Game of Thrones filming locations in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Walk of Shame | King’s Landing | City of Qarth | Iron Throne | Red Keep | Purple Wedding | The Riot | Blackwater Bay
Are you a real fan of Game of Thrones and haven’t yet visited King’s Landing? Unlikely, but if that’s the case, this is a real opportunity for you to explore Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones filming locations. Feel like you are on a real Game Of Thrones filming set; for example, you’re watching Walk of Shame on Jesuit stairs as it happens.
Thanks to the Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has become one of the World’s most popular destinations to visit, especially now, when the last season is almost finished. You can visit King’s Landing and gain insight into the filming locations like Red Keep, City of Qarth, Gardens of King’s Landing, and much more. Enjoy at the filming location of The Purple Wedding Dubrovnik, where Joffrey gets poisoned. Walk on the steps where the “Walk of shame” scene took place, and Cersei walked naked through the crowds.
The filming crew was shocked when they came to Dubrovnik and saw it for the first time. It looked the same as King’s Landing they had in their minds. The actors were absolutely in love with this place. Food, people, and culture left them breathless. In the last three years of filming here, Dubrovnik has become their favorite filming location and their home far away from home. “Dubrovnik has become their real King’s Landing.”
In the video below, you can find out what the actors said about Dubrovnik and how it was to film Game of Thrones in King’s Landing.
"Croatia has become kind of our home away from home."Go behind the scenes of #GoTSeason5 on location. (via HBO Adria)
Posted by Game of Thrones on Thursday, April 23, 2015
Book your spot on the Best Game of Thrones Tour in Dubrovnik!
Dubrovnik is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979 because of its main attraction – Old Town with City Walls. The City Walls were built during the centuries to protect the city and the Dubrovnik Republic from the foreign attacks. The walls are long 1940 m, and they surround the town and Old Harbor.
Dubrovnik has become the logical choice to be the most popular filming location of the Game of Thrones TV show thanks to the Walls, fortresses, towers, the oldest arboretum in this part of the world- Trsteno Arboretum, “cursed” Lokrum island, etc. As one of the actors said in the video, Dubrovnik looked the same as they pictured King’s Landing in real life.
King’s Landing is the site of the Iron Throne and the Red Keep. The seat of the King of the Andals and the First Men (hence the name). It has a mild Mediterranean climate, and life there is luxurious for those that can afford it.
Now, we are going to show you all the locations you have to explore if you are a real Game Of Thrones fan.
THE CITY OF QARTH FILMING LOCATION – LOKRUM ISLAND
The Real Location
As the legend says, the island of Lokrum is one of the World’s seven cursed islands. From the 11th century, The Saint Benedict monks lived there in their monastery. After Napoleon took over the Republic of Ragusa (today is known as the city of Dubrovnik), he ordered his army to expel the monks from the island. As they were forced to leave the island where they lived for centuries, they cursed everybody who uses the island for his pleasure.
There were a few owners of the island for the next centuries, and they all ended up tragically. In the 20th century, the island fell in the hands of the Yugoslav government under the condition to be used only for recreation. Since then, no one was allowed to spend a night on the island. Today, Lokrum is one of the favorite spots for locals and tourists to spend a whole day enjoying nature and clear sea. Animals like rabbits and peacocks are walking freely among the tourists.
The City of Qarth Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Lokrum Island
Regarding its rich history and natural beauty, it’s not a coincidence that the island of Lokrum has become the City of Qarth – “the greatest city that was or will be.” Lokrum was the filming location of the party in Qarth, where Daenerys meets the city’s elite. At this party, a woman with a veiled face gives a message to Ser Jorah. There were other filming locations for the City Of Qarth. For example, Minceta Tower (The House of Undying) and Rector’s Palace (when the Thirteen rulers of Qarth rejects Danaerys after she asked for help and ships). What better place to film the city of Qarth than Lokrum, don’t you agree?
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THE IRON THRONE FILMING LOCATION – LOKRUM ISLAND
As Viserys Targaryen once said: “The breath of the greatest dragon forged the Iron Throne… the swords of the vanquished, a thousand of them, melted together like so many candles…” It was a real obsession for all the actors! Everybody had a flame in their eyes while standing in front of the Iron Throne. The throne was the first and the last reason for all the wars. Everybody wanted to be a King / Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and sit on the Iron Throne.
It is the throne upon which the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men sit. It was in the Great Hall of the Red Keep at the King’s Landing. The Iron Throne is also a metonym referring to the monarchy that rules the Seven Kingdoms.
