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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…
Kirkjufell, Iceland
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Iceland’s most photographed mountain owes its fame to Game of Thrones after it played Arrowhead Mountain, with the distinct peak used in series seven as the backdrop to Jon Snow, the Hound and Jorah Mormont braving the wilderness in search of the Night King.
Visit Kirkjufell and make Iceland’s capital Reykjavik your base, where the stunning new The Retreat at Blue Lagoon offers lunar-like views, chic Scandi design and mineral-rich waters for you to spend hours bathing in. Book with mrandmrssmith.comand you’ll receive a bottle of Champagne on arrival, too.
