If you’ve ever wondered where you could find the real locations of Games of Thrones in the real world, then look no further as we have mapped out all the best filming locations found across Northern Ireland. Take a road trip and see the real North of Westeros and Iron Island.

Game of Thrones is one of the most popular and successful fantasy TV series ever made. Filming of seasons one to eight took place in around 25 locations around Northern Ireland including Titanic Studios in Belfast, Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour, Larrybane, Antrim plateau, Castle Ward, Inch Abbey and Downhill Strand. Get the full experience and tour the HBO Game of Thrones Northern Ireland filming locations while you are here. Our rugged coast lines, historic castles and breathtaking scenery is the perfect setting for the epic story. All of these locations are within easy reach of Belfast.

 

County Down

Castle Ward

Castle Ward

Castle Ward is an 18th-century National Trust property located near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland, in the townland of the same name. It overlooks Strangford Lough and is 7 miles from Downpatrick and 1.5 miles from Strangford. The Georgian farmyard and lough shore at this National Trust property set the scene for Winterfell. Find the Whispering Wood and key scenes including Robb Stark’s Camp, the Baelor battle and when Brienne confronts the Stark men. Discover Winterfell for yourself!

Inch Abbey

This medieval building was used as the set for the Riverlands scenes, where Robb Stark’s army wait at the Trident to cross. As well as being the camp of The Houses of the North and the Riverlands in Game of Thrones, Inch Abbey is home to a breathtaking view of the River Quoile – in the distance you can see Downpatrick Cathedral, burial place of St Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint.

The Ruins of Inch Abbey Monestry used in as a film location in Game of Thrones
Tollymore Forest

Tollymore Forest Park

Walk deep into this enchanting forest and be transported to Winterfell. Remember the opening scene of Game of Thrones®? Rangers of the Night’s Watch find dismembered bodies in the snow. Fans will also recognise the woodland where Nightwalkers were spotted and the Direwolf pups were found in Tollymore Forest. Tollymore Forest Park is open all year and offers extensive facilities for touring or camping.

County Antrim and County Derry/Londonderry

Sallagh Braes

The Sallagh Brae is part of the Glens of Antrim and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offering dramatic scenery. Close to the village of Ballygally, Sallagh Brae can be accessed by following the Ulster Way footpath. You’ll recognise the landscape from Game of Thrones Episode 7 Season 6: The Broken Man when Sandor Clegane, the Hound, after survived being left to die by Arya Stark now lives a peaceful existence with a band of villagers in the Riverlands.

Sallagh Braes The Riverlands
quarry

Magheramorne Quarry

Magheramorne is a hamlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is about 5 miles south of Larne on the shores of Larne Lough. Magheramorne is a small hamlet of about 75 people that’s home to an old stone quarry. The cement plant closed in 1980, and the quarry acted primarily as Castle Black and the Wall in the award-winning television series. If you drive north from Carrickfergus on the A2 you turn right just past Whitehead and drive on Low Road past Islandmagee. After a couple of miles you get a great (if distant) view across the Lough to the quarry.

Cushendun Caves

The Cushendun Caves are located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Cushendun is just an 82km drive north of Belfast. The most direct route is to head to Ballymena and then onto Cushendall. Although the caves are very old, they acted as a key location for HBO’s Game of Thrones series. A must for fans, and lovers of unsuspected tourist treasures! Find the caves here where Melisandre gave birth to her ‘shadow baby’ along the Antrim Coast in an area portrayed as the Stormlands.

Cushendun Caves featured in Game of Thrones
The Dark Hedges

The Dark Hedges

The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The trees form an atmospheric tunnel that has been used as a location in HBO’s popular television series Game of Thrones. Drive along the King’s Road which led Ned Stark to his death and Arya Stark away from King’s Landing. This location is probably one of the most photographed landmarks on the Game of Thrones Map and a hidden road on the way to Bushmills.

Larrybane Quarry

Larrybane bay on the North Antrim Coast, protected by Sheep Island and a shallow reef, is one of the most sheltered and scenic locations along the Causeway Coast. From the cliffs above Larrybane the magnificent coastline can be viewed including Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Its old quarry set the scene for our introduction of Brienne of Tarth in season two, when she fought Ser Loras Tyrell in a tournament in front of King Renly in front of his new wife and queen, Margaery Tyrell.

Larrybane Quarry used as a filming location in Game Of Thrones
Ballintoy Harbour Game of Thrones Filming Location

Ballintoy Harbour

The harbour in the small village of Ballintoy, County Antrim, featured as the Free Cities where Varys was born and as the coastal nook where Theon Greyjoy arrives back in the Iron Islands, admires his ship and where he first meets his sister Yara. It is the most northerly point of the Antrim Coast and Glens coastline which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Downhill Strand

Downhill Strand in County Londonderry, a scenic beach dominated by the elegant 18th century ruins of Mussenden Temple. At 7 miles (11 km) long it is one of the longest in Northern Ireland. The exterior beach scenes of Dragonstone island. Where Melisandre and Stannis Baratheon burn the statues of the Seven in the Season 2 premiere, “The North Remembers”; later on the same beach Davos talks with Salladhor Saan, and in Season 3 this beach of Dragonstone is where Davos sends Gendry away on a rowboat.

