After six seasons and constant assurances from the Stark clan winter has finally come to Westeros. It’s been an agonizing year since we last caught up with Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen, Accumulator of Nicknames. Often, anxious fans speculate upcoming plot points for Game of Thrones by poring over information about the various shooting locations for the upcoming season.
Indeed, selecting locations around the world to stand in for the iconic places in Westeros and Essos is an art in itself. Over six years the visionaries at HBO have introduced viewers to a myriad of gorgeous, ancient, and unforgettable locales while bringing the world of George R. R. Martin to life. From the streets of King’s Landing to the frozen wastelands Beyond the Wall, here are some of the most exciting Game of Throneslocations that you could visit today.
Check out an impressive map of all of the show’s shooting locations in this Telegraph article, and then narrow down your top vacation picks below. Obviously, a huge SPOILER ALERTfor seasons 1 through 6 of the acclaimed show: if you aren’t up to speed on the intrigue of Game of Thrones turn back now.
Mussenden Temple and Downhill Beach, Northern Ireland
Dragonstone, Blackwater Bay
Book a ticket to Ireland to hit many stops on our digital Game of Thrones tour, including this picturesque beach in Northern Ireland also known as Downhill Strand. You may recognize this beach as the home of Dragonstone, the ancestral seat of the Targaryens where Stannis Baratheon brooded and plotted his (very unsuccessful) bid for the Iron Throne. Melisandre burned the old gods of the Faith of the Seven on the shores of this beach.
The locale even stood in for Blackwater Bay in the climactic battle of the second season. Judging by the season 7 trailer Dany will be making her way home to Dragonstone, keeping this shooting location in the spotlight in upcoming episodes.
In real life Downhill Beach is not surrounding by Dragonstone but rather by the “elegant 18th century ruins” of Mussenden Temple, as Ireland’s tourism website states. Consider this a jumping-off point for your Northern IrelandGame of Thrones-themed trip.
The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland
Kingsroad
Fans of the show will instantly recognize the Dark Hedges as the Kingsroad, the impressive avenue heading north from King’s Landing where Arya escapes danger by disguising herself as a boy in the season 2 opener. Here she joins up with Hot Pie and fan favorite Gendry (who, God bless him, has presumably been rowing back to King’s Landing for three seasons).
The area that surrounds the Dark Hedges has also served as the location of many important scenes throughout the run of the show, standing in as Castle Black, Winterfell, and as a Stark family encampment.
According to Bored Panda the oft-photographed trail of beech trees were planted by the Stuart family, owners of the nearby Gracehill House, in the 18th century as a way to impress anyone who visited. If you plan a trip to the Dark Hedges, beware: local legend warns the road of beech trees is haunted by a “Grey Lady” who silently hovers in the treeline at dusk. To see the trees for yourself head north on Bregagh Road in Ballymoney, Ireland.
Zafra Castle, Guadalajara, Spain
Tower of Joy
Zafra Castle is known to locals as “the Fortress of Spain’s Siberia;” despite what you may assume about Spain this area gets quite cold in the wintertime. The dominant vertical towers and lone sandstone base of the castle make it a known landmark in the province of Guadalajara. Zafra Castle was constructed in the 12th or 13th century and remains the only structure for miles in any direction.
On Game of Thrones Zafra Castle serves as the Tower of Joy, a crucially important plot location where a young Ned Stark faces off against the legendary Ser Arthur Dayne in flashback sequences during season 6 to rescue his sister Lyanna after Robert’s Rebellion.
The second Tower of Joy flashback in season 6, as witnessed through the eyes of Bran Stark, revealed the true parentage of Jon Snow. His Targaryen heritage has yet to be confirmed in the book series, but maybe when Winds of Winter is finally released we’ll see this twist play out on the page. Until then, visit Spain to see Zafra Castle and many other spots on this list.
Grjótagjá Cave, Iceland
Jon Snow and Ygritte’s Love Cave
If you’re a regular reader of Shutterstock’s you’ll remember that we recently featured this natural hot spring in our article covering the world’s most epic caves. Grjótagjá Cave was created by a fissure that extends deep into the Earth, heating the water inside and creating foggy steam much of the year.
This magical, secluded spot was the perfect location for the much awaited scene in season 3 when Jon Snow and Ygritte finally get intimate. While the couple’s relationship ended tragically on the show, the onscreen chemistry translated to an offscreen coupling of actors Kit Harington and Rose Leslie.
Fans of Game of Thrones planning a romantic tryst in the hot spring baths should know that the cave is open to the public (unless HBO’s biggest show is filming there, of course). Travelers eager to hit this Game of Throneslocation can travel to Lake Mývatn, Iceland, and take a short trip to the fabled cave. Much of Jon Snow’s storyline has been filmed in Iceland – we’re sure Harington will enjoy the warmer weather if he travels to Dragonstone in this upcoming season as spoiler-hunters speculate.
Girona, Catalonia, Spain
Braavos
Remember sweating bullets through the entirety of season 6, hoping Arya would escape her nemesis The Waif as they constantly battled it out in the streets of Braavos? Those medieval arches and stone streets were actually the city of Girona in Spain. Located just an hour north of Barcelona, the city fully endorses GOT-inspired tourism, offering various walking tours of the most recognizable locations.
The Plaça dels Jurats in Girona literally set the stage as an outdoor theater of Braavos in episode 5 as well. The Medieval Quarter of Girona gave Arya’s adventures a unique look separate from the common streets of Westeros cities like King’s Landing.
Except, of course, that Girona also stood in for King’s Landing for a few pivotal scenes in season 6. What a versatile city! Jaime confronts members of the Faith Militant and the High Sparrow himself on the steps of one of Girona’s most visited landmarks. Speaking of…
Girona Cathedral
Sept of Baelor
Though the city of Braavos is brought to life in Girona, the capital of Westeros across the Narrow Sea was also filmed here. The Girona Cathedral gave the Sept of Baelor an awe-inspiring grandeur during season 6, making it all the more devastating when the structure was obliterated in the season finale by scheming Cersei (though the cathedral itself remains intact – rest assured its destruction was merely a product of great CGI).
The Sept of Baelor marked the end of many characters’ journeys – seemingly half of the ensemble was wiped out at this grandiose monument. We’re still heartbroken Queen Margaery Tyrell won’t be on the Iron Throne come the end of the series.
Visitors to Girona Cathedral will be stunned at how enormous the cathedral truly is. Home of the largest Gothic nave and the widest rib-vaulted room on the planet, the cathedral serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Girona. Rightfully, the building is the most photographed structure in the city, and makes an excellent end point for your Game of Thrones Girona tour.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
King’s Landing
To find the capital city of Westeros after season 1 the producers searched long and hard for the best fit, settling on the top tourist destination of Croatia. The Game of Thrones shooting locations in the city of Dubrovnik will be instantly identifiable by loyal viewers, as much of the city has functioned as the King’s Landing set.
Many skirmishes were shot along Saint Dominika Street, confusing visions of Khal Drogo were had inside Minčeta Tower (the House of the Undying), and tense exchanges during the Battle of Blackwater were filmed along the towering stone walls that surround the city.
As a no-holds-barred battle between Lannister forces and Daenerys’ army seems inevitable in season 7, expect to see more bloodshed and misery in the streets and buildings of Dubrovnik. When you visit Dubrovnik the drama of the show will be immediately contrasted by the serenity of the landscape – stone cliffs and the gentle waves of the Adriatic Sea make Dubrovnik an ideal spot for an extended vacation.