Game of Thrones Locations: Must-Do Tours for any Fan
One of the most-watched shows on the planet, Game of Thrones (GOT) mania is all around us. Arguably, the success of the hit series is owing to the well-crafted crossover of imagination and realism – the telling of human stories in the realm of Medieval fantasy; but the visual backdrops of the elaborate GOT world is undoubtedly a key component of its awesomeness.
Want to know where was Game of Thrones filmed?
The Game of Thrones filming locations are some of the most picturesque in the world, spanning several destinations including Croatia, Spain, Malta, Morocco, Iceland, and Northern-Ireland.
If you’ve ever fancied seeing these places for real, you’re in luck as there are now several Game of Thrones-themed tours on FREETOUR.com, and other general city tours, which take in Game of Thrones locations.
And while the saga has come to a close with the airing of season eight, we’re aware there may still be some of you enjoying a Game Of Thrones marathon, so we’ve avoided spoilers here and compiled a simple list of some of the most iconic GOT filming locations from the show and the tours you can do there. Enjoy!
A gorgeous city in its own right, Dubrovnik is a mecca for any Game of Thrones fan. The sight of terracotta rooftops against the mesmerizing blue of the Adriatic sea is but an indicator of the beauty boasted by the coastal Old town; and it has an ancient character in equal measure too – 16th Century towers, bastions, and stone walls which have survived for multiple generations despite earthquakes and recent wars.
Key filming locations used to shoot Game of Thrones here include the limestone paved Stradun, also known as Placa, which is the city’s main thoroughfare, Belvedere Atrium, Gradac Park, the Trsteno Arboretum and The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola – all which feature in King’s Landing.
Minčeta Tower is where the House of the undying was filmed and you can even sit on the Iron Throne on Lokrum Island, just 600 meters off the coast of Dubrovnik.
Game of Thrones walking tour of Dubrovnik (English)
If you want to be sure to see and learn all about these locations, then the free Game of Thrones walking tour of Dubrovnik is a must-do for any avid fan!
Provided by the award-winning tour guide, Local Marco, this free walking tour not only takes you to filming locations but also gives you a really interesting insight to behind the scenes info, how the locals got involved in the production stage, and the impact the show has had on the city and the people here. The best part is that you can join it for free!
A very cool element of this tour is the use of screenshots from relevant GOT episodes to help you see how the locations were utilized for scenes in the show. Of course, there is also a healthy dose of conventional city-tour history to be had on this tour too, but the main focus is around the Game of Thrones shooting locations.
The free Game of Thrones tour runs twice daily at 10 am and noon from Pile gate (near Nautica Restaurant).
Game of Thrones Tour Dubrovnik (in English or Spanish)
If you can’t make the free GOT tour or prefer a tour in Spanish, the Game of Thrones Tour by Dubrovnik Walks also runs at 5pm in English (as well as 10am and 12:00pm) and at 12:15pm in Spanish.
This one isn’t a free tour, but at just €20 it is a very worth-while two hours for any GOT fan. It’s led by a self-proclaimed “big Game of Thrones fan” and Croatian Ministry of Tourism licensed guide, and covers shooting locations in Dubrovnik’s Old Town as well as the Fort of St. Lawrence which, owing to the amount of steps involved, might not be suitable for everyone (a lot of ‘bending the knees’ required - ugh, that’s bad – ED.).
There are other GOT focused tours available in Dubrovnik too, including a free tour by Paola who actually worked on the show!
If you're interested in general city tours which include some of the Game of Thrones locations; you can have a look here.
Another key location for Game of Thrones filming in Croatia was the ancient city of Split on the Dalmatian Coast, which became Meereen in season 4.
The primary must-see here for GOT fans is the UNESCO World Heritage site Diocletian’s Palace which was used for many of Daenerys’ scenes, including the slave-overlord fight scene, and it is where Daenerys’ throne-room was set, while the catacombs below are where she kept her dragons.
Find here all the Game of Thrones-themed tours available in Split, as well as general Split city tours which include GOT filming locations.
