Game Of Thrones is fantastic.
It’s got pretty much everything you could want from a TV show – politics, powers struggles, sex, characters you love, characters you hate, gripping plots, quick wit, awesome costumes and unbelievable sets and locations.
Due to the fantasy element (you know, the whole dragon shebang) the show features a lot of computer-generated imagery.
But you may be surprised just how many of the sets you can visit, IRL.
The city of Dubrovnik, in Croatia, has played host to the HBO show’s cast and crew many times as they return series after series.
It basically is King’s Landing.
Here are just a few of the reasons GOT fans should visit Croatia.
1. The Walls
Sturdy enough to keep out an army of White Walkers, Dubrovnik’s walls come second only to the Great Wall Of China as the largest on the planet.
The walls were built in the 10th century and fortified in 1453.
They even survived a huge earthquake in 1667.
The Old Town walls are more beautiful than I ever believed walls could even be.
Just look at them.
Go on, LOOK.
The walls are 1,940metres long, 3m thick along the sea walls and 6m thick inland.
Each of the Old Town’s four corners has its own fortress, Minceta Tower, Revelin Fortress, St John’s Fortress and Bokar Bastion.
Although we repeatedly see the protective border of the city presented as King’s Landing, the structure is far more impressive and breathtaking when you see it in person.
A guided walk is the best way to see the walls.
Dubrovnikwalks.com has a few options, including the Walls & Wars tour.
The two-hour walk is jam-packed with fascinating insight into Dubrovnik’s military and political history, and breathtaking views of the Old Town and the fortresses from various vantage points.
2. You can recreate Cersei Lannister’s walk of shame
Although the Croatian city’s church initially blocked the walk of penance due to nudity, permission was eventually granted.
Perhaps the most iconic scene in Cersei’s penance occurs on Dubrovnik’s Jesuit steps.
They are located on the south side of Gundulic Square.
The dramatic stone staircase leads to the Poljana Rudera Boskovica, a city square where the Church of St Ignatius and two of Dubrovnik’s colleges – Collegium Ragusinum and Jesuit college.
3. Or recreate Joffrey’s death
In Season 4, everybody’s least favourite Game Of Thrones character popped his clogs.
King Joffrey was poisoned at his own wedding.
The scenes were shot within the walls of Dubrovnik’s old city, so it’s possible to recreate his grisly demise.
You know, if you’re into that sort of thing.
4. You can visit Littlefinger’s brothel
Which is unsurprisingly not a brothel in real life.
The ornate door and small stone staircase actually lead to a very interesting ethnographic museum.
5. Or walk through Pile Gate to feel like the king or queen of your very own castle
Pile Gate is the extremely grand entrance the the Old Town.
Located on the western wall, the gate was built in 1537 to protect the city from invaders.
Though now it remains open pretty much all the time.
6. Sail to the little island where the city of Qarth was filmed
Lokrum Island is a small isle covered with lush greenery just 600 metres off the Dubrovnik coast.
In the summer months a small ferry service runs regularly and there are tours available.
In the 17th century the isle was used as a quarantine area called Lazzaretti to prevent widespread disease.
And remains of the Gothic-Renaissance style Franciscan monastery build in the 15th century are well worth a visit if you get the chance.
Lokrum was used to shoot scenes of Daenerys Targareon’s travels to Qarth, with the monastery as the House of the Undying.
For information on boat trips and excursions, visit CroatiaFerries.com.
7. Stare into the clear waters
https://www.instagram.com/p/BE5stGqEjkM/?taken-by=metro.co.uk
The Croatian coastal town is surrounded by crystal clear waters.
And while many people seek out Dubrovnik for a city break, it’s worth mentioning there is a lovely beach, if you were looking for a more relaxed sun-worshipping kind of getaway.
8. Take a tour from a guide who helped out on the show
Iva Nikolic was a stand in for Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) and Daenarys Targareon (Emilia Clarke) while crew were setting up shots and picking up locations, and she’s also been an extra.
As well as an encyclopaedic knowledge of tourist information and Croatian history, Iva spent a lot of time on the set of the show and knows pretty much all there is to know about the TV adaptation of George RR Martin’s fantasy saga.
Plus, she has met and partied with almost all the cast and has some pretty cool stories to tell.
Iva is a Croatian native who is fluent in English and Spanish, and knows a lot of Italian and German too.
Maybe even some Dothraki too.
Book a tour with Iva through DubrovnikWalkingTours.com or message her via LinkedIn here.
9. You can visit the gardens inside Trsteno Arboretum
This amazing collection of trees greenery is one of the oldest arboretums in the world. It was built the Gozze family, a noble family of the Croatian aristocracy in the late 15th century.
The exotic trees and plants, many not native to Croatia, were planted in the grounds after a the Gozze family requested ship captains bring back seeds from their travels to decorate the grounds of their summer residence.
In Game of Thrones, the arboretum doubles up as the gardens of King’s Landing.
The former seasonal property of the Gozze family is directly on the coast, so it was also the pier was also used was Princess Myrcella’s send off scene as she sailed off to Dorne in season 2, along with long panning shots of the nearby Pile Harbour to add to the view.
While the balcony overlooking the water’s edge was the perfect picturesque setting for young Margaery Tyrell to hear some words of wisdom and warning from her grandmother Lady Olenna.
And the balcony was redecorated and reused as a breakfast spot for Sansa Stark.
10. The Game Of Thrones cast loves Croatia
Here’s what the residents of the seven kingdoms have to say about it –
MORE : You can now study Game of Thrones at university
Where to stay and go in Dubrovnik
Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik is less than a km from Dubrovnik Old Town and about 23km to Dubrovnik
Local restaurants and bars
We visited Prora, Thai Table, Salin and Abakus Piano Bar & Restaurant.
Excursions
The Game Of Thrones Walking Tour costs from £43 and the Dubrovnik Ancient City Walls Historical Walking tour costs about £12.
Flights
A return flight to Dubrovnik Airport, via Zagreb, from London Heathrow Airport with Croatia Airlines costs from £283.
For more on Croatia visit The Croatian National Tourist Board
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