Discover Croatia from the Game of Thrones series in 7 stops!
Game of Thrones ended in 2019 but another series from George R.R. Martin’s Universe, House of the Dragons is scheduled for 2022. Chances are that Croatia will once again serve as a backdrop for the continents of Westeros and Essos. The opportunity to return to the emblematic filming locations of the series in seven stages for a road trip of discovery in Croatia!
So, here are 7 unmissable stages (like the 7 Kingdoms of Westeros) to discover Croatia and the places that inspired the most popular series of recent years! It is up to you to select your steps and adapt the tour to your personal preferences.
First stop: Explore Sibenik and the Cathedral of St. James
The first step of this road-trip takes us to the small town of Sibenik in North Dalmatia. Established along a canal, at the mouth of the river Krka, it is a young town compared to the rest of the Dalmatian cities. There is no trace of Illyrians, Greeks or Romans. The city was founded by Croatian princes in the 10th century. However, it was under Venetian domination and it was during this period that it reached its peak and became an important trading port, protected by four fortresses. It was also during this period that the sublime Cathedral of St. James was built, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It mixes Gothic and Renaissance influences, reflecting the considerable influence of the three different cultural areas of Northern Italy, Dalmatia and Tuscany between the 15th and 16th centuries.
Sibenik today has a certain appeal with its medieval town centre, cobbled streets and beautifully restored facades. We also recommend a visit to the impressive 11th century fortress of St. Michael. Perched on the heights of Sibenik, 70 meters above sea level, it offers a breathtaking view of the city and the Sibenik canal.
In Game of Thrones, Sibenik’s St. James Cathedral was the setting for the depiction of the Iron Bank of Braavos. Although its general appearance differs, certain elements, such as the door, have been reproduced identically. It can be seen in episode 9 of season 5.
Second stop: Discover the old town of Trogir
Heading south, about 50 kilometres from Sibenik for the second step of this road trip with the small town of Trogir. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most beautiful medieval towns on the Dalmatian coast.
Founded in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks and later occupied by the Romans, Trogir is an excellent example of a medieval town built on the foundations of a Hellenistic and Roman city. It has remarkably well preserved its urban organisation inherited from Antiquity and has been embellished during successive dominations by numerous buildings and fortifications. In addition to its beautiful Roman churches, there are remarkable Renaissance and Baroque buildings from the Venetian period. In particular, you should visit the sublime St. Lawrence Cathedral, built in the 13th century, the symbol of the city, and the Venetian fortress of Kamerlengo to the south-west of the old town. It was built in the 15th century by the Venetians to protect the city. Although it does not appear in Game of Thrones, its style will certainly remind you of the medieval atmosphere of the series.
Trogir served as the backdrop for the city of Qarth, which can be seen in different parts of Season 2 of Game of Thrones. Daenerys is hosted in a villa in the city, after its crossing of the Red Desert.
Daenerys’ flats were probably shot in the monastery and St. Dominic’s church, located in the heart of the old town.
Third stop: Admire the charm of the village of Kastel Gomilica
The scenic small village of Kastel Gomilica is located 16 kms from Split. It was built around a fortress in the 16th century by Benedictine nuns from Split. Originally, these fortifications were built to protect the village from the Ottomans. It is located on an island connected to the rest of the village by a wooden drawbridge, which is supported by a stone bridge.
The arches of the bridge were used to represent the entrance to the port of Braavos. Kastel Gomilica can be recognised at the beginning of the fifth season, when Arya arrived in Braavos to become a Faceless.
Fourth stop: Visit the Klis Fortress
The medieval Klis Fortress is located 17 kms north of Split, perched at an altitude of 340 meters. A strategic position since the 2nd century BC for the Illyrians, then for the Croatian kings, but which was used primarily to counter the advance of the Ottoman armies from Bosnia in the 16th century. The fortress nevertheless came under Turkish domination, as its small Mosque testifies. It was also rebuilt by the Venetians and Austrians.
In Game of Thrones, it plays the role of the city of Meereen. In the fifth season, after having released the city from its slave masters, Daenerys is triumphantly welcomed by the inhabitants.
