Dubrovnik had been at the top of my must-see lists for a while. The problem is, during the low months, it’s not super easy to get there because there aren’t many flights. Also, I wanted a few days to see the city; I needed more than just a weekend. Since last summer, I had been thinking about going there for my May break. In January, I decided to make that dream a reality. Dubrovnik here I come!
The Real Life King’s Landing
Let’s be real here. The main reason I wanted to come here was for Game of Thrones. I started watching and reading back in the summer of 2013, so I guess you could say I wanted to go to Dubrovnik since then. I try to go to as many GOT places as I can.
While planning my trip, I decided to take a Game of Thrones tour. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The tour started on the opposite side of the city. I, and about fifteen other GOT fans (and one teenager), climbed onto a Croatian trading ship replica. These types of ships have been featured in the show, so it was an authentic experience. Once on the ship, we sailed through the Adriatic, making our way to the Old Port Harbor.
Arriving in the Old Port was amazing. It was like arriving in King’s Landing. Dubrovnik is surrounded by high city walls, with many towers. The roofs are made of the orange clay (50 shades of clay, our tour guide said), making for a picture-perfect setting. In my head, I felt like a Targaryen arriving by sea to sack King’s Landing and take my rightful place on the throne.
Once in the port, we disembarked. Our guides took us around the Old City, showing us the sights that have been seen in the show. The main portion we saw dealt with Cersei’s Walk of Shame. She showed us pictures from the show, while we were standing in those areas. Parts of Dubrovnik were also used for the scenes in Essos, such as when Dany goes to meet the Spice King and ask for ships.
I was fan-girling at everything in the city. It really felt like being in Game of Thrones. I even go to sit on the Iron Throne, without burning thousands of citizens.
Lokrum Island
One of my favorite parts of my trip was going to Lokrum Island. For 150 Kuna, you take a ferry ride to the island visible from the shores of Dubrovnik, visit the island, and get a return trip. The ferry ride takes about ten minutes. Then, you have arrived in a sanctuary.
Lokrum is a space away from the tourists. I went on the 11 AM ferry, so when I got there, there weren’t many people on the island. As you walk onto the island, there are wild peacocks roaming around. There are sooo many peacocks. You can hear them screeching all around the island. Also, you can see some bunnies, too. The bunnies are pretty trusting of people, so you can get pretty close.
If it’s a nice, warm, sunny day. You can also sunbathe and take a dip in the water. They sell snorkeling equipment on the island. It was warm when I was there, but not warm enough to go into the water. If you’re really brave, you can take it all off so you don’t get tan lines.
On the island, there is an exhibit in the old monastery about Game of Thrones. In this exhibit, you can see the actors talking about filming in Croatia (because they also filmed in Split). The number one thing to do is sit on the Iron Throne. This throne is one of three that was used in the series.
Don’t worry about packing a lunch (unless you want to save money). There are now restaurants to sit down and grab a bite or a drink. If I hadn’t been trying to cram so much into one day due to the impending weather at the weekend, I could have stayed their longer. There is so much to explore and see.
Ferry boats run every half hour to hour depending on the season. Check this website for departure times.
The City Walls
One of the most popular attractions in Dubrovnik is the City Walls. They are also heavily featured in Game of Thrones. I recognized a few spots in the finale of the series! It does hurt a bit to pay for the entry fee (200 kuna, or about $30). However, everywhere you look, there are beautiful sights to see.
Walking across the top of the wall, you get a chance to see over the city. I loved all the beautiful orange-roofed houses. You can see the Fort Lovrijenac (also known as the Red Keep) sitting over the Adriatic. Getting a glimpse of the Old Port with all the boats lined up is an amazing sight to see as well.
The whole walk around the walls will take at least an hour. If you’re thirsty, there are also some bars to grab a refreshing orange juice or an alcoholic beverage. Although I wasn’t super happy with the price, you CAN’T miss taking a stroll along the City Walls.
Fort Lovrijenac
Fort Lovrijenac, or Fort Lawrence, is an unmissable sight in Dubrovnik. It sits opposite the City Walls, on top of a rock over the Adriatic. It is known as the “Gibraltar of the Adriatic”. As I mentioned before, it is also the shooting of the Red Keep on Game of Thrones. Of course, they did add to it a bit, but they also did some filming here.
If you bought a ticket to the City Wall, just show your ticket to enter here. I went on separate days and did not have my ticket, so I had to pay 50 kuna to enter. It was a rainy and windy day while I was there, so I didn’t get the best views. It is still a really great sight to see, especially since it is included in the City Wall pass.
The Dubrovnik Card
If you’re going to be in Dubrovnik for more than a few days, the Dubrovnik card is a great thing to have. I didn’t think I would have time to visit museums because I was supposed to go kayaking on the Saturday. Well, the weather didn’t cooperate with me, and they canceled the kayaking tour. I had nothing to really do in Dubrovnik since I didn’t want to pay individually for the museums.
If you know you’re going to be there for a day or more, than go ahead and buy this. The price depends on how long you are there for, but there is a lot included. You can get admission to the City Walls, museums, and more. Plus, you can get free bus tickets for the public transport. I wish I had bought one for the three day pass, but unfortunately, I had hoped the weather would turn out better.
And Just a Few Tips
Dubrovnik is pretty expensive. Do not go here if you are on a budget. It cost me minimum $20 for lunch or dinner. Dubrovnik has been transformed into a tourist town. They know the tourists will pay, so they make it expensive.
I went at the beginning of May, which is just the start of tourist season. If you are planning to go in July or August, be prepared for more expensive accommodations and of course more tourists. Even in May, walking in the Old Town at 10 AM, you’ll find tons of tour groups crowding the streets.
I’d also like to point out that just 25 years ago, Croatia was in a war of independence with Serbia. In 1991, the Serbians bombed city of Dubrovnik. It was pretty badly destroyed, but you can’t see any of the damage now. Apparently if you look closely, you can find some bullet holes in the walls, but for the most part, things have been all patched up. I wanted to know a little more of the situation, so I found an article published 4 days before I was born back in 1992 about how the city was doing. It’s really amazing to see such a beautiful city and learn its hidden recent history.
Should I see Dubrovnik?
OF COURSE! Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I was amazed at all the beautiful sights I saw. It was expensive, and that was frustrating, but I still loved the city and all its cute side streets. Be prepared for walking up all the stairs and hills, though! Bring comfortable shoes and a good camera.
