Popular film and TV series locations in Croatia

Croatia's picturesque landscapes and historic landmarks have long captured the imagination of filmmakers, making it a favored destination for movies and TV series. So, we think it's time to set the scene and reveal the most popular movies and TV shows’ filming locations in Croatia. Ready? Lights, camera, action! 🎥

The ornate façade of Rector's Palace featured prominently in popular scenes

Unveiling Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia

Game of Thrones, the iconic HBO series renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, was filmed in various stunning locations worldwide, with Croatia standing out as a prominent destination. No wonder why Dubrovnik was chosen to be featured as the King’s Landing, the capital of Westeros! Its imposing city walls, historic architecture, and picturesque coastline have effortlessly transformed it into the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. 

Even though there is a lot of CGI (computer-generated imagery) involved, you can recognize several filming locations while strolling around the cobblestoned alleys of the Croatian city. Among the most popular filming locations of Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik are:

• The stunning Fort Lovrijenac stands for the Red Keep, the King’s Landing primary fortress featured throughout all seasons of Game of Thrones.
• The Minčeta Tower, the most prominent part of Dubrovnik's walls is showcased in Season 2, Episode 10 with Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons.
• The Jesuit Stairs appear in one of the most popular scenes of GoT, Cersei Lannister’s ‘Walk of Shame’ in Season 5, Episode 10.
• The imposing Fort of Bokar (also known as Tvrđava Bokar) made its debut on our screens in Season 2 when Tyrion and Lord Varys devised a strategy to protect King’s Landing. It appeared again in Season 7 when Cersei Lannister was planning to join forces with Euron Greyjoy.

Fun Fact: during the filming of "Game of Thrones" in Croatia, production paused when the Croatian national football team had a crucial match. Screens were set up for the cast and crew to watch the game together.

Cersei Lannister’s ‘Walk of Shame" was shot in the steps of St. Ignatius church

Aaand what about the Iron Throne, Meeren, and Braavos’ location, right? You can find the original Iron Throne inside the Visitors Center on Lokrum Island as it was gifted by HBO to the city of Dubrovnik. However, keep in mind that other Iron Throne replicas can be also found in Dubrovnik's Old Town and inside Diocletian's Palace in Split.

The island of Lokrum is just off the coast of Dubrovnik and it provided the perfect setting for Daenerys' encounters with the Warlocks of the House of the Undying. A day trip to Lokrum from Dubrovnik is a great idea for you to relax on pristine beaches, and discover the mystical allure of the fictional city of Qarth.

Further up the coast, the basement parts of Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Split, served as the backdrop for Daenerys Targaryen's conquests in Slaver's Bay. There, you can marvel at the palace's towering walls and underground passages while reliving iconic moments from the series.

About 11 kilometers northeast, Klis Fortress is perched atop a rocky ridge overlooking the city of Split. It played a pivotal role in Game of Thrones as the city of Meereen and provided a dramatic backdrop for Daenerys' liberation of the slaves.

As for Braavos, the historic city of Šibenik became synonymous with the enigmatic city of the Faceless Men as St. James Cathedral stood in as the exterior of the Iron Bank of Braavos. 

How to get to Split: reaching Split by ferry is the best way to get in the right mood for holidays in the Adriatic Sea, with direct connections from other mainland cities in Croatia (Dubrovnik and Makarska), the Adriatic islands and the Italian port city of Ancona. Keep in mind that ferries to Split from Dubrovnik are in operation seasonally (from April until October).

The Diocletian Palace immortalized as the backdrop for Daenerys Targaryen's conquests

Tracing Star Wars: The Last Jedi's cinematic path in Dubrovnik

In a galaxy far, far away, Dubrovnik underwent a transformation once again for the film “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”. High-tech equipment and stormtroopers took the city creating a matching scenery for the casino planet Canto Bight, adding another chapter to Dubrovnik's cinematic history.

