Ever caught yourself imagining what it'd feel like to stand where your favorite Thrones characters stood? In Dubrovnik, that's possible. You might be weaving through the ancient alleyways of the Old Town in the world's most recognizable Game of Thrones set—King's Landing—but it's also real life: sea spray on your face, tourists chomping gelato, and seagulls overhead.

Here's how to walk those walls—and live the story—without it becoming a blur of selfie sticks.

Start Early: The Old Town's Hidden Magic

Begin your day before the crowds wake up.

Dubrovnik's Old Town is only about 18 acres, but that's where past and present overlap. Marble streets glint in the dawn light; the shops are (almost) empty; locals sweep terraces in savory calm.

1. Get there by 7:30 a.m. — you'll beat the cruise groups and feel the city slowly pull itself together.

2. Grab a croissant and espresso at a tiny café near Ploče Gate for under $3 USD.

3. Notice the red clay rooftops lining the limestone walls—each tile reminds you exactly where you are: beyond fiction, inside a living, breathing medieval city.

While the Old Town captivates, it's the walls that steal the scene.

Walk the Walls: Full Circle of History

When people say "Dubrovnik Walls," they usually mean the circuit of stone fortifications that encircle the Old Town—and for good reason. They're iconic, cinematic, and incredibly atmospheric.

• Cost: Around $35 USD (270 HRK) for a full, one-time access ticket.

• Opening hours: Typically 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (seasonal shifts happen, check in advance).

• Tip: Arrive before 8:00 a.m. to get ahead of the heavy-foot traffic that builds up by mid-morning.

The full loop is 2 km (1.2 miles), with stair-heavy climbs and dramatic photo spots at every turret. Along the east ramparts, you'll look out over the brilliant Adriatic and spots used for dragon-flight scenes. On the western edge, massive stone walls shoot straight into the sea, where Cersei famously walked streaking through King's Landing.

Pro tip: Bring a light snack and water—there's only one café nearly halfway through, and you'll need both energy and hydration in the sun.

Lovrijenac Fortress: Fortress of the Red Keep

A short 10-minute walk from the Pile Gate is Lovrijenac Fortress, perched on a cliff over the sea—and it doubled as the Red Keep for GOT fans.

• Entry: Included in the city walls ticket, but keep your ticket handy—guards check at the walls' inner gates.

• Hours: Same as the walls.

• Climbing here is steeper, but once you reach the top, you get a breathtaking 270° view over the city rooftops, the sea, and surrounding cliffs.

Here's why it sticks: It's not just about views—it's about standing where actors stood, cameras rolled, and scenes unfolded. You can close your eyes and almost feel the distant roar of Blackwater, the ghosts of Red Keep council meetings echoing in your ears.

Local insight: Outside the walls, a café near Lovrijenac serves hearty soup and focaccia for about $7 USD—a perfect windswept lunch break.

Sea Views from the Water: Boat Tour & Lokrum Island

By now, you've seen the walls from the inside. Now—let's reverse that view. Take to the water.

Boat to Lokrum Island is less cell phone park and more quiet retreat.

• Cost: Round-trip ferry is about $17 USD.

• First ferry: Leaves around 9 a.m., return boats run throughout the afternoon.

• Island access: Explore botanical gardens, a saltwater lake, and a small fort—you'll recognize the palace ruins from the pilot episode.

Once you're back, choose a glass-bottom boat tour circling the walls. It's about $25 USD, and you'll float under the same ramparts you just walked. The stone drops—cliffs carving into the sea—look otherworldly.

Timing tip: Schedule it around noon, when the sunlight hits the pale stone just right, turning the city wall color golden.

Getting There & When to Visit

Getting to Dubrovnik: If you're arriving via Split or elsewhere in Dalmatia, local buses and catamarans shuttle you to Dubrovnik's port and bay area. The Old Town is pedestrian-only, so carry light.

Best months:

• May–June or September–October give mild weather (70–80°F), friendlier prices on lodging, and fewer people.

• Avoid July–August if you hate crowds—boats, lines, and heat all converge then.

Bring a pair of comfy shoes (those limestone streets burn soles fast), a refillable water bottle, and that sense of wonder that got you excited about Thrones in the first place.

If you go early, walk high, and save the water views for later, the city stops feeling like a film set and starts feeling like home—history's place, riddled with stories waiting to be read off every stone. Your camera might click a lot. But it's those quiet, unscripted moments—mornings in a café with ruins for company—that truly bring King's Landing alive.

May your inner wanderer, dragon-lover, and storyteller thank you for it.