Split: Diocletian's Palace & Game of Thrones Filming Locations

Roman Palace Meets Westeros: Split's Dual History on Foot

You walk through Split's Diocletian's Palace and its Roman basements with a licensed guide who knows both the city's 1,700-year history and exactly where Game of Thrones was filmed. You visit the Peristyle Square, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, the Gregory of Nin statue, and sit on an actual throne from the show. Palace admission is separate; the tour itself covers the walking route, the guide's knowledge, and the connections between ancient Rome and modern television.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Start tour at Riva Promenade
• Visit Diocletian's Palace basements
• See Vestibul entrance to Emperor's apartment
• Pass by Cathedral of Saint Domnius
• Explore Peristyle Square
• View filming location outside museum
• See Gregory of Nin statue
• Visit main entrance to the Palace
• Stop at Game of Thrones Split Fan Shop

The Experience

The Riva Promenade runs along the water's edge in Split, and that's where the tour begins—your guide standing among the cafés and tourists, ready to pull back the layers. You're looking at a city that's been lived in for nearly two thousand years, and in the last decade, it's also been Meereen. The streets you're about to walk were transformed into Daenerys's conquered city, the palace basements became her throne room, and the narrow alleys held some of the show's most brutal scenes. But here's the thing: the history underneath is older and stranger than any fiction.

Down into the basements of Diocletian's Palace, and the air changes. The palace was built in 305 AD as a retirement fortress for a Roman emperor—not a palace in the fancy sense, but a military compound with walls thick enough to hold power. Your guide, who's both a local historian and a genuine Game of Thrones fan, walks you through the Vestibul (the emperor's private entrance), points out where the Unsullied fought the Sons of the Harpy, and shows you the exact corner where Daenerys imprisoned her dragons. The stone is real. The history is real. The filming happened here, and the two don't cancel each other out—they layer. You'll move through the Peristyle Square, a courtyard built for worship and ceremony, now open to the sky and tourists and the weight of centuries. The Cathedral of Saint Domnius rises nearby, originally Diocletian's own mausoleum, its bell tower visible from half the city.

The tour moves above ground to the Gregory of Nin statue—a bronze figure by sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, one of Split's most recognizable landmarks—and then back to the palace's main Roman entrance. Along the way, your guide connects the dots: which scenes were shot where, what the palace actually was, how a Roman emperor's retirement home became the foundation of a medieval city that became a Game of Thrones set. At the end, you get to sit on an actual throne, the kind used in filming, and take the photo. Admission to the palace basements costs extra (7 euros for adults, 2.50 for children and seniors, paid on arrival), but everything else—the walking, the stories, the context—is included with your private guide.

What’s included

• Private licensed tour guide.
• walking route through Split's old town including the Riva Promenade, Diocletian's Palace basements, Peristyle Square, Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Gregory of Nin statue.
• photo opportunity sitting on an actual Game of Thrones throne.
• stories about both Roman history and Game of Thrones filming locations.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viktoria - Tourist Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand Split's two identities—Roman fortress and television set—without piecing it together alone. A private guide handles the navigation and the context, leaving you free to absorb both the 1,700-year-old stone and the show's backstory.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long is the tour?

The reference content does not specify a total duration. Contact the operator for the exact length.

Is the palace basement admission included?

No. Admission to Diocletian's Palace basements costs 7 euros per adult and 2.50 euros per child or senior, paid at the entrance during the tour.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The basements involve stairs and uneven stone, so accessibility varies by section.

Is this tour suitable for people who haven't watched Game of Thrones?

Yes. The tour covers both the Game of Thrones filming locations and the actual history of Diocletian's Palace and Split, so you get value either way.

What's included in the tour price?

A private licensed tour guide. Palace admission, food, and drinks are not included.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it involves walking through narrow streets and descending into palace basements with stone stairs.