REVIEW · SPLIT
Split – Walking in Khaleesi Footsteps in the City of Dragons
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Katarina Tours · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Dragons, Romans, and street corners all in one walk. I love the storytelling and how the guide links Game of Thrones footage to what you can actually see in Split, especially inside Diocletian’s Palace. One thing to consider: it mixes history with show references, so if you want zero pop-culture talk, this may not feel like your kind of tour.
You meet right where your brain says, Go time: the Gregory of Nin statue with the big toe. From there, the tour moves through the old city and the palace areas, then takes you down into the basement level tied to the show’s dragon story. You’ll get an English-speaking licensed guide, plus an English audio guide to back you up as you walk.
The guide approach is personal and relaxed. Expect friendly, human explanations, and you’ll likely get extra time if you have questions. That added attention is a real plus, especially for first-timers who want context fast, or repeat visitors who still want better background.
In This Review
- Key Points You’ll Care About
- Finding the Tour: Gregory of Nin and That Big Toe
- Walking the Old City Loop Like a Storyboard
- Diocletian’s Palace: The Roman Foundation Under the GoT Hype
- Going Down: The Dragon Basement Where Filming Came Alive
- Kill the Masters Street and Mereen’s Ambush Story
- The Guide Experience: Friendly, Visual, and Willing to Stay
- Coffee After the Tour: Where the Story Continues
- Price and Value: Why 58 USD Can Make Sense Here
- Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)
- Should You Book Khaleesi Footsteps in Split?
- FAQ
- How long is the Split Khaleesi Footsteps walking tour?
- Where do I meet the guide?
- Is the tour in English?
- What’s included in the ticket price?
- Are food and drinks included?
- Is there an option to get coffee after the tour?
- Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
- Can I cancel for a refund?
- Can I reserve without paying right away?
Key Points You’ll Care About

- Gregory of Nin big-toe start makes it easy to find the group and get oriented quickly
- Diocletian’s Palace highlights across the old city, not just a single photo stop
- Dragon dungeon entry ticket included, so you’re not scrambling for extras
- Game of Thrones visuals and storytelling help the filming locations click in your head
- Optional coffee after the tour can add local flavor and extra backstory
- Guides stick around for additional questions if you want to go deeper
Finding the Tour: Gregory of Nin and That Big Toe

The meeting point is hard to miss, which matters when you’re in a maze of stone streets. You’ll start near the Gregory of Nin statue, the one with the giant toe everyone takes a photo with. It’s a practical choice: you get your bearings immediately, and you’re standing in a central, recognizable spot before the tour starts moving.
If you’re thinking about timing, show up a few minutes early. Not because the tour is strict, but because it gives you a moment to watch the flow of people and settle before you’re shepherded into the old-town rhythm. This is the kind of tour where the first minute sets expectations, and that big statue toe does the job.
Once you’re grouped up, the guide typically frames what you’ll see and why it matters. That helps you stop treating Split like random streets and start reading it as layers: Roman city planning above, and later life carved into the same walls.
You can also read our reviews of more walking tours in Split
Walking the Old City Loop Like a Storyboard

This is a guided walk through the older parts of Split, mixing Roman history with Game of Thrones references. The total duration is 210 minutes, so it’s long enough to feel like an experience instead of a quick hit, but short enough that you won’t feel stuck for hours on end.
The key here is that you’re not wandering aimlessly. You go to the important parts of Diocletian’s Palace, then connect those physical spaces to the show’s filming world. It’s a smart approach, because your brain does better when you can tie a pop-culture moment to a real location. You’ll also get the English audio support, which is useful if you’re walking and the guide is talking at full speed.
One practical note: the streets are outdoors and you’ll be on your feet. Wear shoes that handle uneven stone and you’ll feel fine. If you’re the type who wants to stop for photos constantly, plan to pace yourself; the guide’s job is to keep the story moving.
Diocletian’s Palace: The Roman Foundation Under the GoT Hype

