You’ve watched every episode. You know the map of Westeros better than your own city. But can you stand on the spot where Daenerys chained her dragons? Or walk the same stones as Cersei’s Walk of Shame?
Most travel guides for Game of Thrones locations bury the useful info under fluff. They tell you to “book a tour” without telling you the price, the time, or whether you can just walk there yourself. This guide does the opposite. Here are seven real filming sites across Europe, with exact locations, how to reach them without a guide, and what you’ll actually see when you get there.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: The Real King’s Landing
Dubrovnik is the most recognizable filming location in the entire series. The old walled city served as King’s Landing for six seasons. But the city is not a theme park — it’s a living, breathing place with 2,000 residents inside the walls. You can visit for free, but you have to know where to look.
Fort Lovrijenac: The Red Keep’s exterior
This fortress sits on a 37-meter cliff just outside the western wall. In the show, it’s the Red Keep where Joffrey tormented Sansa and where the Battle of Blackwater was staged. The actual filming happened here for scenes on the terrace and inside the courtyard. Entry costs 150 kuna (about $20). Walk from the Pile Gate — it’s a 5-minute uphill path.
Stradun and the Jesuit Stairs
The main street, Stradun, was used for Cersei’s Walk of Shame. The actual starting point is the Jesuit Stairs at the southern end of the city. These 40 stone steps are free to access. Go early (before 9 AM) to avoid the cruise ship crowds. You’ll recognize the exact angle from the episode — the church at the top is the same one visible in the background.
Lokrum Island: The Qarth Gardens
A 15-minute ferry from Dubrovnik’s old port costs 120 kuna return ($16). On the island, you’ll find the botanical gardens used as the House of the Undying in Qarth. The iron throne replica sits in the monastery courtyard. The island is a nature reserve — no cars, no hotels, just walking trails and peacocks.
Best time to visit: April-May or September-October. July and August bring 10,000 cruise passengers daily. The old town becomes a wall-to-wall crowd.
| Location | Entry Fee | Time Needed | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lovrijenac | 150 kuna ($20) | 45 min | 8-10 AM |
| Jesuit Stairs | Free | 15 min | Before 9 AM |
| Lokrum Island | 120 kuna ($16) | 3-4 hours | Weekdays |
| Trsteno Arboretum | 50 kuna ($7) | 1-2 hours | Morning |
Split, Croatia: Diocletian’s Palace Is Meereen
Split’s Diocletian’s Palace, a 1,700-year-old Roman complex, became Meereen in seasons 4 and 5. Daenerys locked her dragons in the basement here. The palace is a functioning city — people live in apartments built into the Roman walls. Entry is free. You walk through the same underground chambers where Missandei and Grey Worm walked.
The basement halls (the substructure) are the main filming site. They’re open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM in summer. Entry costs 50 kuna ($7). The chambers are dark and cool — a relief from Split’s summer heat. The stone columns and vaulted ceilings are exactly as they appear on screen.
Key tip: The palace is inside the old town, which is pedestrian-only. Park outside the walls at the bus station parking lot (15 kuna per hour). Then walk through the Bronze Gate to enter the substructure.
Northern Ireland: Winterfell, The Wall, and Dragonstone
Northern Ireland hosted more filming than any other country. The show’s production was based in Belfast for all eight seasons. Three major sites are within a 90-minute drive of each other.
Castle Ward: Winterfell exterior
This National Trust property in Strangford, County Down, served as the exterior of Winterfell. The 18th-century house was digitally replaced with the castle in post-production, but the courtyard, the yard where Bran practiced archery, and the tower where Bran pushed Jamie are all real. Entry costs £12 for adults. Opening hours are 10 AM to 5 PM. The drive from Belfast takes 40 minutes via the A20.
The Dark Hedges: The King’s Road
This avenue of beech trees near Ballymoney was used as the King’s Road in season 2. The trees were planted in the 18th century. They’re free to visit, but parking is limited to a small lot on the Bregagh Road. Go at sunrise (around 6 AM in summer) to get photos without people. By 10 AM, the road is packed with tourists and tour buses.
Ballintoy Harbour: The Iron Islands
This small fishing harbor in County Antrim was used for Pyke and the Iron Islands. Theon’s arrival in season 2 was filmed here. The harbor is free to visit. Parking is on the road above — walk down the steep path to the water. The rocks and the small white cottage are instantly recognizable. Expect wind. Bring a jacket even in summer.
One failure to avoid: Don’t try to visit all three sites in one day unless you have a car. Public transport between them is sparse. Rent a car from Belfast for £30-40 per day. The drive from Castle Ward to Ballintoy takes 1 hour 15 minutes.
