Game of Thrones transported us to the medieval world of Westeros and Esos. And while Winterfell and King’s Landing do not actually exist, a lot of the filming of the show was done in some incredible European locations.
If you dream of riding dragons and sitting on the Iron Throne, make sure to visit these locations.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
When you visit the well-preserved wall town of Dubrovnik, you’ll understand right away why it was heavily featured in the show as the capital of Westeros, King’s Landing. Walking through its streets, you can easily imagine yourself in another time. Despite missing a few landmarks, such as the Red Keep and the Great Sept of Baelor, that were added in post-production, Dubrovnik is instantly recognizable. And it’s an incredible place to visit in its own right.
Several locations around Dubrovnik were featured in different scenes and it is possible to take a Game of Thrones tour to experience them and see pictures from the show.
Across from Dubrovnik is Lokrum island, where scenes in Qarth were filmed. There is also a small Game of Thrones exhibition there with cast interviews about what it was like to film in Croatia and a replica of the Iron Throne for an amazing photo op.
Split, Croatia
Dubrovnik is not the only Croatian city to have been home to our favourite characters. Split also boasts an impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Diocletian palace, where life seems frozen in another time. It’s an incredible city to visit and served as the location for Mereen and Daenerys’ throne room.
Castle Ward, Northern Ireland
Leaving sunny Croatia, we travel North in Europe and also North in Westeros to reach Castle Ward in Northern Ireland. This beautiful 18th-century castle served as one of the filming locations for Winterfell. Notably, it is home to the courtyard where the Starks spend time practicing their swordsmanship and archery.
The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland
Another location of note in Northern Ireland. This avenue, framed on both sides by beech trees was as the Kingsroad, the road leading from King’s Landing to Winterfell. One drive through these majestic trees will leave you awed.
Northern Spain
Several locations in Northern Spain were used in the show. Notably, some parts of Girona were used in season 6 of the show. And the Itzurun and Muriola beaches are where the Dragonstone scenes were filmed. The rock formations will be immediately familiar to fans of the show. Notably, Gaztelugatxe, a small islet off the coast of Northern Spain is home to the winding footbridge featured prominently not only in Game of Thrones but more recently in the prequel, House of the Dragon.
Iceland
Home to the north Beyond the Wall, Iceland is home to nearly 20 GOT filming locations. Most are easy to get to in the southern part of Iceland and are within a few hours' drive of the capital city, Reykavik. There are also GOT tours that can take you to filming locations and provide a little more information. https://adventures.is/blog/game-of-thrones-iceland/
Banbridge, Northern Ireland
Finally, you can step into the seven kingdoms with the Game of Thrones Studios Tour. Located in Northern Ireland where the studios were located, you can step behind the scenes and see how Game of Thrones was brought to life.
These locations represent a handful of all the incredible destinations where Game of Thrones was filmed throughout Europe. They will allow you to imagine yourself in your favourite character’s spot and to experience for yourself the magic of Westeros.