Fifth stop: Walk through the old town of Split
Croatia’s second largest city is also one of its main cultural centers. It has the most amazing city centre in the country and certainly one of the most beautiful in Europe. It spreads out in the heart of the impressive Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former residence of the Roman Emperor, which covers 38,700 square meters. It is a truly maze of alleys where the architectural styles of Antiquity and the Renaissance are combined. Much more than an open-air museum, it is a dynamic and lively district that gives this ancient palace a very particular charm.
The Emperor Diocletian, “Caius Aurelius Diocletianus” was an Illyrian consul, proclaimed emperor in 284 by his soldiers. He initiated the division of the Roman Empire between the West and the East in 286 in order to halt its decline. He installed Maximian on the throne of the Western Roman Empire and kept the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire for himself, over which he exercised a truly tyrannical power by persecuting the Christian populations. He abdicated in 305 and retired to the sumptuous palace he had built in Split from 295. He died there in 313.
At the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the fortified palace was abandoned. It will be converted into a city from the 7th century. Flats were converted into dwellings and temples into churches. The city flourished under the domination of Constantinople and then the Hungaro-Croatian kings before coming under Venetian domination.
You will have to pass by the cathedral of Saint-Domnius, in the heart of the palace. It features the Emperor Diocletian’s mausoleum and its imposing campanile, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, offers a beautiful view of the palace.
From 1809, Napoleon and the French undertook a major town-planning operation and razed the Venetian city walls to make way for gardens and wide avenues. The seafront was also laid out for the construction of a large promenade.
In the Game of Thrones series, the alleys of Split bring the city of Meereen to life. Daenerys sends Grey Worm and some immaculate people dressed as slaves to motivate the city’s slaves to revolt against their masters.
To take revenge, the former slave masters formed the “Sons of the Harpy”. They rise up in the streets of the city and lay a trap for Grey Worm and his immaculate people.
Scenes were shot in Dominisova Street and under the dome of the Vestibulum of Diocletian’s palace, next to the central square in Iza Vestibula Street.
The basement of Diocletian’s palace also appears as the place where Daenerys’ dragons are locked up in the basements of the town of Meereen.
You can access the basement of Diocletian’s Palace in Split through the Aenea Gate, which is located opposite the harbour. A number of art and craft traders are located under the main nave at the entrance to the cellars. The entrance for the museum part is not free, but it allows to see more precisely the places where these scenes were shot.
Sixth stop: Walk along the wall of Ston and and stroll in the arboretum of Trsteno
In the series, King’s Landing has imposing city walls that make it (almost) impregnable. These city walls were not built for the set because they have existed since the 14th century in Ston, a city located about 50 kms north of Dubrovnik. The 5.5 kms long wall was used to protect Ston’s salt marshes from the Ottomans. Salt was a precious commodity at the time, a source of wealth for the Republic of Ragusa (now Dubrovnik). The city wall of Ston is the name of a fortified village created by the Venetians and visible from the city walls. It connects it to Mali Ston, at the other end of the isthmus that connects the Peljesac peninsula to the mainland.
The small port of Trsteno, 20 kms north of Dubrovnik, is one of the last remaining Renaissance botanical gardens in the region. The arboretum was created in the 16th century at the request of a noble family of the Republic of Ragusa (the old name of Dubrovnik), the Gucetic-Gozze family. More than 400 species of Mediterranean and exotic plants can be found here, forming a beautiful little oasis.
In the set, the Botanical Garden serves as a backdrop to the gardens of the Red Keep, the royal palace of King’s Landing. It can be seen in the second episode of Season 3.
Stop 7: Finish your trip in style with the discovery of Dubrovnik and the island of Lokrum
Let’s end this road trip by the emblematic city of the Game of Thrones series, Dubrovnik, which has notably served as a backdrop for the capital of the Kingdom of the Seven Crowns, King’s Landing (King’s Landing in the original version) but not only!
Numerous excursions specially dedicated to the series are organised with local guides, allowing you to discover Dubrovnik but also the small island of Lokrum. These excursions are also an opportunity to learn many facts and stories about the city and the world of the set. See you at the end of the article for more information!
Dubrovnik is a port city, surrounded by spectacular fortifications. Its beauty has earned it the nickname of the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its old town is full of palaces and churches whose splendor testifies to the past greatness of the Republic of Ragusa.
Its origins date back to the 7th century. The small trading town of Ragusium was then under the protection of Byzantium. It developed and became a fortified town, competing with Venice, which succeeded in placing Dubrovnik under its domination in 1204. It was not until 1358 that it regained its independence as the Republic of Ragusa. It was one of the most prospering cities of the epoch, thanks in particular to the trade in raw materials. Its architecture and splendid palaces are a source of admiration and its fortifications make it a powerful city. It continues to develop and prosper and once again competes with Venice.
However, it suffered a gradual economic decline in the 17th century, intensified by a violent earthquake that destroyed a large part of the city. The city experienced other dark years in the early Nineties when it was under siege by the Yugoslav army. It was bombed and badly damaged. It was then completely restored and flourished again thanks to tourism and benefited from the popularity of Game of Thrones to spread beyond the European borders.
For those who wish to discover the city on their own, here is a quick presentation of the emblematic places of Dubrovnik appearing in the set. An opportunity to learn a little more and discover the rich heritage of the “Pearl of the Adriatic”!
Palaces and Churches of the series
The Pila Gate (Vrata od Pila) – the entrance to King’s Landing
The Pila Gate is the main entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town. A stone bridge and a drawbridge lead to the Renaissance portal dominated by a statue of St. Blaise, the protector of the city. It appears in the sixth episode of season 2.
Saint-Dominic Street
In this street are the stairs of the Dominican monastery, located in Svetog Dominika street. They can be seen in the series in the fifth episode of season 2. You will directly recognise the atmosphere of Port-Real when you see them.
The Rector’s Palace – Qarth
Located in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, the Rector’s Palace is Dubrovnik’s historical museum. It is the most beautiful palace in the city and the most emblematic symbol of the former Republic of Ragusa. It was the home of the Rector, head of the executive, elected for only one month.
In the series, the Rector’s Palace is used as a setting not in King’s Landing but in Qarth, for a scene in episode 6 of the second season, where Daenerys asks the Spice King of the city to lend him a boat. She wants to cross the strait to reach Westeros. But he refuses Daenerys’ offer.
The ethnographic museum – the brothel of Little Finger
It can be found in an alleyway in the south-west of the city. The museum is interesting, but it is the building that hosts it that is most surprising. It is in fact a granary built in the 16th century to support a siege or famine. You can see its steps in one of the scenes from the first episode of season 2. As soon as Oberyn Martell arrived in King’s Landing for the royal wedding, he took refuge in the most prestigious brothel in the capital. Tyrion comes to greet him on behalf of the Lannisters and they both go for a walk in the streets. Oberyn tells Tyrion the real reason for his visit: to avenge his sister Elia Martell, wife of Rhaegar Targaryen, the son and heir of the Mad King.
Jesuit Street – the steps of the Great Septuary of Baelor
It is one of the streets of the old town in which a magnificent staircase dating back to 1738 leads to the Church of St. Ignatius, perched on the heights of the old town. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Dubrovnik with its beautiful façade and huge interior frescoes. The staircase appears in Cersei Lannister’s famous atonement march scene. After a long incarceration in the cellars of the Great Septuary of Baelor, she has to go to the Red Keep under the hatred of the city’s inhabitants in order to obtain the forgiveness of the Great Sparrow.
The Clock Tower – the bell tower of King’s Landing
Located at the end of the main Stradun Avenue on the Lodge Square, the 31 meter high Clock Tower was built in 1444. It appears notably in the fifth episode of the final season as one of the bell towers of the city of King’s Landing, which was supposed to mark the surrender of the Lannisters and the end of the fighting in the battle against the army of Daenerys.
The old harbour of Dubrovnik – the port of King’s Landing
It is located east of the old town and is guarded by Fort Saint-Jean. It can also be seen in the fifth episode of season 8, just before the attack of the Daenerys’ troops when the ships of the Iron Fleet are in position in the bay of the Nera near the town.