Downhill Beach in the Sunset
Game of Thrones Filming Location Binevenagh was featured as the Dothraki Grasslands

Binevenagh

On the edge of the Antrim plateau, Binevenagh boasts panoramic views stretching for miles. The location was chosen for the Dothraki Sea far above the city of Meereen, where Daenerys is rescued by her dragon Drogon and brought to his lair.

Find a full list of filming locations on ireland.com >>

Game of Thrones Driving Tour Map

Jump in the car and take a self-guided tour of these top filming locations. Explore Winterfell and the Riverlands in County Down; or drive along the King’s Road and experience more of the Seven Kingdoms in County Antrim.

  • Route 1: County Down: Winterfell Castle, Winterfell Forest and the Riverlands
  • Route 2: County Antrim and County Derry/Londonderry: King’s Road, Melissandre’s cave, Iron Islands, Riverlands
  • Route 3: Game of Thrones Doors: Located near filming locations in County Down, County Londonderry, County Antrim, Belfast and Fermanagh.

Game of Thrones Doors Driving Tour

Take a driving tour to find the 10 wooden doors hidden throughout Northern Ireland that commemorate Game of Thrones! Interesting fact – the doors are made of wood from fallen trees at the Dark Hedges (the filming location used for the King’s Road), which was damaged by winds during Storm Gertrude in 2016.

Each of the doors, which were crafted by Tourism Northern Ireland, tells the story of the episodes in Season 6. They capture some of the series’ most exciting moments, while simultaneously preserving a piece of history from the show’s most iconic filming location. Hop in the car and see if you can find them all!

Game of Thrones Door 1 Cuan Strangford Westeros Map

1. The Cuan

Strangford, County Down
Find Door 1 at the Cuan in Strangford, County Down. The door pictures the opening title sequence and a map of Westeros.

Game of Thrones Door 2 Fiddlers Green Portaferry

2. Fiddler’s Green

Portaferry, County Down
Door 2 is in the Fiddler’s Green at Portaferry, County Down. It shows the rising conflicts between the Houses of Bolton and Greyjoy. Spot the Kracken and flayed man included in the intricate design.

Game of Thrones Door 3 Percy French Inn Newcastle

3. Percy French Inn

Newcastle, County Down
Further south on the coast of County Down, the third door can be found in Percy French in the seaside town of Newcastle. It includes as ship’s departure from the Iron Island’s and a lone direwolf above Winterfell.

Game of Thrones Door 4 Blakes of Hollow

4. Blakes of the Hollow

Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
Door 4 is in Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen. The door reveals House Targaryen’s return to power with domineering dragons.

Game of Thrones Door 5 Owens Bar Limavady White Walker Night King Owens Bar

5. Owens' Bar

Limavady, County Londonderry
Door 5 pictures the dreaded Night King surrounded by White Walkers, telling of the coming battle between the living and the dead. Find the door at Owens Bar in Limavady. (Please note, this bar may be temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions).

Game of Thrones Door 6 Fullerton Arms Ballintoy

6. Fullerton Arms

Ballintoy, County Antrim
The sixth door is in Ballintoy, a small harbour town on the Causeway Coast used as a filming location for the Iron Islands. This door features the fearsome dragon Drogon with Dothraki stallions, symbolising the Dothraki allegiance with Queen Daenerys.

Game of Thrones Door 7 Dark Hedges Estate]

7. Dark Hedges Estate

Stranocum, Ballymoney County Antrim
Door 7 shows the Three-Eyed Raven to remind of events of the past soon to affect the present, while a beech leaf in a crown reminds of the nearby King’s Road. Find it in the Dark Hedges Estate near its namesake location in County Antrim.

Game of Thrones Door 8 Mary McBrides Cushendun

8. Mary McBride’s

Cushendun, County Antrim
You’ll find Door 8 in Mary McBride’s in Cushendun. It tells of Arya Stark’s journey in the city of Braavos and features the Faceless Man coin and her trusted sword Needle, while the words “Valar morghulis. Valar dohaeris” dominate the centre.

Game of Thrones Door 9 Ballygally Castle

9. Ballygally Castle

Ballygally, County Antrim
The ninth door at Ballygally Castle contains symbols of House Stark and House Bolton, swords, shields and the bloodied face of a Direwolf, representing the unforgettable Battle of the Bastards.

Game of Thrones Door 10 Dark Horse

10. The Dark Horse

Belfast
Finish your road trip in Belfast where the tenth door lies in wait at the Dark Horse pub in the Cathedral Quarter. The door shows how things are left at the end of Season 6, with the Lannister lion ruling over the Sept of Baelor while Stark and Targaryen sigils hint of secrets Jon Snow’s parentage yet to be revealed.

Game of Thrones Sightseeing Tours

If you’d rather have a guided tour (and possibly dress up in Stark attire), leave the car behind and take a Game of Thrones sightseeing tour. Browse all bus, coach and taxi sightseeing tours below.

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