Take a Game Of Thrones pilgrimage to all of the best new and old filming locations in the upcoming series
Game of Thrones is back with seven new set locations in Spain - here’s how to visit them all, plus the old favourites in Ireland, Iceland and Croatia
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WINTER is coming early this year, as Game of Thrones returns to our screens at 2am next Monday.
Season seven of the wildly popular show is just seven episodes long but promises to be overflowing with just as much gore, sex and intrigue as ever.
As well as new plot lines, the HBO series will feature seven dramatic new locations in Spain in addition to old favourites in Ireland, Iceland and Croatia.
At the end of the last season, winter finally arrived in the fictional world of Westeros, so the TV studios needed a slightly colder climate for many of their scenes.
This meant that filming in the real world had to be pushed back to later in the year, when shooting in Spain could look appropriately gloomy.
For the first time, production moved to the colder, northern coast of Spain, around the province of Biscay, where the churning Atlantic ocean should help add to the murky new tone to the show.
New castles, a medieval island hermitage and boulder-strewn national parks all make an appearance as eye-catching backdrops to the drama unfolding on screen.
As in other years, some filming was also done in Croatia, where the city of Dubrovnik, aka King's Landing, has become a popular tourist destination for GOT fans, as well as Ireland and Iceland - both set to feature heavily in the latest series.
For many fans, watching the TV show isn't enough though - they have to go and recreate the scenes where the magic happened.
To help, we’ve listed seven of the new filming locations that you can visit in Spain, as well as seven memorable spots from previous seasons.
Season seven's new Game of Thrones shooting locations
1. Gaztelugatxe, Biscay, Spain
A wind-battered island in the churning Atlantic housing an old monastery that can only be reached by an ancient double-arched stone bridge.
It’s not hard to see why the location scouts picked this place, and camera crews were spotted filming on the island in October.
While little is known about what scenes were shot on the island - it won’t take much CGI to make this dramatic location look like a place in Westeros.
Unfortunately for holidaymakers, there’s no way you’ll get a room in the ancient monastery, but a few miles inland is the peaceful Hotel-Apartmento Rural Atxurra in the Urdaibai Natural Park.
2. Itzurun Beach, Biscay, Spain
The name already sounds like a Game of Thrones location and this dramatic seaside spot with its strange sedimentary rock patterns certainly looks the part.
Rumoured to be the landing spot for Daenerys Targaryen’s invasion fleet, the dramatic coastline at Itzurun beach is a surfer's hot spot thanks to the barreling Atlantic waves.
Located nea the tiny fishing village of Zumaia, the beach is a great spot to visit, especially in the summer months.
Just 13.7 miles from the popular surf spot of San Sebastián, Zumaia is full of campsites with cliff top sea views.
Stay at Camping and Bungalows Zumaia
3. Seville Royal Dockyards, Seville, Spain
Seville has already served a stand in for the Water Gardens of Dorne (more about that below) and is returning in season seven at the Seville Royal Dockyards or Reales Atarazanas de Sevilla.
The catacomb archways of the dockyards interior are likely to be featured in season 7 - they look like the perfect location for a secret GOT meeting or an assassination attempt.
Close to the dockyards is the Hotel Derby Sevilla, a perfect base to explore the old city that is currently offering 33 per cent off.
4. Italica Ruins, Seville, Spain
This Roman amphitheatre has seen its fair share of real life gore over the years and now it’s rumoured to have been used for one of Game of Thrones’ signature bloody fights in the new series.
The birthplace of three emperors and one of the earliest Roman settlements in Spain, the Roman city sits just outside the village of Santiponce.
We’d bet there’s a good chance we’ll be watching a death or two among the crumbling ruins over the next few weeks.
5. Castle of Almodóvar del Río, Cordoba, Spain
Towering over the town of Cordoba, the Castle of Almodovar del Rio is one of Andalusia’s best preserved historical buildings.
With architecture dating back to the Middle Ages, rumours have it that this imposing structure will be used as Highgarden, the seat of House Tyrell.
For cheap and comfortable stay while you explore the castle on a hill, why not try the trendy NH
6. Caceres, Extremadura, Spain
The historic city of Mdina in Malta and Dubrovnik in Croatia have both been used as sets for King’s Landing.
Now it looks like the World Heritage City of Caceres might have its turn.
With its cobbled stairways, stone walls and city battlements - it’s a great location for the last stand of evil queen Cersei.
Trujillo Castle is also favoured as the main suspect to feature in the seventh season as Casterly Rock.
