Dubrovnik’s Old Town is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval cities in the world — and it’s compact enough to explore on foot in a single, unforgettable morning. This self-guided walking tour of Dubrovnik Old Town takes you along a logical route past every major sight, tells you what to look for, and points out the Game of Thrones filming locations along the way. Best of all, most of it is completely free.
Walking tip: The Old Town limestone streets are polished smooth by centuries of footsteps — wear grippy-soled shoes. In summer, start early (before 9 am) to beat the heat and cruise-ship crowds.
Before you start
- Time needed: 1.5–2 hours at a relaxed pace for this route (without entering paid sights). Add 1.5–2 hours if you walk the city walls.
- Start point: Pile Gate — the main western entrance to the Old Town. Buses and taxis stop immediately outside.
- Cost: The walking route itself is free. Paid sights along the way include the Franciscan Monastery cloister, Rector’s Palace, Cathedral treasury, and Dominican Monastery museum. City walls cost €40 (separate).
- What to wear: Comfortable, grippy-soled shoes are essential — the limestone paving is slippery, especially when wet. Light layers and sun protection in summer.
- Etiquette: Dubrovnik’s Old Town is a living community as well as a tourist site. Keep noise low in residential streets, give way to locals, and be respectful inside churches.
Guided Game of Thrones tours of Dubrovnik Old Town
Want more than the self-guided route? Dubrovnik Game of Thrones walking tours cover every King’s Landing filming location in the Old Town with a licensed local guide — from the Pile Gate and Stradun to the Jesuit Stairs (Walk of Shame), Blackwater Bay, and Fort Lovrijenac (Red Keep). Group tours from $23; private tours available. Some add Lokrum Island (Iron Throne) and Trsteno Arboretum (King’s Landing gardens).
The self-guided walking route
Follow this Dubrovnik Old Town walk in order for a natural loop that starts and ends near the two main gates.
Stop 1 — Pile Gate
Begin at Pile Gate, the grand 14th-century western entrance. Cross the stone bridge over the former moat and pass through the outer and inner Gothic arches into the Old Town. Pause to look up at the statue of St. Blaise.
🏭 Game of Thrones: The Pile area and harbour just outside double as the streets and gate of King’s Landing near Blackwater Bay — the setting for the mob riot where the crowd pelts King Joffrey (Season 2).
Stop 2 — Large Onofrio’s Fountain
Just inside the gate stands the Large Onofrio’s Fountain (1438–44), a domed 16-sided fountain that once supplied the city with fresh water via a hilltop aqueduct. The water is drinkable — fill your bottle before going on.
Stop 3 — Franciscan Monastery & the Old Pharmacy
To your right, the Franciscan Monastery houses a serene Romanesque-Gothic cloister and one of the oldest working pharmacies in Europe, operating since 1317. Step inside to see the tranquil courtyard.
Stop 4 — Stradun (Placa)
Walk the length of the Stradun, the Old Town’s magnificent main street. Its limestone paving has been polished to a shine by centuries of footsteps. Lined with uniform Baroque façades rebuilt after the catastrophic 1667 earthquake, it’s the city’s beating heart.
🏭 Game of Thrones: The Stradun forms part of the route of Cersei’s Walk of Shame (Season 5), the atonement march through King’s Landing.
Stop 5 — Luža Square: Sponza Palace, Bell Tower & Orlando’s Column
At the eastern end, the street opens into Luža Square. Here: Sponza Palace (16th-century Gothic-Renaissance, former customs house, now the state archive and the moving Memorial Room of the Dubrovnik Defenders); the Bell Tower (with its bronze “Green Men” who strike the hours); Orlando’s Column (medieval knight’s statue, symbol of the free city).
Stop 6 — Church of St. Blaise
The Baroque Church of St. Blaise honours Dubrovnik’s patron saint. The statue inside holds a model of Dubrovnik as it looked before the 1667 earthquake.
Stop 7 — Rector’s Palace
The elegant Rector’s Palace blends Gothic and Renaissance styles. It was the seat of the elected Rector who governed the Republic of Ragusa — a role that lasted just one month to prevent tyranny. Inside is the Cultural History Museum (paid entry).
