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The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

Trip.com
Trip.com
Nov 8, 2023

Catalogue

  • 1. Dubrovnik, Croatia (King’s Landing)
  • 2. Šibenik, Croatia (Braavos)
  • 3. Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, UK (Road from King’s Landing)
  • 4. Doune, Scotland, UK (Winterfell)
  • 5. Vik, Iceland (Fist of the First Men)
  • 6. Skógafoss, Iceland (Daenarys and Jon Snow beyond the Wall)
  • 7. Þingvellir National Park, Iceland (The Bloody Gate)
  • 8. Alcázar of Seville, Spain (Water Gardens of Dorne)
  • 9. Zumaia, Spain (Dragonstone)
  • 10.a, Morocco (Slaver’s Bay)
  • Show More

Deciding where to travel for your Game of Thrones adventure is a combination of selecting your favourite scene and matching it with your desired real-world experience. For example, are your fave episodes the ones featuring King’s Landing and are you keen to go on a Europe trip? If so, then Dubrovnik is for you. Maybe you were captivated by the White Walkers or scenes from Beyond the Wall? Then better book your next trip to Iceland. How about the enchantment of Prince Doran’s water gardens? Well you’re in for a treat because that's on the list too. There’s no shortage of truly spectacular GoT related destinations. For this list we’ve selected a wide range that will appeal to everyone. Are you ready? (Warning: some mild spoilers ahead – though if you haven't finished the series yet what are you waiting for!?)



The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

The ancient city of Dubrovnik is a prominent tourist destination that attracts countless Game of Thrones fans. Filming locations are scattered around the city and include Lovrijenac Fort, Dubrovnik West Pier, and the Jesuit Staircase by Saint Ignatius Church. Each of these are gorgeous in their own right however you will find them all the more thrilling when you walk in the footsteps of your favourite characters. Game of Thrones tours are everywhere and you will have no trouble finding one. As one of Croatia’s most well-known cities, Dubrovnik has seen its tourist economy boom in recent years. This has led to a substantial investment in infrastructure and accommodation. Travelling to and moving around Croatia is straightforward. Dubrovnik has a relatively small airport so you may wish to consider booking tickets into other cities along the coast such as Split (which itself boasts some GoT locations). Once you arrive in Dubrovnik start your tour in the historic walled city - this is where you will truly get a feeling for King’s Landing. Imagine the terror residents would have felt as you navigate the narrow streets picturing Daenarys circling overhead with her dragons raining down fire. Thankfully such a fate will not befall you. While you’re in the old town, be sure to visit Dubrovnik Cathedral, which has a magnificent alter display and murals.


Dubrovnik isn’t Croatia’s only Game of Thrones claim to fame. If you spend any time here, you’ll quickly realise why the Dalmatian Coast is such a favoured location among cinematographers. Like Dubrovnik, Šibenik doesn’t disappoint. In fact, GoT fans hoping to avoid the crowds while still scratching their fandom itch would do well to head for Šibenik. Though not as prominent a filming location, the city nevertheless has plenty to offer. As the principle location for the scenes set in Braavos, Šibenik made its appearance well into the show’s run. Start northwest of the train station where you can wander the town streets and narrow alleyways. Navigate the maze to reach the Cathedral of Saint James. Completed in 1536, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fans will recognise it as the setting for The Iron Bank, the most powerful financial institution in the Nine Free Cities. Imagine venturing here to meet with Tycho Nestoris as you look to secure some relief from the crown’s enormous debt burden. Šibenik is also home to St. Nicholas Fortress, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that formed part of the historic Venetian Works of Defense. This is a great place to visit before you travel to the nearby Kornati Islands or Krka National Park.


