It’s been quite a monumental period in TV history with the conclusion of Game of Thrones. And whilst not everyone is happy with the ending, it’s fair to say we are unlikely to see another TV series with such an amazing story-telling ability.
For Kristen and I, Game of Thrones became our all time favourite show. This despite being relative latecomers to the show (binging seasons 1-4 to catch up with season 5).
We’re both at ease with the ending whilst not being ecstatic. Another 3-5 episodes of character development might have done the trick in pleasing us. But we’re far from angry at a show that has delivered so much entertainment for so long.
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So, what are these 6 Game of Thrones destinations?
Beyond pure entertainment, we’ve travelled to places that double as Game of Thrones filming locations. Scattered throughout Europe and North Africa, many of these destinations are impressive in their own right.
PLEASE NOTE: Whilst the series has finished, we know there are still many in the throes of catching up on the series. So if that is you, proceed with warning – SPOILERS AHEAD!
So with alternate Game of Thrones endings shared and memes traded, crank on the Game of Thrones theme song. Here’s 6 of our favourite Game of Thrones destinations.
Dracarys! (I’ve wanted to write that in a blog post for so long now!)
Malta
We’ve come a long way from when Game of Thrones filmed in Malta, but Malta will be forever the original King’s Landing. The first real Game of Thrones destination if you will.
In the old town of Mdina, a pristinely maintained old city in the middle of this small nation, you’ll instantly be transported to series one.
On a warm summer’s day, you’ll be able to wander about the alleyways, marvel at the bougainvillea adorning the walls and of course see where some famous scenes were filmed.
The major highlight would be Littlefinger’s ‘gentleman’s club’ where Ned Stark was arrested by Jaime Lannister. Perhaps you can re-enact the scene before things go south for the then Hand of the King?
The bridge into the Mdina will evoke memories of the Red Keep- because that’s the bridge to enter it!
Malta isn’t a big island and it’s easy to commute from one end to the other by public or private transport. Mdina is easily explored on foot, or otherwise, there are a range of excellent tours available.
Seville, Spain
You’ll find the magnificent water gardens of Dorne located in the southern Spain city of Seville. With scorching summer temperatures, it is one of the hotter Game of Thrones destinations.
The water gardens are located inside the famous Alcazar. A stunning garden complex with Muslim and Moorish influences, there’s not much CGI if any required to make this look like what you see in the show.
You can easily spend a good few hours wandering the gardens. Take your time, wander slowly and think back to Jaime and Bronn doing their best to rescue Myrcella.
Game of Thrones has brought new tourism, but even prior, this was one of Seville’s most popular attractions. Get to the Alcazar as early as possible to beat the crowds.
BOOK NOW: Kingdom of Dorne Game of Thrones tour || 2 hours || From €45
There’s plenty to see in Seville more broadly – here’s a few of our other favourite places to visit.
Girona, Spain
A small city of only 100,000 people north of Barcelona, Girona is famed for its culinary scene.
Its fame was enhanced when Game of Thrones show runners decided to take parts of season 6 to this town. The Old Town was used for many scenes, standing in for King’s Landing, Braavos and the Citadel throughout season six.
Of all the Game of Thrones destinations we’ve visited, this is the most memorable. There are so many iconic scenes shot here within a very tight area. Whilst the last few seasons copped some grief over how quickly the characters moved between destinations, many of them were just around the corner! 🙂
Here you can see the ‘Citadel’ where Samwell learnt of Jon Snow’s true lineage. Just outside, the bridge where Arya was stabbed by the waif. And linking to the bridge is the courtyard where Arya stops and watches a pantomime of her family’s history.
It wasn’t all Arya and Samwell in Girona though, Girona Cathedral also played the role of the Great Sept of Baelor. Its magnificent stairs were also home to Margaery Tyrell’s non walk of atonement. You may recall Jaime Lannister riding a horse up these stairs. That was a legitimate scene by the way- no CGI needed to make that happen, just a couple of weeks of training!
You’ll also need to pay a visit to Rocambolesc for some excellent gelato. But most of all, enjoy a Jaime Lannister golden hand popsicle. For €4, this special edition popsicle is dusted in gold. The shop even has some Lannister shields and swords!
Girona is easily explored on foot, but a guide will help you find and identify these iconic spots. We did a walking tour with Jon (not Snow!) which you can book below. Jon was also an extra in some of the scenes and takes great pride in sharing his screen captures from the series. And why not? I know I’d do the same!
BOOK NOW: Game of Thrones Small Tour || 2.5 hours || From €40
Essouira, Morocco
Morocco is home to many locations east of Westeros. We’ve only managed to visit one filming location, Essaouira. You may know it better as Astapor, aka the home town of Grey Worm’s Unsullied.
A beachside town, life moves at a different pace to the busyness of Marrakech and other parts of Morocco. You can head down to the fish markets where the fisherman proudly display their catch for sale. There are all types of seafood available for sale. That includes some odd looking fish we’d never seen before. A sea of blue boats litter the harbour, tangled nets and buckets all over their decks.
When you’re done amongst the fish markets, wander the rampart walls where you’ll recognise the Astapor fortifications. There are no slave keepers here to worry about, just great views and a beach town vibe.
Essouira is located 3 hours from Marrakech. It is easily explored by private driver (details below) or independently via bus.
BOOK NOW: Essouira Private Day Trip || 8-10 hours || From €72
Dubrovnik, Croatia
The most well known Game of Thrones destination, Dubrovnik took the mantle of King’s Landing from Malta.
The iconic city walls and buildings are unmistakable as they look out over the Adriatic Sea.
The most famous scene filmed inside the Dubrovnik Old Town would be Cersei’s walk of atonement. Also known as the ‘shame stairs’, the Jesuit stairs are today littered with people doing their own walk of atonement.
We first visited Dubrovnik in 2010, pre- Game of Thrones. Whilst the steps were a popular spot, you get a sense for how much of an impact Game of Thrones has had. There’s no shortage of Thrones souvenirs and paraphernalia. And to be frank, at times the hordes of people can be quite overwhelming.
If you want enjoy looking at the stairs without a million people on them, visit early.
The unofficial home of Game of Thrones tourism, get yourself on a tour to see all the highlights.
BOOK NOW: Game of Thrones Small Group Tour || 2 hours || From €25
Iceland
An amazing travel destination which any visitor can attest. The addition of some Game of Thrones locations make it all the more appealing for fans.
There are some jaw dropping film locations. And who knows, you might find your own wildling from the north wandering about!
In the Thingvillir National Park, numerous scenes were filmed. Probably the best known scene is Breanne and The Hound battling it out. You may also recognise this area as the daunting entry to the Eyrie. Aside from its Game of Thrones fame, this location is sits on two tectonic plates. Multiple reasons to visit!
Remember Jon Snow pointing out the famous Arrowhead Mountain? You won’t find any wights, but you will find this mountain known locally as Kirkjufell. Located on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, it’s a stunning area. If you’re lucky, you might just get some snow to give it a real ‘north of the wall’ vibe.
Down south in Vik, you’ll find the famous black sand beaches. There are some rough seas here and you can see the appeal to making this area look like Eastwatch. Careful of the waves here though- they’re dangerous, and not CGI generated.
Unlike most of the cities and towns above, the locations in Iceland are far from walkable. Some of the destinations are hours apart. You’ll need the help of a tour to get you to some of the key highlights. Or else tie in your visits with your own road trip and explore at your own pace.
BOOK NOW: Full day Game of Thrones tour || 8 hours || From €96
I hope you enjoyed our summary of some of the best Game of Thrones destinations. Have you had the chance to visit any yourself? Where did you go? What did you do?