Dubrovnik: The Real King's Landing

Dan Segal

Some time ago I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful port town of Dubrovnik, Croatia. More recently, I binge-watched all 40 hours of the cinematic masterpiece that is Game of Thrones in anticipation of the fifth season. So when I discovered that the Croatian city I had visited years ago was the setting for the most warranted poisoning in TV history, I knew I had to write an article reconciling the real city with the fantastical one.

Just as King’s Landing saw its monarchs go from mad to drunk to evil to way-to-young-to-be-with-Margaery, Dubrovnik has seen itself come under the sovereign control of the Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans, Austrians, Yugoslavs, and finally, Croats. Despite its varied fealty, Dubrovnik managed to stay relatively autonomous, which is great for tourists coming to see its famous red terracotta roofs and stone architecture. The city has also never fallen to invasion, which is to say Stannis —a great military tactician — should have known better.

Moving on from the shortest history lesson you’ll ever get, what is there to do in Dubrovnik? As it turns out, quite a lot. My suggestion is to start with a walk along the city walls to soak in the Old Town on one side and the sparkling ocean on the other.  Next head into the Old Town itself and check out the stunning Assumption Cathedral, as well as the oldest Sephardic synagogue in the world and the St. Blaise Church.

Fun fact: People in Dubrovnik used to use the elbow of a statue outside the church as a unit of measurement. Not-so-fun fact: We still use feet. How long until the metric system movement in America picks up? Anyway, I digress.  

After touring the city walls, squares, and churches, check out one of the many cliff-top bars and relax with a drink and a panoramic view of the ocean. Or, you could take a ferry to the nearby island of Lokrum and watch the sunset from a less populated, more natural habitat.

Of course, Dubrovnik offers much more than that. Kayak around walled Old Town, visit one of the region’s dozens of wineries, or relax all day on Banje beach, a pebbled shoreline popular among the locals. And, for the real Game of Thrones diehards, for about $65 you can take a three-hour walking tour that introduces you to all the famous settings in the series.  

Dan is a junior Business major from Livingston, New Jersey. A self-proclaimed history geek, cinephile, and avid traveler; he aims to walk away from every new destination with a good sense of the cuisine and a great story. He once jumped off of a moving train at the wrong station.

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