The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024


Long an ethereal location, the ominous and foreboding Dark Hedges lie in the middle of the magnificent Northern Irish countryside. It is here you will find the solitary Bregagh Road, which cuts through emerald green farmland to either side. Lining the road are enormous 18th century beech trees, densely packed so that over the years they’ve grown intertwined into a thick mass of tangled branches. Add a little fog and some mood lighting and you’ve got yourself a location! Walk in the footsteps of Arya Stark as she escaped from King's Landing through this thicket. To arrive here your best bet is to venture up from Belfast. It’s about 45 minutes from Belfast International Airport, or a tad longer if you’re coming from the city center. The countryside is well worth seeing and filled with charming Irish villages. Spend some time on the roads getting to know the rolling hills and fertile soils. Rail links are available to Coleraine, which is only about 20 minutes by car. Partisans for Theon Greyjoy and the House of Greyjoy can also head north on Ballinlea Road to Ballintoy Harbour where you will find filming locations for the Iron Islands. Make it a Game of Thronesweekend in Northern Ireland!

The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

Ok confess, you may have secretly wanted Daenarys to claim the Iron Throne; but in the end you knew that wasn’t going to happen so you felt loyal to Jon Snow. No matter how you slice it, House Stark was a major player in Game of Thrones. One of the film locations and inspiration for the Stark stronghold at Winterfell is Doune Castle in Scotland. Located roughly an hour from central Edinburgh, Doune Castle has stood since at least the 15th century. Once you’ve arrived in Doune, make for the castle set along the River Teith. The castle grounds are great for photos and you might catch a cosplayer or two skulking around. If you happen to be of a particular generation, you’ll probably recognize Doune Castle from elsewhere. That’s because it was also the stand-in for nearly all the castle shots in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Once you’ve toured the castle and grounds, venture back into Doune. This quint Scottish village is a great place for a stroll. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into a Britain of yesteryear. Finally, a bit up river from Doune Castle is Deanston Distillery, which produces a well-regarded line of Scotch Whiskies. It’s a great way to end your visit to the cold lands of Winterfell.

The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

If you ask us, it’s a little too on the nose to have shot the lands beyond The Wall in Iceland; but then again, it’s easy to understand why the country captured the production team’s imagination. We’re not giving anything away to say the entire Game of Thrones basically revolves around the conflict with the White Walkers. Some of the most memorable moments involve the Night's Watch defense and those who protect Winterfell in the north. To capture these memorable landscapes, the GoT production team used the otherworldly scenery on display in Iceland. The country’s geothermal activity results in volcanoes and hot springs aplenty. Set against the backdrop of Arctic tundra, it’s a mesmerizingly beautiful place. The best way to get here is unsurprisingly via Reykjavik. Roughly two and a half hours by car, Vik is a tiny town on Iceland’s southern coast. The drive out is spectacular so snap some photos along the way. To get up to the hiking areas at Höfðabrekkuheiði and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, you will do better with the help of a local tour operator. There are several adventure tour outfits in Vik so find one that works for you and link up with a group. After all, you don’t want to wander into the lands beyond the Wall on your own!

The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

When the eighth season opened after nearly two years away, fans were ecstatic to travel back to Westeros. In one of the opening episode’s more memorable sequences, Daenarys and Jon Snow catch a lift with the dragons. When they touch down north of the Wall after a bit of aerial reconnaissance, our heroes are framed by a massive waterfall. This is Skógafoss, located in Southern Iceland approximately two hours by car from Reykjavik. As one of Iceland’s most-visited waterfalls, it is not hard to find transportation to the area. Skógar, the town where the waterfall is located, is naught more than a dozen or so buildings; but these include a café and a museum so you’ll have a few things to see besides falling water. As one would expect, the designers and production teams digitally altered and enhanced Skógafoss, meaning the actual landscape isn’t a spitting image of what you see onscreen. Nevertheless, it’s well worth the journey from Reykjavik. Build in some time to do a little hiking or exploring. There is a small network of trails and this is a great place to stretch your legs if you’re venturing further towards Vik. Make Skógafoss another stop on your Icelandic Games of Thrones tour.

