If you love Game of Thrones, Croatia will feel like stepping into the show. I've spent hours tracking down every filming spot so you don't have to.
This guide covers every major location, how to visit, and a ready-to-use itinerary. From Dubrovnik's walled streets to Split's ancient palace, each spot is real and worth seeing.
I'll also share the best ways to get there and what to expect when you arrive. By the end, you'll have everything you need to plan a great trip.
Where Was Game of Thrones Filmed in Croatia?
Croatia played a big role in bringing Game of Thrones to life. Much of what you saw on screen was not a studio set. It was a real country with real walls, real forts, and a coastline that looked straight out of a fantasy world.
The production team filmed across three main regions: Dubrovnik, Split, and the Dalmatian Coast.
The crew chose Croatia for good reasons. The old stone architecture matched the show's medieval world. The Adriatic coastline gave a dramatic, cinematic feel. And the country offered variety, from walled cities to island landscapes, all within driving distance.
Dubrovnik became King's Landing. Split's ancient palace became Daenerys' throne room. Klis Fortress became Meereen. Lokrum Island stood in for Qarth. The Dalmatian Coast tied it all together with a look no studio could fake.
Top Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Croatia
Croatia has more filming spots than most fans expect. Here is a breakdown of every key location and what it looked like in the show.
1. Dubrovnik Old Town (King's Landing)
Dubrovnik's walled Old Town is the heart of the Croatia filming locations. Almost every King's Landing street scene was shot here. The narrow alleys, stone buildings, and city walls matched the show's capital city so well that little visual editing was needed.
Walk through Stradun, the main street, and you'll recognize it right away. The Rector's Palace and surrounding squares appeared in many scenes involving the royal court.
Tip: Visit early in the morning. The crowds thin out before 9 AM, and the light is better for photos.
2. Pile Gate (Blackwater Bay Entrance)
Pile Gate is the main entrance to Dubrovnik's Old Town. In the show, this gate area represented the entrance to King's Landing from Blackwater Bay.
Several scenes showing characters arriving at the city by sea were filmed near this gate. It is one of the first things you see when you enter the Old Town, so it's easy to visit.
3. Fort Lovrijenac (The Red Keep)
Fort Lovrijenac sits on a cliff just outside the western walls of Dubrovnik. In Game of Thrones, it served as the Red Keep, the fortress where the royal family lived.
The fort has thick stone walls and looks over the sea. Inside, you'll find open courtyards where Joffrey's name day tournament scenes were filmed.
Entry costs a small fee, but it is included in the Dubrovnik City Walls ticket if you plan your visit right. The views from the top are some of the best in the city.
4. Minceta Tower (House of the Undying)
Minceta Tower is the highest point on Dubrovnik's city walls. In Season 2, it stood in for the exterior of the House of the Undying, where Daenerys searched for her dragons.
The tower's round shape and its position above the city gave it a dramatic look that fit the scene perfectly. You can walk to it along the city walls. It is one of the stops on the standard wall walk route.
5. Bokar Fortress (King's Landing Defenses)
Bokar Fortress is a round, squat fortress at the southwestern corner of Dubrovnik's walls. It faces the sea and was used to represent King's Landing's coastal defenses in the show.
It is not always open to visitors inside, but you can see it clearly from the city walls walk. The exterior shots in Game of Thrones are easy to recognize.
6. Jesuit Staircase (Walk of Shame)
This is one of the most talked-about filming spots in Dubrovnik. The Jesuit Staircase leads up from Gundulić Square to the Church of St. Ignatius.
In Season 5, this staircase was where Cersei Lannister's Walk of Shame was filmed. Thousands of extras lined the steps as she walked down. Today, tourists re-enact the scene here regularly.
The staircase is always open and free to visit. It takes only a few minutes to walk, but most fans linger longer.
7. Trsteno Arboretum (Palace Gardens)
Trsteno Arboretum is located about 18 kilometers north of Dubrovnik. It is one of the oldest arboretums in this part of Europe and features tall trees, fountains, and well-kept gardens.
