While

While
conversations among friends, family, colleagues and even
strangers may no longer revolve around who will kill the Night King
or who will sit on the Iron Throne, it’s clear that the Game of
Thrones legend will stand the test of time.

As reluctant hands exchange money from bets and sweepstakes, and
fans mourn the end of what can only be called the greatest TV show
of all time, there’s two ways to soothe the tears, grief – and, in
many cases, severe disappointment – caused by the series’ finale.
Option one is to rewatch the entire series from the beginning; the
other is to visit these Game of Thrones filming locations and
recreate the magic of the last eight years.

1. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Much of the GoT action was filmed in Croatia’s ancient city of
Dubrovnik. The walled capital became the set of King’s Landing,
home to the Lannister clan. Wander around the walled capital to
explore the place that saw Tyrion transform from a brothel-going,
drunken outcast to a revered Hand of the King, the city that saw
Cersei shamed and paraded naked through the streets (those being
from Dubrovnik’s St. Dominic Street to Ploče Gate ), and the city
that Daenerys… don’t worry, no season eight spoilers here.

2. Castle Ward, River Quoile and Tollymore Forest Park,
Northern Ireland

Several different locations were filmed throughout Ireland and
Northern Ireland. Head to Castle Ward to see where parts of
Winterfell were shot, or River Quoile to see the ancient castle of
Riverrun. Nearby, Tollymore Forest Park in the foothills of the
Mourne Mountains is where the Haunted Forest was set, where Ned
Stark first found the direwolf puppies, and where Ramsay Bolton
chases poor Theon (back in the days of Reek). Speaking of the
ironborn, the Greyjoy’s home can be found at Ballintoy Harbour and
Dunluce Castle.

3. Seville, Spain

The majestic palace that is Alcázar of Seville starred as the
Water Gardens of Dorne, home to Oberyn Martell, Ellaria Sand and
the deadly Sand Snakes. Roam the lush gardens where Ellaria stabs
Doran Martell, and the young romance of Trystane Martell and
Myrcella Baratheon blossomed among the flowers.

Just outside of Seville, the ancient Roman city of Italica,
birthplace of emperors Trajan and Hadrian, served as the setting
for the Wight Walker reveal to Cersei by Jon Snow, Daenerys and
Tyrion in the season seven finale.

4. Stirling, Scotland

The Stark’s ancestral home, Winterfell, with its snowy turrets
and many towers have been integral to the GoT plot since Jaime
Lannister first pushed Bran out of the tower window. Since then,
epic scenes from The Battle of the Bastards and much-anticipated
Long Night have taken place at Winterfell. In the district of
Stirling in Scotland, the medieval Doune Castle starred as
Winterfell’s original, legendary exterior.

5. Sibenik and Krka, Croatia

A short boat trip from Dubrovnik, the island of Sibenik – known
as the gateway to the Kornati Islands – was the setting for Braavos
and the Iron Bank. Stop by St Jacob Cathedral to admire Westeros’
wealthiest bank, dating back to 15th century and elaborately
decorated with 71 sculpted, stone faces. From there zip across to
Krka, where the lakes, rivers and waterfalls of the national park
were transformed into the Westeros Riverlands.

6. Navarre, Spain

The arid countryside of Bardenas Reales in Navarre, northern
Spain, stars as the Dothraki Sea, where the Mother of Dragons was
held prisoner. Explore Navarre, a medieval Basque kingdom dotted
with remote villages, including the city of Pamplona, and trek
through Bardenas Reales, a wild Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

7. Lake Mývatn & Grjótagjá caves, Iceland

Jon Snow and Ygritte’s short-lived romance is one of Game of
Throne’s best. The fictional couple – now married in the real world
– first slept together north of The Wall, in Iceland’s geothermal
Grjótagjá caves. While we wouldn’t recommend re-enacting this
particular scene, the natural phenomenon is well worth a visit. The
caves are located in Lake Mývatn, near the town of Akureyri and
Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull. The lake is where Mance
Rayder and the wildlings camped while Jon and Ygritte disappeared
into the caves.

8. Girona, Spain

It’s pretty much impossible not to love Samwell Tarly. The
bumbling best pal of Jon Snow made his way to the Great Sept of
Baelor in King’s Landing with dreams of becoming a Maester (Gilly
and little Sam in tow). Girona’s Monastery of Sant Pere de
Galligants provided the setting for the grand library, where Sam
and Gilly first discover Jon’s true heritage. Head to Girona’s
Cathedral to climb the steps where Jaime arrived in the nick of
time to save Queen Margaery from her walk of atonement.

9. Castellón, Spain

Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals,
Dragonstone and Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the
Unburnt, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons… while Dany’s
title as The Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of
the Realm may seem extreme, many followed and believed in her,
including Tyrion Lannister and Varys. In the sixth season, the two
men walk through the streets of Meereen, filmed in the charming
coastal town of Peñíscola, Castellón, Spain. Spend days lazing on
the beach or explore the old town and its towering medieval
castle.

10. Essaouira, Morocco

The romance of Grey Worm and Missandei gradually blossomed
throughout eight series. Grey Worm first entered into Daenerys’
service when she meets the Unsullied army for the first time. The
meeting was set in the beautiful seaside city of Essaouira. Amble
through winding streets of the medina and the 18th-century seafront
ramparts of Skala de la Kasbah.

11. Itzurun, Spain

Dragonstone plays an integral part in the last few series of the
show when Daenerys finally returns here in season seven. The
storied, rocky beaches can be found in the Spanish beach of Itzurun
in the coastal town of Zumaia. Visit here for dramatic views and
long walks along the seafront.

12. Ait-Ben-Haddou, Morocco

At the end of series three, Daenerys conquers the city of
Yunkai, freeing the city’s slaves (yass kween) from their vicious
overlords. In the real world, that city is Ait-Ben-Haddou, a mud
brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. If
it looks more familiar than it should from one episode of GOT,
that’s probably because this ancient town has featured in plenty
other big screen productions, including The Mummy and Prince of
Persia (if only Jake Gyllenhaal was still wandering around
shirtless…). Wherever you recognise it from, the UNESCO World
Heritage Site is an impressive scene, and definitely worthy of the
three-hour drive from nearby Marrakech.

13. Murlough Bay, Northern Ireland

If we had to list the top ten most unnerving scenes in the
series so far (there’s undoubtedly more to come), seeing
Melissandre give birth to a shadow demon in a cave would be right
up there. Step into the Cushendun Caves, located at the end of a
narrow road on the east coast of Northern Ireland, and you can just
about imagine it all going down, flickering flames and all. Visit
after dark if you dare.

14. Meteora, Greece

Ok, so you won’t find the actual castle of the Eyre atop these
towering stone cliffs, but they did provide inspiration for the
epic setting of the jaw-dropping castle, and a backdrop for some of
the scenes which took place there (even if they did have to be
digitally added). Disappointment over the fact that the Moon Door
isn’t real aside (errr, no, of course we weren’t thinking of
tossing anyone through), a strenuous hike up to the top of the rock
pillars will reward you with impressive views of the lofty
landscape. If you want to recreate the entire dramatic journey to
the impregnable castle up that narrow path, however, you’ll have to
head back to Iceland and seek out Thingvellir National Park – maybe
that dragon could come in handy after all.

15. Ballymoney, Northern Ireland

It may have only featured in one scene of Season 2, Episode 1,
but this otherworldly tree tunnel called The Dark Hedges would be
worth a road trip even if Arya Stark hadn’t travelled it with
Yoren, Gendry and Hot Pie on her escape from King’s Landing.
Planted over 200 years ago, the row of intertwined beeches lines an
out-of-the-way country lane in Ballymoney, and is even more
picturesque if you can catch it with an early morning mist.
Speaking of early morning, that’s probably the only time of day the
tunnel isn’t filled with bus loads of people (not to mention the
buses they alight from), so we’d suggest getting up before dawn to
see it devoid of tourists.