The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

Look, given the Game of Thrones novels are called A Song of Ice and Fire, is it any surprise Iceland, the real land of ice and fire, would feature prominently? For our final Iceland-based film location, we’re highlighting Þingvellir National Park. The park appeared in several places throughout the series, but is likely most recognizable as the location of the Bloody Gate. There’s a lot to explore in Þingvellir National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The canyon near Oxararfoss was used for scenes at the Bloody Gate, so make a point to visit this section of the park. The area is impressive on its own as it’s where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The massive geological forces unleased by these moving chunks of Earth’s crust are what power Iceland’s geothermal activity. This is one of the few places where you can actually explore plate boundaries on land. Another fascinating attraction in the park is the Þingvellir Church. Known as the birthplace of Icelandic democracy, this is where the parliamentary general assembly met between 930 CE and 1798. The current church structure dates to 1859 and is one of those special places you don’t want to overlook.

The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

From the frozen north to the very south of Westeros we now travel. Early in Season 5 we get our first look at the Water Gardens of Dorne. Ruled by House Martell, the Water Gardens were a princely retreat along Westeros’ far southern coast. To achieve the Mediterranean look, the Game of Thrones production teams turned to the Alcázar of Seville. The former royal palace was built by Castilian Christians after the Christian conquest of Seville wrested control of the region from the Abbadid dynasty. Today the Alcázar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and celebrated as one of the finest examples of Mudéjar architecture in the world. You will recognize the Ambassadors’ Hall with its incredible colored plasterwork dating back to the 14th century. Mercury’s Pool and the Grotto Gallery are also sections you won’t want to miss. Given its history, there’s much to see in Seville. Don’t limit yourself just to the Alcázar. Wander through the narrow streets of the old town and venture past Seville Cathedral as well as the Plaza de España. See the famed Tower of Gold and pay a visit to the Flamenco Museum. Seville is a wonderful destination made all the more so by its connection to Game of Thrones.


When Daenerys finally returned to Westeros in Season 7, she came ashore at Dragonstone in Blackwater Bay. The slanted rock faces made impressive backdrops and are easy to reach. The northern Spanish town of Zumaia is located on the Bay of Biscay not far from the border with France. Traveling here is easiest from nearby Bilbao, the capital of Spain’s Basque region. Once you arrive, take a look around before heading to the beach. The seaside town is small and retains its local charm despite have garnered a fair bit of international fame. A few roads and walking paths lace the bluffs and make great vantage points for photos overlooking the water and coves below. It’s not hard to find locals relaxing on the beach so bring your beach blanket. Depending on your schedule, you can opt to day trip out from Bilbao or look for a place to stay in one of the many communities along the coast. There is a lot to enjoy in Basque Country so you won’t be short on things to do. Art lovers will want to make sure to visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. As the place where Daenerys return to Westeros was a watershed moment in the series, so Zumaia is definitely a place to add to your Game of Thrones travel bucket list.

The 10 Best Game of Thrones Film Locations to Visit in 2024

Slaver’s Bay, as fans know, was the region on Essos conquered by Daenarys early in the series. The novels depicted the cities Astapor and Meereen as built from brick. When Daenarys succeeds in liberating the slaves held in service by the Wise Masters, she is venerated as a hero. Who can forget the imagines of her being carried aloft in front of the city gates? If these iconic scenes made you stir, you can visit the film location in Morocco’s Aït Benhaddou. A historic fortified city along ancient trading routes, the iconic mud brick structures found here have featured in numerous films including The Mummy, Gladiator, and Babel. With their distinctive appearance, the structures in Aït Benhaddou rank among the most Instagrammed Game of Thrones film locations. Your best travel plans are to venture from Marrakech. There are a smattering of hotels and other accommodations in Aït Benhaddou so you may find it easier to spend the night and enjoy the city at a more leisurely pace. The traders today selling souvenirs to tourists harken back to the days when caravans plied these routes ferrying goods from great African civilizations in the south up to the Mediterranean seaports. If you were one of the many Daenarys fans (and who wasn’t until she burned down King’s Landing?) you will get the thrill of a lifetime in Morocco. It’s as if her lands have come to life before your eyes.


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