In Game of Thrones, it was used as the backdrop for the King's Landing palace gardens. Sansa Stark and Margaery Tyrell had several conversations here.
A bus from Dubrovnik takes about 30 minutes. It is a peaceful stop and worth the short trip.
8. Lokrum Island (City of Qarth)
Lokrum is a small island just 10 minutes by ferry from Dubrovnik's old port. It has no permanent residents, only a nature reserve, a monastery, and peacocks wandering freely.
In Season 2, Lokrum stood in for the city of Qarth. The Benedictine monastery cloister was used as the Qarth palace interior. There is also a small Game of Thrones exhibition on the island with some original props and costumes.
Ferries run regularly during tourist season. It makes for an easy half-day trip.
9. Diocletian's Palace (Daenerys' Throne Room)
Diocletian's Palace in Split is a Roman-era complex built around 300 AD. It is not a museum but a living part of the city. Restaurants, shops, and homes fill the ancient walls.
The underground cellars of the palace were used as Daenerys' throne room in Meereen. These subterranean halls are open to visitors and give a strong sense of what they looked like on screen.
Split is about 3.5 hours from Dubrovnik by bus. Most visitors combine Dubrovnik and Split in the same trip.
10. Klis Fortress (City of Meereen)
Klis Fortress sits on a rocky ridge above Split, about 15 minutes by car. It has been standing since ancient times and offers wide views of the surrounding area.
In Game of Thrones, it appeared as the slave city of Meereen. Daenerys stood here to meet the freed slaves. The fortress looks exactly as it did in the show, with stone walls and a hilltop setting.
A taxi or rideshare from Split is the easiest way to get there. Entry fees are low and the visit takes about an hour.
11. Šibenik (Braavos)
Šibenik is a small city located between Split and Zadar on the Dalmatian Coast. Its medieval streets and cathedral area were used to represent Braavos, the city where Arya Stark trained with the Faceless Men.
The Cathedral of St. James and the nearby narrow streets provided the backdrop for several Arya scenes in Seasons 5 and 6.
Šibenik is easy to reach by bus from Split. It is often left off tourist itineraries, which means fewer crowds and a more relaxed visit.
Map of Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Croatia
Croatia's filming locations fall into two main clusters, making it easy to plan your trip around them.
Cluster 1:Dubrovnik Area covers Dubrovnik Old Town, Pile Gate, Fort Lovrijenac, Minceta Tower, Bokar Fortress, the Jesuit Staircase, Trsteno Arboretum, and Lokrum Island. Two to three days here is enough.
Cluster 2:Split and Central Dalmatia covers Diocletian's Palace, Klis Fortress, and Šibenik. One to two days works well for this cluster.
The two cities are about 230 kilometers apart. The bus takes 3.5 to 4 hours. By car, it's closer to 3 hours.
Suggested route:
- Start in Dubrovnik (2 to 3 days)
- Half-day trips to Trsteno and Lokrum
- Travel north to Split (1 to 2 days)
- Day trip to Klis Fortress
- Stop in Šibenik (half day or full day)
- Return to Split or fly home from Split Airport
This route keeps things simple and covers every major filming location without backtracking.
Sample Game of Thrones Itinerary in Croatia
Here is a practical day-by-day plan that covers the major filming locations.
2 Days in Dubrovnik
Two days is the sweet spot for covering all the key King's Landing spots at a relaxed pace.
Day 1
Start at Pile Gate in the morning. Walk through to the Old Town and head straight to Fort Lovrijenac. Spend about 45 minutes there, then walk back through the gate and begin the City Walls walk.
Stop at Minceta Tower and Bokar Fortress along the way. The full wall walk takes about 2 hours at a relaxed pace.
After lunch in the Old Town, walk to the Jesuit Staircase and Gundulić Square. End the afternoon with a stroll down Stradun.
Day 2
Take the morning ferry to Lokrum Island. Visit the monastery cloister, see the Game of Thrones exhibition, and walk the island trails. Return to Dubrovnik by early afternoon.
