The best plans with friends if you loved ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘House of the Dragon’!
Main destinations: Spain, Portugal, Iceland, Croatia, Malta, Morocco, and Northern Ireland in Great Britain. These are some of the multiple real filming locations of the series ‘Game of Thrones’ (‘GOT’) and its prequel ‘House of the Dragon’, one of the most successful television phenomena in history.
If you are a fan of this epic fantasy saga, we propose a trip with friends through some of these movie-like destinations. Besides the spectacular settings of the world of Westeros and Essos, you can engage in original activities to get to know each of these cinematic corners in a fun and entertaining way. Your destinations can be movie-like with screenbie.
The production of ‘GOT’ is known for its epic scale and impressive filming locations that span actual settings in several countries. Based on the “A Song of Ice and Fire” novel series by George R.R. Martin, the series, which spans eight seasons, aired on HBO from 2011 to 2019 and chronicles the power struggles among various noble families in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos.
If you are planning a trip with friends, we propose a cinematic adventure visiting some of the destinations where scenes from this influential superproduction were filmed. Here are some activities and highlighted tours, though there are many more.
DESTINATION: SPAIN
The Basque Coast of Bizkaia, Girona, Barcelona, Cáceres, Trujillo, Castellón, or Seville
This summer there’s no time for boredom! We embark on a journey through some of the most stunning corners of our geography.
Girona and the Costa Brava
‘Game of Thrones’ Tour through Girona. ‘Game of Thrones’ Girona and Montserrat Tour from Barcelona.
We start our route in the elegant and historic city of Girona, very close to the impressive landscapes of the Costa Brava. From the region touching French territory, in Portbou, to the southernmost area, in Blanes, this rugged coastal area of Catalonia draws one of the most seductive and enchanting environments of the Iberian Peninsula.
Would you like to discover one of the most unknown territories of our geography? Swimming in hidden coves with crystal-clear waters embraced by dizzying cliffs that challenge the sea is possible in this dreamlike paradise. A very wise option is to make the city of Girona your base camp and join one of our tours to learn about the real history behind the streets of Braavos.
We encourage you to immerse yourself in the impressive old town of one of the cities with the highest quality of life in Spain. With only 110,000 inhabitants, the capital of the Costa Brava is one of the oldest and most elegant in our geography. Built on a rocky outcrop over the Onyar River with stone quarried from the nearby hill, you come here to cultivate a taste for detail by contemplating its elegant and charming establishments, savoring the gastronomic delights of its high-quality restaurants, or listening to the whispers of the stones that draw the medieval layout of the old city.
Do not miss the imposing Cathedral of Santa María, with its unique baroque staircase, a must-see Instagrammable spot dominating the city’s skyline. Another mandatory stop is the Jewish quarter or Call Jueu, one of the best-preserved in Europe and the epicenter of the filming locations for ‘GOT’ and ‘House of the Dragon’. And, of course, in this cinematic destination, a visit to the Girona Cinema Museum is a must, housing one of the most complete collections in Europe of 400 years of the history of moving images.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and the Basque Coast
‘Game of Thrones’ Tour through the Basque Country
From the Catalan coast, we jump to the Basque coast to continue this cinematic adventure with friends. Taking the cities of San Sebastian or Bilbao as a starting point, you can join any of our activities to visit spectacular places like San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Zumaia, or Muriola beach. It won’t be hard to imagine Daenerys arriving at Dragonstone Fortress and Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen fighting over a dragon egg.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is one of those mystical and enchanting spots that one must visit at least once in a lifetime. Its whimsical and peculiar location, on an islet connected to the mainland by a narrow stone bridge, makes it a postcard destination of great natural beauty. Its international popularity increased significantly when ‘GOT’ producers made it the setting for Dragonstone in the sixth season of the series. The islet has also been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, as a 9th or 10th-century hermitage dedicated to Saint John the Baptist rests there. Very close to here, Bakio is a paradise for surfers and wine lovers. What better plan than to visit a winery of the DO Txakolí to taste the typical wine of the region.
If you choose this tour along the coast of Bizkaia, you can enjoy one of the most popular pleasures among the Basques: txikiteo (bar-hopping in a group, drinking small glasses of wine or txikitos, and tasting pintxos). The port of Bermeo is an ideal place to indulge in this deeply rooted local tradition. The tour ends at the cliffs of Barrika. At your feet, you can see a Landing Beach!
MALTA, ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING MEDITERRANEAN ISLANDS
Valletta and Mdina
Tour a Mdina, Rabat, Dingli y Jardines de San Anton Recorrido a pie por La Valeta
Those wishing to explore places brimming with history, culture, and legends beyond our borders can enjoy a cinematic experience with friends on one of the Mediterranean’s most contested islands: Malta. This was one of the first locations for ‘GOT’, and settings like the cities of Valletta or Mdina were used for King’s Landing.
Halfway between Europe and Africa, this archipelago offers the chance to enjoy a getaway where history is as present as the hospitality of its people, mild weather year-round, and unmatched architectural and monumental heritage.
