Game of Thrones may have reached a conclusion for this year, but there are still some awesome ways to immerse yourself in the world of Westeros.
1. King’s Landing
Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Via Reddit
With swords of defeated rulers, the Targaryens created the Iron Throne using dragonfire and established King’s Landing as their capital city. In reality, filming took place in the ancient city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, where you’ll find rust-colored houses packed tightly one after another within stonewalls that had been erected along the Adriatic Sea.
2. Winterfell
Location: Doune, Stirling district of central Scotland
Via Reddit
As the ancestral castle of House Stark, Winterfell is found at the center of the northernmost province in the Seven Kingdoms. In reality, many of the Stark family scenes take place at the Doune Castle in Scotland. If you still remember the pilot for HBO’s hit series, the Starks line up outside their house while waiting for the royal family to arrive.
Location: Mussenden Temple, in Northern Ireland / Gaztelugatxe in Basque Country, Spain
Via Framepool
https://bit.ly/2xGyjBu
On the Dragonstone beach where Daenerys Targaryen first sets foot onto her ancestral home in Season 7, we are impressed by the awe-inspiring view of a distant castle perched on an islet. In order to reach the nearby island, one must journey through a narrow walkway consisting of steps. Since the castle where Jon and Dany initially meet is generated by special effects, you’ll only find a church located at the top of the hill. Traditionally, visitors ring the chapel bell three times in order to drive away evil spirits and pray for fertility.
4. Wildling Territory
Location: Frostfang Mountains, Höfðabrekka, Iceland
Via Game of Thrones Wiki
The Frostfangs are a mountain range north of Westeros and the majority of its land belongs to the wildlings north of the Wall. In Season 2, Qhorin Halfhand leads a group of scouts including Jon Snow to explore the Wildling territory for their activities and the group end up taking Ygritte back with them.
5. Beyond the Wall – Arrowhead Mountain
Location: Kirkjufell, Iceland
Via Life with a View
One of the most photographed mountains in Iceland, Kirkjufell is the arrowhead mountain in both Bran and the Hound’s visions of the incoming White Walker army in Season 6 and 7. Located on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula, next to the town of Grundarfjörður.
6. Walk of Atonement
Location: Dubrovnik, in Croatia
Via Game of Thrones Wiki
This iconic set of steps appears on 3 notable occasions: Cersei’s Walk of Shame, Joffrey and Margery’s initial public appearance and Jaime riding up the steps attempting to free Margery from the High Septon. These scenes took place on St. Dominic Street, which linked Ploče Gate with the Main Street, Stradun, within the city of Dubrovnik, in Croatia.
7. Water Gardens of Dorne
Location: Real Alcázar of Seville, Spain
Via LibraryThing
At the stunning Water Gardens of Dorne, you can take a breezy walk past fountains and flowers like Myrcella Baratheon did with Trystane Martell or simply enjoy the magnificent view under the archway like Prince Doran Martell. As the southernmost part of Westeros, Dorne and its vibrantly lavish settings act as the scenic backdrop of family drama for the Martells. Here, Prince Doran talks to Ellaria Sand about his brother Oberyn; while he sat on the terrace looking over Mercury’s pool in his wheelchair, Ellaria Sand seeks revenge from the Lannisters.
8. Tower of Joy
Location: Castillo de Zafra, Spain
Via Watchers on the Wall
In one of Bran’s visions, his father Ned Stark is entering the Tower of Joy with a few other men in hope of recovering Lyanna Stark. When Ned enters, Lyanna is already close to death from childbirth. Nevertheless, he promises to keep her child safe by looking after him as his own bastard son.
9. House of the Undying
Location: The Minčeta Tower in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Via AP/Fotolia
The House of the Undying is in Qarth; here, Daenarys Targaryen retrieves her dragons after they were stolen by the conniving Pyat Peere. As she navigates through this foreign tower, she sees visions of her deceased Dothraki husband, Khal Drogo, and their son, Rhaego. When Pyat Peere and her dragons suddenly appear in what she assumed as a dreamlike experience, he binds her for eternity by conjuring chains. Fortunately, the Mother of Dragons whispers ‘dracarys’ and all problems are immediately solved.
10. King’s Road
Location: Dark Hedges, Ballymoney, Northern Ireland
Via Christopher Tait
This scene takes place after Arya escapes from King’s Landing disguised as a boy, she travels on this road with Yoren, Gendry and Hot Pie and others in a cart towards North. Be it a foggy morning, a sunlit afternoon or a golden sunset, this enchantingly picturesque road aligned with beech trees is perfect with every lighting condition. The trees had been planted during the 18th century as an effort of the Stuart Family, who intended to impress visitors as they approach their residence. Overtime, branches extended and overlapped, forming an archway-like tunnel that allows intermittent beams of sunlight to enter through, hence establishing a glorifying and dainty experience during the day and a hauntingly mysterious feeling by night.
11. The Red Keep’s Gardens
Location: Tristeno Arboretum in Croatia
Via Home Box Office, Inc
Somewhat resemblant of Dorne and its exotic decor, this garden pavilion is frequented by the Tyrells during their stay at King’s Landing. However, having lived in Highgarden throughout her life, Lady Olenna only chose to take her meetings in the gardens because she had been worried about spies in the castle. Filming for these scenes took place at a village called Tristeno at the Tristeno Arboretum, which is approximately 20 minutes from Dubrovnik’s Old Town in Croatia.
12.The Iron Islands
Location: Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland/ Ballintoy Harbor
Via Wikipedia
In Season 2, Theon Greyjoy returns to his true home, the Iron Islands, after having spent 10 years at Winterfell as a ward. Ballintoy Harbor, a small village in Northern Ireland, is used to represent the port of the Iron Islands where Theon arrives. Moreover, the Dunluce Castle houses the ruler of House of Greyjoy, who would also be the leader of the Iron Islands.
13. Yunkai, Slavers Bay
Location: Ait Benhaddou, Morocco
Via Morocco Tailor Made
The smallest city in Slavers Bay, Yunkai is famous for its fighting pits. Here, the slavers are referred to as Wise Masters. Yunkish scenes took place at Ait Benhaddou in Morroco. In addition to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ait Benhaddou is also an excellent example of Morroccan Earthen clay architecture.
14. Path to the Eyrie/Arya Stark & The Hound’s journey/The fight between the Hound and Brienne
Location: Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
Via Screener
Iceland’s doesn’t just have frozen landscapes for beyond-the-wall scenes. Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site well-known for the sizable rupture between the Eurasian and the North American Plates, is also where the violent battle between Brienne and the Hound took place. You’ll also remember this for Arya and the Hound’s arduous trek towards the Twins.
Feature image courtesy of Polygon