We will tell you how to make a trip to the main locations of the series – to see King’s Landing, the House of the Immortals, Meereen, and a visit beyond the Wall. Join in to decide where to spend your next vacation and get unforgettable impressions or take a couple of photos in places where your favorite characters have been.
While the fictional world of the Seven Kingdoms may seem far from reality, their real locations are surprisingly close. From the endless hills of Northern Ireland to the wastelands of Spain.
The brainchild of the American channel HBO accurately conveys the original spirit of the “realistic” fantasy book epic by George Martin and captivates the viewer with the unpredictability of events, the depth of character development, and incredibly picturesque landscapes. The scale of what is happening on the screen would not be so tangible if it were not for the excellent work of the film crew, who selected the most stunning locations throughout Europe (and beyond). Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic Game of Thrones locations in the real world.
Northern Ireland
The main production base of the project is the aforementioned country in the north of Green Island. It is in the capital of Northern Ireland, the city of Belfast, where the Paint Hall Studio (now known as Titanic Studios) is located, where the lion’s share of interior scenes is filmed. But it’s not just the studio pavilions where the magic happens – many other locations around the country have also hosted Game of Thrones crews.
It is here that the castle of Winterfell is located, the landscapes of the Iron Islands. All these places in Ireland are worth seeing, even if you are not a fan of the series – they are filled with the real spirit of medieval legends, and the harsh nature of Ireland is worth seeing at least once.
Spain
Since the sixth season, Spain has been one of the main filming locations for Game of Thrones. No wonder – there are so many palaces and castles in the medieval Moorish style. Seville and the Alcazar Palace became the location for the embodiment of the Water Gardens, the residence of the rulers of Dorne. The delightful village of Peñiscola is also one of the most recognizable locations. In the series, the castle that seemed to grow straight out of the sea became Meereen. And Itzurun Beach replaces the shores of Dragonstone, in the magical caves of which Jon Snow searched for dragon glass.
Croatia
Since the second season, the most beloved and famous location of the “Game of Thrones” Dubrovnik has been playing the role of King’s Landing, the capital of Westeros. The Old Town is a veritable labyrinth of stone cathedrals and terracotta-roofed houses, where familiar locales from the series lurk around every corner. In the fortress of Klis, some scenes were filmed in the serial Meereen. Also, the locations of this country were used to embody the Bay of Slavers and the free city of Qarth. And in the city of Sibenik, scenes were filmed with the Order of the Faceless, where Arya became Nobody.
Iceland
Where without her. Since the second season, the series’ team has traveled to Iceland to shoot in the endless frozen deserts north of the Wall. Scenes with the Night Watch, wildling, and white walker skirmishes were filmed in the giant Vatnajökull National Park, famous for its volcanic lakes, 800-meter glaciers, and alien landscape. And Grjoutajau’s hot spring cave in northern Iceland became a super hot spot for tourists after John and Ygritte took a dip there in Season 3. This is where their love story began, which grew into a wedding in real life.
All these places have been guided tours for a long time. This is how the series, which has become one of the most popular in the world, brings money to the treasury of the states where the shooting took place, with the help of tourists. We hope you were interested, and perhaps we really gave you an idea about the place of your next vacation =)
