Winter is coming, but summer will be here first, and with summer comes a prime opportunity to visit some spectacular real-world locations used to shoot HBO's "Game of Thrones."
Whether you fancy a stroll in the Gardens of Dorne, or you’ve decided to “take the black†and brave the fierce cold North of the Wall, most of these fantastic locations are only an airline ticket away. And while "Thrones" often spruces these places up with CGI effects, like adding a Colossus-like Titan to create Braavos in Croatia, these places are still breathtaking to behold in their real-world incarnations.
Here are six countries where you can step out of the real world and into the Seven Kingdoms.
Iceland
Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch spend much of their time shooting in Iceland, where the country’s craggy landscape and vast glaciers fill in nicely for the frozen North and the Wall.
Much of Jon Snow’s time North of the Wall is spent on the vast glaciers of Svinafellsjokull and Vatnajokull, in the southern and central regions of the country. Other scenes are shot in the northwest.
Perhaps one of the most romantic destinations is Grjotagja, the thermal spring and lava cave where Jon shows his wildling girlfriend, Ygritte, that he does indeed know something.
Northern Ireland
With its ancient castles and vibrant green forests, Northern Ireland looks like it’s ripped straight from “Game of Thrones.†And while most of it is used to portray fortresses in “Game of Thrones,†a few regions actually double as the windswept grasslands of the Dothraki Sea.
Carncastle and Castle Ward are primary shooting locations for the Starks’ seat in Winterfell, while Magheramorne Quarry is frequently used for Castle Black. The epic battle of Hardhome was also shot at Magheramorne.
Other parts of the country double as the Dothraki Sea (Glens of Antrim and The Leslie Hill Estate in Ballymoney), the road from King’s Landing (The Dark Hedges) and the Greyjoys’ Iron Islands (Murlough Bay).
Most of these destinations are situated along Northern Ireland’s eastern coast, meaning visitors can rent a car and drive to any of them in less than two hours – or take a few days and explore them all at your leisure.
Morocco
Catch a flight to northeast Africa and walk in the footsteps of Daenrys Targaryen, with a visit to several “Game of Thrones†shooting locations in Morocco. You won’t find any dragons flying overhead, but you can stroll through several cities of which the Khaleesi lays claim.
Essaouira, for instance, doubles as Astapor, home of the Unsullied. There are no eunuch soldiers for sale in the city, but there are plenty of vendors in Essaouira’s market who are eager to sell their textiles and pottery to visitors from abroad.
Morocco’s fortified city of Ait-Ben-Haddou serves as the primary location for Yunkai and Pentos on “Game of Thrones,†and has also hosted film shoots for “The Mummy,†“Gladiator,†“Jesus of Nazareth†and “Lawrence of Arabia.†Pentos is also partially set in the nearby city of Ouarzazate, home to Atlas Studios, another popular destination for film shoots.
Malta
The tiny island nation of Malta is also the seat of power in Westeros, with several shooting locations that double for King’s Landing. San Anton Palace is used as the setting for the Red Keep, while Fort Ricasoli doubles for the Red Keep’s Gate, and Fort St. Angelo is the setting for its dungeon. Most of these locations are on the island’s east coast, but further west you’ll find the gate to King’s Landing, at the fortified city of Mdina.
Croatia
Croatia is another great country to visit for “Thrones†fans, with several shooting locations clustered close together along the country’s southern coast. Split, Ston and Dubrovnik are used for parts of King’s Landing, with Dubrovnik's Minceta Tower serving as the King’s Landing gardens, and its Lovrijenac Fortress as part of the Red Keep.
A short distance to the north, you can visit the fictional city of Meereen (sans a few towers) at Klis Fortress, or practice your sleight of hand in Sibenik, a.k.a. Braavos in “Thrones.â€
Spain
Beware the Sand Snakes if you’re paying a visit to Seville, Spain, home to the Royal Palace of Dorne, a.k.a. the Real Alcazar palace. The Real Alcazar is a UNESCO world heritage site that traces its foundations back to the eighth century, and remains the oldest in-use royal palace in all of Europe. The structure has been rebuilt and expanded several times over the years, both by its current Spanish rulers, and by past Muslim conquerors.
Tour guides in the area offer "Game of Thrones" visits to the palace, where they'll take visitors through the ornate hallways and winding hedge mazes of the royal grounds.
