With dozens of real-world locations used throughout the series Game of Thrones, there is no shortage of trips you can plan to see the various destinations featured in the show. If you’re looking to plan a vacation that incorporates as many filming spots as possible, we’re sharing five Game of Thrones destinations you can visit in real life.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is home to over a dozen Game of Thrones filming locations, some of which have been used repeatedly throughout the series. You’ll see the Pile Gate, which is the entrance to Old Town, featured numerous times in Season Two, as well as Dubrovnik’s West Harbour, which doubles at Blackwater Bay. Dubrovnik’s fortified walls are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most recognizable backdrops in the HBO hit show, as well as the Jesuit Staircase, which was the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing.
Girona, Spain
Girona is also home to a number of Game of Thrones filming locations used in Season Six, where it appears as Oldtown. Some of the highlights include Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants, which was transformed into the Citadel interiors, and the bridge over Riu Galligants, which is seen when Arya Stark throws herself over its edge. Do note that the canal is actually a dry bed, so the view you see in real life will look different.
Girona’s cathedral is one of the most notable historic sites in the city, so it’s only fitting that it made an appearance as well. In the sixth episode of the show, you’ll see Jaime Lannister ride a horse up the stairs of the cathedral. And, despite it being destroyed in a later episode, the real cathedral still stands today. The Arab Baths, a 12th-century Romanesque bath, also makes an appearance later in the season.
Northern Ireland
If you want to maximize your time and see as many Game of Thrones locations as possible, head to Northern Ireland. Here, you can visit at least 10 spots from the show over a few days, as many of them are only hours apart. The Northern Ireland tourism board has made it even easier by offering a Game of Thrones app to help you navigate your way around.
Some of the locations worth visiting include Pollnagollum Cave, with its waterfall which was featured in Season Three, and Inch Abbey, whose remnants of a Cistercian Abbey date back to 1180 and were used in Season One. One of the most photographed areas of Northern Ireland is the Dark Hedges, which is an avenue of beech trees that create an impressive view as you travel down the road. This was featured in Season Two as Kingsroad.
Malta
Malta’s tourism got a boost after it was used as a prominent filming location for the first Game of Thrones season. It was the original King’s Landing, as well as the location for the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. If you head to Mdina, you can see sites like the Gate of the Mdina, a well-preserved ancient walled city that was used in Episode Three, as well as Mesquita Square, featured in the following two episodes.
On a sad note, you can no longer see the Azure Window on Gozo, which was the backdrop for the Dothraki wedding feast in the first season. The rock formation was destroyed during heavy storms in 2017.
Iceland
Iceland is another hot spot for Game of Thrones fans looking to visit actual filming locations. You’ll find no shortage of sites here, but be advised, some might not be accessible during the winter, and you’ll need a 4 x 4 in order to drive any “F” roads. One of the more easily reachable locations is Thingvellir National Park, which has been used multiple times throughout the show.
In Þjórsárdalur Valley, you’ll find a Viking-era farm and longhouse reproduction that can be seen in Season Four as Olly’s village. Because of the harsh winters and difficulty in accessing some sites certain times of the year, use some of the helpful Game of Thrones Iceland guides already out there to plan your trip.