My second day in Dubrovnik I do a self-guided tour, going through the film set locations intentionally despite having walked past most of them already. I am surprised how much is CGI and how little was actually filmed on location. There are some cool spots, like the stairs of Circe’s infamous “walk of shame.”

I buy the $30 Dubrovnik pass to access the wall. It is not worth it alone, but it includes access to all the museums as well. I love to see the city from above, like Arya Stark chasing cats on the roofs of King’s Landing. It is a great view of the city and I can see down all the steep alleyways. I also see old ruins of churches and old buildings never rebuilt. I duck for cover from the rain under the turrets of the tower. This is where Daenerys had her dragons taken in Qarth (Game of Thrones, season 2).

The view over the city is the same as Kings landing, minus the CGI castles. And it is beautiful with the stormy sea.

Continuing along the back wall provides views of secret gardens in peoples’ yards that are not visible from the street. Further along, there is a great view from the docks looking out into the city. I stand here awhile, enjoying the view, and the sun comes out! I enjoy the rest of the day in the sun, finishing my tour of the wall and visiting the fortress.

The fortress is where Vaerys and Tyrion watch the Battle of Black Water Bay and is also where Joffrey has his name day tourney (Season 2). I take in the great views of the old city and surrounding sea.

I check out the old pharmacy—still in operation through a different means, with an exhibit on the traditional apothecary. The cloisters and murals are grand.

The highlight is the Rector’s palace. The governing center for Dubrovnik since medieval times, the Venetian style building is also the interior for the home of the spice King of Qarth (season 2). Just look at these iconic staircases! The interior is filled with art and relics from the ages and houses ancient artifacts as well.

I visit the folk museum and the maritime museum because they are included, but they are a bit lackluster. I learn Dubrovnik became renowned because of its grain trade housed in an old grain warehouse. The final museum is a natural history museum with taxidermy specimens of the region. The taxidermy is quite awful, which is amusing, but I do ID some species I have seen, like a bittern. Some deep sea creatures are on display too.

Dubrovnik is certainly the coolest historic city I’ve visited on this trip, but a lot of it has been repaired since bombings by Serbians in the early ’90s. They’ve done a remarkable job with restoration, making it worth the extra costs associated due to Game of Thrones fame.