A Tour Of Ice And Fire: Itineraries Highlight Game Of Thrones’ Seven Kingdoms

For those obsessed with HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire”–you’re not alone. So much so that several tour companies have created itineraries based on the show’s fictional continent of Westeros.

Europe serves as the setting for the Seven Kingdoms—scenes for the show are filmed in Iceland, Ireland, Spain and Croatia, using cities, landmarks and UNESCO Heritage Sites as a backdrop.

Scenes “beyond the wall,” where the Night’s Watch battle it out with White Walkers and Wildlings, are filmed in Iceland. In Croatia, the fortress city of Dubrovnik, with its Venetian gothic architecture and marble-paved renaissance squares, serves as King’s Landing, Qarth and Slaver’s Bay.

Seville, Spain, has been frequently used as the setting for Dorne with its Plaza de Toros, an active bullfighting ring, appearing in the show as Meereen’s fighting pit. Interior scenes are filmed in Northern Ireland, with sound stages in Belfast doubling as Winterfell, Castle Black, the High Hall of the Eyrie and the Great Sept of Baelor.

Insight Vacations
On its 10-day Natural Wonders of Iceland itinerary, guests will tour the Snæfellsjökull National Park. Krka and Dubrovnik, Croatia, can be seen on Country Roads of Croatia, Eastern Capitals and the Dalmatian Riviera, Treasures of the Balkans and Dalmatian Elegance.

Guests on Insight’s Highlights of Spain tour will see Seville’s Dornish architecture first-hand. On Country Roads of Ireland, the Emerald Isle’s landscape and castles make guests feel as if they’ve in the heart of Westeros.

Brendan Vacations
Brendan’s eight-day Home of Thrones tour, a self-drive adventure through Northern Ireland, explores the real-life Westeros with caves, castles, forests and the famous Dark Hedges, which was used as the location for the Kingsroad. 

Northern Ireland Tourist Board
The three-day Discover Westeros tour includes stops at Castle Ward, better known as the Stark’s home, Winterfell; Ballintoy Harbour, the setting to a pivotal scene for Theon Greyjoy in season two; and the Dark Hedges, which is featured during Arya Stark’s escape from King’s Landing with Yoren of the Night’s Watch.

Collette
The tour operator provides a 12-day Discover Croatia tour with Thrones highlights. Travelers will spend three nights in Dubrovnik—the official setting for King’s Landing. It’s also were scenes such as the sea battle at Blackwater, where Stannis Baratheon attempts to dethrone King Joffrey, and the fight scene between the Hound and Prince Oberyn were filmed.

Gogo Vacations
Gogo offers three Thrones-themed tours The Game of Thrones – Self Drive Tour, a seven-night itinerary that goes through Dublin, Ireland; the Storm Hotel – Reykjavik Vacation Package; and the Sun Gardens Dubrovnik – Vacation Package, through Croatia.

Pleasant Holidays
On the Live Like A Lord, Game of Thrones seven-day itinerary, travelers will arrive in Dublin and visit locations from the series such as Downpatrick, home to Castle Ward; the northeast shores of Lough Neagh; the village of Ballygally to visit Carincastle; and Glenarm on the north Antrim coastline.

Cruise Compete
The group’s Game of Thrones Location Tour takes guests on a tour of Northern Ireland, visiting locations such as Carncastle, the Cushenem Caves and the Giant’s Causeway. The tour features a guide to share information about the series, including an introduction to Carncastle, the location where Ned Stark beheaded a deserter from the Night’s Watch. The private tour then takes guests to Larrybane, Storm’s End in the series, where the famed Carrick-a-Rede is located.