When HBO picked Croatia as a major filming location for Game of Thrones, it honestly felt like the country was meant for the job. Croatia’s ancient cities, rugged coastlines, and stunning architecture just ooze that fantasy vibe. You can practically see why the creators fell in love with these spots.
You can stroll the same streets where Daenerys once ruled Meereen, wander through the real King’s Landing, or get lost in the Free Cities that hooked millions of fans. Dubrovnik’s massive walls became the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, and Split’s ancient palace transformed into Meereen’s Great Pyramid. It’s wild how these places let you step right into your favorite scenes.
Let me walk you through the most iconic Game of Thrones filming locations across Croatia. We’ll hit the must-sees in Dubrovnik and Split, but I’ll also let you in on some hidden gems in Šibenik and Trogir. If you’re planning a Game of Thrones pilgrimage or just want to soak up Croatia’s landscapes, these spots blur the line between fantasy and reality—and trust me, your European trip will never be the same.
Dubrovnik: The Real King’s Landing
Dubrovnik became Westeros’ capital city, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine a better fit. The medieval architecture and the dramatic coastline set the scene for so many unforgettable moments—royal ceremonies, epic battles, and those tense character showdowns.
Fort Lovrijenac as the Red Keep
When I first saw Fort Lovrijenac, perched 37 meters above the Adriatic, I instantly recognized it as the Red Keep. This ancient fortress hosted King Joffrey’s tournament scenes during his name day.
You’ll find it just west of Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Locals call it “Dubrovnik’s Gibraltar,” and for good reason—the views over the harbor are incredible. That same harbor became Blackwater Bay on screen.
Key scenes filmed here:
- King Joffrey’s tournament
- Cersei’s confrontations
- Red Keep exteriors
Filmmakers played with different angles, sometimes adding props to change things up. You can visit the fort’s interior during regular hours and feel the Game of Thrones energy in every stone.
Pile Gate: Gateway to King’s Landing
Pile Gate is the main western entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, and it’s where some of the show’s most intense scenes went down. Remember the riot scene with King Joffrey? That was filmed right here.
During shooting, the crew actually locked the gate for about 20 minutes. Tourists waiting outside weren’t thrilled, especially with cruise ships in town. The gate’s medieval design fit the show perfectly, and you can still walk through the same entrance that saw so much chaos on screen.
What makes this spot stand out:
- Authentic medieval gateway
- Main entrance to historic Dubrovnik
- Site of the infamous riot
Jesuit Staircase and the Walk of Shame
The Jesuit Staircase shot to fame after it became the backdrop for Cersei’s walk of shame. Local church officials almost blocked filming because of the nudity, but the scene made it in—and now, it’s a tourist magnet.
I’ve seen people buy “shame” bells from street vendors and reenact the scene. The area’s packed with cafés and shops that cater to fans. The controversy just made it even more famous, and social media posts from these steps always get a reaction.
City Walls and Iconic Battle Scenes
Dubrovnik’s 2-kilometer city walls pop up throughout the series. Minčeta Tower became the House of the Undying, where Daenerys searched for her dragons.
Fort Bokar shows up in Season 2 when Varys and Tyrion talk strategy. Down below, West Harbor hosted the Blackwater Bay battle and those tense chats between Sansa and Littlefinger.
Major wall locations:
- Minčeta Tower: House of the Undying
- Fort Bokar: Dialogue scenes
- West Harbor: Naval battles
- Ploče Gate: Red Keep entrance
The production team dressed up the walls with digital effects and props, giving each spot a unique look for different episodes.
Split and Klis Fortress: The Heart of Meereen
Split took on the role of Meereen, Daenerys’ conquered city. Two main spots made it happen: Diocletian’s Palace for the interiors, and Klis Fortress for those imposing city walls.
Diocletian’s Palace: Daenerys’ Throne Room
Right in Split’s old town, Diocletian’s Palace is one of the easiest Game of Thrones locations to visit. This Roman palace, standing for over 1,700 years, became Meereen’s grand interiors.
The palace basements turned into Daenerys’ throne room. I walked those same corridors where Emilia Clarke ruled as the Dragon Queen.
