Spectacular Game Of Thrones Locations You Can Visit In Real Life

Seville, Spain. duncan 1890 Getty Images

With just days before the final series of Game of Thrones airs, you’d be forgiven if your mind is currently in the wilderness of Winterfell or the exotic gardens of Dorne - but you can do more than just dream about these fictional lands. All the settings were based on, and filmed in, very real locations.

Inevitably, as the show's air date draws closer, interest in travelling to the real Westeros has increased; flight comparison site Jetcost found that searches for flights to Game of Thrones filming locations increased by up to 240% in March. Similarly, Google Trends data revealed that searches for ‘Where is Game of Thrones filmed?’ increased by 180% in the past 30 days, while in the last week alone, searches for 'Game of Thrones filming locations’ was up 250%.

If set-jetting is your idea of an idyllic holiday, you’ll be impressed by the otherworldly backdrops that are undeniably as beautiful without the CGI. On these inspiring getaways, the likes of Yunkai, the Kingsroad and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea can be found without venturing too far, while you experience the finer things in life: think country spa hotels, Michelin-starred dining and villas with sparkling sea views.

From Northern Ireland to Croatia, these are the Game of Thrones locations to visit on a unique set-location holiday…

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Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

Athanasios Gioumpasis Getty Images

This fortified city on the foothills of the dramatic Atlas Mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and starred as Yunkai, the slave city in which Daenerys battled the Second Sons to liberate the slaves. Sitting between Marrakech and the Sahara, it also featured in Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

Visit Ait Benhaddou on a day trip during a city break to Marrakech, where you can also browse the exotic souk, get lost in YSL’s oasis-like Majorelle Garden and stay in a romantic riad. Visit expedia.co.uk for more.

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