Throughout the years, the Seven Kingdoms of the world-renowned series “Game of Thrones” have been brought to life in actual real-life locations, grounding the series on a much deeper foreground, which is reality, even with all of its fantastical themes. These shooting locations, these destinations, have gained traction alongside the fame of the show, turning these places into the perfect tourist spots fans, travelers, and the adventurers can head to.
Find your next holiday or leisure vacation destination as you explore the world of Game of Thrones in the real world, where fantasy meets reality:
Castle Ward in Northern Ireland
At the very first season and at the very first episode, Game of Thrones begins in the picturesque Castle Ward in Northern Ireland, with County Down’s castle being the real-life setting of the iconic Winterfell. This destination is also near Tollymore Forest Park where the Starks discover the direwolves, and the fame of this place extends beyond the series and into other great narratives like that of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, which took inspiration from the park.
The Forest Park, with its waterfalls and its 18th-century garden follies, is home to many of Game of Thrones’ episodes, as the crew regularly had their shooting here for the first few seasons.
This is where Bran’s Fall occurred, with Jaime Lannister pushing Bran Stark out of a window after he discovered the affair happening between him and his twin Cersei.
Gradac Park, Croatia
If you’re looking to spend your time in tranquil nature in the incredible country of Croatia, Gradac Park should definitely be on the top of your list. With the destination just being a short walk from the historic Old Town, which is widely known as one of the world’s finest and perfectly preserved medieval cities, the park is home to the Game of Thrones’ Season 4’s Purple Wedding.
The park began its history in 1898 as a nature reserve for people to enjoy just close to the pulsing roads, streets, and life of Old Town. Around the park, any tourist can find benches to sit and relax on, to both enjoy the shade and the beauty of all the preserved nature and views of the park, along with that of the view over Lovrijenac, the sea, and the roofs of the nearby lively town.
In the series, Gradac Park was where the boy king Joffrey met his end by the hands of Lady Olenna Tyrell, through poison during the feast of his wedding, and is also the real-life setting for King’s Landing, capital of the Seven Kingdoms, after the first season, taking over Malta’s Mdina.
Jesuit Staircase, Croatia
photo from: https://www.dubrovnikgameofthronestour.com/jesuit-stairs/
Most of the action that occurred in King’s Landing was situated on the Jesuit Staircase found in Dubrovnik. These elegant Baroque stairs were designed by Pietro Passalacqua and can be likened to the famous Spanish Steps in Rome. Getting there is relatively easy: after taking a right turn from Gunduliceva Poljana, you can already find the staircase going upwards, bringing you to the Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Jesuit College which sits on Uz Jesuite Street.
This religious destination in Dubrovnik, Croatia is where Cersei’s Walk of Shame took place. In season 5, her character was brought to shame when she was forced to swipe through crowds and crowds of people naked, in her birthday suit, from the Sept of Baelor until she reached the Red Keep. All of this began at the top of the Jesuit Staircase of Dubrovnik.
Fort Manoel, Malta
The destination, Fort Manoel, was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John and can be found north west of Valletta. During the reign of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, who was the namesake of the fort, the star fort was designed for both functionality and beauty. It currently commands Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek.
In 1798, the French occupied this fort for a brief moment until the military of Britain took over in 1800, with their possession and control of the fort lasting for a long time, reaching 1964. Though the fort was damaged severely during World War II, it was restored in the early years of the 21st century and is now in great condition. Since 1998, Fort Manoel has been designated on Malta’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all as part of the Knights’ Fortifications around the Malta Harbors.
This bastion fort on Manoel Island in Gżira, Malta, was where fans and watchers of Game of Thrones said their goodbyes to Ned Stark, the hero of the narrative of the series, through the bloody mess after having been slain by a sword by the neck. His death left a sense of lack, that which is the lack of narrative direction, given that he’s the hero. The audience is left wondering how the story will go from there but, just like real life, the narrative went on. The story of Game of Thrones continued.
Mtahleb Valley, Malta
If you’re looking to see the beauty of the Maltese archipelago’s beauty, then Mtahleb Valley should be the first to pop on your mind as you walk the grounds of Malta. This valley, located in Malta’s remote western area four kilometers outside Rabat, is a rural area that’s perfect for taking in the beauty of Mother Nature, from the cliffs to the hillsides that coincide with the great tides and the pathways established those trekking and exploring the area for leisure, photography, and just simply relaxing and enjoying the view.
In the first season of Game of Thrones, specifically episode 10, this is where the birth of the dragon queen happened. As the season finale, Daenerys’ incredible transition from naïf to warrior queen has reached its completion once she emerges naked and with a trio of baby dragons. This specific scene was shot in the picturesque Mtahleb Valley, west of Malta.
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