In the afternoon, take a bus or taxi to Trsteno Arboretum. Spend an hour in the gardens and return to Dubrovnik for the evening.
1 to 2 Days in Split
Split packs a lot into a short visit, from Roman ruins to hilltop fortresses used in the show.
Day 1 in Split
Start in the morning at Diocletian's Palace. Head straight to the underground cellars, which were Daenerys' throne room. Spend about an hour visiting, then walk through the palace's open courtyards and streets.
In the afternoon, take the bus or a taxi to Klis Fortress. I plan to spend about an hour there. The views over Split are worth the trip even without the Game of Thrones connection.
Day 2 in Split (Optional)
Spend the morning in Split's old town if you didn't finish the day before. In the afternoon, take a bus to Šibenik. Walk through the old town, visit the Cathedral of St. James, and visit the alleys used in the Braavos scenes. Return to Split in the evening.
Optional Day Trips (Klis, Lokrum, Trsteno)
If you have extra time, each of these three spots works as a standalone half-day trip:
Lokrum: Best done from Dubrovnik. Ferries run from the old port every 30 minutes in summer. Morning visits are less crowded.
Trsteno: Best done from Dubrovnik. Take bus line 12 or 15 from the main bus station. The garden entrance fee is small.
Klis: Best done from Split. Line 22 bus from Trg Gaje Bulata stop in central Split. Combine with a meal in the village.
Tips to Visit Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Croatia
Getting to the filming spots is easy once you know the best ways to get around.
- Dubrovnik walking tours are the easiest way to cover all the main filming spots. Most last about 2 hours, cost between 20 and 35 euros, and can be booked at the tourist office near Pile Gate or through your hotel. Book a day in advance during summer.
- Split works well as a base for nearby locations. Take local bus line 22 to reach Klis Fortress in about 15 to 20 minutes, or hire a taxi. Šibenik is another easy day trip with buses running several times daily and the ride taking about an hour.
- Croatia cruises along the Dalmatian Coast stop at Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, and Šibenik. Some operators offer Game of Thrones themed itineraries with guided visits at each port. Island hopping by public ferry is a cheaper way to cover the same ground.
- Buy the Dubrovnik City Walls ticket early. It covers the walls, Minceta Tower, and Fort Lovrijenac at one combined price and saves you money compared to paying separately at each spot.
- Visit popular spots early in the morning or after 4 PM to avoid crowds. Carry an offline map since cell service can be patchy in parts of the Old Town, and always check opening hours before heading to Klis Fortress outside peak season.
Conclusion
Croatia has a way of making you feel like you're actually inside the show. I still remember standing at Fort Lovrijenac and thinking, "This is real." There's something special about seeing these places with your own eyes.
If you're planning a trip, start with Dubrovnik and work your way up the coast. You won't regret it.
Have you visited any of these filming spots? Drop a comment below and share your experience. And if this guide helped, share it with a fellow fan!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was most of Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia?
Most of the Croatian filming took place in Dubrovnik, which served as King's Landing. The Old Town, city walls, and nearby forts were used across multiple seasons of the show.
Can you visit the Game of Thrones filming locations in Dubrovnik for free?
Some locations like the Jesuit Staircase are free to visit. Others, like the City Walls and Fort Lovrijenac, require a paid ticket, though combo passes are available at the main entrance gates.
How far is Klis Fortress from Split?
Klis Fortress is about 12 to 15 kilometers from Split city center. It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes by taxi or about 30 minutes on the local number 22 bus.
Is Lokrum Island worth visiting for Game of Thrones fans?
Yes, Lokrum has a small but well-done Game of Thrones exhibition with real props and costumes. The monastery cloister used as the Qarth palace is also easy to identify from the show.
What is the best time of year to visit Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia?
Late spring (May to early June) and early fall (September to October) are the best times. The weather is warm, the crowds are smaller than in peak summer, and most sites are fully open.
