Here’s your ultimate Game of Thrones travel guide across Europe

Dorne - Castle of Zafra, Spain

What the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) film trilogy did for New Zealand tourism, HBO's Game of Thrones series is all set to do for Croatia and Northern Ireland.

While LOTR director Peter Jackson found scenic Nirvana in New Zealand: Tongariro National Park was where the desolate landscapes of Mordor was recreated, and the 2,000-year-old conical Mount Ngauruhoe was the inspiration for Mount Doom, GoT showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss scouted for locations as diverse as Malta, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, and Morocco to bring alive the wide-ranging universe of the Seven Kingdoms.

From fictional to picturesque, these 10 Game of Thrones settings can be toured in real life. AD shows you the way.

KING'S LANDING | LOCATION: CROATIA

Seaside Dubrovnik in Croatia is the perfect location for King's Landing and it has featured since Season 2. The city walls appear frequently, most notably, in the opening episode of GoT Season 3, where Tyrion, Bronn and Podrick inspect the damage from the Battle of Blackwater Bay.

The narrow alleys around St Dominika Street, in the heart of the Old City, were used extensively for portray the markets of King's Landing in GoT. Dubrovnik's Ethnographic Museum, meanwhile, becomes a brothel in GoT Season 4.

Hotel Belvedere: This abandoned hotel, closed to the public, is where Gregor Clegane fights Oberyn Martell—resulting in one of the grisliest deaths in the whole show.

Stradun: Cersei's walk of penance takes place down this long street in the Old City. The nearby Rector's Palace also appears in the series.

WINTERFELL & THE NORTH | LOCATION: NORTHERN IRELAND

Carncastle: Ned Stark gives us an early glimpse of his firm principals by beheading a deserter at Knock Dhu, a basalt escarpment above the town of Cairncastle, County Antrim.

Castle Ward: In the first episode of Game of Thrones, the 16th century clock tower and courtyard at Castle Ward, County Down, fills in for the ancestral home of the Starks. Visitors to the attraction can embark on a Westeros Cycle Trail, touring several other key locations.

Tollymore Forest Park: Haunted Forest, Winterfell: The Stark clan finds their beloved direwolves at this picturesque forest park in the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

THE WALL & BEYOND

Akureyri, Lake Myvat: Filming takes place around this lake, near the town of Akureyri; Marce Rayder's wildling army is seen here in GoT Season 3.

Grjótagjá: This cave near Lake Mývatn, which houses a thermal spring, is where Jon Snow and Ygritte sleep together in Season 3. It is a popular attraction where visitors can bathe in the warm waters.

Skaftafell: Producers made do with artificial snow in GoT Season 1, but ventured to Iceland for scenes beyond The Wall thereafter, with the Svínafellsjökull glacier near Skaftafell featuring prominently.

Vik: The Höfðabrekkuheiði hiking area near Vik, on Iceland's south coast, also appears as the frozen wastes of northern Westeros. The Mýrdalsjökull glacier becomes the Fist of the First Men.

THE IRON ISLANDS

Ballintoy Harbour: The small town of Ballintoy, close to Giant's Causeway on the North Antrim coast, is used for exterior shots of Pyke, capital of the Iron Islands. It is seen upon Theon Greyjoy's return from Winterfell in GoT.

Murlough Bay: This remote spot, with views towards Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre, appears thrice in the GoT series. It is where Theon Greyjoy rides with his sister in GoT Season 3, where Davos Seaworth is shipwrecked after the Battle of Blackwater Bay, and where Tyrion and Jaime Lannister are seized by slavers.

THE RIVERLANDS AND THE VALE OF ARRYN | LOCATIONS: ICELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND

IcelandThingvellir National Park: The Eyrie: The pass to the impregnable Eyrie is actually found in the Thingvellir National Park, not far from Reykjavik.

Northern IrelandPollnagollum Cave for Hollow Hill, The Riverlands: The exterior of this cave, part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark in County Fermanagh, appears as Beric Dondarrion hideout in GoT Season 3.

Glenariff for Vale of Arryn: Littlefinger and Sansa Stark watch Robin Arryn's dismal swordsmanship at the 'Queen of the Glens', surrounded by waterfalls and walking trails.

River Quoile for Riverrun: Robb Stark's army need to cross this river in GoT Season 1, prompting a fateful bargain with Walder Frey.

Audley's Field & Castle and Strangford Lough for the Riverland and The Twins: Robb Stark's camp in GoT Season 2 is actually this spot by Strangford Lough, while a ruined medieval tower (with a little CGI assistance) was transformed into The Twins. Visitors can explore the area as part of the Westeros Cycle Trail, which starts at Castle Ward.

