If you’ve heard one thing about Dubrovnik recently, it’ll be the crowds. Ever since the city featured in Game of Thrones as King’s Landing, cruise ships have been shovelling people into the Old Town like Noah’s Ark in reverse. Therefore, a great way to see Dubrovnik is not by land, but by sea. Make sure you stop off at Lokrum while you’re aboard – it’s a stunning, uninhabited island replete with beautiful flora, and even a bar. Tour company, Experience Dubrovnik offers lots of boating options.

Sure, you’ve come to see the beautiful, historic city that is Dubrovnik, but can we talk about why you’re really here? There are so many Game of Thrones tours that it can be hard to know which one to pick. The ‘Game of Thrones Dubrovnik Tour’ gets rave reviews. You can choose from a walking tour around the city to see key filming locations (such as ‘The Red Keep’ or the site of the Walk of Shame etc.), or the ‘Ultimate Game of Thrones Tour’ which the walking tour, plus a minibus ride into the countryside to filming locations such as the ‘King’s Road’ and ‘Tyrell’s Gardens’.

Dubrovnik’s splendid city walls date back to the 12th century, successfully protecting the city for some 500 years. Audio guides are available, but for most of us, a long, leisurely stroll is enough to appreciate this UNESCO-protected site.

Known as the place to eat seafood in Dubrovnik, a meal at Proto is a charmingly old-fashioned experience. Try to nab a table outside on the terrace, where you can feast on a daily-changing menu of Dalmatian cuisine, and keep an eye out for visiting celebs.

To learn more about Dubrovnik’s turbulent recent history, visit War Photo Limited in the Old Town. New Zealand photographer, Wade Goddard came here in the early 1990s during the Croatian War of Independence and photographed the scenes – this gallery exhibits both his work, and that of his fellow war photographers, working in warzones across the globe. Seeing these works is a truly moving experience, so bring the tissues.

Dubrovnik is jam-packed with hotels, but if you’re going to go to King’s Landing, you need to stay somewhere Cersei wouldn’t turn her nose up at. St Joseph’s dates from the 1500s when life in Dubrovnik wasn’t that different from Game of Thrones (dragons excepted) – so you are sleeping within history itself. There are only six suites, and every morning a maid delivers a lavish breakfast to your room to be eaten under the historic beams. Book your stay well in advance.