Here you can find 5 of the most popular filming locations of the “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” movie in Dubrovnik:

1. Old Town: the historic Old Town served as the primary backdrop for the scenes set in Canto Bight providing the perfect ambiance for the glamorous yet shady atmosphere of the casino city.
2. Stradun Street: the main street of Dubrovnik's Old Town, known as Stradun or Placa, was prominently featured in the film with the highlight of a spaceship crashing in the middle of the street.
3. The city walls: the imposing city walls of Dubrovnik were also showcased in "The Last Jedi." These walls added depth and grandeur to the cityscape of Canto Bight.
4. The Entrance and the Atrium of Rector's Palace
5. The Dominican Monastery in Pustijerna Street

Fun fact (or not so much for the producers): swarms of seagulls often disrupted the filming of "The Last Jedi" in Croatia which led the crew to deploy remote-controlled drones disguised as birds to deter the real ones. 

And now, let's see how to get to Dubrovnik! Depending on your point of departure, you can get to Dubrovnik by plane, bus. car or ferry. You can catch a flight to the international airport of Dubrovnik (also referred to as “Čilipi Airport”). Alternatively, you can hop on a ferry to Dubrovnik from other mainland Croatian cities, such as Split and Makarska, or other Croatian islands (Hvar, Lastovo, Pomena, Mljet, and Brač).

The main street of Stradun featured in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" film 

Grooving to Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: the iconic film locations

Plot twist! Did you know that the movie “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” and its portrayal of the Greek island Kalokairi wasn’t filmed in Greece? The island of Vis, a Croatian island with pristine beauty in the Adriatic Sea served as one of the filming locations for the movie "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” instead.

Cher, Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, and Piece Brosnan are all part of this musical romantic comedy and sequel to the 2008 hit "Mamma Mia!" that intertwines the present-day storyline with flashbacks to the past, exploring the backstory of Donna Sheridan and how she came to meet the three potential fathers of her daughter, Sophie.

Here are some of the “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” filming locations on Vis:

• Komiža: the charming fishing village of Komiža on the island of Vis was featured prominently in the movie. Its picturesque harbor, colorful buildings, and scenic coastline provided the perfect backdrop for various scenes, including those set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi.
• Stoncica beach: this beautiful sandy beach on the island of Vis was also used as a filming location. It offered stunning views of the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic and provided a tranquil setting for some of the movie's scenes.
• Fort George: located on Vis, Fort George is a historic fortress that served as a filming location for "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again." 
• The Blue Cave (Modra špilja): while not located directly on Vis, the nearby Blue Cave, situated on the neighboring island of Biševo, was also featured in the movie. Its unique blue illumination and stunning natural beauty made it a memorable backdrop for one of the musical sequences.

These filming locations on Vis and its surrounding areas contributed to the film's vibrant portrayal of the fictional island of Kalokairi. Filled with vibrant musical numbers featuring ABBA's iconic songs, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" is a heartwarming and nostalgic journey that pays tribute to the bonds of family. 

How to get to Vis: you can take a ferry to Vis from Makarska (mainland) which is about a 2.5-hour drive from Dubrovnik and 4.5 hours from the capital of Croatia, Zagreb.

The port of Komiža, the perfect backdrop for "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" scenes

Revealing Royalty: Diana's filming spots in Croatia

Croatia's magnificent landscapes provided an ideal backdrop for the authentic portrayal of Princess Diana's final years, as depicted by the actress Naomi Watts. Here, you can explore the filming locations of the 2013 movie "Diana," capturing the essence of the Princess of Wales' life:

• Rovinj: the coastal town of Rovinj in Istria was also used as a filming location for "Diana."  The Valdibora Bay, near Banjol islet, the promenade in front of the Church of St. Euphemia, and Trg na Lokvi Square are some of the most popular filming spots of Diana’s movie.
• Opatija: the coastal town of Opatija, located in the Istria region of Croatia, was one of the filming locations for "Diana." Do you remember the iconic scene with Diana standing on the balcony of a grandeur building? The scene was shot at the Heritage Hotel Imperial.
• Zagreb: the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb was also one of the chosen locations for filming certain scenes in "Diana”.

How to get to Rovinj: you can get to Rovinj by plane (the nearest airport is in Pula), ferry, bus or car. During the summer, you can reach Rovinj by ferry from Venice, Trieste, and Cesenatico in Italy. There are also ferry connections from Piran in Slovenia. It’s also well-connected by bus to Poreč, Zagreb, and Pula.

The promenade near the Church of St. Euphemia was used as a filming location for "Diana" 

So, whether you're a fan of fantasy epics, musical romances, or biographical dramas, Croatia's filming locations beckon you to step into the spotlight and invite you to embark on a reel adventure through cinematic wonders!

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