SLAVER'S BAY | LOCATIONS: SPAIN, MOROCCO, CROATIA

SpainOsuna: The town's bullring, still in use, appears as the fighting pit of Meereen. This is an hour's journey from Seville.

Peniscola: This town in the province of Castellón will also be seen in GoT Season 6 as Meereen.

MoroccoEssaouira for Astapour: This seaside spot, visited by Jimi Hendrix, is where Daenerys meets her loyal Unsullied for the first time. They are paraded atop the town's ramparts.

Aït Benhaddou for Pentos/ Yunkai: Daenerys' battle with the Second Sons takes place in this recognisable city, along a former caravan route, as the backdrop. It also appears as Pentos in earlier scenes.

CroatiaFortress of Klis for Meereen: This medieval fortress near Split, built into the rock, appears in exterior shots of Meereen. It is here that Daenerys takes revenge on the city's rulers by nailing dozens of them to crosses.

Baška Voda for Yunkai/ Meereen: Daenerys pets her dragons in the opening episode of season four overlooking this town, a few miles from the seaside resort of Makarska. Mount Mosor, the range near Split, also appears in the series.

Diocletian's Palace, Split for Meereen: Much of Split's historic centre consists of this former fortress, a World Heritage Site built in the 3rd century. It becomes the city of Meereen in season four and is the site of Daenerys' throne room.

DOTHRAKI SEA | LOCATIONS: NORTHERN IRELAND, SPAIN, MALTA

Northern IrelandBinevenagh Mountain: One of the final scenes of season five, when Daenerys finds her wounded dragon, was shot atop this lofty summit.

Shillanavogy Valley: This picturesque valley is the spot, across the Narrow Sea, where Daenerys married Khal Drogo.

SpainBardenas Reales: Scenes featuring the Dothraki Sea in GoT Season 6 have reportedly been shot in these badlands in southeast Navarre.

Malta Mtahleb Valley: The burning of Drogo's funeral pyre, where Daenerys truly becomes Queen of Dragons, was filmed here.

Manikata: The small town stars as the Lhazareen village, home to Mirri Maz Duur that is raided by the Dothraki.

DORNE AND THE REACH | LOCATIONS: NORTHERN IRELAND AND SPAIN

Northern IrelandPortstewart Strand: Jaime Lannister and Bronn, his hired muscle, fight and kill some Dornish soldiers on their way to the Water Gardens by this gorgeous beach.

SpainGirona for Oldtown, on the west coast of Westeros, as well as Braavos. Expect to see Girona Cathedral, the old Jewish Quarter and the Arab Baths.

Casatell de Santa Florentina: This 11th century castle in Canet de Mar, Catalonia, was transformed into House Tarly's home castle, just outside of Oldtown, during GoT Season 6.

Casa Cundaro in historic old town, old home renovated in the Jewish Quarter next to a cathedral.

Castle of Zafra: This 12th or 13th century castle transformed into the Tower of Joy, in the Red Mountains of Dorne, during GoT Season 6.

Dorne – Castle of Zafra, Spain

Alcázar of Seville: Sunspear, the capital of Dorne, and its Water Gardens, are really the glorious Alcázar of Seville. The UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

QUARTH | LOCATION: CROATIA

Trogir: St. Dominic Monastery in Trogir, around 10 miles west of Split, also portrays Qarth in GoT Season 2.

Minčeta Tower: Dubrovnik's highest point appears in wide shots of King's Landing, but also as the exterior of the mysterious House of the Undying in Qarth.

Lokrum Island: This small island off the coast of Dubrovnik, home to a monastery and gardens, was the location of the party in Qarth where Daenerys meets the city's elite. Legend has it that Richard the Lionheart stayed here in the 12th century. It is open to the public.

THE FREE CITIES | LOCATIONS: SPAIN, CROATIA, MOROCCO

SpainCordoba: Cordoba's Roman bridge, built in the 1st century BC, becomes the Long Bridge of Volantis, former home of Talisa Stark, née Maegyr.

Morocco (not been back since season 3)Aït Benhaddou: Daenerys' battle with the Second Sons takes place with this recognisable city, along a former caravan route, as the backdrop. It also appeared as Pentos in earlier scenes.

Ouarzazate: Ouarzazate, which also appeared in Gladiator, become the port of Pentos for Game of Thrones.

CroatiaSibenik: Another historic Croatian seaside city, Sibenik is used for exterior shots of Braavos.

Kastel Gomilica: A small town a few miles from Split, it is where Arya Stark is seen selling oysters from a hand cart.

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Source: Here's your ultimate Game of Thrones travel guide across Europe