Iceland: The Wall and the Land Beyond
Iceland stood in for the frozen north of Westeros. The Wall, the Fist of the First Men, and the lands beyond the Wall were filmed in three main locations. These are not theme parks — they are remote, wild places. You need a 4×4 vehicle and proper gear.
Thingvellir National Park: The Fist of the First Men
This UNESCO World Heritage site sits in a rift valley between two tectonic plates. The flat, rocky landscape was used for the Fist of the First Men where the Night’s Watch fought the White Walkers. Entry to the park is free. The main path takes you through the exact filming area. It’s a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik on Route 36. The road is paved — a regular car works fine.
Vatnajökull Glacier: Beyond the Wall
The massive ice cap was used for scenes north of the Wall, including the cave where Jon Snow and Ygritte hid. You cannot walk on the glacier without a guide — it’s dangerous. Local companies like Glacier Guides Iceland offer 3-hour walking tours for $120 per person. They provide crampons and helmets. Tours run from June to September only.
When NOT to visit Iceland for GoT locations: November through March. Daylight lasts 4-5 hours. Roads close without warning. The glacier tours shut down. You’ll spend more time stuck in a car than seeing sites.
Spain: Dorne, Dragonstone, and the Water Gardens
Spain provided the warm, sun-drenched settings for Dorne and Dragonstone. Three locations stand out.
Alcázar of Seville: The Water Gardens of Dorne
This 14th-century royal palace in Seville was used for the Water Gardens of Sunspear. The courtyards, fountains, and tiled walls are exactly as they appeared in season 5. Entry costs 12.50 euros. Book tickets online at least 3 days in advance — same-day tickets sell out by 10 AM. The palace opens at 9:30 AM. Go straight to the Garden of the Poets, where Ellaria Sand confronted Doran Martell.
Gaztelugatxe: Dragonstone exterior
This small island off the coast of Basque Country, connected to the mainland by a 241-step stone bridge, served as Dragonstone in season 7. The island is a protected biotope. Entry is free, but you need a reservation from the Basque government website. Slots open 30 days in advance and fill within hours. The walk from the parking lot to the top takes 45 minutes. Wear hiking shoes — the steps are uneven and wet.
Tradeoff: Gaztelugatxe is 30 minutes from Bilbao by car. No public bus reaches the site. You need a rental car. If you don’t drive, skip this one and visit the Alcázar instead.
Peñíscola: Meereen exterior
This coastal town in Valencia was used for the exterior shots of Meereen. The castle on the hill is visible from the beach. The actual filming took place on the beach and the rocks below the castle. Entry to the castle costs 8 euros. The beach is free. The town is 2 hours north of Valencia by car.
Malta: The First King’s Landing (Before Dubrovnik)
Before the show moved to Dubrovnik, season 1 filmed in Malta. Mdina, the silent city, stood in for King’s Landing in the first episodes. The city walls, the gate, and the narrow streets are all free to walk. The entry to St. Paul’s Cathedral costs 5 euros — the interior was used as the Great Sept of Baelor.
The Azure Window in Gozo was used for Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s wedding. The window collapsed in 2017. The rock formation is gone. But the coastline and the nearby Inland Sea are still worth visiting. A ferry from Malta to Gozo costs 4.65 euros each way. The drive from the ferry to the Azure Window site takes 20 minutes.
Honest verdict: Malta is worth visiting only if you’re already planning a Mediterranean trip. The GoT sites here are limited to season 1 footage. Dubrovnik and Northern Ireland offer far more to see.
The Practical Reality: Budget, Time, and What to Skip
Most people try to visit too many locations in one trip. They end up exhausted and spend more time in transit than at the sites. Here’s what you should actually do.
If you have 5 days: Pick one country. Northern Ireland gives you the most locations per mile. You can hit Castle Ward, the Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbour, and the Giant’s Causeway (not in the show, but nearby) in 3 days. Total cost: £400 for car rental, accommodation, and entry fees.
If you have 10 days: Combine Dubrovnik and Split. Fly into Dubrovnik, spend 3 days there, take the 3.5-hour bus to Split ($25), spend 2 days there, then fly out of Split. Total cost: $800-1,000 including flights.
What to skip: The Game of Thrones studio tour in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. It costs £35 and takes 2 hours, but the sets are recreations. You see the same things in photos online for free. The original filming locations are more authentic and cost nothing to enter.
One final piece of advice: don’t expect to see exactly what you saw on screen. CGI removed modern buildings, added castles, and changed landscapes. The real locations are still beautiful — but they’re real places, not sets. That’s the point.
