If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones and want to keep the experience alive, then have a look at this great international itinerary covering three countries!
At a Glance
Location(s): Iceland, Ireland, and Croatia
Length: 14 to 16 days
Best Time: Spring, Summer, or early Fall
Extra Tips: During this time Iceland won’t be as as snow covered so travelers will have to imagine the harsh northern weather. Many of the locations actually close during the wintery months. A rental car will be needed during for the Iceland and Ireland leg of this trip.
Introduction
Adventuring to the world of Westeros is a must and planning a trip revolving this famed show has been popular amongst travelers for some time. With various filming locations across the globe, it is important to properly plan a route that captures the essential locations. This planned journey will take you beyond the wall, through Westeros, and even to the free cities. You will be able to step into this fantastical world and all you need is a plane ticket.
Iceland
To travel beyond the wall, our starting point is Iceland, the country of ice and fire. The Game of Thrones series actually filmed in many locations all over Iceland, so I aim to point out some of the best spots that make sense for a four day excursion. With that being said, there is already tons of material out there highlighting these filming locations so feel free to make it your own. In fact, there are many guided tours that will take you to almost all of the locations.
To start our journey, you will have to fly into Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport which is just outside the capital, Reykjavik. The arrival process is well organized and once you gather your belongings you will be ushered towards the exit area of the airport where you will have to purchase a shuttle bus ticket to Reykjavik. I always suggest spending a day in a major city to accustom yourself with the culture and acclimate to any jet lag that might be hanging over you.
Reykjavik is a pristine city with a small European feel. This city offers many great landmark sites along with eye-catching street art. Some of the most memorable sites include Hallsgrímskirkja, the iconic church which overlooks the city. In front of the church, you will also find a statue of Leif Eriksson, the famed adventurer. The next must see site is the Sun Voyager or Sólfar which is a steel structure that resembles a Viking long ship that overlooks the Icelandic waters.
After taking your time to appreciate the city, it’s time to truly dive into the world of Westeros. Make sure to rent a car as you will need one to journey to each location. I picked three locations that are epic and are key to creating your own journey beyond the wall. If you were to drive straight from Reykjavik to the final location near Hof it would take almost five hours. My suggestion would be to plan two days for this excursion so that you may take your time and really enjoy each site. I recommend making two stops on the way in and one stop on the return trip to Reykjavik.
The first stop will take you to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon which is about 3 hours and 30 minutes from Reykjavik. At this location, we saw Jon Snow take his first flight with Daenerys during season 8. This majestic canyon is a vibrant green in the spring and summer months with the river Fjaðrá flowing through it. As you stand there overlooking the breathtaking views you’ll understand why this spot was chosen by the producers. Nothing less than picturesque.
The final stop for the day brings you to Svínafellsjökull, a major glacier right off Ring Road. This ice giant is featured many times in Game of Thrones and maybe one of the more iconic scenes where Jon Snow captures Ygritte and they are forced to sleep out on the iceberg surface. Finish off your evening at one of the nearby hotels located in Hof where you can properly reflect on your time north of the wall.
The third day involves making your way back to Reykjavik but before that there is one final spot to visit before departing beyond the wall. Reynisfjara Beach is located just outside of the fishing village, Vik. This black sand beach really brings the ominous presence of the north to life. It’ll provide you the opportunity to brood just like Jon Snow as the waves crash. This location served as the set for Eastwatch by the Sea. Now, if this wasn’t enough adventure north of the wall be sure to check out the finding the universe blog here where they capture each Icelandic filming location with great detail.
Belfast, Ireland
On the fourth day, it is time to head to Belfast which was used as a main filming location for Game of Thrones. The town of Belfast has even centered some of their tourism around visiting film locations meaning it is already well mapped. The proximity between Reykjavik and Belfast are a lot closer than you would expect but there are no direct flights. Most of the layovers take you to Heathrow airport in London. The price of this flight looks to be around 300 dollars. I would recommend around two days here; one day to enjoy Belfast and another to follow one of the tours laid out by the town.
Belfast is a bustling port city in Northern Ireland and is where the infamous Titanic was built. There are tons of titanic attractions around the city, such as Titanic Belfast if you wanted to take a break from living your Game of Thrones dreams and dive into some history. Another significant landmark of the city is the Belfast Castle providing a charming backdrop for any photo op. Relax and enjoy this city while you prepare yourself for another roadtrip.
The next day involves following one of Belfast’s own Game of Thrones routes that involves Castle Ward, Inch Abbey, and Tollymore Forest Park. If you were always House Stark then this part of the journey is for you. Castle Ward was the original site for Winterfell. You might even feel like part of the stark family as you stroll through the castle grounds. The Tollymore Forest Park was where we first saw the legendary white walkers and where the Starks found their Direwolves. Meanwhile, Inch Abbey was set for the crucial location of one of Robb Stark’s camping locations while he led his northern army against the throne. Be sure check out the Belfast website here for more details on this route as well as other routes you can follow that feature other famous game of thrones sites.
Split, Croatia
It’s time to trade in the cold and gloominess of the North for the bright and sunny side of Westeros with our final stop to Split, Croatia. Dubrovnik is also a main filming location for Game of Thrones and was used many times to lay the setting of King’s Landing. For the sake of time and ease I decided on Split but a Dubrovnik leg of the trip can always be added. The flight from Belfast will set you back around 200 dollars through Easyjet with a layover in Gatwick.
Split is a gorgeous coastal city sitting right on the Adriatic Sea. Here you will find vibrant blue waters and ancient roman architecture. It is no wonder why parts of this city were chosen for Daenerys’ time in the free cities. The first location that is a must would be Diocletian’s Palace. This palace is considered an UNESCO World Heritage built by the ancient Roman emperor, Diocletian. Here, you will find the throne room of Daenerys where she held her growing court. You will be able to look up the steps that led to her very throne. You will also find the dark dragon hold where a fearful Mother of Dragons imprisoned her children for fear of further damage they might cause.
Just outside of the city, you will find the fortress of Klis which was a staple in Daenerys’ freeing of the slave city Mereen. The iconic scene where the queen exacts her revenge on the slavers is filmed at this location. But while this location was crucial for filming it was also crucial during the Medieval era in which this fortress was used as a strategic point to defend this area from invaders.
This itinerary covers a long spell of land including various parts of Westeros and even across the Narrow Sea into Essos. With that being said, there are far more filming locations not included within this itinerary. It is my hope that it will inspire you to take some of these ideas and make it your own.
Original travel article:
https://sparkedtravel.com/game-of-thrones/
Published March 2022
All images from www.sparkedtravel.com