In reality, the Iron Throne is on the island of Lokrum (City of Qarth). HBO’s crew was so amazed by this filming location and hospitality of Dubrovnik’s people that they had given the Iron Throne to Dubrovnik City as a memory of filming their most popular TV show ever. With that gesture, the island of Lokrum has become the most visited filming location of King’s Landing. A short boat ride from The Old Town harbor will take you to a beautiful island and botanic garden. It was the filming location for Qarth and garden scenes with Lady Olenna and Sansa/Margaery before The Purple Wedding.
If you are a true fan of Game of Thrones, this is going to be an excellent experience for you and your friends. Come here, sit on The Iron Throne, take a picture, and force your followers to bend the knee to a true King / Queen.
TYRELL GARDEN FILMING LOCATION – TRSTENO ARBORETUM
The Real Location
Trsteno Arboretum is the oldest arboretum in this part of the world. Local noble family Gozze owned the arboretum in the 15th century. Ship captains brought back seeds from all over the world, and the family planted them. It includes a park surrounding the 15th-century summer residence, which is a monument of garden architecture. It is approx. 20 km from Dubrovnik.
Tyrell Garden Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Trsteno Arboretum
This magnificent garden was used as a filming location in the Game of Thrones (season 3 and 4) and earned the nickname the “Tyrell Garden”. In this Arboretum, there was the scene where Sansa meets with Margaery and her grandmother Lady Olenna Tyrell to discuss if King Joffrey is going to be a good husband for Margaery (Season 3, Episode 2). Trsteno was also the filming location for the scene where Oberyn promises Cercei that he will deliver a gift to Myrcella (Season 4, Episode 5).
It might be hard to find all the locations by yourself, so we suggest booking a tour with an expert GOT guide!
THE RED KEEP FILMING LOCATION – LOVRIJENAC FORT
The Real Location
Lovrijenac Fortress (or St. Lawrence Fortress) dates from the 11th century within just three months. Its purpose was to defend the city from the Venetians. Two drawbridges lead to the Fort. Above the gate, there is an inscription “Non Bene Pro Toto Libertas Venditur Auro”, which means you should never sell freedom, not for all the treasures in the world. It is often called “Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar”.
Nowadays, this Fortress is famous because of the performances held in it. That is the reason why Lovrijenac has become well-known as the theater outside the western walls of the city. Shakespeare’s Hamlet on the Lovrijenac’s stage has become the symbol of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival.
Also, if you want to get married at “The Red Keep”, you can rent the Fortress for your special day and enjoy one of the most beautiful views of King’s Landing.
Red Keep Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Lovrijenac
In the Game Of Thrones, Fort Lovrijenac (The Red Keep) is the residence of the King of the Andals and the First Men. It is within King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, and dominates the skyline of the city while serving as the city’s primary fortress and redoubt. On this filming location, Cersei and Littlfinger had long conversations in Season 1.
A little tip if you are planning to visit this filming location: entrance is free if you have City Walls admission ticket (valid three days).
MULTIPLE SCENES FILMING LOCATIONS – WALLS OF DUBROVNIK
The Real Location
We already talked about The City Walls as the most popular and beautiful tourist attraction in Dubrovnik. One of the best fortification systems of the middle ages was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. You can read more about the Walls on wallsofdubrovnik.com
Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Walls of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik’s City walls have been featured countless times in the Game of Thrones series. One of the most memorable scenes set along the city was in the Season 3 premiere ‘Valar Dohaeris’ when Tyrion, Bronn, and Podrick walk along the walls as workers repair the damage from the Battle of Blackwater. In Season 4, Episode 7 ‘Mockingbird’ The City Walls were used as the filming location in the scene where the Mountain kills prisoners and again in Season 5, Episode 3 ‘High Sparrow’ where King Tommen Baratheon tells Cersei she should return to Casterly Rock.
Also, The Walls are part of Season 5, Episode 4 ‘The Sons of the Harpy’ when Lancel apprehends Loras Tyrell leading to his arrest, and it’s from the Walls that we see the ship carrying Marcella’s body en route to King’s Landing in Season 6, Episode 1 ‘The Red Woman’.
Pro Tip!
If you want to visit City Walls, the entrance ticket is 200 HRK per person for adults. You can buy it via Viator to avoid the crowds on the entrance and skip the line on this link.
WALK OF SHAME FILMING LOCATION – JESUIT STAIRS
The Real Location
Another filming location we are discovering is the Jesuit (Spanish) steps in Dubrovnik, by Saint Ignatius Church.
