Top 10 Game of Thrones Locations You Can Visit
The show might be a work of fiction, but these spots definitely aren't! From The Kingsroad, to the Tower of Joy, to Winterfell, these Game of Thrones locations are stunningly beautiful… and real. WatchMojo counts down ten Game of Thrones locations you can visit.
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Script written by Spencer Sher
#10: The Kingsroad
Top 10 Game of Thrones Locations You Can Visit
The Dark Hedges, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Located an hour north of Belfast, the Dark Hedges are an avenue of trees that form a scenic tunnel above those who drive, or in the case of “Game of Thrones”, walk beneath them. The view as one passes underneath the untamed rows of beech trees is simply breathtaking; something that was not lost on the producers of HBO’s hottest show. Since its appearance in season two, the Dark Hedges have seen a dramatic spike in tourists hoping to snap a pic in the same spot that Arya and Gendry set forth on their journey north. The Kingsroad stretches from Castle Black all the way to King's Landing and was deserving of a real life location that matched its grandeur.
#9: Tower of Joy
Castle of Zafra, Guadalajara, Spain
Season six had its fair share of flashbacks thanks to Bran’s training at the hands of the Three-Eyed Raven. One of the most important ones involved a young Ned Stark crossing swords with Sir Arthur Dayne outside the Tower of Joy. The spot that was chosen to stand in for this location was the Castle of Zafra, located in northeastern Spain about halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. Built in the 12th century, the castle is an imposing structure, and its surrounding landscape is the perfect stand-in for the Red Mountains of Dorne. Make sure to swing by on your next Spanish road trip for some pictures that will make your friends turn green with envy.
#8: Winterfell
Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland
Roughly two hours north of Dublin you’ll find an 18th century castle that since 2011 has been home to one of Westeros’ most respected families: the Starks. Okay, it may’ve spent a little time under Greyjoy and Bolton control, but let’s pretend that never happened. Castle Ward is located in County Down, one of the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Visitors can admire the castle’s iconic tower house, take a stroll through the neighboring forest, or get a piggyback from Hodor. Okay, we made that last one up. But regardless, Castle Ward is a must-see for any die-hard “Game of Thrones” fan.
#7: Riverrun
Gosford Castle, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Riverrun, the seat of House Tully, is located in the western riverlands, south of The Twins and west of Harrenhal. However, in real life Riverrun can be found in County Armagh, an hour southwest of Belfast; and there the locals call it Gosford Castle. Built in the 19th century, the castle is quite young when compared to some of the other places “Game of Thrones” has shot, but its Norman style of architecture nonetheless gives it a medieval feel. If you’ve ever wanted to pretend you’re the Blackfish fending off a Lannister siege, this is the castle you need to visit.
#6: The Eyrie
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Meteora Monasteries, Greece
“Game of Thrones” never actually shot in this location, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit the seat of House Arryn. Let us explain. While it’s true that the Meteora Monasteries in Greece were used as the inspiration for the mountaintop castle known as the Eyrie, the show was never given permission to shoot there. The Greek government was unable to obtain the proper shooting permits, forcing “Game of Thrones” to take their production elsewhere. However, they still used the Meteora Monasteries and their surrounding area as inspiration for the Eyrie’s mountainous terrain, creating composite images that blended George R.R. Martin’s vision with the real life location. But sadly… there’s no moon door.
#5: Jon & Ygritte’s Cave
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Grjótagjá, Iceland
One of the steamiest moments in “Game of Thrones” history, Jon and Ygritte’s sex scene in an underground hot spring had the whole world pining for a trip to Iceland. The cave, which is located in the island nation’s northern region, has become a popular tourist spot ever since it made an appearance on season three of the HBO fantasy series. Iceland is peppered with natural hot springs but few offer the same experience as this one, which allows visitors to take a relaxing dip in the same place as the King of the North himself!
#4: Sept of Baelor / Braavos
Girona Cathedral, Catalonia, Spain
Located in Spain’s northeastern region just below the border of France is the Girona Cathedral. Construction began in the 11th century and continued for many years. The cathedral is an imposing structure and one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the world. The Gothic cathedral stood in for the Sept of Baelor in season six, while its surrounding cobblestone streets became the city of Braavos. The Sept of Baelor might’ve come to an explosive end, but we can say with certainty that the Girona Cathedral is still intact, making it the perfect spot for a GoT pilgrimage.
#3: Dragonstone Steps
Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain
One of season seven’s most prominent shooting locations, Gaztelugatxe is an inlet that can be found on Spain’s northern coast. You’ll recognize the manmade bridge as the spot where Jon Snow caught his first glimpse of a dragon in episode three. Unfortunately, the steps don’t lead to Dragonstone castle, the newly acquired home of Daenerys Targaryen, but instead to a small building dedicated to John the Baptist. Similar to “Game of Thrones”, Gaztelugatxe’s history is steeped in blood - numerous conflicts took place in and around the region for centuries. Today, it’s just another picturesque coastal inlet, but projecting dragons into the sky with your mind shouldn’t be too hard.
#2: Royal Palace of Dorne
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Alcázar of Seville, Seville Spain
While many of the locations we’ve covered have been either historic castles and/or scenic wonders, the Alcázar of Seville is both. The royal palace can trace its roots to the 1st century and continues to be used as a home by the royal family to this day. Perhaps that’s why the producers of “Game of Thrones” decided to use it as a stand in for the Royal Palace of Dorne in season five. The palace is dripping in decadence and unravels into a seemingly endless maze of architectural wonders the likes of which any GoT fan would surely love to see up close.
#1: King’s Landing
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik must feel like a second home to many of the GoT cast and crew, as it has stood in for King’s Landing since season two. The Croatian city is an architectural marvel, with its endless rows of terracotta-roofs, cobblestone streets and historic cathedrals. The city was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and has long been a popular tourist destination. Of course, the fact that Lannisters, Starks and Martells have strolled its streets has only increased Dubrovnik’s allure. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to walk more than a few blocks without seeing one of the show’s iconic shooting locations. If ever there was a GoT location worth visiting, it’s this one.
