Game of Thrones scenery
Winter is coming. Even if you have never watched an episode of the famous television series Game of Thrones, you probably still have heard this phrase and you surely have some friends or family members who changed their plans to witness the adventures live! Did you know that Dubrovnik was the main filming location in Croatia for King’s Landing, a fictional city in Game of Thrones?
For those who have seen the series and are passionate about it, a visit to Dubrovnik will become a beautiful déjà vu because of the way in which it was so well integrated into the setting of the series. And for those who have no clue what the hype is all about that same visit will be a journey through enchanted alleys and winding narrow streets, visiting mesmerizing places.
Some of the locations are only accessible by water, so what better way to dive into the world of Game of Thrones than from the comfort of your own yacht! Your chief stewardess will put together a perfect itinerary for you and your friends, with plenty of stops for drinks and lunch. So take a look at some of the highlighted locations below and now that winter is coming, start planning your trip to Croatia for this summer!
Tour of Dubrovnik in the Old Town
Your private guide will start your walking tour of Dubrovnik in the Old Town. With a base such as that of the Old Town, no special measures were necessary for scenery or special effects in order to play the fortified port city of King’s Landing. The large outer walls, the fortifications built over time by human hands, as well as the narrow streets of the old town are just some of the locations were scenes were shot. Dubrovnik’s walled old city is a labyrinth of tiny lanes and stone houses. Many Game of Thrones market scenes and City Watch or ‘Gold Cloaks’ scenes took place here.
the Ethnographic Museum
n the old town, look out for the Ethnographic Museum. This impressive building dates back to the 16th century. Once a granary, it doubled for the brothel where Tyrion Lannister welcomes ‘the Red Viper’ to the capital. In reality, the inside is a lot less sordid, and you can walk around the cool tunnels which contain folk costumes and textile handiwork.
Bokar Fortress
You will visit the fairytale-like building of Bokar Fortress, a medieval fortress, located at the top of a steep cliff on the western corner of Dubrovnik’s city walls. It was built in the 15th century with the intention to defend the town’s main entrance, its bridge and moat. The fort was designed by the Florentine architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo Michelozzi as a semicircular two-story building, considered nowadays to be one of the oldest casemented forts in Europe. Due to its attractive look, it is often taken as an example of Medieval fortification architecture. Currently, in its interior, there are several cannons on display as well as a small precious stones collection.
Check out the Dubrovnik Summer Festival calendar, the fortress is used as a venue for their performances!
Time to discover excellent restaurants
After all this sightseeing and exploring it is time for lunch! With so many excellent restaurants and cafés to choose from, your chief stewardess will talk to you about your preference for that day. Do you want to be blown away at a Michelin restaurant or watch the people pass by while seated at one of the outdoor terraces? The Old Town has it all!
Trsteno Arboretum
Off to the next stop, Trsteno Arboretum. This lush garden with spectacular viewing platforms overlooking the Adriatic Sea is where all the palace garden scenes from King’s Landing took place. The garden was once the summer residence of a Dubrovnik noble family.
Exotic and serene, the renaissance gardens are known to date back as early as the 1400s and are set in a small fishing village close to Dubrovnik. Trsteno Arboretum came to life when the noble Gozze family requested the returning ship captains to bring seeds and plants from their travels. The gardens house banana trees, cactus and 500 year old plane trees and are decorated with ruins and sculptures including the remains of an old olive press. The scent of lavender, rosemary and fuchsia fills the air. Other impressive sites at the garden include a Neptune statue, and water fountain with a pool of coy carp beneath.
Set sail to Lokrum Island
After your visit to the garden it is time to head back to the yacht and set sail to Lokrum Island, six hundred meters off Croatia’s mainland. The journey over there is stunning, across crystal clear waters. You will be welcomed by numerous peacocks that are wandering around freely on the island. If you are a Game of Thrones fan you will be in your element here. Part of the show was filmed in Lokrum’s Botanical Garden and another scene was shot at the Former Benedictine monastery. You can tour the exhibition at the monastery and even sit on a replica throne.
The fascinating island of Lokrum dates back to 1023 and legend holds that Richard the Lionheart sheltered here, after his ship was wrecked when he was returning from the Crusades. The people of Dubrovnik rescued him and as a gesture of thanks, he paid for the Dubrovnik Cathedral to be built.
Anchor in the Dead Sea Lagoon
Talk to your captain to see if you can anchor in the Dead Sea Lagoon while visiting the island. This lagoon is the most spectacular shade of blue-green and is highly salty, so it is the perfect place to just float around. Have the crew take some of the water toys out and enjoy a chilled drink while relaxing in the water after all this Game of Throne fun!
The treasures Croatia has to offer are just endless!
Who would have known a television series would cause you to visit all these unforgettable places! You might want to call it a day and get ready for another perfect dinner onboard watching the sunset on the Dalmatian coast.
Or you might want to talk to the captain about making one last Game of Thrones stop, in Split, to visit Diocletian’s Palace. The treasures Croatia has to offer are just endless!