Visit Casterly Rock and King’s Landing in one go with a stay in Caceres at the 5* Hospes Palacio de Arenales and Spa
7. Los Barruecos Natural Park, Cáceres, Spain
A large water scene was filmed away from prying eyes in the seclusion of Los Barruecos Natural Park.
With a 500 extras and 100 horses involved, it's safe to assume a massive battle took place against the backdrop of the park’s giant granite boulders and lakes.
Another great spot for catching wave, why not try out nearby based on two people sharing.
Seven classic Game of Thrones shooting locations
While there are plenty of exciting new locations for Game Of Thrones fans to explore,it's important not to forget the natural wonders that featured in the first six series.
Iceland, Ireland and Croatia have all seen a flurry of visitors after each of the series has aired.
We've compiled a list of some of the favourite filming locations among fans below...
1. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, Croatia is a picturesque city on the Mediterranean coast and perfect for filming scenes by the sea.
The terracotta roofs of the houses are shown in the show as characters look over the city, while matriarch Olenna Tyrell’s secluded quarters were also right by the sea in Dubrovnik.
The Mineeta Tower - the highest point in the city - was also used as the walls of the House Of The Undying.
Why not immerse yourself in luxury, Lannister-style, at the 5* Admiral Grand Hotel in Dubrovnik, for seven nights half board .
2. Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland
The grey towers of Winterfell are pretty bleak and imposing in the show – whether they’re run by Ramsay Bolton or Jon and Sansa.
In reality though, they’re located in County Down, Northern Ireland, where it can be a lot greener and sunnier than it seems on the show.
The castle scenes are filmed at the Castle Ward, while the haunted forest where the Starks find their direwolves is in the nearby Tollymore Forest Park.
Explore “The North” this summer at a based on two people sharing
3. Magheramorne Quarry, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Castle Black and the Wall are filmed at the abandoned Magheramorne Quarry in Northern Ireland.
There’s a lot of CGI involved in these scenes, as the Wall is 700 feet tall and 300 miles long – much bigger than the quarry – so producers need to edit their footage a lot.
Nonetheless, the site in County Antrim has been a key feature of the hit show for a long time.
Beyond the Wall, the snowy landscapes full of white walkers and wildlings are shot in Iceland, using some of Europe’s biggest glaciers to conjure up the deserted snowy landscape.
If you fancy visiting the wall, then Booking.com have a great deal on Leafield House, a top rated guesthouse with breakfast included .
4. Ait-Ben-Haddou Village, Morocco
Slaver’s Bay is a vast area including three great “Slaver Cities” so it’s no surprise a lot of different locations make up the filming location.
The city of Yunkai was filmed at the red citadel of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco, and Yunkai’s neighbouring city Astapor was filmed in Essaouira in Morocco, a UNESCO world heritage site.
Both locations were CGIed to transform them into the cities we see on the show, but are pretty spectacular in their own right.
Why not watch the stars over the desert sky from the terrace of Paradise of Silence in Ait-Ben-Haddou where a bed and breakfast stay in will .
5. The Alcazar of Seville, Seville, Spain
For the fifth season of Game of Thrones, Dorne was also filmed at a UNESCO world heritage site - The Alcazar of Seville.
Standing in for Dorne’s capital city, Sunspear, and its Water Gardens, The Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace in Seville, Andalusia, Spain, originally developed by Moorish Muslim kings.
The incredible complex has seven hectares of gardens and seventeen thousand square meters of building
Located in the heart of old town Seville, the Hostal La Casa de La Luna based on two people sharing. Perfect for exploring the old town’s incredible architecture.
6. Downhill Strand, Northern Ireland
In season two Stannis Baratheon burns his old gods at one of the longest beaches in Northern Ireland, Downhill Strand, which is seven miles long.
In real life it’s overlooked by tiny Mussenden Temple though, rather than the huge castle at Dragonstone.
If you fancy a stroll along the iconic beach then why not visit the small town of Castlerock on the east end of Downhill Strand. Studio Apartment Castlerock based on two people sharing.
7. Grjotagja Cave, Akureyri, Iceland
The snowy landscapes full of white walkers and wildlings beyond the wall are shot in Iceland, using some of Europe’s biggest glaciers to conjure up the deserted snowy landscape.
Producers had to make do with artificial snow in season one but mother nature has delivered the goods ever since.
Perhaps the most memorable spot is Grjotagja, a small lava cave near lake Mývatn with a thermal spring inside, where Jon Snow and Ygritte sleep together in season three.
Accommodation is a little more expensive north of the wall in real life.
A visit to Elda Apartments on a bed and breakfast basis costs from .