Top 10 Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Croatia

The Minceta Tower is the highest point in the city of Dubrovnik. If offers fabulous views across the Old Town. Visitors to the tower can walk along the city walls and see the iconic terracotta rooftops. This prominent tower was used to film Daenerys and Jorah Mormont attempting to enter the House of the Undying as Daenerys attempts to retrieve her stolen dragons.

Start your Game of Thrones Deluxe Cruise-Tour in Split and visit the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace. This historical site is 1700 years old and is easily the most famous landmark in Split. The palace was originally built by one of Rome’s greatest emperors, Diocletian, as his retirement residence. The cellars of this famous palace were used to store rubbish until 1952 when it was excavated to allow visitors to walk through the tunnels. It plays another key role in the Game of Thrones series. It is within the palace walls and cellars that Daenerys trains her three dragons and is also where, in season four, the slaves sit around the fire and decide whether or not to support her.

Just 600m off Dubrovnik’s coastline is the Island of Lokrum, an enchanting little island which dates back to 1023. According to legend, Richard the Lion Heart became ship wrecked upon returning from one of his crusades and managed to safely swim to Lokrum Island. He planned to build a church on the island but at the pleas of the Dubrovnik citizens he built it on the mainland instead. The island is used in the filming of Game of Thrones where Khaleesi meets the Spice King.

The Bokar Fortress is truly iconic of Dubrovnik and Croatia. Located on the western side of the city, the fortress is perched above Pile Gate and is the key defence point for the area. It was used to represent the Kings Landing in Game of Thrones, particularly a conversation between Tyrion and Lord Varys when Tyrion tells him that he feels he is ‘quite good’ at being hand of the king.

This ancient fortress just outside the city of Split, has an impressive mountainside location with exceptional views over Split and the sparkling Adriatic Sea below. Klis Fortress was used in the series to film Daenerys seizing the city of Meereen and freeing the captives from their masters. This dramatic fortress forms a key plot in the series where Khaleesi punishes the rules of Meereen by nailing them to crosses for all the slaves to see.

These lush gardens which offer spectacular views over the Adriatic Sea were built in the 15th century. Set just outside Dubrovnik, the Trsteno Arboretum was used in the filming of Game of Thrones as the palace gardens to Kings Landing. In Season Three, it’s here that you meet Sansa Stark as she reveals secrets about King Joffrey to Lady Olenna. It is also in these gardens that Lord Varys and Lady Olenna actively discuss the safety of Sansa Stark and where you feel the plot to poison King Joffrey just beginning to form.

16th century Lovrijenac Fortress has 12m thick walls and was built by the Croatians to avoid the impending invasion by the Venetians. The cunning logic behind these massive walls was that their inhabitants hoped the Venetians would see the fortress and believe that it was an impregnable fortress. The plan worked and helped to avoid Dubrovnik’s capture. The fortress was used in the series to feature the tournament to honour King Joffrey’s name.

The small village of Zrnovnica, just outside Split was used as another key location in the series. This village was once home to many grain mills, which unfortunately have disappeared over time. The Zrnovnica is easily recognised as the set in Season Sour where Missandei, Daenerys’ handmaid and interpreter has her bathing scene. The Zrnovnica Quarry was used for the battle in which Daenerys and the Unsullied approach the Meereen gate. It’s here where Daario Naharis kills the city champion.

Based on the Western side of the city, Pile offers superb views of Bokar Fortress and Lovrijenac Fortress. It was once a key transport hub for sailors. It features heavily in the series and is used as Blackwater Bay. One of the main scenes filmed here in Series Three was when Sansa Stark and Lord Baelish discuss escape plans following King Joffrey’s death.

St Dominika Street is based within Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, near the Ploce Gate. It has stone houses and sweeping white stone staircases. This picturesque street was used in several Game of Thrones scenes throughout the series. These include the killing of King Robert’s illegitimate sons by Queen Cersei and also the scene where Queen Cersei was forced to walk through the town naked as a sign of penance. Rumour from the set has it that more than 1,000 actresses applied for the role as her naked body double to play the part.