Split Game of Thrones Tour: City of Dragons

Diocletian’s Palace is more than a backdrop: its stone lanes and underground cellars make the world of Meereen feel close at hand. On this two-hour walk, you’ll visit filming locations and hear how the ancient Roman complex became part of Split’s modern center.

I like two things in particular: the mix of show locations and local history, and the use of pictures or video clips to connect a real corner to a scene. Guides such as Katerina, Ivan, Hrvoje, Marko, Dean, and Ted have led tours, though you can’t choose who you’ll get.

One consideration: two hours is a brisk introduction, not a full tour of Split or every Game of Thrones site in the region. The walk focuses on the palace and its cellars, and you’ll need to bring water.

Key points

• Start at the Gregory of Nin statue: Meet your guide beside the six-meter statue opposite the palace’s Golden Gate.
• Walk through a 1,700-year-old setting: Diocletian’s Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and still sits at the heart of Split.
• See the Meereen cellars: Admission to the palace cellars is included, and the underground halls are linked to scenes with Daenerys and her dragons.
• Connect filming spots to the screen: Guides may show images and video clips from the series at the places where scenes were shot.
• Get more than show trivia: Expect local history and customs alongside Game of Thrones details.
• Check the extra value: The tour includes a 20% discount at the Game of Thrones Museum and a free photo on the Game of Thrones throne.

Walking into Diocletian’s Palace

The tour begins at the Gregory of Nin statue, a six-meter figure set opposite the Golden Gate. This is a useful meeting point: the palace entrance is right there, and you begin with the Roman structure that gives the walk its shape.

Built by Emperor Diocletian around 1,700 years ago, the palace is among the best-preserved structures of its period and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, it is woven into Split’s center rather than fenced off as a stand-alone monument. That makes the tour feel less like walking through a museum and more like tracing history through streets people still use.

Your guide brings two subjects together: the real history of Split and the series filmed here. That balance matters. You’ll have a stronger sense of why a stone passage or underground hall looks the way it does, rather than seeing it only as a location from television.

The English-speaking guide is described as a Game of Thrones expert, and the group discusses the series, Croatian legends, local history, and customs. Guides named in past tours include Katerina, Ivan, Hrvoje Baričić, Marko, Dean, Ted, Luka, and Toni. The names are useful examples of the local guides who have led the walk, not a promise that you’ll be assigned a particular person.

From palace lanes to Meereen

The series locations are the tour’s main draw, but the palace itself does much of the work. Its lanes and stone corridors give the show’s fictional city a convincing setting, and your guide helps identify the places tied to scenes with Daenerys, the Unsullied, and the Sons of the Harpy.

One moment to look forward to is seeing the corridor associated with the Sons of the Harpy waiting for the Unsullied. You’ll also walk through streets where the Unsullied patrolled. These details can be easy to miss on your own, especially when you’re trying to match a location to a scene from memory.

The tour also visits the filming location connected with Daenerys keeping her dragons. If you know the show well, the guide’s scene references can help you place the spot in the story. If you’re less familiar, the setting still offers a clear example of how the palace’s real architecture was used to create a fictional world.

Some guides use pictures and video clips while you’re standing at a filming spot. That’s a practical touch: it gives you a direct visual comparison, and it can make a plain-looking corner suddenly feel familiar. The format may vary by guide, so treat the clips as a helpful possibility rather than a guaranteed part of every tour.

Down into the palace cellars

Admission to the palace cellars is included, so you don’t have to arrange a separate ticket for this part of the walk. The underground halls and corridors are among the tour’s most memorable stops because they are connected to the Meereenese slaves in the series and the place where Daenerys’s dragons were held.

The cellar visit also helps explain the show’s use of the palace. Above ground, the tour takes in the lanes where characters moved and fought. Below, the stone halls offer a different scale and mood. You get a better feel for the variety of spaces inside the complex, not just the streets that are easiest to spot from the outside.

This is a short visit within a two-hour tour, not a separate, leisurely cellar exploration. If the underground rooms are what interest you most, you may want to return on your own time if the site allows, but the tour’s included entry gives you a guided first look.

