
#GAME OF THRONES SUMMER ISLANDS SERIES#
Sharp-eyed fans can also find the rare “Dragonglass” in the park, which is actually obsidian – a piece of cooled lava, but used in the series to mimic this precious resource. Visitors can also find the gorgeous Grjótagjá Cave, near Lake Mývatn, a key piece in Jon Snow’s storyline. Thingvellir National Park and Europe's largest glacier – Vatnajökull, were used to set the stage for the otherworldly landscape “North of the Wall”. Several locations were used to create a barren, harsh land and a place where Wildlings, White Walkers and only the bravest men of the Night’s Watch roam. Get ready to channel your inner-wildling and go "North of the Wall" in Iceland. Season Six featured Girona heavily the city’s old town, cathedral, Arab Baths and Jewish Quarter were used extensively for filming, especially in Arya’s storyline. Portions of the cathedral were also used to portray the city of Braavos – where Arya Stark battled blindness, hunger and a crazy girl named the Waif to become a girl who has no name. Remember when Cersei blew up the High Sparrow (" and all his little sparrows") in Season Six? The Cathedral of Girona featured as the doomed structure. With richly appointed interiors, exotic gardens and orchards, intricate ponds and fountains, the Real Alcázar – a 14th century Moorish palace, became the perfect location to represent the home of House Martell and create the Water Gardens of Dorne. Klis Fortress, located just 20 minutes north of Split, also features heavily as Meereen. While the upper levels of the palace have not survived time well, the underground passages remain fully intact and visitors can explore the palace’s eerie tunnels and basements.

The palace doubled as Daenarys’s throne room and palatial grounds when she took control of Meereen. Most significantly was the 1700-year-old Diocletian’s Palace, constructed by Emperor Diocletian in the 3rd century – and Split’s most famous tourist site. The city featured in several of Khaleesi’s iconic scenes on her rise to power. Just 600 meters off Croatia’s mainland, tourists will find Lokrum Island – aka, the city of Qarth where Daenerys first gave GoT fans a taste of what she and her dragons could do in Season Two.Īs Croatia’s second-largest city, Split is firmly Daenerys country.

Key filming locations in the city include: Ploče Gate (used as the Red Keep Gate), Ethnographic Museum Rupe (Littlefinger’s brothel), St Dominic Street (most of King’s Landing’s market scenes) and the stunning Jesuit Staircase (the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor – and where Cersei began her walk of shame in Season Five).ĭubrovnik features elsewhere in the series including: the House of the Undying (Mineeta Tower), and the Spice King of Qarth’s palace – where Daenarys Targaryen asked, and was refused, an army and ships in Season Two. Warning: if you aren’t current on the series, there might be spoilers ahead!Ī picturesque town on the Mediterranean Coast, Dubrovnik’s fortified city walls (which you can walk!), beautiful tiled roofs, winding cobbled streets and jaw-dropping scenery became the perfect backdrop to set the sprawling royal metropolis – King’s Landing.

If not, these “on-set” locations might be the perfect reason to plan a trip. Martin turned Europe and North Africa into their filming playground! From Croatia to Spain, Iceland, Malta to Morocco, and the rugged coasts of Northern Ireland, chances are there is a Game of Thrones filming location close to your next vacation spot. I found myself wondering … where did Game of Thrones come to life? The writing and storytelling (albeit at times, macabre as medieval stories often are) was itself certainly gripping – but for me, the stories really came to life due to the stunning on-location shoots.

I couldn’t resist seeing the drama of warring noble families unfold across Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms. Within three episodes of watching the HBO series Game of Thrones (GoT), I knew I was hooked.
