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

Where Daenerys Kept Her Dragons, and What Stood There First

You walk through the underground cellars of Diocletian's Palace where Game of Thrones filmed its dragon scenes, then move through the Peristyle, Temple of Jupiter, and the narrow medieval streets that doubled as Meereen. Your guide is a local Split resident who explains both the Roman history and the filming stories. The 1,700-year-old palace and its cellars are the main focus. Entry is included, and the walk takes around two and a half hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Peristyle Square15m
2. Temple of Jupiterpass by
3. Fruit Square10m

Explore Diocletian's Palace and Game of Thrones sites

• Enter Diocletian's Palace Cellars
• Visit Vestibule of Diocletian's Palace
• Gather at Peristyle Square
• Pause at Temple of Jupiter
• Walk along Papalićeva Street
• Pass Game of Thrones Museum and Fan Shop
• Stand before Golden Gate entrance
• Experience Pjaca People's Square
• Stroll through Fruit Square

The experience

The Palace Cellars are colder than you'd expect, and darker. Your guide (a Split resident who actually watched the Game of Thrones crew film here) will point out the exact alcoves where they rigged the dragon scenes, but what hits you first is the weight of 1,700 years. Diocletian built these underground halls to support his palace, and they're so massive, so precisely carved into the stone, that it's hard to separate the Roman engineering from the fantasy that came later. You walk through the Vestibule and into the Peristyle, where columns still stand exactly as they did when the Emperor's court gathered there, and then your guide explains how the narrow medieval streets above, Papalićeva Street especially, became the streets of Meereen.

The tour moves through the Temple of Jupiter, where a sphinx guards the entrance and the stone has been worn smooth by centuries of hands. This isn't a museum tour where you stand behind ropes. You're walking the actual palace, the actual streets, stopping where the show's crew set up cameras. Your guide shares what it was like when the production shut down whole sections of Split, and then pivots to the real history: how the palace became a living city, how medieval families built homes inside the Roman walls, how Venetian architecture layered itself on top of everything else. It's the kind of detail only someone who lives here would know to mention.

The walk includes the Golden Gate, the monumental northern entrance where Diocletian himself would have passed, and then opens into the softer squares: Pjaca with its cafés, Fruit Square with its statue of Marko Marulić. By the end, you've seen how a 1,700-year-old palace became a medieval city, then a Game of Thrones set, and is now just Split: a place where tourists and locals move through the same stone corridors, each seeing something different. The substructure entry fee is included, so you don't have to buy a separate ticket at the gate.

What’s included

• Entrance fee to the Substructures of Diocletian's Palace.
• guided walk through the Palace Cellars, Vestibule, Peristyle Square, Temple of Jupiter, Papalićeva Street, the Golden Gate, Pjaca (People's Square), and Fruit Square.
• local guide commentary on both Roman history and Game of Thrones filming locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:30 and 18:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (under 16)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Tour4You

Is this one for you?Best for anyone who wants to understand Split's layered history (Roman, medieval, Venetian, and modern) without arranging separate museum tickets or getting lost in the palace's maze of streets. The local guide handles the navigation and context, so you see both the famous filming spots and the real stories underneath.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 16).

Do I need to be a Game of Thrones fan to enjoy this tour?

No. The tour covers both the show's filming locations and the genuine 1,700-year-old Roman history of Diocletian's Palace. If you're interested in either one, the tour works.

What's included in the price?

Entry to the Palace Cellars (Substructures of Diocletian's Palace) and the guided walk through the palace, Peristyle, Temple of Jupiter, and surrounding streets. You don't pay separately for the cellars.

How long does the tour take?

Around two and a half hours of walking and exploring.

Is the tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The cellars involve some uneven stone floors and stairs, but the pace is leisurely and you can ask to pause whenever you need.

Will the guide speak English?

The guide is a local Split resident. Confirm the language when you book.

Can I take photos inside the cellars?

Yes, photography is allowed throughout the palace and cellars.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes are essential. The palace has uneven stone floors and stairs. The cellars stay cool year-round, so bring a light layer even in summer.

Is there parking nearby?

Public transportation options are available near the palace. The old town is pedestrian-focused, so arriving by bus or taxi is easier than driving.