‘Game of Thrones’ Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
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Can Game of Thrones one-up itself? The blood-and-betrayal drama about warring noble families has claimed more than 1,500 characters in seven seasons alone—the Washington Post went so far as to illustrate each death through season six—but the series manages not to feel entirely macabre, thanks largely to beautiful on-location shoots. From Seville, Spain to Croatia, Iceland, and Northern Ireland, take a tour of the series's most iconic filming locations. Just be sure to keep your sword at the ready, as there are spoilers ahead.
This gallery was originally published in 2015. It has been updated with new information.
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Itzurun Beach, Zumaia, Spain (Dragonstone)
Spain features heavily is the latest installment of Game of Thrones. Take the last scenes of season seven's initial episode: Daenerys lands at Dragonstone—Dothraki warriors, Varys, and Tyrion in tow—after seasons spent across the Narrow Sea. While the nearby San Juan de Gaztelugatxe stands in for the castle's winding entry stairs, it's Itzurun Beach in the Basque Country that serves as the dragon queen's entry point to Westeros.
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Kirkjufell, Iceland (Arrowhead Mountain)
Season seven isn't the first time viewers see Arrowhead Mountain. The Children of the Forest create their first White Walker in its shadow in a flashback during season six. But the freestanding Icelandic mountain makes an appearance as the backdrop to Jon Snow, Thoros, Beric Dondarrion, Sandor Clegane (better known as the Hound), Gendry Waters, Ser Jorah Mormont, and Tormund's stand against the Night King. Offscreen, it's a magical place to watch the Northern Lights and the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Added bonus: you won't have to keep an eye out for any zombie polar bears if you visit in real life.
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Itálica, Spain (King's Landing Dragonpit)
The biggest character gathering in Game of Thrones history was set here, in the Roman ruins of Itálica. The production team built a platform to protect the central area of the ancient amphitheater that once housed 25,000 spectators. Now, it'll be known for hosting three Lannisters, two Targaryens, two Cleganes, two Greyjoys, two dragons, a few friends, a few foes, and a dead man walking.
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Los Barruecos, Spain (Loot Train Attack)
About a three-hour drive from Madrid and near the city of Cáceres, Los Barruecos nature reserve served as the backdrop for one of season seven's most memorable episodes. Among the plains and rocky outcrops, Daenerys released her dragon against the Lannisters for the first time, leading to a jaw-dropping battle and a thrilling explainer on just how they recreated dragon fire on land.
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Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, Spain (Highgarden)
Another Spanish castle made an appearance in season seven, standing in for the Tyrell stronghold Highgarden. Located about 15 miles outside Córdoba off-screen, the on-screen castle quickly finds itself under Lannister rule only minutes after we see the striking Moorish build for the first time.
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Vík, Iceland (Eastwatch-by-the-Sea)
Reynisfjara, Vík's black sand beach, stand in for the castle at the farthest east side of the Wall, where the icy monolith drops into the sea. It's not the first time the beach has featured in a pop-culture darling: Planet Eadu in Star Wars' Rogue One was set in the area, which sits near the southernmost point of Iceland, about two and a half hours from Reykjavik.
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Bardenas Reales, Spain (Dothraki Sea)
No, this isn't another planet. The 104,000-acre Bardenas Reales are the Spanish badlands, made up of clay, chalk and sandstone that's been molded by centuries of water and wind. Parts of the steppe offer up a little vegetation, perfect for the Dothraki Sea, which is also filmed in Ireland (Glens of Antrim) for the more lush scenes in season six.
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Ballintoy Harbor, Northern Ireland (Iron Islands)
Ballintoy stands in as the harbor of the Iron Islands, where Theon Greyjoy, err, reconnects with his sister, Yara. We're sure to see a little more of the rocky Northern Irish coastline in the final season as the Greyjoys deal with their own throne usurping complications.
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Alcázar of Seville, Spain (Dorne's Sunspear)
The crown jewel of the series's Andalusian filming locations is the Alcázar of Seville, the lavish royal palace at the center of the city. Though the palace is Seville's biggest tourist attraction, the cast and crew got permission to shut half of it down to film crucial scenes set in Dorne, the southernmost part of the kingdom of Westeros. The Alcázar serves as the setting for Dorne's Water Palace of Sunspear, the verdant summer home of the royal Martell family.
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Osuna, Spain (Daznak's Pit)
About an hour east of Seville is the small historic town of Osuna (population: about 18,000), which opened up its bullring to host a gladiator-style scene where Daenerys settles a score with Meereen slave masters. It was said to take 12 days to shoot this one scene—practically a blockbuster film's schedule—and required some 500 extras.
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Grjótagjá, Iceland (Jon Snow's Love Cave)
Near northeastern Iceland's Lake Mývatn, Grjótagjá is a small volcanic cave where water in the spring can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also home to Ygritte (RIP) and Jon Snow's subterranean love scene.
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Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco (Yunkai)
You'll find Yunkai, one of the Slaver's Bay city-states that Daenerys unchains with the help of the Unsullied, in the real life Ait Ben Haddou. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 17th century city sits between Marrakech and the Sahara and was a stopping point for many a caravan heading in or out of the desert.
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Vatnajökull, Iceland (Beyond the Wall)
East of Reykjavik, you'll find Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. You can see it on screen in the sweeping scenes of life (and White Walkers) Beyond the Wall. You can also dress like a GoT cast member on your next Iceland trip—here's how.
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Minčeta Tower, Dubrovnik, Croatia (House of the Undying)
The highest point along Dubrovnik's city walls, this tower stands in for the exterior of the House of the Undying in Qarth during season two. Daenerys Targaryen goes looking for her dragons inside but is kidnapped by the warlocks who, not knowing any better, get fried by the one and only Drogon.
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Old Town, Dubrovnik, Croatia (King's Landing)
Game of Thrones has had a lasting impact on tourism in Dubrovnik, the stand-in for King's Landing since season two. Visitors can recreate Cersei's walk of shame down the steps in front of the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola or meander through the Pile Gate, which stands in for the entrance to King's Landing's Old Town.
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Magheramorne Quarry, Northern Ireland (Castle Black & North of the Wall)
In season one, Magheramorne in Northern Ireland was the site for Castle Black, with help from plenty of CGI to make the wall look 700 feet tall; in season two, it stood in for the battlements at King's Landing. In season five, Magheramorne welcomed a newly constructed fishing village north of the Wall—where the Wildlings live, zombie-like White Walkers roam, and all rules and loyalties are forgotten. The "game of thrones" doesn't apply up here.
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Dark Hedges, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland (King's Road)
Planted in the 18th century, the beech trees along this avenue in Northern Ireland have grown together to form a mysterious hedge like nothing we, or the Game of Thrones locations scouts, have ever seen. It serves as the King's Road in a few episodes through the seasons, and has become such a tourist attraction that the government has decided to ban all-but-essential vehicles from as of October 30, 2017 (but don't let that from stopping to have a look and a stroll if you're on a road trip from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway).