Game of Thrones may have ended its epic run back in 2019, but its legacy as one of television's biggest events hasn't faded. First airing on HBO in 2011, the show became a global phenomenon, with its final season smashing viewing records and cementing it as one of the most-watched series in television history.
Much of its appeal came from the spectacular scenery, with filming taking place across the globe to bring the Seven Kingdoms to life. The landscapes were so breathtaking that fans have continued to flock to see them in person, walking in the footsteps of Jon Snow, Arya Stark, and Tyrion Lannister long after the credits rolled.
Travelling to a destination you've seen on screen is known as set-jetting, and Game of Thrones remains one of the biggest drivers of this trend — with fans still seeking out real-world filming locations years later. Fancy following in the footsteps of your favourite characters? Here's where to find the real Seven Kingdoms.
Malta
The beautiful island of Malta was used for filming during the first season. The majority was done around Mdina, before moving on to Croatia instead. This town saw a particular spike in tourism, with fans heading to see the original King’s Landing.
Fictional setting for
- Mdina = King’s Landing
- Fort Ricasoli = Red Keep
- Fort Manoel = Sept of Baelor
- Azure Window, Gozo = The Dothraki Wedding
- Verdala Palace Grounds = Illyrio Mopatis’ house
- St Dominic’s Priory, Rabat = Red Keep Courtyard
Best Game of Thrones activities
An actor-led film locations day tour takes place every Saturday. You’ll see the main filming locations as you explore Mdina, Attard and Rabat.
Croatia
Croatia has become a ‘Kingdom of Tourism’ thanks to Game of Thrones. It was particularly after season five in 2015 that fans started to head to see the World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik and the fictional capital of King’s Landing for themselves. In 2017 there were 4,500 GOT city tours, up from just 300 in 2015. The city is now welcoming more than 10,000 visitors a day, which is an increase of around 12% annually since 2011.
Fictional setting for
- Dubrovnik including Old Town and City Walls = King’s Landing
- Fort Lovrijenac = Red Keep
- Minčeta Tower = House of the Undying in Qarth
- Trsteno = King’s Landing Palace Gardens
- Lokrum = city of Qarth
- Krka National Park = Westeros Riverlands
- Diocletian’s Palace, Split = several key scenes including training of dragon
- Kliss Fortress = city of Meereen
Best Game of Thrones activities
There are a variety of Game of Thrones-themed activities in Dubrovnik. These include a walking tour that takes between two to three and a half hours and covers many of the filming locations. Don’t fancy walking? Get a different view of the fictional setting with a four and a half hour kayaking tour or try to get out of the themed escape room.
A Game of Thrones Panorama Cruise will take you around Dubrovnik on the ship used in the programme. Slip into a costume and drink Dragon Blood cocktails for added effect.
You can also try a Game of Thrones-inspired menu at Restaurant Kopun, which you’ll find at the top of the stairs of the Walk of Shame, and at Promenade there are GOT cocktails.
Lokrum Island is home to the original Iron Throne – so make sure you get a picture for your Instagram. Alternatively, you can visit the official gift shop and take a photo in the life-sized replica.
Iceland
Iceland attracted 566,000 tourists pre-Game of Thrones but, with its frozen landscape first featuring in season two, the numbers have soared since. In 2015 the ‘Game of Thrones effect’ was seen as responsible for visitor numbers reaching more than one million and last year they topped two million – six times the total population.
Fictional setting for
- Vík = frozen wastes of northern Westeros
- Thingvellir National Park = the pass to impregnable Eyrie
- Skaftafell, Svinafellsjokull and Vatnajökull = beyond The Wall
- Grjótagjá = the intimate scene between Jon Snow and Ygritte
- Myrdalsjokull Glacier = The Fist of the First Men
- Dyrhólaey = Eastwatch-by-the-Sea
Best Game of Thrones activities
Take a full day Game of Thrones tour to see the stunning scenery that was used during the TV show, particularly the areas that depicted the snow and ice scenes north of The Wall. Alternatively, you might like to see the scenery from the sky in a Game of Thrones Air Tour.
Northern Ireland
Game of Thrones has been described as ‘transformative’ for tourism in Northern Ireland. It’s estimated that it attracted 120,000 visitors in 2016 and that this is worth £30 million a year to the economy. Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge and Titanic Studios have both been used for many scenes during the series.
Fictional setting for
- Castle Ward = Winterfell
- Mourne Mountains = Vaes Dothrak
- Ballintoy Harbour = Port of Pyke, one of the Iron Islands
- The Dark Hedges, County Antrim = The King’s Road
- Tollymore Forest Park = north of Winterfell
- Downhill Beach = Dragonstone
- Murglough Bay = The Stormlands
- Magheramorne Quarry = Castle Black
Best Game of Thrones activities
A Game of Thrones studio tour is due to launch at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, County Down, where many of the show’s most iconic scenes were filmed. The studio, which will permanently house props and costumes from the set is due to open in Spring 2020. The attraction is being billed as ‘sensory and immersive’.
If you visit before then, head to Belfast for a Game of Thrones-inspired escape room. Just 40 minutes from the capital you can visit Old Castle Ward which was used as Winterfell Castle. As well as seeing 19 other key filming locations that are situated here, you’ll dress up in Stark family costumes and shoot medieval arrows with the help of ‘Jon Snow’.
In Belfast you can also take the Direwolf Tour. Your tour guide will either have been an extra, double or support actor in the show so will be able to give you special insight into what it was really like to be on set. You’ll also meet Summer and Grey wind – the actual direwolves in the show.