Minceta Tower

Minceta Tower is the highest point of the Dubrovnik city walls, offering incredible views of the city & was originally designed to fend off land-based attacks.

Minčeta Tower is the highest and most famous fort in the Dubrovnik City walls complex and has played a crucial role in defending the city across the centuries. Originally constructed in the 15th Century, it was named after the Menčetić, one of the Republic of Ragusa's most illustrious noble families, who were the owners of the land upon which it was built. It is located on the northwestern side of the city walls and was built to defend the northern approach to the city, which was considered one of the most vulnerable points. Its elevated position, standing at over 100 feet tall, provides a strategic vantage point over the city and the surrounding area, making it easy to spot approaching enemies from a distance and launch counterattacks.  

Minceta tower is now a popular tourist attraction where scores of visitors climb the 750 steps up to the top of the tower to enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Adriatic Sea. Like much of Dubrovnik's city walls, it gained additional fame as a filming location for the popular TV series "Game of Thrones." It served as the House of the Undying in the fictional city of Qarth, where Daenerys Targaryen went to search for her stolen dragons.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Dubrovnik
Pile Gate
Located just outside the city walls, Pile Gate is the grand entrance to Dubrovnik's Old Town, complete with a drawbridge and a Renaissance arch.
Stradun
Stradun is the iconic main thoroughfare through Dubrovnik's Old Town, lined with elegant stone buildings, shops, cafés, palaces, and historic landmarks.
Onofrio's Fountain
Constructed in the 15th Century by renowned Italian architect Onofrio della Cava, Onofrio's Fountain was once a vital water source for the townspeople.
The Synagogue and Jewish Museum
The world's oldest operating Sephardic Synagogue, with a museum telling the story of the Jews of Dubrovnik.
St Saviour Church
A plain but fascinating church, one of the few Renaissance survivors of the terrible 1667 earthquake.
Franciscan Monastery
Dubrovnik’s Franciscan Monastery features a 14th-century cloister, a historic pharmacy from 1317, and a rich collection of manuscripts and relics.

Related Tours

Game of Thrones Filming Locations: Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

With its stunning coastal setting, dramatic city walls and enthralling medieval streets, Dubrovnik certainly makes for a fitting backdrop for a fantasy series. The producers of the smash hit HBO show Game of Thrones took full advantage of Dubrovnik’s almost otherworldly beauty to bring some of the most iconic moments of the series to life, with the city representing King’s Landing, the capital of George R.R. Martin’s mythical world of Westeros where much of the saga's pivotal encounters, battles and intrigue unfolds. Our immersive private tour will cover the key filming locations used on the show, revealing a wealth of intriguing details along the way.

On this private walking tour, you will:

  • Discover the sites used on Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik’s Old Town;
  • Enjoy the undivided attention of a local expert guide well-versed in the lore of the series;
  • Begin at the imposing Pile Gate, which served as the gateway to King’s Landing throughout the show’s 8 seasons;
  • Get an introduction to the history of the city and the reasons behind its selection as a filming location;
  • Hear behind-the-scenes stories about how HBO transformed Dubrovnik into King's Landing;
  • Admire Pile Bay, which doubled as Blackwater Bay and was used for crucial scenes like Myrcella’s departure for Dorne and the battle of Blackwater;
  • See the famous city walls and take in stunning views of the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea;
  • Visit Fort Lovrijenac (with tickets included), which was transformed into the Red Keep;
  • Admire the stunning views of the Old Town, the city walls and the Adriatic Sea; 
  • See the Jesuit Staircase and trace the infamous path of Cersei's Walk of Shame;
  • Wander the streets of the Old Town and seek out the alleys where Arya Stark darted through Braavos;
  • See important buildings like Sponza Palace and the Rector's Palace and find out how they were used as stand-ins for scenes in Qarth and beyond;
  • Enjoy the chance to pose for a photo on the Iron Throne replica

Uncover the real-life King’s Landing on this private 2-hour walking tour through Dubrovnik’s Old Town, tailored for fans of Game of Thrones who want to follow in the footsteps of their favourite characters while discovering the true stories and cinematic secrets behind HBO’s epic production. Your journey begins at Pile Gate, a grand and historic entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old Town that served as the primary gateway into King’s Landing throughout the series. As you cross into the city, your expert local guide, with a wealth of knowledge of both Croatian history and Game of Thrones lore, will set the scene, revealing how and why this UNESCO-protected city was chosen as the capital of Westeros.

You’ll gaze down at Pile Bay below, better known to fans as Blackwater Bay, where your guide can remind you of the pivotal on-screen moments that unfolded there, including Myrcella Baratheon’s departure for Dorne, the explosive Battle of Blackwater, and the dramatic return of the Lannisters to King’s Landing. You’ll be captivated by the stunning scenery, jagged cliffs, ancient stone, and the shimmer of the Adriatic as well as the behind-the-scenes insights, from CGI trickery to secret filming schedules and local extras cast as townspeople.

You’ll continue along a stretch of the spectacular city walls, where sweeping views mirror the dramatic aerial shots of King's Landing. With each step, your guide will share anecdotes about how Dubrovnik’s fortifications were digitally extended and transformed to mimic the vivid landscapes depicted in George R.R. Martin's novels. From there, you’ll pay a visit to the formidable Fort Lovrijenac, towering above the sea. This fortress was the stand-in for the Red Keep, the seat of House Baratheon and later the Lannisters. As you wander the same battlements where Cersei and Littlefinger plotted, or Joffrey faced off with Robb Stark’s emissaries, your guide will share set secrets and production challenges and point out precisely where scenes were blocked and shot.

