Lokrum Island Dubrovnik

Last updated: July 2026

Just a short hop across the water from the Old Town, Lokrum Island is Dubrovnik's green escape — a car-free nature reserve of pine forest, botanical gardens, hidden coves, and free-roaming peacocks. For Game of Thrones fans it's also a place of pilgrimage: Lokrum was Qarth, and it's home to the Iron Throne replica gifted to the city by HBO. This guide covers everything you need to plan a trip to Lokrum from Dubrovnik in 2026, from ferry times and prices to the best things to see once you land.

Seasonal heads-up: The official Lokrum boat runs roughly April through October. In winter, service is reduced or paused and the island may be closed. Always check current sailings before planning a visit.

How to get from Dubrovnik to Lokrum Island

Getting from Dubrovnik to Lokrum island couldn't be simpler. Official passenger boats depart from Dubrovnik's Old Town Port (Stara Luka), right inside the city walls, and cross to Portoç cove on Lokrum in about 10–15 minutes.

• Frequency: In high season, boats run roughly every 30 minutes, with up to around 25 sailings a day.
• First boat: around 9:00 am.
• Last return: typically around 7:00 pm — and you must be on the last official boat, because no one is allowed to stay overnight on Lokrum. (Local legend blames a curse laid by the island's exiled Benedictine monks.)

Because the crossing is so short and frequent, you don't need to plan around a rigid timetable — just turn up at the Old Port kiosk, buy your ticket, and hop on the next boat.

Lokrum ferry price & tickets (2026)

Crucially, the €30 adult ticket includes both the return boat crossing and entrance to the Lokrum Nature Reserve — there's nothing extra to pay at the island unless you want food or drinks. Tickets are sold at the Old Port kiosk and via the official webshop.

A few money-saving notes:

• Lokrum is not included in the Dubrovnik Pass, but pass holders get a discount: 20% off with the 3-day pass and 30% off with the 7-day pass.
• If you arrive independently by kayak or private boat, you pay only the reserve admission (around €27) at the Forester’s House on the island.
• Bring cash — the kiosk is the reliable place to buy, and card facilities can be limited at peak times.

If you'd rather visit Lokrum as part of a Game of Thrones guided tour — with a licensed guide covering the Old Town filming sites first and then the island — the No.1 GoT tour offers an optional Lokrum extension:

Lokrum Island & Game of Thrones: the Qarth connection

Here's what brings so many visitors across the water: Lokrum island and Game of Thrones are inseparable. In Season 2, the lush island stood in for the exotic city of Qarth. The botanical gardens and the cloister of the former Benedictine monastery were the setting for Xaro Xhoan Daxos’s opulent garden party (Season 2, Episode 5), where Daenerys Targaryen mingles with the city’s elite and meets the unsettling warlock Pyat Pree. The combination of age-old stonework, tropical planting, and peacocks roaming freely makes it easy to see why the location scouts chose it.

One fan note: the indoor scene where Daenerys pleads with the Spice King for ships was actually filmed at the Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, not on Lokrum itself.

The Iron Throne replica

The undisputed highlight for fans is the Iron Throne replica housed in the Game of Thrones visitor centre inside the old monastery on Lokrum. This is the actual throne HBO gifted to Dubrovnik at the end of production, and yes — you can sit on it and take your photo for free. It's the perfect souvenir shot to prove you conquered Qarth.

If you'd like to visit the Iron Throne as part of a guided tour that also covers the Old Town filming locations, The Original Game of Thrones Tour includes Lokrum as a 3-hour option:

Things to do on Lokrum Island

Beyond the Game of Thrones pilgrimage, Lokrum rewards a slow half-day of wandering. Here's what to see when you visit Lokrum island:

The botanical garden & peacocks

Created in 1959, Lokrum’s botanical garden is home to some 800 plant species from around the world, including cacti, palms, and eucalyptus. The garden’s most famous residents are the peacocks — introduced in the 19th century by Archduke Maximilian of Austria, they now roam freely and are wonderfully unbothered by visitors. You'll also spot rabbits throughout the island.

The Benedictine monastery & cloister

The atmospheric ruins of the Benedictine monastery, dating back centuries, form the heart of the island. Its cloister — a Game of Thrones filming location in its own right — and the on-site restaurant make a natural place to pause. This is also where you'll find the Iron Throne in the visitor centre.

The Dead Sea (Mrtvo More)

Lokrum’s small saltwater lake, nicknamed the “Dead Sea” (Mrtvo More), is connected to the open ocean through underground channels. Its calm, warm, buoyant water makes it perfect for a gentle swim, especially for families with children who find the rocky Adriatic coastline challenging.

Fort Royal

For the best panorama on the island, climb to Fort Royal, a star-shaped fortress built by the French in 1806 at Lokrum’s highest point (96 m). The views back across the water to the walls of Dubrovnik are stunning — a completely different perspective from the one you get standing on the city walls themselves.

Swimming coves

Lokrum’s rocky shoreline hides numerous swimming spots, including a clothing-optional area on the eastern side. The water is crystal clear and significantly quieter than the mainland beaches. It's one of the best reasons to visit outside of peak GoT-pilgrimage hours.

Planning your Lokrum island trip: practical tips

• Season: The island is a warm-weather destination. Plan your Lokrum island trip between April and October; boats don't run in bad weather or strong winds — a common occurrence in autumn.
• Time needed: Allow half a day — 3 to 4 hours is ideal to see the throne, the gardens, the Dead Sea, and Fort Royal without rushing.
• Bring food & water: There are only basic snack bars and one restaurant on the island, and prices are higher than in town. Pack a picnic and plenty of water.
• Wear good shoes: Paths are uneven and partly unshaded; comfortable footwear beats sandals.
• It’s a protected reserve: Stay on marked paths, don't feed the wildlife aggressively, and note that drone flights require prior authorisation.
• Do it early on cruise days: If you're on a tight cruise schedule, take an early boat to Lokrum before the Old Town crowds peak, then explore the city walls afterwards.

Is Lokrum Island worth visiting?

Absolutely. Whether you come for the Lokrum island Game of Thrones experience and the chance to sit on the Iron Throne, or simply to swim, picnic among peacocks, and escape the summer bustle of the Old Town, Lokrum delivers one of the most relaxing and rewarding half-days in Dubrovnik. It's close, it's affordable, and it's genuinely beautiful.

Combine it with a Game of Thrones walking tour of the Old Town and a walk around the Dubrovnik city walls, and you'll have covered every major King's Landing and Qarth location in a single, unforgettable day.

Ferry schedules, prices, and the island’s opening season change year to year and with the weather. Confirm current sailings and prices before you travel.