Where Was Game of Thrones Filmed in Croatia? A Luxury Traveler’s Guide
You’ve already wondered more than once where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia by the time your plane starts to descend toward the Dalmatian coast. Then you see it through the window: terracotta roofs glowing in the sunlight, a flawless walled city perched on cliffs above a sapphire sea. You know the answer has at least one name—Dubrovnik—even before the wheels land.
Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia, however, is a much more complex story that involves many cities. Roman palaces, hilltop fortresses, secret gardens, and peaceful coastal towns—many of which are only a short drive or cruise away from one another—are among the locations where it is written. The question of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia becomes an invitation for a visitor staying in a Haute Retreats villa: to sleep with the sea at your door, to explore the very alleys where Lannisters plotted, and to let the Adriatic breeze blur the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
This is your luxurious, immersive way to explore the locations where Game of Thrones was shot in Croatia while enjoying all the seclusion and comfort you would expect from Haute Retreats.
Dubrovnik: Landing in the Real King’s Landing
Nearly everyone will say Dubrovnik when asked where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia. King’s Landing, the political center of the Seven Kingdoms, was formed by the city’s polished limestone streets, medieval walls, and baroque churches.
From the terrace of Villa Cardinale or Villa Regina, the city seems both wonderfully close and far away. The Old Town is just far enough away that you can hear its bells on the breeze but not its crowds, and infinity pools stretch out into the distance.
Narrow streets lead to Fort Lovrijenac, also known as the Red Keep, which has terraces that hang over the sea in a sweep of sky and stone. Every balcony feels like a viewpoint you’ve seen before, and every corner seems oddly familiar. The words “where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia” are no longer found on search engines; instead, they are etched in the heat of the stone beneath your hands and the salt on your skin.
Later on, you stroll along the fabled city walls—the same ramparts that have been the site of conflicts and battles throughout several seasons. Your guide stops where Tyrion surveyed the sea and where Daenerys once looked at her adversaries. Swifts cut loops across the sky above, while kayaks trace the moat below. Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia?
The graceful Jesuit Stairs, which are instantly recognizable from Cersei’s notorious Walk of Shame, are where you end up. If only in a much more glitzy attire, it’s nearly impossible to resist reenacting the scene.
Back at your Haute Retreats villa, perhaps Villa Denise or Villa My Place, with their private sea decks and Old Town views, you watch the city turn to gold at sunset, content that Dubrovnik is the only place in Croatia where was Game of Thrones filmed. However, your tale is far from over.
Trsteno Arboretum: Schemes in the Garden
When day-trippers start to pour into the city the following morning, your driver takes the opposite route, following the coast to Trsteno Arboretum. When viewed up close, it appears to be a terraced Renaissance garden with fountains, pergolas, and colonnades that descend toward the sea. From a distance, it appears to be a verdant hillside.
Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia for the lush gardens of the Red Keep, where Olenna Tyrell and Varys exchanged scathing comments? The long walkway facing the sea, the shaded benches, and the stone balustrades are all instantly recognizable. You let the chorus of cicadas accompany your recollections of conversation as you stroll at your own pace, maybe with a picnic set up by your villa concierge.
Without the bustle of a city nearby, it is a more subdued representation of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia. The horizon fades into pale blue, and the Adriatic murmurs below. When you get back to Dubrovnik for a late dinner, you can see why the show’s producers picked this location for their most sensitive talks.
Lokrum Island: A Short Sail to Qarth
Naturally, not every answer to the question “Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia” is connected by a roadway. Some are located across the water, only a short drive from the harbor in Old Town.
Instead of taking the public shuttle, you take a private boat from the small marina to Lokrum Island, a forest oasis where peacocks roam among pines. Scenes from Qarth were shot here, and the series is now honored with a small exhibition that includes a replica Iron Throne.
As the waves gently crash against the rocks, you step off the boat into dappled shade. Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia? you keep asking yourself as you make your way to the cloistered monastery and botanical gardens. Here, in a space you now have virtually all to yourself, between stone arcades and wild rosemary.
After swimming off the rocky coast of Lokrum and returning to your boat for a leisurely lunch, you’ll be cruising beneath Dubrovnik’s walls by late afternoon. The city that initially responded to the question of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia now resembles a movie set, but this time you can watch it from your own deck while sipping Dalmatian white wine.
Split: Dragons in a Roman Palace
Split is the unexpected turn of events if Dubrovnik is the dramatic beginning of the Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia? When you arrive by car, yacht, or even seaplane transfer, you exchange one UNESCO city for another and a Roman emperor’s seaside retirement palace for medieval walls.
Your base could be a sleek beachfront villa like Villa Dream Pearl or Villa Luna, where the sea feels close enough to touch, or a Haute Retreats property high above the coast with glass, stone, and an infinity pool, like Villa Exclusive Split or Villa Nikita.
The cellars of Diocletian’s Palace, which served as Daenerys’ throne rooms and dragon lairs, are located beneath Split’s daily commotion. The answer to the question, “Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia?” includes this as well. Your footsteps reverberate as you descend into cool stone hallways that are lit from above by light shafts. The locations of the dragons’ chains, the Unsullied’s march, and the Mother of Dragons’ next conquest are all indicated by your guide.
