Vacation is coming.
It doesn’t matter what house you belong to (or what your thoughts on the series finale are), visiting the Game of Thrones filming locations in Europe is an epic quest for fans and non-fans alike.
From centuries-old castles to majestic coastlines straight out of Westeros, check out these Game of Thrones locations on your next trip to Europe.
Lena Headey in Game of Thrones. Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO
Where does Game of Thrones take place?
Game of Thrones takes place across the Seven Kingdoms of the continent Westeros (and neighboring Essos). Author George R.R. Martin based Westeros on medieval Britain, though he enlarged its size to resemble something closer to South America.
Where was Game of Thrones filmed?
To capture such a diverse landscape, Game of Thrones was filmed across multiple European locations including the United Kingdom, Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Malta. The crew used tons of real-life locations, and any scenes not filmed on location were shot in a Belfast studio.
Which Game of Thrones castles can you visit?
Depending on the Game of Thrones castle you want to visit, you may need to use your imagination. Dragonstone isn’t real, but tourists can visit Game of Thrones castles like Castle Ward in Northern Ireland (nearest station is Downpatrick), Doune Castle in Scotland (both castles stand in as Winterfell), and Trujillo Castle in Spain (portraying Casterly Rock).
Where was Dragonstone filmed?
Dragonstone Castle, the ancestral seat of House Targaryen, is a CGI castle placed on the Basque Coast of Spain. The interiors were filmed on a constructed set in Northern Ireland, but the exterior shots are all on Spain’s stunning seaside.
To see the dramatic cliffs and natural beauty of the coast, take the train to Zumaia station. From there, you can walk to Itzurun Beach. For the other filming site, Muriola Beach (near Barrika), the closest you can get by train is Larrabasterra station. From there, you need to transfer to a Bizkaibus (A3451) and get off at the Ziarreta stop, from which it is a short walk to the beach.
If you want to scale the stairs that (don’t really) lead to Dragonstone Castle, you’ll have to take a bus to Gaztelugatxe islet near Bakio. Bermeo station is the closest you can get by train.
Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO. Image Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Can I visit King’s Landing?
Yes, you can visit the site of King’s Landing, and it’s one of the most popular Game of Thrones filming locations. King’s Landing was filmed in the Old Town of Dubrovnik, a coastal city near the southern tip of Croatia.
Grab a cheap bus ticket from Trainline to travel between Split and Dubrovnik in as little as 4 hours – a perfect excuse to start reading A Song of Ice and Fire.
What castle is Casterly Rock based on?
Casterly Rock is reportedly based on the Rock of Gibraltar, but House Lannister was actually filmed in the real-life Trujillo Castle in Spain. Trujillo was built in the 13th century, taking over an Arab fortress built on the same site around the 10th century. The castle sits 1,969 feet above the town, a great perch for the fictional House Lannister of Casterly Rock.
Where were the desert scenes in Game of Thrones filmed?
The desert scenes in Game of Thrones for the Dothraki Sea were filmed in Spain’s Bardenas Reales Natural Park. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a desert adjacent to Navarre and only 43 miles from the Pyrenees mountains. Pine trees, plateaus, marshes, and a semi-desert landscape create an otherworldly site ideal for a fantastical show like Game of Thrones.
Where are snow scenes in Game of Thrones filmed?
Many of the scenes set in the North of the Wall were filmed in Northern Ireland and Iceland, with Iceland being the Game of Thrones filming location for the snow scenes. Iceland’s landscape is so diverse and otherworldly that sites like the Grjótagjá lava cave and Vatnajökull National Park were perfect places to bring the area beyond the Wall to life.
Image Credit: Getty Images, theasis. Image Location: Doune Castle, Doune, Scotland
Game of Thrones UK filming locations
The good news is that you can fly into the UK and see so much of Westeros. The bad news is that the Seven Kingdoms don’t exactly have a rail network.
Scotland
Scotland’s Doune Castle has the honor of being the only Game of Thrones filming location in Great Britain. It is used as Winterfell’s courtyard and is located just outside of Stirling. Coming from London, take the train north to Edinburgh Waverley, then take a one-hour train to Dunblane, and you’re nearly there.
Northern Ireland
The only country in the United Kingdom not on the Isle of Great Britain, Northern Ireland is home to a majority of the Game of Thrones filming locations:
- Castle Black was filmed at Magheramorne quarry.
- In Game of Thrones, the Dark Hedges acted as the King’s Road.
- Along with Spain’s northern coast, Downhill Strand on Northern Ireland’s coast was also used for Dragonstone island.
- Tollymore Forest Park in County Down played the area of Winterfell where Ned Stark found the direwolves.
- The dungeon in Shane’s Castle was used as a prison in King’s Landing.
- The Cushendun Caves in the Glens of Antrim were featured when Jamie Lannister and Euron Greyjoy fought and where Lady Melisandre gave birth.
- Ballintoy is one of the Game of Thrones locations set as the Iron Islands.
Image Credit: Getty Images, David Fernandez Cuevas. Image Location: Gardens of the Real Alcázar, Seville, Spain
Game of Thrones filming locations in Europe
You don’t need to wander alone like Jon Snow. Let Europe’s railways guide you to these other Game of Thrones filming locations in Croatia and Spain.
