Trsteno Arboretum: Dubrovnik's Renaissance garden and Game of Thrones location

A garden that outlasted the republic that created it

In 1492 — the year Columbus crossed the Atlantic — the Ragusan noble Ivan Marinov Gozze (Gučetić) established a garden at his summer villa in Trsteno, a coastal village 24 km north of Dubrovnik. He planted exotic specimens brought from Mediterranean trading voyages: oriental planes, palms, pomegranates, oleanders, and agaves. He designed formal walks, terraces, and water features using the gravity-fed freshwater spring on the hillside above.

Five hundred and thirty years later, that garden is still there. The Republic of Ragusa is gone, Napoleon came and went, Austria ruled, Yugoslavia formed and dissolved, Croatia became independent. Trsteno Arboretum survived all of it — damaged by fires in 1991 (set by Yugoslav forces during the siege), damaged again by the 2003 fire that destroyed 3,000 of its oldest trees, but surviving and partially recovering. The two oriental plane trees planted in 1492 are still standing.

The two great plane trees

The arboretum’s most famous features are two oriental plane trees (Platanus orientalis) planted in 1492 and grown to extraordinary dimensions over five centuries:

• Circumference: Up to 10 metres around the base
• Height: Approximately 40 metres
• Canopy spread: Over 50 metres diameter

These are among the oldest and largest oriental plane trees in Europe. Standing under the canopy, which creates a vast natural umbrella, is one of those moments that requires no historical context to be affecting. The trees are simply magnificent.

The plane trees frame the villa terrace and create the principal gathering space of the garden. They were here before Shakespeare was born; they were mature trees when the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake struck; they survived the 1991 fires that destroyed younger sections of the garden.

The garden design: Renaissance ideals in Dalmatian soil

The Gozze villa garden follows Italian Renaissance principles: geometric organisation, axial symmetry, the integration of water and stone, and the explicit display of wealth and taste through horticultural variety. Ragusan noble families routinely built summer villas on the Riviera north of the city (from Lapad to Trsteno), competing in garden design and specimen collection.

Trsteno is the best-preserved of these gardens. Key features:

Formal terrace garden: Immediately above the house, with geometric beds, trimmed hedges, and views down to the sea. The terrace layout is largely 18th-century in its current form, but the bones of the original Renaissance design are present.

Neptune fountain (18th century): A Baroque fountain with Neptune at the centre flanked by nymphs, fed by the uphill spring through an aqueduct that still functions. This is the most photographed element of the arboretum and the recognisable feature for Game of Thrones viewers.

Woodland walk: The hillside above the formal garden contains the arboretum proper — collected specimens from Mediterranean, subtropical, and temperate climates. After the 2003 fire many specimens were lost; replanting has continued but the woodland is younger than it appears in older photographs.

Aqueduct and water system: The gravity-fed water system bringing spring water to the garden and house is a piece of Renaissance engineering that still operates. The aqueduct traces are visible on the hillside.

Game of Thrones: the Red Keep garden

Trsteno appeared in Game of Thrones as the gardens of the Red Keep in King’s Landing during Seasons 1 (2011), 2 (2012), and 3 (2013). The Neptune fountain appears prominently in scenes featuring Sansa Stark walking with Cersei and later with Olenna Tyrell. The garden setting was used to convey the lush, private space of the royal citadel.

The correspondence between the actual arboretum and the fictional garden is close enough that fans recognise it immediately. The Neptune fountain’s camera angle matches its position in several episodes precisely. The Game of Thrones locations guide maps this and other filming locations across the Dubrovnik area.

The original GoT tour combining Lokrum and old town filming locations covers the old town sites; a separate Trsteno visit rounds out the full filming location experience for dedicated fans.

Practical visiting information

Address: Trsteno, 20235 (village of Trsteno, 24 km north of Dubrovnik on the D8 coastal road)

Opening hours: 8 am–6 pm in summer (April–October); 8 am–4 pm winter (November–March). Open daily.

Admission (2025): Approximately €8–10 per person. Children under 7 often free.

Getting there:

• Bus: City bus lines 12 or 15 from Pile gate (Dubrovnik) stop in Trsteno village. Journey approximately 30–40 minutes. Check current schedules.
• Car: 24 km north on the coastal road D8 from Dubrovnik. Parking available in the village.
• Organised tour: Several Dubrovnik tour operators run half-day excursions to Trsteno, often combined with other north coastal destinations.

Time needed: 1–1.5 hours for a thorough visit.

Facilities: A small café on site. Toilets available. Limited souvenir shop.

Combining Trsteno with other day trips

Trsteno works naturally as a half-day excursion combined with:

• Ston and Mali Ston: Continue north from Trsteno for 40 km to the Ston walls and oysters. Full day by car.
• Konavle and Cavtat: Go south from Dubrovnik instead; combine Trsteno as a first stop before heading north, or save for a separate trip.
• Driving the coastal road: The D8 from Dubrovnik to Split passes several historic sites, with Trsteno the most immediately accessible from the city.

The 3-day Dubrovnik itinerary includes Trsteno as an optional add-on to the Ston day trip.

Frequently asked questions about Trsteno Arboretum

Is Trsteno Arboretum managed by the state?

Yes — Trsteno Arboretum is administered by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti, HAZU), which took over management from the state after the arboretum was nationalised in the communist period (the Gozze family’s descendants lost the property after 1945). HAZU manages it as a scientific and cultural institution, which is why it’s classified as an arboretum rather than simply a garden.

Was the 2003 fire devastating?

The August 2003 wildfire destroyed approximately 3,000 trees and a significant portion of the woodland sections. The formal garden and the two great plane trees survived. Replanting and restoration has continued since; some sections have recovered well, while others remain visibly younger than the surviving historic areas. Visitors should not expect the garden to be in its pre-fire condition — it is recovering.

Can I see the filming locations exactly as in Game of Thrones?

The Neptune fountain and the terrace area appear in the show very close to their actual form. The exact camera positions can be matched with some patience. The light, setting, and vegetation are immediately recognisable.

Is Trsteno suitable for children?

Yes — the large plane trees are impressive even to young children, and the garden is open and safe to explore. The aqueduct and water features provide natural interest. The game of identifying Game of Thrones filming locations also works well for older children and teenagers.

Are there other Renaissance villas on the Dubrovnik Riviera?

Several Ragusan noble villas survive on the coast between Dubrovnik and Trsteno, though most are privately owned or in various states of preservation. The landscape of villa gardens, olive groves, and fishing villages along this coastal strip was the summer landscape of the Ragusan nobility. Trsteno is the most accessible and best-preserved of the garden complexes.