A recurring theme for me on my trip to Croatia was the shear ethereal beauty of the country. From soaring mountains to ancient cities, the country is truly a visual delight. I’m not alone in my impressions of Croatia, the producers of the HBO adaptation of the Game of Thrones novels were also mesmerized by the otherworldly quality of Croatia, specifically Dubrovnik which serves as the real world stand in for King’s Landing.
Even if you’re not familiar with the mini-series or even the books, you can’t help but be bombarded by Game of Thrones everything as soon you enter the southern city of Dubrovnik. Tour groups have latched on to the collective fascination with the story and I counted several different groups offering themed tours. But more than press releases and the tourism-office embrace of the show, walking through the ancient city feels like walking through a fantasy novel.
I’ve visited countless old towns and ancient ruins and they’re just that, ruins. Dubrovnik is different; the city exists as it has for centuries and offers visitors a unique opportunity to walk through history in a way found nowhere else on the planet. I was enthralled and quickly fell in love with every aspect of the Old Town, a place I know I will visit again and again in the future. Even though this special feeling of awesome is sprinkled like fairy dust around town, there are some specific locations where Game of Thrones fans should visit if they want to relive the story in real life.
Bokar Fortress
St. Dominic Street
Lokrum Island (Outdoor scenes and the city of Quarth)
Lovrijenac fortress
Sponza palace
Pile Gate Entrance
Pile Harbor