Key filming areas:
- Underground basements (throne room)
- Stone hallways (palace interiors)
- Courtyards (Meereen scenes)
Shops and restaurants fill the palace today, so you can explore the filming spots while soaking up Split’s modern vibe.
Klis Fortress: The Gates of Meereen
Klis Fortress sits high above Split, about a 20-minute drive away. This medieval stronghold became Meereen’s outer walls and gates.
Climbing the fortress between the Kozjak and Mosor mountains was an adventure. The stone walls starred in several scenes as Meereen’s defenses.
What I noticed at Klis:
- Stone ramparts as Meereen’s exterior
- Sweeping views over Split and the sea
- Classic Croatian architecture
- Rugged mountain setting
Standing there, it’s obvious why the show picked this place. The dramatic cliffs and views scream “fantasy city.”
Papalićeva Street Slave Rebellion Scenes
Inside Diocletian’s Palace, Papalićeva Street set the stage for Meereen’s slave rebellion scenes. I wandered the narrow, ancient street where the action happened.
The stone walls and tight passages felt straight out of medieval times. The street links different parts of the palace, so it’s easy to find while exploring other filming locations.
Lokrum Island and Trsteno Arboretum: Qarth and the Gardens
Just a quick boat ride from Dubrovnik, Lokrum Island became the exotic city of Qarth, while Trsteno Arboretum turned into the lush gardens of King’s Landing. These spots really show off Croatia’s natural magic.
Lokrum Island as Qarth: The City of Wonders
Lokrum Island is a perfect Qarth stand-in—it’s only 15 minutes by taxi-boat from Dubrovnik. The botanical gardens on the island set the scene for Daenerys’s adventures. Wild peacocks roam everywhere, which inspired those golden peacock statues in the show.
Key Features:
- 72 hectares of gardens and forests
- Fort Royal Castle at the top
- Mrtvo More (Dead Sea), a unique saltwater lake
- Free Game of Thrones visitor center with an Iron Throne replica
The island’s greenery and Mediterranean vibe made it an easy choice for Qarth.
Benedictine Monastery and the House of the Undying
The old Benedictine monastery on Lokrum pulled double duty in the series. Built back in 1023, it hosted the garden party scenes where Daenerys met Xaro Xhoan Daxos.
You can wander the ruins where Pyat Pree worked his magic. The overgrown gardens and stone walls give the place a mystical atmosphere.
Archduke Maximilian added his own residence to the ruins in 1859, layering even more history onto the site.
What to See:
- Monastery foundations from 1023
- 19th-century Austrian additions
- Filming spots for garden parties
- Game of Thrones exhibition inside
Trsteno Arboretum: The Gardens of King’s Landing
Trsteno Arboretum, Croatia’s oldest garden, became the Tyrell gardens in King’s Landing. It’s about 20 kilometers from Dubrovnik, and you can get there by bus or ferry.
The massive plane trees and formal gardens set the scene for the Tyrells’ power plays. The 500-year-old grounds show off Renaissance landscaping at its best.
The mansion and terraced gardens made a stunning backdrop for those political scenes. The Mediterranean plants and stonework fit right in with the show’s vibe.
Definitely check out both the upper terraces and the waterfront for different filming perspectives. The mix of ancient architecture and mature gardens made this spot unmissable.
Šibenik and Trogir: Braavos and Exotic Cities
Šibenik stepped in as Braavos during Season 5, while Trogir’s old palaces became the interiors of Qarth. Both cities give fans a chance to walk through unforgettable fantasy locations.
Šibenik as Braavos: The Iron Bank and Beyond
Šibenik played Braavos in three episodes of Season 5. The city became home to the Iron Bank, which pretty much controlled Westeros’s finances.
The Cathedral of St. James appeared in episode nine as a key Braavos spot. This UNESCO World Heritage site provided a majestic backdrop for merchant city scenes.
St. John’s Fortress turned into Meereen’s fighting pits, where Jorah battled while Daenerys watched.
Šibenik’s old town, with its stone buildings and narrow lanes, created an authentic Braavos. When Arya arrived, viewers saw the city’s medieval contours and waterfront.
These locations are open to visitors. The fortress has amazing sea views, and the cathedral’s stonework is jaw-dropping.
Šibenik might be the smallest Game of Thrones filming city in Croatia, but it packs in plenty of history and charm.
Trogir’s Palaces: Rich Interiors of Qarth
Trogir’s medieval palaces provided the interiors for Qarth’s wealthy merchant homes. The town’s Gothic and Renaissance buildings set the perfect exotic scene.
The Cipiko Palace and other noble houses wowed with ornate carvings and grand halls. These spots showed off Qarth’s opulence during Daenerys’s story.
Trogir sits on a little island, linked by bridges. Its tight streets and ancient walls made it ideal for filming those bustling city scenes.
The Cathedral of St. Lawrence and nearby palaces date back centuries, mixing styles that gave Qarth its unique look.
You can still explore these palaces and courtyards today. Many house museums, shops, or restaurants where you can experience the filming locations firsthand.
Trogir earned UNESCO status for its preserved medieval heart. Wandering its streets really does feel like stepping into a Game of Thrones episode.
Hidden Locations and Practical Travel Tips
Croatia hides some lesser-known Game of Thrones sites beyond Dubrovnik and Split. The Adriatic coast has filming secrets and timing tricks that can make your adventure even better.
Ston and the Coastal Routes
Ston might just be Croatia’s best-kept Game of Thrones secret. Tucked away on the Pelješac Peninsula, this little town actually played a big role as King’s Landing’s defenses.
You can’t miss the Walls of Ston—they snake across the hills for more than 5 kilometers. It’s kind of wild to realize they’re the second-longest preserved fortification system in the world. If you’ve watched the show closely, you’ll spot them in several episodes as those extra layers of protection around the capital.
The drive up the Adriatic coast from Dubrovnik to Ston only takes about an hour. Honestly, it’s one of those routes where you’ll want to pull over every ten minutes just to take in the views. Along the way, you’ll hit a few other filming hotspots.
If you love seafood, you’ve got to swing by Mali Ston. Locals serve up oysters so fresh you’ll wonder why you ever ate them anywhere else. Plus, the waterfront gives you some of the best photo ops of the ancient walls—perfect for anyone chasing that medieval vibe.
Right outside Ston, you’ll find these striking salt flats—white salt pans that showed up in the background of a few scenes. The contrast between the shimmering salt and those old stone walls is something you just have to see.
Filming Secrets and Set Accessibility
Most Game of Thrones locations in Croatia are surprisingly easy to visit. I noticed that the production team kept things simple, using very little construction or temporary set dressing.
Take Diocletian’s Palace in Split, for example. They didn’t need to change much. The palace’s basement already looked like it belonged to Daenerys, so crews just brought in some props and tweaked the lighting.
Over at Lovrijenac Fortress, the team only added a few temporary wooden structures to transform it into the Red Keep. As soon as filming wrapped, they took everything down. Now, the fortress looks just like it did before the cameras showed up.
I found it fascinating how the crew used clever camera angles to block out modern buildings—especially in Dubrovnik. They’d pick certain sections of the walls so you’d never spot anything out of place in the background.
One of my favorite discoveries? Many of the extras were actually locals. Some of them still work as tour guides, and if you’re lucky, they’ll share a few behind-the-scenes stories from their days on set.
Best Times to Visit Game of Thrones Sites
May through September brings the warmest weather, but honestly, you’ll run into the biggest crowds. I’ve seen July and August get especially packed at every filming location—sometimes it feels like all of Europe showed up.
I usually aim for April or October. The weather stays comfortable, and there’s a noticeable dip in tourist numbers. Snagging those epic photos without a sea of selfie sticks? Way easier.
Winter months? They serve up the most authentic Game of Thrones vibes. Moody skies, chilly air, and hardly any crowds—it’s almost eerie how immersive it gets. Just a heads up, though: some boat tours to Lokrum Island might not run as often.
If you want to beat the crowds at hotspots like Dubrovnik’s walls, show up early. I like to get there right when they open, before the big tour groups roll in mid-morning.
Sunset timing shifts depending on the season:
- Summer: 8:00–8:30 PM
- Spring/Fall: 6:00–7:30 PM
- Winter: 4:30–5:30 PM
If you’re planning to stay in Split or Dubrovnik during peak months, book your accommodation early. Hotels fill up fast between June and August—don’t leave it to chance!