Walk Of Shame Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Jesuit Stairs
Here was the scene when Cersei had to walk naked in the streets of King’s Landing from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep. It is probably one of the most famous scenes in the whole Game of Thrones series. All the time, an annoying woman was ringing a bell in her ear, saying shame. Here, the first scene, where Cersei is standing on the top of the stairs, took place.
Interesting fact
For filming this scene, HBO paid a large amount because there is a lot of restaurants and coffee bars in this street. They had to close for the whole day during the filming. That’s why this is one of the most expensive scenes in the entire Game of Thrones shooting in Dubrovnik.
THE PURPLE WEDDING FILMING LOCATION – GRADAC PARK
The Real Location
Gradac park is not big and consists of a few tree-lined avenues with a large fountain near the entrance. The best part is a beautiful view of the Lovrijenac Fortress. The Red Keep and the rocky outcrop of Dance Bay is a lovely secluded spot for sunbathing, watching the sunset, and generally chilling out with its beach bar.
The Purple Wedding Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Gradac
In the Game of Thrones, this filming location was used for probably (we’ll be a little subjective) the most satisfying moment in the series. We’re talking about The Purple wedding, where King Joffrey got poisoned during the wedding feast. Joffrey’s uncle, Tyrion Lannister, is arrested for the murder, and Sansa Stark accused of being his accomplice though the actual offenders are Lord Petyr Baelish and Lady Olenna Tyrell.
THE RIOT FILMING LOCATION – PILE GATE
The Real Location
Pile Gate was built in the 14th century by Ivan of Siena. Today, Pile Gate is the main entrance into the Old Town. You have to go over the drawbridge to enter the city walls at Pile Gate. The drawbridge was closed each night in the ages of the Republic of Dubrovnik. Nowadays, the gates of Dubrovnik are always open to countless visitors.
The Riot Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Pile Gate
The Pile Gate entrance has been used as the filming location many times in Seasons 2 and 3. Most notably in Season 2, Episode 6 ‘The Old Gods and the New’ in the scene “The Riot” when King Joffrey returns to Red Keep after Marcella went to Dorne and he gets attacked by angry mobs gathered at the entrance. He screams, ‘Kill him, kill them all’ after someone throws manure at his face. The gate also features in Season 3, Episode 10 ‘Mhysa’ when Jamie Lannister returns to King’s Landing.
BLACKWATER BAY FILMING LOCATION – PILE BAY
The Real Location
One of the most beautiful places in the Old Town represents Blackwater Bay in the series. This calm spot was once an important transport hub for seafarers arriving in the western part of the city. It has views of both Bokar and Lovrijenac Fort, and Game of Thrones scenes have taken place from all angles of the cove.
Blackwater Bay Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Pile Bay
This filming location is the place where the Lannisters bid farewell to Myrcella. Shae and Sansa were watching ships in Pile bay before Lord Baelish discussed escape plans with Sansa. There was also the scene of killing Robert Baratheon’s bastards at Pile bay.
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PICTURE OF KING’S LANDING – SRĐ HILL
The Real Location
If you want to take a bird view picture of King’s Landing as if it was at the palm of your hand, Srdj hill is the best choice.
There is a Cable Car leading to the top of the mountain, or you can go by car. Enjoy the magnificent view, which is worth getting up there.
Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones Filming Location – Srdj Hill
In the Game of Thrones, it was the filming location for a portion of the King’s Road, where the Martell convoy arrives in season 4.
SUMMARY
As Sansa Stark once said: “Growing up at Winterfell, all I ever wanted was to escape, to come here, to the capital. I wanted to see the southern knights and their painted armor, and King’s Landing after dark. All the candles were burning in all those windows…”
All she ever wanted was to come to King’s Landing. That’s your dream too? You can escape from your ordinary life and dive into an unforgettable experience of Game of Thrones by coming to Dubrovnik.
Fulfill your dreams and come to King’s Landing to feel the magic of this filming location. You won’t regret it for sure!
And when you come to Dubrovnik don’t miss to book The best GOT tour!
Do you know all Game of Thrones filming locations?
Now that You already know that Dubrovnik had the main role in the popular Game of Thrones it’s no surprise that Croatia has seen a huge jump in tourism thanks to that. TripAdvisor has revealed that traveler interest has increased an average of 120 percent as people search for information about 10 real-life filming locations. From Jon Snow and Ygritte’s cave in Iceland to the actual site of Braavos, these Westerosi spots should be on any true fan’s trip list.
Photos by: Just Dubrovnik / Unsplash.com / HBO / Condé Nast Traveler
