The Tower of Joy played a pivotal role in Season 6-in fact, the entire season felt like build-up to one big tower-bound reveal: Who, exactly, would Ned Stark find inside? The answer, of course, was his sister Lyanna, whose secret marriage to Rhaegar Targaryan turned out to have spawned both Robert’s Rebellion and-gasp!-the possibly-future-king Jon Snow. We’re sure to see more of the harbor as Theon sets out to rescue his sister from bad-boy (no, we mean really -bad-boy) uncle Euron.
The rocky coastline of Northern Ireland’s Ballintoy Harbour, in County Antrim, body-doubles for the Iron Islands, home to the Greyjoy family and the Iron Fleet. Iron Islands: Ballintoy Harbour, Northern Ireland The castle is open for both guided and non-guided tours, and its hilltop perch will give you panoramic views of the Cordovan countryside. To get a longer look at the place IRL, head to Castillo de Almodóvar del Río near Córdoba. Home to House Tyrell (what’s left of it, anyway), Highgarden made a brief appearance in Season 7, shortly before the Lannisters took over in an offscreen battle. Highgarden: Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, Spain You can take guided tours of the amphitheater, and while you won’t see any dragons or kidnapped wights, the site’s 2,200-year-old groundwork will leave you nearly as awestruck. The iconic scene was filmed in the Roman ruins of Itálica near Seville. The climax of Season 7 (make that one of the climaxes-the season was pretty thrilling) took place in King’s Landing Dragonpit, where Cersei, Tyrion, Jon Snow, and Daenerys finally, finally met. The fight scene was filmed in the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Thingvellir National Park, where you'll find the Silfra Fissure, a famous (and very cold) snorkeling and scuba diving site.
Giving new meaning to fiercely protective, Brienne and the Hound faced off in an epic battle over Arya against a backdrop of jagged mountains and cliffs. Courtesy of HBOīrienne and the Hound's battleground: Thingvellir National Park, Iceland In fact, the peak is one of the most photographed spots in Iceland and a popular place to view the Northern Lights. The mountain’s real-life counterpart-Kirkjufell in eastern Iceland-isn’t nearly as foreboding, but is just as impressive. When Arrowhead Mountain finally appeared in Episode 6, they knew things were about to get real stressful, real quick. set out in search of a capture-able White Walker. In season 7, knowing that the Army of the Dead’s HQ was somewhere near “a mountain that looks like an arrowhead,” Jon Snow and co. Find the real-life shorelines (minus the impossibly handsome dragonglass-mining kings, alas) at Itzurus Beach in Spain’s Basque Country, about 30 miles east of Bilbao. The island’s profile rose with the discovery of the local dragonglass-aka one of only two substances that can kill White Walkers. Near the end of Season 7’s first episode, Daenerys arrived at Dragonstone with Tyrion and her growing army of Dothraki and Unsullied warriors. Courtesy of HBOĭragonstone: Itzurun Beach Zumaia, Spain The exterior is easily recognized by its circular, sloped walls-the ones that so confused Daenerys and Jorah as they searched for the entrance. Aside from offering some of the best views of the old city (hi, King’s Landing!), the tower served as the House of the Undying in Qarth during Season 2. Minčeta Tower is the highest point along Dubrovnik’s walls. If you’re not caught up, proceed with caution! House of the Undying: Minčeta Tower Dubrovnik, Croatia Warning: Spoilers for seasons 1 through 7 ahead.
So before HBO airs the big premiere this Sunday night, take a break between binges on seasons 1 through 7 to feast your eyes on something different: 25 of the most notable filming locations across the Seven Kingdoms. The best part: You can visit almost all of the show’s backdrops. As Game of Thrones gears up for its eighth and final season, we have many questions: Who will win the war between the living and the dead? Is Jon Snow going to take the Iron Throne? What inevitably ghastly scheme does Cersei have up her sleeve? And, most of all, what glorious new filming locations will we get to see? For the past 8 years, tons of real-world locations have starred as King’s Landing, Braavos, Dorne, and countless Westerosi estates.