Spain
Spain shows off its Game of Thrones filming locations throughout the year, as the Alcázar of Seville (portraying the Water Gardens of Dorne) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. Trains from Madrid Atocha station to Seville–Santa Justa station can take just 2h 33m on the fastest services. Roughly 20 minutes away, you’ll also find the Roman amphitheater of Italica. It may have been the first city founded by the Romans outside of Italy, but it didn’t feature in Game of Thrones until the seventh season as the dragon pit of King’s Landing where the heads of houses meet.
The Castle of Zafra, the birthplace of Jon Snow, found a few hours east of Madrid, is difficult to access via public transport, but you can hail a taxi after getting a bus to Tarancón. The home of House Lannister, Trujillo Castle, requires a time commitment involving a train from Madrid to Cáceres and then a bus to Trujillo.
Bardenas Reales Natural Park in Navarre portrayed the Dothraki Sea, and Gaztelugatxe played the role of Dragonstone (which had its castle CGI’d into the landscape). Spain is a haven of Game of Thrones filming locations – a long list which also includes Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery, Córdoba’s Roman bridge, Osuna’s Plaza de Toros, and a whole lot of Girona – so a trip to España is a must for fans pledging allegiance to any house.
Croatia
Split is the perfect base for visiting Croatia’s Game of Thrones filming locations. In Split, Diocletian’s Palace was staged as the city of Meereen. When traveling to King’s Landing for Game of Thrones locations in Dubrovnik, make sure you wander over to Fort Lovrijenac where the Red Keep was shot and take the boat out to Lokrum Island where Qarth was set. Šibenik, a mere 90-minute bus ride from Split, was the site of Braavos with its Cathedral of St. James acting as the Iron Bank.
Image Credit: Getty Images, David Clapp. Image Location: Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Game of Thrones locations off mainland Europe
Malta
Yes, Game of Thrones’ King’s Landing is best known as Dubrovnik’s Old Town in Croatia, but Fort Manoel in Malta also gets the nod as part of King’s Landing. If you’re scratching your head at which scene that may be, pay attention to where Ned Stark lays his head in season 1. Fort Ricasoli, located near the capital, also gets its time in the sun during season 1 as the Gate of the Gods in King’s Landing.
Other filming locations for Game of Thrones in Malta include Mdina’s Mesquita Square, which was the exterior of Littlefinger’s brothel; Mdina’s Gate, which is used as an entrance to King’s Landing in season 1; and the stunning seaside rock formation known as the Azure Window. This landmark of Gozo, which is seen in the Dothraki wedding reception in the first episode, was destroyed by weather six years after filming.
Iceland
In Game of Thrones, the North is filmed primarily in Iceland. Ygritte and Jon Snow get busy in the Grjótagjá lava cave (not a recommended tourist activity), and the Grjótagjá geothermal hot spring is also featured. Much of what is “north of the Wall” is filmed in Vatnajökull National Park.
You’ll also catch Dimmuborgir in season 3 multiple times for close-up shots of Snow joining the Night’s Watch, Snow getting his sword swiped, Mance Rayder’s camp, and when a White Walker attacked Lord Commander Mormont and Sam Tarly.
🚆Trainline trivia: Any metalheads who thought we were talking about the band Dimmu Borgir need not be completely disappointed. Although the Norwegian band was not in Game of Thrones, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor of Mastodon made an appearance in the show.
Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones. Image Credit: Macall B. Polay, Courtesy of HBO
Game of Thrones cast: who stars in GoT?
The Game of Thrones cast is so vast that everyone from Ed Sheeran to Welcome to Wrexham’s Rob McElhenney has made appearances. A lot of big names properly starred in Game of Thrones, including Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Aidan Gillen (Peaky Blinders), Iain Glen (Downton Abbey), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Gwendoline Christie.
Will there be a Game of Thrones movie?
For some fans, the latest update about the planned Game of Thrones movies is more of a disappointment than the series ending. No, as of now, all plans for a Game of Thrones film are officially scrapped. There’s one silver lining: a second spin-off series, joining House of the Dragon, called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, is in production.
Where can I watch all seasons of Game of Thrones?
All seasons of Game of Thrones are available for streaming on Max, HBO’s streaming service, or on HBO’s on-demand options depending on your cable subscriber. Will it ever be available to stream on Netflix or Hulu? Never say never. HBO is sharing some of their exclusive content with Netflix, including their uber-successful series Band of Brothers, so there’s certainly a chance you see a Targaryen on a different streamer.
What was the ending to Game of Thrones?
Oof, are you sure you want it spoiled if it hasn’t been already? For anyone disappointed that a Starbucks cup made it into the frame, you might be a little underwhelmed with the way Game of Thrones ends. Brace yourself: Jon Snow kills Daenerys, the dragon Drogon destroys the Iron Throne, and Bran Stark becomes the king of the Six Kingdoms, as the North declares independence under Sansa Stark.
The Game of Thrones trailer: for those living under a (Casterly) rock
Were you north of the Wall (or south of the age-rating) when Game of Thrones first premiered? Bookmark this article, log in to your Max account, and start streaming this series in all of its blood-soaked glory.
Is House of the Dragon related to Game of Thrones?
Yes, House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones. This spin-off series is set approximately 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and takes place roughly 100 years after the Conquest of Aegon Targaryen.
Explore more than Seven Kingdoms by train
We may not have dragons, but Europe’s got castles galore. Purchase a Eurail pass and explore over 30 European countries, including Game of Thrones filming locations in the UK, Spain, and Croatia. You’ll also find live train times for trains across Europe with the Trainline app.
Kit Harington in Game of Thrones. Header Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO