In its eight seasons, hit show Game of Thrones may have made viewers feel disturbed, empowered and swept away by its epic and powerful stories. But more than anything, it surely made people feel like dropping all responsibilities and packing up for the nearest medieval castle.
The stunning settings of the show are characters in their own right, instilling the series with a sense of timeless grandeur and majesty. Thankfully, many places used for filming are real-life stunners, so visiting them need not be the stuff of fantasy.
Ahead of the series finale of Game of Thrones, Skyscanner has suggested five stunning set locations that you can actually visit – for under €110.
1. 1. Aït-Ben-Haddou (Yunkai and Pentos), Morocco
Follow Daenerys Targaryen’s tracks through Slaver‘s Bay and the Free Cities at real-life Aït-Ben-Haddou, a ksar (fortified city) around 100km southeast of Marrakech. Sitting majestically on a hill overlooking a desert, its ancient appearance attracts both tourists and filmmakers alike.
In the fictional world of Essos in Game of Thrones, Aït-Ben-Haddou is turned into Yunkai, the smallest of the three cities in Slaver’s Bay, and Pentos, the biggest of the Free Cities.
2. King’s Landing, Dubrovnik
The official seat of the kings of Westeros: King’s Landing, aka Dubrovnik. It’s no wonder that this monumental city was chosen to pose as one of Westeros’ main landmarks. Dubrovnik’s old town is surrounded by thick stone walls and is located on a peninsula surrounded by a dramatic stone cliff. In Game of Thrones world, King’s Landing is an important location, featuring in most episodes and where many characters’ storylines meet. It is also the place to be if you like intrigue, secrets, hidden agendas, and dastardly plots.
3. Forests in the North, Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
Tollymore Forest Park, covering over 600 hectares at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, is a great area for outdoor activities such as hiking with stunning sea views. It features several times in Game of Thrones, such as when a member of the Night’s Watch finds a family of Wildlings dead on the snow, right before a chilling encounter with a White Walker.
Also, this is where Ned Stark and his sons find the Direwolf pups and the dead stag. Later in the series, Theon Greyjoy is chased on horseback by Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton.
Incidentally, Discover Northern Ireland have created a free Game of Thrones set locations app to help you navigate all 10 filming locations in Northern Ireland. Plans have also just been announced for the opening of a GoT studio tour in Banbridge's Linen Mill Studios, due in 2020.
4. 4. King’s Landing Gate, Mdina, Malta
The 4,000-year-old ancient capital of Malta, which could inspire a rake of stunning shows alone, Mdina is a medieval walled town on a hill in the centre of the island. Commonly called the Silent City, this fortified city was once the capital of the vibrant island nation, and boasts an eclectic mix of architecture, from sandy medieval castles to romantic Baroque halls.
In Game of Thrones, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik Cassel ride into King’s landing through the gorgeous Mdina Gate to investigate the attack on Bran. While we can't speak for the availability of a horse and carriage, a stroll through the grand gate will be memorable enough as it is.
5. Doune Castle (Winterfell), Scotland
This medieval stronghold in Doune, near Stirling, was originally built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the late 14th century by the Duke of Albany, Robert Stewart. The castle has survived quite unchanged and complete until today and is truly a sight to behold.
Sitting on an impressive strategic site at the crossroads of Scotland, Doune Castle can be seen in several films and series, such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and the classical adaptation of Ivanhoe with Elizabeth Taylor. It was also the set for Winterfell in the pilot episode of GoT.
Flights can be found on Skyscanner, Expedia, Google Flights or Travelocity.