The Sponza Palace – the streets of King’s Landing
Located on the Place de la Loge, at the end of Stradun Avenue, right next to the Clock Tower. It is one of the most beautiful palaces in Dubrovnik. It was built between 1506 and 1521 and is characteristic of the Gothic-Renaissance architecture of the city in the 15th and 16th centuries. At that time, it was the home of the financial institutions of the Republic of Ragusa.
The arches of the Palace can be seen in the foreground of the battle scenes during the attack on King’s Landing by the troops of Daenerys in the fifth episode of the final season.
The city walls of Dubrovnik, the Minceta Tower and Fort Bokar – King’s Landing and Qarth
A visit to the city walls is undoubtedly Dubrovnik’s main attraction. The greatness and beauty of the “Pearl of the Adriatic” can only be fully appreciated by walking along the city walls. The city walls reveal a new perspective on the city and its architecture and buildings. It is even possible to distinguish its structure and organisation. The view of the sea and the island of Lokrum is also impressive, especially at sunset.
Originally built to protect against the Turkish threat, the city walls are up to 24 meters high.
In the series, there are many views of King’s Landing. The view from the city walls gives the impression of facing the capital of Westeros, very much inspired by Dubrovnik in its general appearance. On your way you will find the Minceta Tower, the highest and most impressive of the city’s bastions, which was once used to prevent land attacks.
In the series, however, it is visible in the city of Qarth and not King’s Landing. Daenerys and Jorah Mormont are on its way in the tenth episode of season 2.
Fort Bokar is also part of the city’s fortifications. Built in the 15th century, it was used to protect the southwest of Dubrovnik. It is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable places. It offers a breathtaking view of the Lovrijenac fortress just opposite. You can see it in several scenes from the second and seventh season.
The western harbour of Dubrovnik – the harbour of King’s Landing
This harbour is located in the small bay between fortress Bokar and fortress Lovrijenac. It can be seen from different angles in the series. It can be seen for the first time in the scene where Myrcella is sent to Dorne to marry Trystan Martell in the second episode of season 6 and where the last members of the Stark family separate in the final episode of the series.
The Lovrijenac Fortress (or St. Lawrence Fortress) – the Red Keep
Standing on a cliff to the west of the city, this impressive fortress also played a key role in the defence of the city. It is an impressive building that offers a magnificent panorama of the city and the Adriatic Sea. It can be seen in the first episode of season 2. King Joffrey is being entertained by watching death battles as he awaits the arrival of Tyrion who comes to take over his role as Hand of the King. He also appears in different scenes in other episodes of season 2 and in the first episode of season 3.
The island of Lokrum – Qarth
Considered as the garden of Dubrovnik. It is only 10 minutes by boat from the old town.
It is a small, unspoilt island, declared a natural park. There are the remains of a Benedictine abbey, a botanical garden with various exotic plants and a small fortress built on top of the island by Napoleon’s troops. The latter offers a beautiful view of the bay of Dubrovnik. The island of Lokrum has no beaches, but you will find rocks and many ladders to swim in its crystal clear waters.
Lokrum serves as a backdrop for the city of Qarth in some episodes of the second season.
Daenerys goes there for a reception, she tries to negotiate with the merchants to get ships to get to Westeros.
To finish this article and this Game of Thrones road trip in Croatia, we will leave the historical town center of Dubrovnik for a visit to Gradac Park – the place where Joffrey Lannister and Margaery Tyrell got married.
This is where the scene of the bloody feast where King Joffrey is poisoned was filmed. The park is 2 kms from the old town of Dubrovnik and is easily accessible by car.
The Terra Balka team wishes you a good trip to Dalmatia in the footsteps of Game of Thrones with this tested and approved road trip!
Contact us for more information and if you wish to include a themed tour of Dubrovnik to your trip! One of our partners will even offer you to sail on a boat that was used for the filming of Game of Thrones and sit on the Iron Throne!
For more information of the series Games of Thrones in Croatia.