Land of humble people with deeply rooted religious customs, the archipelago comprises two main islands, Malta and Gozo, and three smaller islands: Comino, Cominotto, and Fifla. This is a territory marked by the imprint of the most important civilizations in history due to its strategic location southwest of Sicily and very close to the Tunisian coast. But it is its Templar soul that has made Malta one of the most emblematic tourist attractions in Europe. Governed for almost three centuries by the Knights of the Order of Saint John, later transformed into the Knights of Malta, their heritage is felt in every corner.
The archipelago’s capital, Valletta, is one of the best examples of a fortified city in the Mediterranean. A visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, an impressive display of Baroque architecture where all the ceremonies of the illustrious Order were held, is a must. A complete walk through Valletta should pause at the Presidential Palace, home of the Parliament, gems like the Manoel Theatre, the Castille, La Mancha, and Portugal Inn, or the Upper Barrakka Gardens, from where you can view a spectacular panorama of Malta’s grand natural harbor, flanked by the walls of the Three Cities and Valletta. If you are a fan of the series and wondering where the Red Keep of King’s Landing is, your cinematic spots are Fort Ricasoli and Fort St. Angelo.
In the southeast of the island awaits the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, and very close by, the Blue Grotto, a series of marine caves carved into steep cliffs plunging into an intensely blue sea. In the center of the island, don’t miss the opportunity to visit two cities founded by the Arabs: Rabat and Mdina. The former medieval capital of the island, Mdina, is known as the Silent City and is one of the most fascinating spots on the island due to its monumental nature.
We switch islands and sail to Gozo, with barely 67 square kilometers, where time takes on a different dimension. One of the most curious visits for mythology lovers is the so-called Calypso’s Cave. Between swims, we can visit remains the famous Azure Window. We finish our tour in a movie-like setting: the island of Comino. If you don’t mind a crowd, on the smallest of the Maltese islands, you can dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon.
MOROCCO, THE EXOTICISM OF THE ALAWITE KINGDOM
Marrakech and Essaouira
3-Day Tour from Fez Excursion to Essaouira from Marrakech
And from an island setting, we fly to one of the most exotic and enchanting destinations on the planet: Morocco. The Alawite kingdom features several movie-like locations used to reproduce the fictional cities of Essos, Astapor, and Yunkai. From the Sahara Desert to the Atlas Mountains, through ancient cities like Marrakech or Fez, a universe of colors, smells, sensations, and unique landscapes.
Traveling to Marrakech is like going back thousands of years in time to feel the essence of an ancient culture. Take advantage of this trip with friends to wander the colorful streets of the labyrinthine souk and taste typical Moroccan cuisine in the bustling and picturesque Jemaa El-Fna square. Considered the nerve center of the red city, everything is possible here, every moment is different, every corner is a spectacle… a place as exclusive as it is chaotic. By the way, did you know that the reddish color of Marrakech is due to the reflection of sunlight on its facades?
About two hours by car from the ochre city towards the Atlantic coast lies the idyllic coastal city of Essaouira. Formerly known as Mogador, here colors come to life to create one of the most stunning postcards of the Moroccan coast: its fishing port, with its blue and red boats, fishermen’s nets everywhere, the intense smell of fresh fish, and seagulls circling above the boats. A surfers’ paradise, Essaouira is also a place to enjoy its exquisite seafood cuisine and its historic medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for the intense blue adorning its doors. The ‘GOT’ producers chose this idyllic location to recreate the slaver city of Astapor, where the legend of the ‘Mother of Dragons’ was forged.
Already immersed in the essence of the Arabian Nights, you can continue experiencing a cinematic adventure in one of the country’s most filmed settings: the desert. A twelve-hour journey separates Marrakech from the mysterious Zagora Desert. This thrilling and unique route allows you to traverse the arid and lofty Atlas Mountains, the range that divides the Maghreb in half. A unique and unforgettable landscape, winding through narrow and curvy roads that caress the mountain range and reveal a new world dotted with adobe villages, kasbahs, and pre-Saharan oases.
Along the way, you can stop in the impressive adobe city of Ouarzazate with its imposing Taourirt Kasbah. Film lovers will discover here the crown jewel: the Atlas Corporation Studios, where countless films and series sets are located, including some scenes from the third season of ‘Game of Thrones’. Here you breathe the life of the desert, the daily life of the Berbers and the people who inhabit this curious corner of the planet. Very close by is the imposing fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, also a setting for countless movies like ‘Gladiator’ and, of course, some shots from the third season of ‘GOT’. A World Heritage Site, this iconic ksar was used as the city of Yunkai in the series, one of the Slave Bay cities that Daenerys Targaryen conquers in the third season.
The epic dimension of the production of ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘House of the Dragon’ knows no bounds. Its producers spared no effort in choosing real locations that would bring authenticity and spectacular visual impact to the series’ narrative. In this article, we have painted a glimpse of some of the destinations related to this superproduction, though there are many more. If you want to discover them, do not hesitate to plan your cinematic adventure with friends at screenbie. The success of this television phenomenon has crossed borders and exceeded all expectations. While there is no confirmation about new seasons of the series, for now, the ‘GOT’ universe continues to pulse in ‘House of the Dragon‘, whose first season premiered in August 2022.
