10 places I dream of visiting in the Game of Thrones world

Writer: Helena Bergström

There are certain fictional worlds that stay with you. For me, Game of Thrones is one such place - not just a story, but an entire universe I want to return to again and again. We are currently watching the whole series from the beginning - for the third time.

And sometimes I can't help but think: what if it were actually possible to travel there? What places would I want to visit?

The three continents - a quick overview

We start with a quick overview of the Game of Thrones world, accompanied by a map.

West: Westeros

This is where everything feels most familiar - a medieval world of castles, kingdoms and families whose fates are intertwined in a constant power play. Reminiscent in reality of Britain, and in the south of Spain.

East: Essos

To the east, the world is getting bigger, warmer and more colourful. Here, trade, culture and conflict meet in a constant state of flux. In reality, it is similar to the rest of Europe and Asia.

South: Sothoryos

The unexplored continent of the south - mysterious, dangerous and almost completely unknown. Reminiscent in reality of Africa.

Westeros - land of power and myth

1st King's Landing

King's Landing is the capital of Westeros and the seat of royal power. Home to the Red Keep and the Iron Throne, it is a city of intrigue, politics and power struggles. Many of the series' most pivotal events - from royal weddings to betrayals - take place here.

I imagine myself standing high up at the Red Keep, looking out over the city. The rooftops are dense, the sea sparkles in the distance, and somewhere down there is all the intrigue. King's Landing is both alluring and terrifying - a city where wealth and misery live side by side.

• Attractions: Red Keep, Throne Room, Sept of Baelor (or the ruins of it), Flea Bottom.
• In reality: Old town in Dubrovnik is the main filming location. The city walls, the Jesuit Staircase (Cersei's “walk of shame”) and Fort Lovrijenac were used for Red Keep.

2. winter fur

Winterfell is the home of the Stark family and the most important castle in the North. It is a place of tradition, honour and loyalty, far from the power games of the capital. The location is central throughout the series and serves as a symbol of home, identity and resistance.

There is something about Winterfell that feels like home. I imagine walking through the courtyard on a chilly morning, the frost still lingering and the warmth of fires seeping out of the massive stone buildings.

• Attractions: The courtyard, the crypts, the godswood with the heart tree.
• In reality: Castle Ward in Northern Ireland was used for exteriors. Doune Castle in Scotland also inspired the series' aesthetic in the first season.

3. The Wall

The Wall is the huge ice wall that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the dangerous north. It is guarded by the Night's Watch at Castle Black. This is where the battle against the threats beyond the Wall, including white walkers and other supernatural dangers, takes place.

I don't know if I would have dared to stand on top of the wall (I'm afraid of heights!), but it's still dizzying to imagine this huge wall rising up against the endless expanses on the other side. The cold, the wind, the silence ...

• Attractions: Castle Black, top of the wall, tunnel through the ice.
• In reality: Inspired by Hadrian's Wall in the UK. Scenes were filmed, among others, at glaciers on Iceland.

4. The land beyond the wall

The area north of the Wall is a wild and uninhabited world where the “wildlings” live free from the rule of kings. Here, the laws of nature prevail, and danger is everywhere. It's also where the greatest threats to humanity emerge.

This is the place seems quite scary to visit. Interesting indeed, but you probably need to have the ”right” guide, or you might have to settle for a trip with the drone anyway ...

• Attractions: Frosty forests, mountain landscapes, wildling camps.
• In reality: Places like Vatnajökull and Thingvellir in Iceland gives exactly that barren feeling.

5. Dragonstone

Dragonstone is a volcanic island and the ancient seat of House Targaryen. It is strongly associated with dragons, fire and legacy - and it serves as a base for Daenerys Targaryen when she returns to Westeros.

I can picture us approaching the island from the sea, the fog lifting to reveal the dramatic silhouette of the castle. Would we stay? Well, only if we knew we had friends there ...

• Attractions: The throne room, the map table, the beach where kites land.
• In reality: The rocky island of Gaztelugatxe in the Basque Country was used for the iconic stairs up to the castle.

6. The water gardens in Dorne

The Water Gardens are a royal retreat in Dorne where the rulers live in a more peaceful and harmonious environment. Here, politics and family life meet in a more relaxed setting than in the rest of Westeros. Dorne is characterised by its culture, its climate and its different traditions.

After all the hardship of Westeros, Dorne feels like a dream. I imagine the shade under the palm trees, the sound of water and a warmth that is almost numbing. Maybe this is where you would like to stay a little longer ...?

• Attractions: The fountains, the pools, the open pavilions.
• In reality: The Real Alcázar in Seville - especially the Patio de las Doncellas - was used as the Water Gardens for the filming.

Essos - exotic dreams and dangerous empires

7. braavos

Braavos is a powerful trading city known for its iron bank, its secret orders and the huge statue Titan of Braavos. There are also House of Black and White, where assassins are trained. The city plays an important role in Arya's journey and in the world's economic balance of power.

Braavos is a city I could get lost in. The canals, the fog, the sound of water on stone - everything feels alive and full of everyday energy.

• Attractions: House of Black and White, the Iron Bank, the Titan of Braavos (the huge statue at the harbour entrance).
• In reality: Scenes were filmed in Šibenik in Croatia, especially at the cathedral, and also in Girona in Spain. Inspiration has also been drawn from Venice and the ancient colossus of Rhodes.

8. Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen

These three cities in Slaver's Bay are centres of the slave trade and ancient empires. They will be crucial in Daenerys Targaryen's fight to abolish slavery. Some of the biggest political and moral conflicts of the series take place here.

These cities are hard to romanticise, given all the slavery, but at the same time they are iconic places. I imagine the heat, the dust, the high walls - and the history that remains in the walls.

• Attractions: Slaver's Bay, the pyramids of Meereen, the training grounds of the Unsullied.
• In reality: Morocco was used as a filming location for Astapour (Essaouira) and Yunkai (Aït Benhaddou). Meereen was filmed in Croatian Split, including Diocletian's palace and the Klis fortress.

9. The Long Bridge of Volantis

Volantis is one of the oldest and richest cities in Essos, built around a huge bridge. The city is strongly hierarchical and characterised by both wealth and poverty. The bridge is its heart, where trade, life and movement never stop.

A whole city on a bridge - the very thought fascinates me. I imagine life going on above the river, without a break. It makes you want to go wild with your camera!

• Attractions: The bridge itself, the markets, the temples along the route.
• In reality: Puente Romano in Córdoba, Spain, was used as a filming location. The bridge is also inspired by historic bridge towns such as Ponte Vecchio in Florence, where shops are located directly on the bridge.

10. Qarth

Qarth is a rich trading city and an important desert hub, as well as having a beautiful harbour. According to descriptions, it is one of the most magnificent cities in the world. Here, Daenerys Targaryen meets both allies and enemies on her early journey.

Qarth is almost unreal in my imagination. The colours, the riches, the massive gates - everything feels opulent. Admittedly, there seems to be some creepy magic here, but still... what a place!

• Attractions: The city gates, the palaces, the markets, the House of the Undying.
• In reality: Several scenes were filmed in Dubrovnik, especially on the island of Lokrum outside the city, which was used for Qarth's gardens.

Which Game of Thrones location would you like to visit?

Have you seen Game of Thrones? What places would you like to visit... if it were possible?