Staggering Game Of Thrones Locations You Can Actually Visit

The New Episode of the Game Of Thrones is really filled with sunny locations. While the fictional world of the seven kingdoms might seem far removed from reality, their real-life locations are surprisingly close at hand.

• The Dark Hedges, County Antrim, Northen Ireland

  

  Bardenas Reales, Spain

  

  Verdala Palace, Malta

  
  Grjótagjá, Iceland

  This lava cave and thermal spring in northern Iceland became a tourist hotspot after Jon and Ygritte took a dip here in series three. Visitors can climb down the icy passageway and swim in the lake below, though it’s best to go early if you want to avoid the crowds.

  
  Peñíscola, Castellón, Spain

  The setting for Meereen and the Bay of Dragons in series six, Peñíscola is a fortified seaport set on a rocky headland on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. It contains a castle built by the Knights Templar and a historic lighthouse with spectacular views out to sea.

  
  Svínafellsjökull Glacier, Iceland

  Part of Iceland’s vast Vatnajökull glacier, which remains the largest in Europe, Svínafellsjökull doubled as the Fist of the First Men in series two, an icy mountain range where Jon Snow and Qhorin Halfhand are held hostage by the Wildlings.

  
  Dubrovnik, Croatia

  The most well-known and well-loved of Game of Thrones locations, Dubrovnik has doubled as King’s Landing, the capital of Westeros, since series two. The Old Town is a maze of stone cathedrals and terracotta-roofed houses where familiar monuments from the show lie around every corner.

  
  Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

  A fortified city on the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and has played host to every Hollywood blockbuster from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator. More recently, it was the setting for Yunkai, a slave city Daenerys liberates in series three.

  
  Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain

  This windswept islet off the coast of Biscay takes centrestage in series seven as the setting for Dragonstone, Daenerys Targaryen’s entry point to Westeros. Just an hour’s drive from Bilbao, it’s perfectly situated for a picturesque day trip. Climb up the winding stone steps to see the ancient monastery on the mountaintop – it was ransacked by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century and even hosted witch trials during the Spanish Inquisition.

  
  Itzurun Beach, Zumaia, Spain

  Two hours along the coast from Gaztelugatxe lies Itzurun beach, a spectacular stretch of sand bordered by rock formations that date back to the cretaceous period. The beach stands in for the shores of Dragonstone, while its magical caves are the ones Jon Snow ventures into in search of dragonglass.

  
  Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, Córdoba, Spain

  Jaime Lannister’s unexpected siege of Highgarden in series seven gives us our first glimpse of the fairytale castle which serves as the seat of House Tyrell. The Castillo de Almodóvar del Río was originally a Roman fort, conquered and rebuilt by the moors in 760. Walk along the ramparts to explore the martial towers, which have stunning views of the Guadalquivir river below.

  
  Castle of Zafra, Guadalajara, Spain

  This medieval castle built on a sandstone outcrop overlooks an isolated stretch of Spain’s Sierra de Caldereros. It features heavily in series six as the Tower of Joy, an enigmatic fortress that holds the long-awaited secret of Jon’s birthright.

  
  Vík, Iceland

  Since series two, the crew has ventured to Iceland to capture the expansive frozen wasteland that lies north of the wall. The black sand beaches of Vík appear in series seven as Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, a port town where Wildlings come ashore to trade with the men of the Night’s Watch.

  
  Alcázar, Seville, Spain

  Seville’s captivating royal palace, with its lush gardens, elaborately tiled courtyards and gilded ceilings, is the setting for the palace of Dorne in series five. Originally founded in the 10th century, the moorish fortress is the oldest European palace still in use.

  
  Essaouira, Morocco

  Morocco’s hip seaside town is steeped in history. Established as a trading post in the 5th century, it became a haven for pirates and later a refuge for musicians including Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens who flocked here in the Sixties. In series three, Essaouira becomes the port city of Astapor where Daenerys buys her army of Unsullied and prepares to conquer the seven kingdoms.

  
  Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

  The quaint fishing village of Ballintoy, a short drive from the Giant’s Causeway, is the setting for Pyke in series two, when Theon Greyjoy finally returns home to the Iron Islands. The harbour even has a Game of Thrones plaque to mark the occasion.

  
  Girona Cathedral, Catalonia, Spain

  Eagle-eyed viewers might recognise the cobblestone streets of Girona as belonging to the free city of Braavos, but its Gothic cathedral also appears in series six as the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing.

  
  Trsteno Arboretum, Trsteno, Croatia

  Built in the 15th century by a Croatian noble family, this atmospheric arboretum is home to thousands of rare and exotic plants collected from around the world. Don’t miss the pavilion on the edge, which looks out onto the bright blue Adriatic. In series three and four, the arboretum becomes the gardens of King’s Landing and this pavilion is where Lady Olenna holds court with her granddaughter Margaery.

  
  Trujillo Castle, Cáceres, Spain

  In series seven we see another ancestral seat for the first time: Casterly Rock, the stronghold of House Lannister. Trujillo, a medieval castle that hosted several battles between the moors and Christians, is the perfect stand in for the seemingly impregnable fortress. You can climb up its stone towers and walk along the battlements where Grey Worm and the Unsullied army fight the Lannisters.

  
  Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland

  Since the very first episode of Game of Thrones, Castle Ward has been home to Winterfell, the seat of House Stark. You can bike around the site, take an archery lesson in the courtyard and even explore the forest where the Stark children find their direwolves.