Game of Thrones filming locations in Split and Dalmatia

Croatia became one of the most recognisable filming countries in television history when Game of Thrones used its coastline, fortresses, and medieval streets from season 3 through season 7. Split and the surrounding Dalmatian coast contributed two of the most memorable locations in the entire series: a hilltop fortress that doubled as the slave city of Meereen, and underground Roman cellars where Daenerys chained her growing dragons.

This guide covers what you will actually see at each location, how significant the scenes filmed there were, how to get there independently, and whether a guided tour is worth the extra cost.

What Croatia actually contributed to Game of Thrones

Before getting into specifics, it helps to understand the broader picture. Game of Thrones used Croatian locations extensively but not for its most famous setting. Dubrovnik was the primary King’s Landing location — walls, gates, harbour, and streets — and received the majority of the GoT tourism traffic. Split’s role was different: it provided the Essosi storyline, specifically the cities along Daenerys’s conquest route.

The Croatian filming footprint across seasons 3 to 7 covered several sites, but for travellers based in Split, only two locations are genuinely significant: Klis Fortress and the Diocletian’s Palace cellars. A handful of old town locations were used for minor scenes, but they are atmospheric rather than plot-critical.

Klis Fortress: the exterior of Meereen

Klis Fortress is the standout Game of Thrones location near Split, and it is the one that GoT fans tend to travel specifically to see. The fortress stands on a limestone ridge 35 km north of Split, roughly 30 minutes by car, at around 360 metres above sea level.

In seasons 4 and 5, the production team used Klis as the exterior of Meereen, the largest of the slave cities that Daenerys conquered and then struggled to govern. The fortress’s dramatic silhouette, tiered walls, and commanding position above a valley made it a plausible stand-in for a great ancient city. Filming took place in 2013 and 2014, and several key scenes were shot here — including exterior shots of the city’s gates where crucified masters were displayed, and approach shots before Daenerys’s forces entered the city.

What GoT fans will specifically recognise: the main gate and the outer walls as seen from below, the stone terraces used for exterior scenes of the city’s lower districts, and the overall silhouette that appeared repeatedly in establishing shots during seasons 4 and 5.

Klis beyond Game of Thrones

Klis deserves a visit on its own terms, entirely separate from the show. The fortress is genuinely around 1,000 years old, though its strategic importance as a mountain pass gateway means it has been contested and rebuilt repeatedly over the centuries. Venetian and Ottoman occupations left their marks on the architecture — the fortress changed hands between Croatia, Venice, and the Ottoman Empire multiple times between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries.

From the top, you get one of the best panoramic views over Split, the Adriatic, and the islands of Brač and Hvar on a clear day. The fortress is compact enough to explore thoroughly in 90 minutes to two hours. Entry costs around €5 to €7 for adults.

There is also a small museum inside covering the fortress’s military history and its role in Croatian national resistance — the Croatian Uskoks held Klis against Ottoman forces for decades, and their story is told in some detail. Non-GoT visitors typically spend more time on this history than on the filming connection.

For a deeper look at the fortress before visiting, the Klis Fortress guide covers the full history, practical access, and what to see inside. If you are combining sites in a single day, the Salona, Klis and Trogir history day itinerary shows how to link these three sites efficiently.

Getting to Klis independently

Klis is accessible by public bus from Split — lines run from the bus station near the harbour. The journey takes around 40 minutes and costs under €2 each way. The bus drops you at the village below the fortress, and it is a 10 to 15 minute walk uphill to the entrance.

By car or taxi, the drive from central Split takes about 30 minutes. Parking near the fortress entrance is available and inexpensive. If you are renting a car for a day trip that also includes Salona (the Roman ruins 25 km from Split), combining both sites by car is very manageable — Salona is on the route to Klis.

Tours to Klis typically add transport, a guide who can explain both the historical and GoT context, and sometimes a combined visit with Diocletian’s Palace. The sunset tour option is worth considering — the views from the fortress in late afternoon light are genuinely excellent, and crowds thin out compared to midday.

A combined tour that covers both Klis and Diocletian’s Palace cellars runs approximately 4 to 5 hours and costs in the range of €50 to €70 per person. For travellers who do not want to organise transport and want both locations with proper context, this is the most efficient option.

Diocletian’s Palace cellars: the dragon pit

The second major Game of Thrones location near Split sits directly beneath your feet if you are staying in Split’s old town. The underground cellars of Diocletian’s Palace — known locally as the substructions — were used in season 5 for the scenes in which Daenerys chains her dragons Rhaegal and Viserion in the catacombs beneath the Great Pyramid of Meereen.

The cellars are a genuine Roman structure, built in the early fourth century to support the palace above. They mirror the floor plan of the imperial apartments on the level above, creating a network of barrel-vaulted corridors and large chambers that were originally used for storage and infrastructure. Over the centuries, they were partially filled with debris and later cleared and excavated in the twentieth century. Today they are one of the best-preserved examples of late Roman underground architecture in the world.

What GoT fans will recognise

If you watched season 5, the scenes in the cellars are hard to forget: Daenerys descending by torchlight, the two chained dragons reacting to her presence, the scale and darkness of the space around them. The production used the real cellars as practical locations — meaning actual filming happened in these rooms, not on a built set.

The specific chambers used are the large barrel-vaulted halls in the western section of the substructions. When you enter, you will recognise the stone arches and the general atmosphere immediately. The dragons were obviously added digitally, but the walls, floor level, and vault shapes are authentic.

What is less obvious is that the cellars are quite different from the show’s portrayal in terms of atmosphere. Today they are well-lit (sometimes quite brightly) and often crowded with market stalls in some sections, since parts of the cellars have been used for a souvenir market for decades. The raw, dark atmosphere from the show requires some imagination. GoT-themed tours walk you through the specific chambers used and help reconstruct the filming setup with photos and explanations.

Visiting the cellars independently

The main entrance to the cellars is through the Vestibule, the domed hall on the south side of the palace facing the Riva promenade. Entry costs approximately €7 to €10 depending on season and whether combined tickets are purchased. Opening hours vary seasonally — in summer they run roughly 9 am to 9 pm, in shoulder season more limited hours apply.

You can walk through the cellars without any guide or tour. The layout is relatively straightforward, and information boards explain the history. If you want GoT-specific context and are not familiar with the show’s geography, a guided tour adds more than it would at Klis, simply because the specific filming locations within the cellars are not always clearly marked.

For a full understanding of the palace and its history beyond the GoT connection, the Diocletian’s Palace guide covers everything from the Roman construction to how the palace became a living city over 1,700 years.

The 3-hour walking tour that covers both the old town GoT locations and the palace cellars is the most time-efficient option for GoT-focused visitors who are not travelling to Klis. It runs in the morning and late afternoon, keeps group sizes manageable, and combines the filming context with broader palace history.

Split old town: minor but atmospheric locations

Beyond Klis and the cellars, various streets and squares in Split’s old town were used for minor scenes in seasons 3 through 5. The narrow lanes, stone archways, and Venetian-era facades provided visual texture for Essosi city scenes. These are harder to pin down precisely because they are streets rather than distinct monuments, and the production often combined multiple real locations with sets.

The Peristyle — the central colonnaded courtyard of Diocletian’s Palace — was used for several scenes and is the most specific old town location that GoT fans tend to seek out. The space is remarkable on its own terms: a Roman imperial ceremonial courtyard that has been continuously in use for 1,700 years, now flanked by a cathedral that was once the emperor’s mausoleum. The Cathedral of St Domnius guide covers the history of the space in detail.

Several GoT walking tours include a circuit of these old town locations alongside the cellars, pointing out specific archways and corners where filming took place. The scenes involved are generally less iconic than the Klis or cellar sequences, so fans with deep knowledge of every episode will appreciate the detail more than casual viewers.

Dubrovnik: the full King’s Landing experience

No honest guide to Game of Thrones in the region can omit Dubrovnik’s role. While Split’s locations are significant, Dubrovnik was used as King’s Landing across multiple seasons — the city walls, the harbour, the stairs (the famous Jesuit Steps became the Walk of Shame location), Minčeta Tower as the House of the Undying, and dozens of streets and squares throughout the old town.

If Game of Thrones is a primary motivation for your trip to Dalmatia, Dubrovnik has a density of filming locations that Split cannot match. The tradeoff is that Dubrovnik is also far more saturated with GoT tourism — the Jesuit Steps and the main GoT sites see enormous crowds in peak season.

Dubrovnik is about 230 km south of Split, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours by car or organised tour. It is a long day trip but a popular one. See the best day trips from Split guide for the logistics and whether it is worth the drive.

Choosing a tour: what matters

Several types of GoT tour operate from Split, and the right choice depends on your priorities.

The standard 3-hour walking tour focuses on the old town and cellars. It suits travellers who want a half-day activity within the city, already have plans for Klis on another day, or are less mobile. Price range is typically €25 to €40 per person.

Combined tours covering both old town and Klis Fortress run 4 to 5 hours and cost more — usually €50 to €70. They typically include transport to Klis, a guide for both sites, and a more complete GoT narrative across the Meereen storyline. If Klis is on your list and you do not have a rental car, this is the most practical option.

Private tours covering any combination of sites run significantly higher — €150 to €200 or more for a group — but allow you to set the pace, ask more questions, and adjust the itinerary on the day. For serious fans or families with specific preferences, the flexibility can justify the cost.

The sunset tour at Klis is worth mentioning separately. The fortress in late afternoon light is genuinely photogenic, the afternoon heat has usually dropped, and the timing allows you to visit the cellars in the morning and Klis in the afternoon on the same day if you are organised.

Practical notes for planning your visit

Timing and crowds: GoT tours in Split are busier in July and August but rarely reach the crush levels of Dubrovnik’s filming sites. May, June, and September are noticeably quieter and the temperatures at Klis are more comfortable. The fortress gets direct sun in summer and there is limited shade at the top.

Combining with other sites: Klis and Salona (the Roman city 5 km from Klis) work well together as a half-day history excursion. The Salona, Klis and Trogir day is a logical full-day loop. Trogir adds a UNESCO old town and is only 30 km further west.

If you are not a GoT fan: Both Klis and the Diocletian’s Palace cellars are worth visiting on their own historical merit. The cellars are included in most visits to the palace regardless. Klis requires more effort to reach but is rewarding for the views and military history even without the show context.

Photography: At the cellars, lighting varies significantly by section. The more dramatically lit areas are easier to photograph; sections with overhead skylights can create harsh contrast in midday light. At Klis, early morning light hits the upper walls well, while late afternoon is better for the views toward the sea.

Where Dalmatian GoT tourism fits within a broader itinerary

For travellers spending several days in Dalmatia, the GoT locations slot naturally into a wider itinerary without requiring dedicated GoT-only days. A morning at the palace cellars is easily combined with an afternoon exploring Split’s old town. A day trip to Klis works well alongside Salona and potentially Trogir in a single circuit.

Travellers spending a week or more in Split can build GoT locations into a broader plan that also covers island hopping to Hvar and Brač. The island hopping from Split guide covers ferry logistics and which islands suit different interests.

For shorter stays, the 3-day Split itinerary suggests how to prioritise if time is limited. The 5-day version allows more breathing room and a full Klis excursion without feeling rushed.

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