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…
Reynisfjara, Iceland
Arterra Getty Images
Black sand beaches don’t get better than Reynisfjara, one of the most spectacular sandy stretches in all of Iceland. In Game of Thrones, it’s known as Eastwatch, where the men of the Night’s Watch are stationed, but in real life this is a place you truly need to see to believe thanks to its striking basalt stacks, crashing Atlantic waves and picturesque views.
While you explore the beach and other parts of Iceland, stay at the elegant Sandhotelin Reykjavik and gorge on pastries from renowned bakery Sandholt next door. Alternatively, go on a real Icelandic adventure with Exodus to visit Reynisfjara and discover the country’s less-frequented sites. Visit mrandmrssmith.com (you’ll receive chocolates made by the in-house chocolatier with your stay) or exodus.co.uk for more.