🏭 Game of Thrones: The palace’s outer steps served as the Spice King’s residence in Qarth, where Daenerys asks for ships to Westeros (Season 2).
Stop 8 — Dubrovnik Cathedral
Nearby, the Baroque Cathedral of the Assumption, rebuilt after the earthquake, holds a treasury of relics and religious art.
Stop 9 — Gundulic’ Square & the Jesuit Staircase
Head to Gundulic’ Square, home to a lively morning market. From here, climb the sweeping 1726 Baroque Jesuit Staircase up to the Church of St. Ignatius.
🏭 Game of Thrones: This is THE most famous Dubrovnik GoT location. The top of the Jesuit Stairs is where Cersei’s Walk of Shame begins — the crowd chanting “Shame, shame” (Season 5, Episode 10). The stairs are free and open 24 hours.
Stop 10 — Dominican Monastery
Walk northeast toward Ploče Gate to find the large Gothic Dominican Monastery with a peaceful cloister and art museum.
🏭 Game of Thrones: The monastery steps and adjacent St. Dominic Street feature in King’s Landing market and protest scenes (Season 2).
Stop 11 — Old Port & Ploče Gate
Finish at the Old Port (Stara Luka) and Ploče Gate, the eastern entrance. Boats depart from here for Lokrum Island (GoT’s Qarth). The gate appears as the Red Keep approach at the end of Cersei’s Walk of Shame.
To visit Lokrum Island from here, see our Lokrum Island guide.
Which sights are Game of Thrones locations?
On this self-guided walking tour Dubrovnik route, the King’s Landing (and Qarth) locations are:
- Pile Gate & harbour — Blackwater Bay
- Stradun — Cersei’s Walk of Shame route
- Rector’s Palace — the Spice King’s residence (Qarth)
- Jesuit Staircase — the start of the Walk of Shame
- St. Dominic Street — King’s Landing market/protest scenes
- Ploče Gate — the Red Keep approach
Most are free to visit, making this a brilliant budget-friendly Game of Thrones tour in its own right. For interiors and Fort Lovrijenac (the Red Keep), you’ll need paid tickets or a guided tour.
Optional detours
- The Old Synagogue (Žudioska Street) — second-oldest Sephardic synagogue in Europe.
- War Photo Limited — powerful photojournalism museum housed in a former palace.
- Buža Bar — a cliffside bar through a hole in the city walls, perfect for sunset and a cold drink.
- The city walls — a 1.5–2 hour loop above everything you’ve just walked (€40 ticket, see our city walls guide).
Self-guided vs guided
Self-guided is perfect if you like exploring at your own pace, love photography, and want to keep costs down. This route gives you everything you need.
Guided adds a licensed local’s stories, the exact camera positions, and on-screen comparisons at each stop — ideal for first-timers and serious GoT fans.
Many visitors do this self-guided Old Town walk on their first morning to get oriented, then book a Game of Thrones tour or the city walls to go deeper. Walking Dubrovnik’s Old Town is pure magic — a living medieval city where every polished corner might just be King’s Landing.
Dubrovnik Old Town walking tour FAQ
How long does it take to walk around Dubrovnik’s Old Town?
At a relaxed pace without entering paid sights, allow 1.5–2 hours to follow the main route from Pile Gate to Ploče Gate and back, taking in Stradun, the Jesuit Stairs, the Rector’s Palace, and the Old Port. Add 1.5–2 hours if you walk the city walls circuit, and 45–60 minutes for each museum or Fort Lovrijenac visit. Most visitors spend a full half-day in the Old Town when combining sightseeing with café stops. For the fastest way to see every Game of Thrones filming location with expert context, a guided GoT walking tour covers the key King’s Landing spots in 1.5–3 hours.
Upgrade your Old Town walk with a Game of Thrones tour
Nine curated GoT tours from $23 — classic walking (Old Town only), full-day with Trsteno and Lokrum, and private. Free cancellation on every booking, instant confirmation.
★ Lokrum ferry runs Apr–Oct only · book early for summer slots