Northern Ireland is the ultimate destination for Game Of Thrones fans, with a huge bulk of the show being filmed throughout the region; the majority of Season eight’s interiors were filmed at Paint Hall studios in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter in County Antrim, though a significant portion of the island’s northern counties provided the backdrop for some of the most iconic GOT scenes, owing to the incredible beauty and ruggedness that readily lends itself to the special atmosphere of the show.
Some of the most beautiful GOT filming locations that you can find in Northern Ireland are:
Belfast is the ideal base for a GOT location-hunter in Northern Ireland. The city is where you’ll find the Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition which features incredible exhibits and interactives, including genuine costumes, props, and sets from the show.
Entrance to the exhibition is included in the Belfast to Giant's Causeway & Game of Thrones tour which then also takes you out to parts of Westeros, visiting the Dark Hedges, the King’s Road, and more featured locations before arriving to the magnificent Giant's Causeway.
Winter is coming, but there are some beautiful sun-kissed cities in Spain to visit year-round where several GOT scenes were shot. With plenty of free walking tours taking in Game of Thrones filming sites in these locations, they’re a real treat for GOT fans.
The remarkably beautiful capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region, Seville is a wonderful place to feast on history, architecture, culture, character, and color.
There are several daily free walking tours in Seville to choose from here in both English and Spanish, and the majority of them include The Alcázar, also known as the Royal Alcázars of Seville, a 700-year-old palace that is a unique synthesis of Iberian Islamic art.
This impressive royal palace was the setting for Westeros’ southern peninsula, the capital of Dorne, Sunspear, as well as the seat of House Martell and the Water Gardens in the fifth season of Game of Thrones.
This ancient Roman city was also a major Islamic stronghold in the Middle Ages and these influences can be seen throughout the architecture. Córdoba is home to the world’s largest mosque, Mezquita, as well as the Alcázar fortress, Calahorra Tower and the exquisite Roman bridge which was used as the Long Bridge of Volantis in Game of Thrones.
You can also venture about 40 minutes from Cordoba out to Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, an ancient castle which was the setting for House Tyrell’s ancestral home in the penultimate season.
View and book excellent free walking tours with expert local guides in Cordoba here.
It wasn’t just Andalusia that saw GOT filming take place, Catalonia had its fair share of the action too. In Girona, fans will recognize the Catedral de Santa María de Gerona as the exterior of the Sept of Baelor.
The Ferran el Catòlic, Plaça dels Jurats, and Sant Martí and l’Escola Pia areas were used extensively for the show’s street markets scenes. You’ll also find The Braavos bridge here too.
There are a few excellent free walking tours in Girona that will include these sites, but there is also a specific Game of Thrones tour in Girona (in English or Spanish) every Saturday. Check them all out here.
The small island of Malta (and Gozo island just off of the north coast) saw a lot of GOT filming thanks to the unique and dramatic Baroque and Medieval character throughout.
The charming labyrinth of cobbled streets that make up one of the world’s most exquisite fortified cities, Mdina, was the perfect shooting location for early Pentos and King’s Landing scenes in Game of Thrones season one, especially around Cathedral Square and Rabat village, and you can explore them with an authentic local guide on top quality Mdina walking tours.
Key GOT shooting locations in Mdina include the imposing Mdina Gate which you’ll recognize as the entrance to King’s Landing, the fascinating St Dominic’s Convent which was used for the Red Keep Garden, and Mesquita Square where several Season-one scenes were shot.
Of course, with such an extensive fictional world-spanning eight series, there are lots of different destinations that were used to bring Game of Thrones to life on our screens; the above-mentioned places are some of the most paramount shooting locations from the show where you can join top class, knowledgeable local guides for tours and get a unique insight to the history of these sites as well as fascinating behind-the-scenes information too.
We hope this helps you make the most of your time exploring these Game of Thrones filming locations. If you’ve already visited some of them, tell us about your experience in the comments and any recommendation you have for fellow GOT fanatics setting out on their travels. Happy touring!
Want to know where was Game of Thrones filmed?
