1 day Ago By Fran Winston
Game Of Thrones locations were as much a part of the story as the characters. Unlike many fantasy shows the production didn't build sets and rather sought out suitable places that could double for the lavish and rich landscapes and scenery created by George R. R.
Martin in the source material. One such spot is the Fortress at Kliss which sits just outside the city of Split in Croatia . It became Meeren which was conquered by Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) in the show.
Unsurprisingly fans of the show flock to visit it but, unlike many places with a movie link, this is surprisingly affordable to visit. At the time of writing you can get return flights to Split in April for around £66 depending on which dates you fly. Accommodation is also reasonable with a five nights in a hotel available for less than £200 for one person according to Booking.
com. This value for money was what actually attracted me to the area to begin with. That and the weather.
Other than the winter months Spilt enjoys glorious sunshine most of the rest of the year. While other parts of Croatia (I'm looking at you Dubrovnik) have become ludicrously expensive tourist traps Split remains affordable and a must for Game of Thrones fans. Eating out is affordable too with the likes of Pizza and street food costing around £5-£10 while a casual lunch or mid range dinner is about £10-£20.
Many of these meals come with a drink marking even more savings. A beer will set you back around £2.50 although it can go up to about £4.
All in all it is a very budget friendly city to visit. The Fortress, which has an imposing presence and is built into the limestone bluffs, was once an important defensive stronghold between the Mediterranean and the Balkans and housed the seat of many Croatian kings. It is only about 20-30 minutes from Split on the bus.
No expensive tours are necessary as public transport will drop you right there. You can get a bus from Split for a couple of quid or if you fancy a bit more luxury a taxi will only set you back £15-£20. The entrance fee only works out at a very reasonable £10 per person with children a mere £2.
50 if you are doing it under your own steam. Tour packages bought through third parties may cost more. For your admission fee you get more or less free rein to explore the space.
I visited in September so admittedly there were less tourists and very few children. However this merely served to ensure you could get around the fortress quicker. Nothing was off limits on my visit and you could wander around to your hearts content and fully explore the location, which boasts some breathtaking views as well as its Game of Thrones connection.
Make no mistake - it is pretty vast. This will not be a quick in and out visit. I was there for over half a day and could have stayed longer.
Any UK health and safety officer would have a field day with the free reign given to visitors and while it is quite refreshing some areas are indeed a little dangerous in my opinion. This doesn't detract from the sheer spectacle of the place though and even if you are not a Game of Thrones fan it is worth a visit. When you are finished with Kliss there is plenty more to keep you occupied while in Split.
Boat cruises with wine on tap are a wonderfully relaxing experience and come in under £20 if you book it on the day at the harbour rather than through an agent. There are also plenty of sights you can see for free, walking tours and lot of day trips if you want to venture out of the city. For a sunshine budget break you get a lot of bang for your buck.
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