castle silhouetted against the sea are Lovrijenac, not a CGI construction.

The fortress dates from the 11th century and was built specifically to prevent Venetian forces from establishing a foothold outside the city. The Latin inscription above the gate — Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro (“Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world”) — was a message to potential occupiers. The Ragusan Republic took its independence seriously.

From the upper ramparts you get the same elevated views the camera crew used, looking back across the city walls and the harbour. Lovrijenac requires a separate ticket from the main city walls circuit, or is included in the combined Dubrovnik Pass. The interior is used as a summer theatre venue; check what is on if you want to see a performance.

The city walls: Blackwater Bay and the harbour

The walkable circuit of Dubrovnik’s walls (around 2 kilometres in total) provided many of King’s Landing’s most dramatic overhead shots. The section above Pile Gate and above Bokar Tower was used extensively for the Blackwater Battle sequences in Season 2, where wildfire destroyed Stannis Baratheon’s fleet in the harbour below.

The view from the walls looking down onto Fort Bokar and the sea channel is essentially unchanged from what you see on screen. Early morning visits (the walls open at 8am in summer) mean you have the battlements largely to yourself, which helps with both photography and the general experience.

The complete guide to timing, ticket prices, and the best stretch to walk is at Dubrovnik city walls: the complete guide.

City walls entry + guided Game of Thrones highlights walk

Minčeta Tower: the House of the Undying

The tallest tower on the northern section of the walls, Minčeta was used as the exterior of the House of the Undying in Season 2 — the warlock stronghold where Daenerys’ dragons were imprisoned. The spiral interior of the tower was not filmed here (that was Belfast), but the exterior approach and the view from the top match exactly.

Minčeta is included in the standard city walls ticket and is worth the short detour up the steps. The views from the top are among the best in the city, looking both inland over the Stradun and out to sea.

St Dominic Street: Littlefinger’s brothel and the Small Council

The narrow street running along the inside of the eastern walls — Ulica Sv. Dominika — was used for several scenes set near the Small Council chambers and around Littlefinger’s establishment. The Dominican Monastery at the end of the street has a courtyard that appeared briefly in Season 2.

This area is free to walk and is generally less crowded than Stradun. The street connects directly to the Old Harbour, which itself featured in harbour scenes throughout the show.

The Old Harbour: the Iron Fleet and dockside scenes

Dubrovnik’s small inner harbour (Stara Luka) stood in for King’s Landing’s port throughout the series. Ships arrived here, deals were struck on these quays, and the harbour was digitally expanded for crowd scenes. The setting is easy to imagine — the enclosed harbour with its stone quays and backdrop of cliff has changed very little.

The Lokrum ferry departs from this harbour, which is itself a Game of Thrones detail: Lokrum is where the Iron Throne replica is kept, and the island appeared in Season 2. See Lokrum and the Iron Throne for the full story.

Rector’s Palace: the throne room and council chambers

The courtyard of the Rector’s Palace (Knežev Dvor), just off the main Placa street, doubled as various interior spaces in King’s Landing. The Renaissance arcade and stone courtyard gave the production designers a credible alternative to the Belfast interior sets for establishing shots. The palace is now a museum and has a small permanent exhibition on the city’s history as a medieval republic.

Ethnographic Museum staircase: Cersei’s walk of shame

The staircase leading up from behind the Cathedral, near the Ethnographic Museum, was used for Cersei Lannister’s walk of shame at the end of Season 5. The steep stone steps and the tight surrounding buildings matched what the script required. Today they look exactly as they did on screen.

Pile Gate area and St Blaise’s church surroundings

The western entrance to the Old Town — Pile Gate — and the streets around the Church of St Blaise were used for crowd scenes throughout the series. The medieval gate itself appeared in city entrance sequences, and the space between the outer and inner gates served as a staging area for several scenes.

Trsteno Arboretum: the gardens of the Tyrells

Strictly speaking, Trsteno is outside Dubrovnik — about 25 kilometres up the coast — but it belongs in any complete guide to Game of Thrones filming locations. The 15th-century botanical garden served as the gardens where the Tyrells plotted and Sansa Stark received counsel. See the full Trsteno Arboretum GoT guide for visiting details.

1.5-hour Game of Thrones walking tour: all major Dubrovnik locations

Comparing guided tours and self-guided walks

Most commercially available Game of Thrones tours in Dubrovnik visit the same core locations described above. A 90-minute walking tour will cover Lovrijenac, the walls overview, Minčeta, St Dominic Street, and the harbour. The guides are generally well-briefed and many use screen stills for direct comparisons.

The honest assessment is that self-guided visiting is entirely viable for anyone willing to do a little research. The locations are not hidden and do not require specialist access. Where a guided tour adds value is in the scene-by-scene matching (guides carry large-format photos for side-by-side comparison) and in saving the organisational time. The Game of Thrones tour vs self-guided page compares both approaches in detail.

For a structured self-guided route, the Game of Thrones Dubrovnik walking map gives a recommended order with estimated walking times.

Planning your visit

The Old Town is at its most crowded between 10am and 4pm, particularly from June to September. For Game of Thrones locations that are also tourist attractions (the walls, Lovrijenac), arriving at opening time makes a significant difference. Many of the street-level locations — St Dominic Street, the harbour, the Rector’s Palace exterior — can be visited in the quieter early morning or evening without any ticket at all.

Dubrovnik operates on EUR since Croatia joined the eurozone in January 2023. City walls entry costs around €35 for adults in peak season; Lovrijenac adds a small supplement. The combined Dubrovnik Pass covers both.

For context on reaching the Old Town from the ferry or airport, see the Gruž Port guide and best day trips from Dubrovnik.

Frequently asked questions about Game of Thrones locations in Dubrovnik

How many Game of Thrones episodes were filmed in Dubrovnik?

Dubrovnik was used across Seasons 2 through 8 (2012–2019), appearing in episodes spread across all seven seasons of active production. The city primarily served as King’s Landing, though specific scenes varied by season.

Do you need to pay to access all filming locations?

No. Several key locations — the harbour, St Dominic Street, Pile Gate, and street-level views of Lovrijenac — are accessible free of charge. The city walls and interior of Lovrijenac require paid tickets.

Is photography allowed at filming locations?

Photography is permitted at all outdoor locations. Inside the city walls and at Lovrijenac, there are no restrictions for personal photography. The Rector’s Palace museum has the usual rules about flash photography inside.

Can you film exactly where Cersei walked?

The staircase used for the walk of shame is a public street accessible to anyone. Many visitors photograph themselves on these steps. There is no plaque or official marker — you simply walk up them.

Is the Iron Throne replica still in Dubrovnik?

The replica Iron Throne is located on Lokrum Island, in the monastery complex used as a summer residence. It is part of a small Game of Thrones exhibition. See the Lokrum Island guide for ferry details and opening hours.

What is the best Game of Thrones location if I only have one hour?

Lovrijenac Fortress gives you the most concentrated single location: the Red Keep exterior, views back across the city walls, and the harbour. If you add the walk along the top of the walls above Pile Gate, you cover the Blackwater location at the same time. Allow 90 minutes for both.