Our ultimate guide to Game of Thrones® filming locations in Northern Ireland

Game of Thrones® driving tours

There are SO many Game of Thrones® locations to explore in Northern Ireland, so one of the best ways to see it all is to do a self-drive tour.

If you start your journey in Belfast, you can travel to County Down and visit the home of the Starks in the real-life Winterfell, which was filmed at the National Trust property Castle Ward. Entrance is £10 for adults and £5 for children. Nearby, you can also explore Tollymore Forest Park, which is where the Starks found their Direwolf pups in the first season.

If you travel north to County Antrim and County Derry~Londonderry, you'll step foot along the King's Road, otherwise known as the Dark Hedges that have become one of the most photographed places in the area. In the nearby Ballintoy Harbour, you'll have a chance to see the location used for the Iron Islands.

Another fantatic location that all GOT fans will want to see is the Downhill Strand, a stunning beach you can look down on from Mussenden Temple that was where Melisandre burned the old gods on Dragonstone. This guide to filming locations and driving map is also handy for planning.

Game of Thrones® Studio Tour

The Game of Thrones® Studio Tour is probably at the top of every true fans list, packed with memorabilia from the show in the form of authentic sets, costumes, props, early concept drawings and more.

This newly opened tour is constructed around the authentic filming studio, allowing mega-fans to step foot straight into Westeros. You'll get to see the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship of artists, weapons makers and the real-life sets used in the series.

Explore everywhere from the Hall of Faces, Dragonstone and you'll even get close-up of iconic props like Jon Snow's Valyrian steel sword, Longclaw.

The studio is located in Linen Mill Studios, Banbridge, Northern Ireland, which is a 30-minute drive from Belfast, though there are also return coach tickets available from both Belfast and Dublin. Adult tickets costs £39.50 and children (aged 5-15) cost £27.50. For more info and to purchase tickets check out the Game of Thrones® Studio Tour website.

Game of Thrones® Glass Windows Belfast

Follow a trail through Belfast to discover the six Game of Thrones® stained-glass windows.

Six giant stained-glass windows have been placed all around Belfast, depicting scenes from the TV show during the final season. They are now on permanent display and made a great walking trail across the city.

Each design is different, portraying key moments in the show and representing the different houses including Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons and Targaryens.

Start your walking tour on the waterfront outside the AC Hotel and wind your way along the waterfront until you reach the final window at the HMS Caroline. Follow the walking trail with this Glass of Thrones® map and guide.

Game of Thrones® guided tours

If visiting the filming locations of the series isn't enough for you, how about actually LIVING it as a character?

Courtesy of Game of Thrones Tours

Get dressed up in Stark cloaks and swords and embark on a Winterfell trek from Belfast as part of a full day coach tour of the movie locations. Or are you more of a fan of the Iron Islands? You can get kitted up in Iron Island costume and carry the Greyjoy banner.

Select tours are run by guides who were an actual extra on the show, so you are sure to pick up some fascinating stories along the way. Prices start from £45-£60 per person and you can join a tour from Belfast, Dublin, Derry, Ballycastle and Tollymore.

You can also book a private tour (a great idea for a stag/hen do) or join a 90-minute trek through Tollymore Forest where you'll see the Haunted Forest, the Wolfswood near Winterfell, and a Wildling Camp, from £8 per person. See all of the tours on offer to the filming locations.

Game of Thrones® Doors

There are 10 carved doors depicting scened from Game of Thrones® in pubs near the filming locations for the show, if you can find them.

Courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland

The story of how these doors came to be is facinating, some of the Dark Hedges (which acted as the King's Road in the show) were blown over during Storm Gertrude. Seeing an opportunity in the disaster, an idea was formed to turn these trees into 10 intricately carved wooden doors and place them each in local pubs near to locations the series was filmed.

If ever there was a reason to go on an Irish pub crawl, this might be it! Check out each of the door's locations below and then you can weave a visit into your itinerary to see the stunning craftsmanship up close.

Here's where you can find the Game of Thrones® Doors in Northern Ireland

1. The Dark Horse, Belfast, County Antrim

Although not near a filming location, the first door is located in one of Belfast's finest pubs as a tribute to all the filming that took place in the city. The pub is an institution in Belfast and a great place to start your tour.

2. The Cuan, Strangford, County Down

Filming location: Castle Ward and Audley’s Castle Locations, which served as Winterfell in the show

3. Fiddler’s Green, Portaferry, County Down

Filming location: Quintin Bay, which was the location for Stokeworth in Season 5

4. Percy French, Newcastle, Co Down

Filming location: Tollymore Forest, which is where the Starks found their Direwolf pups in Season 1.

5. Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

Filming location: Pollnagollum Caves, which acted as Hollow Hill in the Riverlands

6. Frank Owens Bar, Limavady, Co Derry

Filming location: Downhill Beach & Binevenagh, which acted as Dragonstone in the show

7. Fullerton Arms, Ballintoy, Co Antrim

Filming location: Ballintoy Harbour and Larrybane, which acted as the Iron Islands and Pyke in Season 2

8. Gracehill House, Stranocum, County Antrim

Filming location: The Dark Hedges, otherwise known as the King's Road in the show

9. Mary McBrides, Cushendun, County Antrim

Filming location: Cushendun Caves, which were used in the show as a cove in the Stormlands

10. Ballygally Castle, Ballygally, County Antrim

Filming location: Cairncastle and the Glens of Antrim, served as The Neck on the road to Moat Cailin and Runestone in the show