You will then make your way into the heart of the Old Town, following the cobbled streets to the baroque Jesuit Staircase, where Queen Cersei began her infamous Walk of Shame. Your guide will explain how this emotionally charged scene was choreographed, such as the use of body doubles, and local controversies surrounding its filming. Winding through the atmospheric lanes, you’ll recognise narrow alleys once filled with Braavosi market vendors that were stealthily navigated by Arya Stark in season 5. Along the way, you will see historic landmarks like Sponza Palace and the Rector’s Palace that were cleverly repurposed in the show as noble residences and exotic palaces in Qarth. After a stroll through the Old Port, with Lokrum Island in the distance (which was used for another corner of Qarth), your experience concludes with a photo opportunity where you can snap a picture while sitting on a full-scale replica of the Iron Throne.

Whether you're a die-hard fan or merely intrigued by the crossover of history and fantasy, this tour delivers a thrilling mix of drama, insider knowledge, and spectacular sights. In just two hours, you'll see how Dubrovnik was transformed into a fantasy world, and leave feeling like you’ve just passed through one.

DISCLAIMER: This tour is an unlicensed and unauthorised tour of sites featured in the television series 'Game of Thrones' created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for Home Box Office, Inc. Travel Curious Ltd. and this tour does not have any association with or connection to, the television series 'Game of Thrones', David Benioff, D. B. Weiss and Home Box Office, Inc.

Explore Dubrovnik City Walls: Private 2-hour Walking Tour

Dubrovnik's spectacular City Walls are perhaps its most emblematic feature, constructed between the 8th and 16th Centuries to defend against invaders and maintain the independence of a powerful maritime republic. They were crucial in protecting the city-state of Ragusa (as Dubrovnik was historically known). In modern times, the walls have become one of the main tourist attractions in Dubrovnik, especially since they served as a dramatic backdrop for the popular TV series Game of Thrones. Our private tour of the City Walls will help you navigate these iconic fortifications with ease, discovering the best views and most intriguing stories within.

On this private 2-hour walking tour, you will:

  • Get a comprehensive look at the Dubrovnik City Walls with a local expert guide;
  • Make an entrance through the imposing Ploce Gate;
  • Begin with the East Wall and learn how it defended the city from attacks from the mainland;
  • Admire Revelin Fortress, an impressive example of Renaissance military architecture;
  • Find out how this monumental complex was created and how it developed across the centuries; 
  • Climb to the majestic Minceta Tower, the highest point of the walls;
  • Take in panoramic views of the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea;
  • Hear stories of the battles, sieges and other challenges the walls have withstood from the early Middle Ages to the modern day;
  • See Dubrovnik’s most important landmarks from above, including the Franciscan Monastery, Stradun and Fort Lovrijenac;
  • Visit Fort Bokar and learn about the architectural innovations employed in its construction;
  • Walk along the bastions and towers along the southern walls while your guide reveals the mystical history of Lokrum Island below;
  • Finish at the Fort of St. John, where the city walls meet the sea.

Step back in time and rise above the city on a breathtaking private walk along Dubrovnik’s legendary city walls, one of the greatest fortification systems in Europe and the crown jewel of the Adriatic. This two-hour journey, led by a knowledgeable local guide, offers not only sweeping views but gripping stories of sieges, victories, destruction and endurance. Your tour begins at the Ploče Gate, the majestic eastern entrance where you’ll ascend directly onto the city walls. The first stretch along the East Wall offers commanding views of Revelin Fortress, a masterwork of Renaissance military design built to defend against Ottoman incursions from land and sea. As you walk, your guide will explain how the walls became the lifeline of the independent Republic of Ragusa, the city-state that eventually evolved into present-day Dubrovnik.

Climbing toward the North Wall will lead to one of the most awe-inspiring moments: the ascent of Minčeta Tower. This powerful circular bastion is not only the highest point of the city walls but also a perfect vantage for taking in the terracotta roofs of the Old Town and the glistening waters of the Adriatic Sea. It was here that the city made its final stand during the 1991 siege, and long before that, it served as an unyielding stronghold against medieval threats. As you trace the walls westward, gazing down at Stradun, the Franciscan Monastery, and the imposing Fort Lovrijenac across the bay, the city’s layered history unfolds beneath your feet. Your guide will share tales of the great earthquake of 1667, the Republic of Ragusa’s cunning diplomacy, and the incredible engineering that kept Dubrovnik sovereign while empires rose and fell around it.

Near Pile Gate, you will pause at Fort Bokar, a rounded bastion that seems to hover above the sea. Your guide will explain how its innovative design allowed cannonballs to deflect from its thick, curved walls, a testament to Ragusan ingenuity and a striking symbol of the city’s unrelenting defence. You will then continue along the Southern Wall, perhaps the most picturesque stretch of the whole tour. With the Adriatic shimmering beside you and Lokrum Island just offshore, your guide will share the myths and legends tied to this enigmatic islet, including tales of cursed monks, shipwrecked royalty, and forbidden love.

Your walk concludes where stone meets sea: at the Fort of St. John, the final sentinel guarding Dubrovnik’s harbour. This fortress, which was once filled with cannons and chains to block enemy ships, now marks the perfect end to your elevated exploration, a moment to look out over the turquoise bay, and fully absorb the beauty and power of a city built to endure. Ideal for those seeking the most stunning views, the richest stories, and a truly immersive historical experience, this tour of Dubrovnik’s walls offers an unforgettable perspective on a city that has always stood its ground with elegance and strength.

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