Split history beside the screen story

The show is the hook, but the local history is a major part of the value. The tour covers Diocletian’s Palace and the wider story of Split, with guides also sharing Croatian legends and local customs. Several guides have been praised for making room for the city’s past across different periods, including modern history.

I especially like this approach for a short stay. If you have only a couple of hours to spare, a tour that pairs filming sites with city context can do more for you than a list of photo stops. You leave with a clearer sense of the palace as a real place with a long life, not simply a set for a television series.

Guides may also offer suggestions for places to visit, or local food and drinks to try, after the walk. That can be useful if you’re new to Split and want ideas for the rest of your day. It is an informal extra, not a formal itinerary item, so ask if you’d like recommendations.

What two hours can cover

The advertised duration is two hours, and the route is a walking tour through the palace and its cellars. That is enough time for a guided introduction to several filming locations and a solid layer of history, but don’t expect a complete survey of Split or a trip to every Croatian filming site.

The pace is shaped by the group, the guide’s explanations, and the number of questions. Some people have had groups of around five, while group size can vary. A smaller group can make it easier to ask questions and move through the lanes, but you should not book on the assumption that your tour will be small.

Wear comfortable shoes for a walk through streets and corridors, and bring water. The meeting point is easy to identify: the Gregory of Nin statue opposite the Golden Gate. The tour is offered in English, and starting times depend on availability.

A practical tip: refresh your memory of the series before you go if you want to recognize the scenes quickly. You don’t need to be a devoted fan to enjoy the walk, but knowing the characters and locations makes the filming connections easier to follow.

Is $41 good value?

At $41 per person, the tour is best judged as a guided introduction to both the palace and its Game of Thrones connections. The price includes a two-hour walk with a specialist guide and entry to the palace cellars. Those are the core pieces, and the guide’s ability to explain where scenes were filmed is the difference between wandering through old streets and understanding what you’re seeing.

The 20% discount at the Game of Thrones Museum adds value if you plan to visit it. The discount is not the same as free admission, so check the museum’s current price before counting it as a major saving. A free photo on the Game of Thrones throne is another small extra.

The tour also offers a skip-the-ticket-line benefit. The specific attraction it applies to is not stated here, so confirm the details when booking rather than assuming it covers every site in Split.

You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance is available for a full refund. That flexibility can help if your plans are still taking shape. The price makes the most sense if you value a guide’s local context as much as the television locations. If all you want is a quick photo at one filming spot, you may not need a two-hour guided walk.

Who should book this walk?

Game of Thrones fans will get the clearest payoff, especially if they enjoy seeing how a real place was used on screen. Images or clips at the locations can make the connection more vivid, and the route covers key spots tied to Daenerys, the dragons, the Unsullied, and the Sons of the Harpy.

You don’t need to be a fan to enjoy it. The palace and Split’s history are substantial parts of the experience, and the tour can serve as a useful first introduction to the city. Several guides have been praised for keeping the history and show material in good balance, rather than letting trivia take over.

This is also a practical choice if your time in Split is limited. In two hours, you can see palace locations, visit the cellars, and get local context without planning the route yourself. If you want a deep study of Roman history, a long visit to the palace, or filming sites beyond the city center, this tour is only a starting point.

Should you book the Split Game of Thrones tour?

I’d book this if you want a guided walk that gives the palace two lives at once: the Roman complex at the center of Split and the setting behind several Game of Thrones scenes. The included cellar entry, local history, and scene comparisons make the $41 price easier to justify than a show-only route.

Skip it if you have little interest in the series and would rather explore at your own pace, or if you’re expecting a full-day tour of Croatian filming locations. For most first-time visitors who like the show or want an engaging way to get oriented in Split, it is a useful, well-focused two hours.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The walking tour lasts two hours.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet your guide at the six-meter-high Gregory of Nin statue, opposite the Golden Gate of Diocletian’s Palace.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is entry to the palace cellars included?

Yes. The cellar entrance fee is included in the tour.

What Game of Thrones locations will I see?

The tour visits palace locations connected with Daenerys, her dragons, the Meereenese slaves, the Unsullied, and the Sons of the Harpy.

Is the Game of Thrones Museum included?

Museum entry is not included, but the tour provides a 20% discount on the entrance fee.

What should I bring?

Bring water.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.