Back in your villa that evening, the palace illuminates the bay. While you float in the pool and Split’s lights flicker like another constellation, a private chef sears local seafood. You’ve walked, tasted, and watched Game of Thrones from your own terrace, so the question of “where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia” belongs in fan forums.
Klis Fortress: Above Meereen
To reach Klis Fortress, a long stone spine that dominates the hills above Split, a car picks you up in the morning. It looks impregnable from below, but from above, it seems as though the world has vanished.
Another crucial response to the question of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia is found here, among crumbling walls and flags flapping in the breeze. With its ramparts and courtyards serving as the backdrop for Daenerys’ conquest of the slave cities, Klis serves as a stand-in for Meereen.
The city and sea below you can see in miniature as you stroll along the top of the fort. It’s simple to imagine dragons wheeling overhead as armies assemble on the plains. Your camera roll starts to resemble a storyboard of Meereen itself, and your guide indicates the angles from which important scenes were filmed. Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia? Each point of view is a different aspect of the country, written in limestone and sky.
Šibenik: Walking into Braavos
The answer to the question of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia changes once more as you travel further up the coast, to the maritime maze of ibenik. It appears to be a typical Adriatic town at first glance, with alleys tumbling toward the water, church spires, and a disarray of stone homes. Upon closer inspection, Braavos starts to emerge.
The plot of Arya Stark takes place in these courtyards and stepped streets. With its intricately carved stone façade, the stunning Cathedral of St. James represents both the Iron Bank and the House of Black and White. Insiders point to ibenik with a knowing smile when asked where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia for Braavos.
After exploring the old town with a local guide, you might head back to one of the nearby Haute Retreats villas, like Villa Summer Breeze above the sea or Villa White Pearl along the coast. Each villa is a haven of stone, glass, and private pool, ideal for sailing, island hopping, or just taking in the sunset.
The harbor lights in Šibenik shimmer as night falls. The sound of glasses clinking on your terrace signals the end of another chapter in the story “Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia?”
Trogir and the Smaller Corners of Westeros
Dubrovnik, Split, Klis, and ibenik are just a few of the coastal locations where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia. However, the picture is completed by a few more subdued locations.
With its winding streets and waterfront promenade, the medieval town of Trogir adds to the luxurious trading city of Qarth. In other parts of Dubrovnik, such as Minčeta, Bokar, overlooked stairways, and side streets, towers and fortifications make fleeting appearances that add character to King’s Landing and beyond.
It feels more like treasure hunting than sightseeing to explore these smaller areas where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia. After guiding you down an unremarkable alley, your guide may show you a frame from the series that abruptly brings the scene to life. The journey feels almost magical during these moments, when reality and fiction briefly coincide.
Crafting Your Own High-End Game of Thrones Route
The question of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia no longer has a simple, single answer once you’ve stood on the walls of Dubrovnik, descended into Split’s cellars, braved the wind at Klis, and followed Arya’s footsteps in ibenik. It has evolved into a constellation of locations, best experienced as a narrative rather than a list.
A typical Haute Retreats journey might look like this:
- Days 1–3: Dubrovnik & Environs
Arrive and settle into a villa such as Villa Regina, Villa Cardinale, or Villa My Place, each offering privacy, sea views, and swift access to the Old Town. Spend your days combining a private Game of Thrones tour with leisurely swims, a sunset cruise to Lokrum, and a half-day escape to Trsteno’s gardens. - Days 4–6: Split & Klis
Transfer by private car or yacht to the Split Riviera and check into Villa Exclusive Split, Villa Nikita, or another Haute Retreats property tailored to your group. Explore Diocletian’s Palace with a specialist guide, then ascend to Klis Fortress for sweeping Meereen vistas and a long lunch overlooking the valley. - Days 7–8: Šibenik & Trogir
Continue up the coast to a villa like Villa Summer Breeze, Villa Luna, or Villa White Pearl, perched above coves of clear water. From this base, wander Šibenik’s Braavos streets and Trogir’s Qarth alleys, then return each night to your own private retreat.
Every transfer, tasting, and tour can be scheduled to fit your schedule. The more you learn about Croatia, where was Game of Thrones filmed, the more you come to value the nation’s own history, which is richer, older, and, in many respects, even more fascinating than its fictional counterpart.
When the Credits Roll
Your last night finally comes. Perhaps you’re on a balcony in Split, a rooftop in Dubrovnik, or the pool deck of a cliffside villa. The cities twinkle along the shore, and the sea is a dark velvet. With salt on your skin and sand in your shoes, you’ve followed the entire storyline of where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia, not just in travel guides.
Where was Game of Thrones filmed in Croatia? started out as a straightforward inquiry, but it quickly became a journey through palaces and fortresses, gardens and islands, all connected by the serene luxury of Haute Retreats villas. You know you’ll be watching this story again and again for years as the last credits of your own Croatian episode play in your head.