Diocletian’s Palace is the anchor of Split, and this tour treats it like the main character. You’ll see multiple key spots within the palace complex, not just one courtyard. The guide’s explanations center on the idea that Split began as the retirement home of Roman emperor Diocletian. That one detail changes how you view the city: the buildings aren’t just old; they were designed with a specific purpose and mindset.
This is also where the show connection becomes more meaningful. When you’re standing in the palace spaces tied to filming, the talk doesn’t stay abstract. Instead, it points you back to the location and asks you to imagine how that same architecture could be used on camera.
I like that this tour balances two things at once: Roman structure and story logic. You’ll get plenty of context so Game of Thrones references don’t float off on their own, and the Roman history doesn’t feel like homework. If you’re a GoT fan, you’ll recognize the influence. If you’re a history-first traveler, you’ll still walk away with a better sense of why Split looks the way it does.
Going Down: The Dragon Basement Where Filming Came Alive
The tour includes a major payoff: you’ll visit the basement level of Diocletian’s Palace. This is the part that’s described as the best preserved, and it’s also the place tied to the show’s dragon story. In other words, it’s not just a location marker; it’s an environment.
You also get the entry ticket to the dragon dungeon included, which is a genuine value add. Paying for access on your own is one of those things that quietly turns a good plan into a stressful scramble. Here, that piece is already handled.
What makes this stop work is the combination of setting and explanation. Being underground changes everything: the space feels enclosed, the atmosphere feels heavier, and the guide’s storytelling has a stronger impact than it would in bright open plazas. You’re basically watching the story assemble inside your head while you stand in the same kind of physical world the filming used.
A small drawback for some people: if you prefer broad street views over enclosed indoor spaces, you may wish you had more time above ground. But if you want the show connection to feel real, this basement visit is the moment that makes it click.
Kill the Masters Street and Mereen’s Ambush Story
After the palace and its underground stop, the tour moves to another show-related thread: Kill the Masters street. The guide explains it through the lens of the Game of Thrones world, describing an ambush where slave masters were attacked by slaves in the city of Mereen.
This part is useful even if you aren’t a hardcore GoT detail-spotter. The street itself is the bridge. You’re learning how the show used cultural and architectural cues from real places, and the guide helps you see the difference between a reference and a random nod.
The best way to enjoy this stop is to listen for the connections rather than treat it like a trivia quiz. Ask yourself: what does the filming story borrow from the setting? Then let the guide’s storytelling do its job.
Also, keep your pace here. It’s easy to get caught up in photos, and this is a “watch and listen” segment where the value is in understanding what you’re looking at.
You can also read our reviews of more city tours in Split
The Guide Experience: Friendly, Visual, and Willing to Stay
What elevates this tour is not just what you see, but how it’s taught. Multiple guides have been praised for using visuals like video clips and pictures to emphasize the key locations. That matters. Split can look like one long stone maze if you don’t have help. With clips and stills, the city turns into a set of identifiable scenes.
You may meet different guides depending on your date. Names that have come up include Katarina (and also spelled Katerina in feedback), Too-Tall-Tim, and Ted. Across these guides, the pattern is consistent: friendly and engaging delivery, plus humor and a relaxed pace.
I also really like that the guide approach allows for extra time. One of the highlights is that they’re open to staying longer for additional questions. That’s not just customer service. It means you can ask the follow-up questions that always pop up after the tour ends, while the information is still fresh.
If you’re a first-timer, this kind of guided context can save you from spending the rest of your trip trying to connect dots on your own. If you’ve visited Split before, it can still help, because you get new angles on both the Roman layers and the show references.
Coffee After the Tour: Where the Story Continues
There’s an optional add-on: after the tour, you can have a coffee at one of the popular local places with more explanation. This isn’t presented as part of the paid tour package, and food and drinks are not included, but the idea is simple: you get a chance to keep talking in a more relaxed setting.
This works well if you like your travel with context. You’ll hear about local traditions and habits, plus more secrets about the filming locations. It’s also a practical moment to ask questions like where to go next in Split, or what areas are worth slowing down for on your own time.
Even if you skip the coffee, you’ll still leave with the better “map” in your head. But if you’re the type who enjoys conversation-based learning, this is a nice option.
Price and Value: Why 58 USD Can Make Sense Here
The price is $58 per person for 210 minutes, and it includes a few things that matter: an English-speaking guide, an English audio guide, and the dragon dungeon entry ticket.
That combination is where the value comes from. This isn’t just someone pointing at buildings from the sidewalk. You’re paying for guided interpretation plus paid access to a key stop. If you had to purchase that dungeon entry separately and coordinate your own route, you’d likely lose time and feel less confident about what to prioritize.
There’s also a soft value that’s hard to price: the guide’s willingness to use visuals and answer questions. That turns a sightseeing walk into an explanation session, and it’s exactly what helps you remember the experience later.
You do need to be realistic: it’s a walking tour through historic areas, so you’re paying for time on your feet. If you’re traveling with limited mobility, or you simply dislike walking, you might prefer a shorter or more transport-based option. But the experience is listed as wheelchair accessible, which is a helpful sign if you need that.
Who This Tour Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)

You’ll likely love this tour if you’re:
- a Game of Thrones fan who wants the filming locations tied to real Split architecture
- a history-minded traveler who likes clear stories about Roman roots
- someone who appreciates a guide who uses visuals and answers questions
It might not be the best fit if:
- you want strictly Roman history and dislike pop-culture framing
- you prefer self-guided wandering with no structure
- you want a lot of long, scenic breaks rather than a story-led route
One more small reality check: the pacing is designed to cover the palace circuit and the dragon dungeon, then connect to other key streets. That means it’s not a slow, hours-long amble. It’s built for learning and seeing, not lounging.
Should You Book Khaleesi Footsteps in Split?
If you like your travel with a story—one that connects place to plot—this tour is a strong pick. The big reasons are simple: dragon dungeon access is included, the guide uses visual storytelling, and the route focuses on meaningful locations rather than random photo stops.
Book it if you’re coming to Split for more than postcards. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of what Diocletian built, why the palace shaped the city, and how the show’s dragon world found a home in these spaces.
Skip it only if your interest is purely historical with no interest in Game of Thrones references, or if you strongly prefer to travel at your own pace without guided structure.
FAQ
How long is the Split Khaleesi Footsteps walking tour?
It runs for 210 minutes.
Where do I meet the guide?
Meet near the Gregory of Nin statue, the one with the big toe.
Is the tour in English?
Yes. It includes an English-speaking live guide and an English audio guide.
What’s included in the ticket price?
The price includes entry tickets to the dragon dungeon and the English speaking tour guide (plus an English audio guide).
Are food and drinks included?
No. Food and drinks are not included.
Is there an option to get coffee after the tour?
Yes. After the tour, you can have coffee at a popular local place for more history and Game of Thrones explanations.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible.
Can I cancel for a refund?
Yes. There is free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Can I reserve without paying right away?
Yes. The offer includes reserve now & pay later, so you can book your spot and pay nothing today.

