The Game of Thrones filming locations are some of the most picturesque in the world, spanning several destinations including Croatia, Spain, Malta, Morocco, Iceland, and Northern-Ireland.
If you’ve ever fancied seeing these places for real, you’re in luck as there are now several Game of Thrones-themed tours on FREETOUR.com, and other general city tours, which take in Game of Thrones locations.
And while the saga has come to a close with the airing of season eight, we’re aware there may still be some of you enjoying a Game Of Thrones marathon, so we’ve avoided spoilers here and compiled a simple list of some of the most iconic GOT filming locations from the show and the tours you can do there. Enjoy!
1. Game of Thrones locations in Croatia
Dubrovnik: King's Landing
A gorgeous city in its own right, Dubrovnik is a mecca for any Game of Thrones fan. The sight of terracotta rooftops against the mesmerizing blue of the Adriatic sea is but an indicator of the beauty boasted by the coastal Old town; and it has an ancient character in equal measure too – 16th Century towers, bastions, and stone walls which have survived for multiple generations despite earthquakes and recent wars.
Key filming locations used to shoot Game of Thrones here include the limestone paved Stradun, also known as Placa, which is the city’s main thoroughfare, Belvedere Atrium, Gradac Park, the Trsteno Arboretum and The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola – all which feature in King’s Landing.
Minčeta Tower is where the House of the undying was filmed and you can even sit on the Iron Throne on Lokrum Island, just 600 meters off the coast of Dubrovnik.
Game of Thrones walking tour of Dubrovnik (English)
If you want to be sure to see and learn all about these locations, then the free Game of Thrones walking tour of Dubrovnik is a must-do for any avid fan!
Provided by the award-winning tour guide, Local Marco, this free walking tour not only takes you to filming locations but also gives you a really interesting insight to behind the scenes info, how the locals got involved in the production stage, and the impact the show has had on the city and the people here. The best part is that you can join it for free!
A very cool element of this tour is the use of screenshots from relevant GOT episodes to help you see how the locations were utilized for scenes in the show. Of course, there is also a healthy dose of conventional city-tour history to be had on this tour too, but the main focus is around the Game of Thrones shooting locations.
The free Game of Thrones tour runs twice daily at 10 am and noon from Pile gate (near Nautica Restaurant).
Game of Thrones Tour Dubrovnik (in English or Spanish)
If you can’t make the free GOT tour or prefer a tour in Spanish, the Game of Thrones Tour by Dubrovnik Walks also runs at 5pm in English (as well as 10am and 12:00pm) and at 12:15pm in Spanish.
This one isn’t a free tour, but at just €20 it is a very worth-while two hours for any GOT fan. It’s led by a self-proclaimed “big Game of Thrones fan” and Croatian Ministry of Tourism licensed guide, and covers shooting locations in Dubrovnik’s Old Town as well as the Fort of St. Lawrence which, owing to the amount of steps involved, might not be suitable for everyone (a lot of ‘bending the knees’ required - ugh, that’s bad – ED.).
There are other GOT focused tours available in Dubrovnik too, including a free tour by Paola who actually worked on the show!
If you're interested in general city tours which include some of the Game of Thrones locations; you can have a look here.
Split: the city of Meereen
Another key location for Game of Thrones filming in Croatia was the ancient city of Split on the Dalmatian Coast, which became Meereen in season 4.
The primary must-see here for GOT fans is the UNESCO World Heritage site Diocletian’s Palace which was used for many of Daenerys’ scenes, including the slave-overlord fight scene, and it is where Daenerys’ throne-room was set, while the catacombs below are where she kept her dragons.
Find here all the Game of Thrones-themed tours available in Split, as well as general Split city tours which include GOT filming locations.
2. Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland
Belfast and Country Antrim
Northern Ireland is the ultimate destination for Game Of Thrones fans, with a huge bulk of the show being filmed throughout the region; the majority of Season eight’s interiors were filmed at Paint Hall studios in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter in County Antrim, though a significant portion of the island’s northern counties provided the backdrop for some of the most iconic GOT scenes, owing to the incredible beauty and ruggedness that readily lends itself to the special atmosphere of the show.
Dark Hedges in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Some of the most beautiful GOT filming locations that you can find in Northern Ireland are:
- Tollymore Forest (first season)
- Dark Hedges (season two)
- Cushendun Caves (season two)
- Ballintoy Harbour, Antrim Coast (season two)
- Pollnagollum Cave, Marble Arch Caves (season three)
- Portstewart Strand (season five)
- Binevenagh Mountains (season five)
Belfast is the ideal base for a GOT location-hunter in Northern Ireland. The city is where you’ll find the Game of Thrones Touring Exhibition which features incredible exhibits and interactives, including genuine costumes, props, and sets from the show.
Entrance to the exhibition is included in the Belfast to Giant's Causeway & Game of Thrones tour which then also takes you out to parts of Westeros, visiting the Dark Hedges, the King’s Road, and more featured locations before arriving to the magnificent Giant's Causeway.
3. Game of Thrones locations in Spain
Winter is coming, but there are some beautiful sun-kissed cities in Spain to visit year-round where several GOT scenes were shot. With plenty of free walking tours taking in Game of Thrones filming sites in these locations, they’re a real treat for GOT fans.
Seville
The remarkably beautiful capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region, Seville is a wonderful place to feast on history, architecture, culture, character, and color.
There are several daily free walking tours in Seville to choose from here in both English and Spanish, and the majority of them include The Alcázar, also known as the Royal Alcázars of Seville, a 700-year-old palace that is a unique synthesis of Iberian Islamic art.
This impressive royal palace was the setting for Westeros’ southern peninsula, the capital of Dorne, Sunspear, as well as the seat of House Martell and the Water Gardens in the fifth season of Game of Thrones.
Córdoba
This ancient Roman city was also a major Islamic stronghold in the Middle Ages and these influences can be seen throughout the architecture. Córdoba is home to the world’s largest mosque, Mezquita, as well as the Alcázar fortress, Calahorra Tower and the exquisite Roman bridge which was used as the Long Bridge of Volantis in Game of Thrones.
You can also venture about 40 minutes from Cordoba out to Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, an ancient castle which was the setting for House Tyrell’s ancestral home in the penultimate season.
View and book excellent free walking tours with expert local guides in Cordoba here.
Girona
It wasn’t just Andalusia that saw GOT filming take place, Catalonia had its fair share of the action too. In Girona, fans will recognize the Catedral de Santa María de Gerona as the exterior of the Sept of Baelor.
The Ferran el Catòlic, Plaça dels Jurats, and Sant Martí and l’Escola Pia areas were used extensively for the show’s street markets scenes. You’ll also find The Braavos bridge here too.
There are a few excellent free walking tours in Girona that will include these sites, but there is also a specific Game of Thrones tour in Girona (in English or Spanish) every Saturday. Check them all out here.
4. Game of Thrones locations in Malta
The small island of Malta (and Gozo island just off of the north coast) saw a lot of GOT filming thanks to the unique and dramatic Baroque and Medieval character throughout.
Mdina
The charming labyrinth of cobbled streets that make up one of the world’s most exquisite fortified cities, Mdina, was the perfect shooting location for early Pentos and King’s Landing scenes in Game of Thrones season one, especially around Cathedral Square and Rabat village, and you can explore them with an authentic local guide on top quality Mdina walking tours.
Key GOT shooting locations in Mdina include the imposing Mdina Gate which you’ll recognize as the entrance to King’s Landing, the fascinating St Dominic’s Convent which was used for the Red Keep Garden, and Mesquita Square where several Season-one scenes were shot.
Of course, with such an extensive fictional world-spanning eight series, there are lots of different destinations that were used to bring Game of Thrones to life on our screens; the above-mentioned places are some of the most paramount shooting locations from the show where you can join top class, knowledgeable local guides for tours and get a unique insight to the history of these sites as well as fascinating behind-the-scenes information too.
We hope this helps you make the most of your time exploring these Game of Thrones filming locations. If you’ve already visited some of them, tell us about your experience in the comments and any recommendation you have for fellow GOT fanatics setting out on their travels. Happy touring!
