📑 Table of Contents ▾
Bottom line first: Dubrovnik’s old city is the best-preserved medieval city on the eastern Adriatic coast and the filming location for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. The old town isn’t large — 2 days is enough for a thorough visit — but summer crowds are overwhelming; May or October is recommended. The view from the top of the city walls is one of the most spectacular in all of Croatia.
Dubrovnik is located at the southern end of Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The city suffered heavy shelling during the 1991 Yugoslav Civil War; restoration took 20 years to complete, and today it welcomes visitors from around the world in its renewed form.
City Walls
Dubrovnik’s city walls are one of the most complete defensive systems in Europe. The full circuit is about 2 km and takes about 1.5–2 hours to walk. The walls are divided into three sections; the highest point is Minceta Tower (about 80 meters above sea level).
Details:
- Opening hours: April–October 8:00–18:30 (extended to 19:30 in peak season)
- Entry: Approximately ¥180/person (half price December–March)
- Best time: Go right at 8 AM when the gates open, or after 5 PM (soft light, fewer visitors)
Book the Dubrovnik City Wall + Lenzi Cable Car combo ticket through Tiqets — the combo saves about ¥20 versus buying separately; ¥200/person includes both the walls and round-trip cable car.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations
70% of Dubrovnik’s exteriors appeared in Game of Thrones Seasons 1–4. Key filming locations:
| In-Show Location | Actual Filming Site | Recommended Time |
|---|---|---|
| King’s Landing | The entire old town | 2 days |
| Red Wedding (interior) | St. Ignatius Church interior | 20 minutes |
| Cersei’s walk of atonement | Steps below Minceta Tower | 10 minutes |
| Meereen | Lokrum Island (15-minute boat ride) | Half a day |
Gates of Meereen: On Lokrum Island — the filming location for Meereen in the show. The island has a free Game of Thrones themed exhibition and an Iron Throne replica.
Exploring the Old City Interior
Recommended Route (Half Day)
- Pile Gate → Enter the old city
- Sponza Palace: The only building that survived the civil war intact
- Stradun: The old city’s main street, 193 meters long, lined with cafes on both sides
- Cathedral of the Assumption: Free entry, housing relics said to be from the True Cross
- Rector’s Palace: Former seat of the city’s ruling Rector
Lokrum Island
A 15-minute boat ride from the old city harbor brings you to Lokrum Island — the most worthwhile half-day destination in the Dubrovnik area. The island has a botanical garden, wild peacocks and flamingos, and a natural seawater pool (the Dead Lake).
Book Lokrum Island boat tickets through Klook — round-trip boat + island entry about ¥130/person. Multiple departures daily; booking in advance is recommended during peak season (June–September).
Montenegro Day Trip
Dubrovnik is about 1.5 hours by car from the Montenegro border — a same-day round trip is possible:
- Kotor: A fjord city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Budva: A coastal old city with vibrant nightlife
- Blue Cave: Boat tour, about 3 hours
Book Dubrovnik to Kotor transfer through QEEQ — a 7-seat business vehicle including border crossing permit costs approximately €180–220; more hassle-free than self-driving.
Accommodation Recommendations
| Area | Type | Price/Night | Pros & Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside old city | Apartment/Airbnb | ¥600–1,200 | Great atmosphere, but difficult to drag luggage |
| 3 minutes outside old city | 3-star hotel | ¥500–900 | Best value for money |
| Lapad Peninsula | 5-star resort | ¥1,500–3,000 | Private, quiet, sea views |
Seasonal Recommendations
| Month | Temperature | Crowds | Accommodation | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May–June | 18–25°C | Moderate | Reasonable | ★★★★ |
| July–August | 25–30°C | Overwhelming | Expensive | ★★★ |
| September–October | 18–25°C | Decreasing | Dropping | ★★★★★ |
| November–April | 8–15°C | Very few | Low | ★★★ |
Want to turn travel into a career? Join Travel Arbitrage Partners
