12 Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland

Did you know that Northern Ireland is one of the most iconic filming locations for Game of Thrones?

We discovered this first-hand while driving the Causeway Coastal Route, stopping at castles, caves, forest, and dramatic beaches that doubled as Weteros.  Over the course of our road trip, we visited every single Game of Thrones filming location in Northern Ireland featured in this guide, with many of them being highlights of the trip.

The hit HBO fantasy series was filmed at more than 20 Game of Thrones locations across Northern Ireland, making it one of the most important real-world settings for the show.  It’s a must-visit destination for fans of the show.

It’s easy to see why the Game of Thrones production team chose Northern Ireland.  The rugged coastline, striking geology, atmospheric forests, ancient castles, and windswept beaches create an unforgettable landscape.  These settings are all perfect for the epic scenery that defined Game of Thrones.

In fact, these locations easily rival other famous Game of Thrones filming locations in Europe, including Dubrovnik, Seville, and Split.

In this guide, we’ll explore 12 of the best Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland, show you where they appeared in the series, and share practical tips, a map, and transport advice – perfect for planning your own Game of Thrones road trip.

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The Dark Hedges is one of the most recognisable Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland.  This atmospheric avenue of beech trees near Ballymoney,  County Antrim, was planted in the 18^th century by landowner James Stuart to frame the entrance to his mansion, Gracehill House.  Little did he know how famous his trees would later become!

In Game of Thrones, the Dark Hedges appears as King’s Road, most memorably when Arya Stark escapes King’s Landing disguised as a boy.

Today, it’s one of the most visited GOT locations in Northern Ireland.  While it can get very busy at peak times, parking is now restricted on the road itself, making it easier to capture photos without traffic.

Find out more in our full guide to visiting the Dark Hedges.

Ballintoy Harbour is one of the most dramatic Game of Thrones filming locations on the Causeway Coastal Route.  Reached via a steep, winding road, this small fishing harbour was transformed into the Iron Islands, the home of House Greyjoy.

It first appears in season 2, when Theon returns to Pyke, and later features the ritual drowning scene.  In Season 8, nearby Ballintoy Beach appears when Euaun Greyjoy (presumed dead) returns and confronts his brother, Balon.

Even without its GOT fame, Ballintoy Harbour is one of the most beautiful spots on the north coast.  Read our full guide on things to do in Ballintoy Harbour

The Glens of Antrim provided a lush, peaceful contrast to Northern Ireland’s rugged coastline.  Glenariff Forest Park, known as the “Queen of the Glens,” was used as the filming location for Runestone in Season 5 of Game of Thrones.

We spent a full day here exploring woodland trails and waterfalls, and it’s easy to see why the production team chose it, as it’s one of the most serene Game of Thrones forest locations in Northern Ireland.  For more details, read our guide to the Glenariff Forest Park.

Tollymore Forest Park holds a special place in Game of Thrones history.  Located in the Mourne Mountains, it appears in the very Season 1, Episode 1, making it the very first GOT filming location ever shown on screen.

It doubled as the Haunted Forest north of Winterfell,  where Ned Stark discovers the orphaned direwolf pups.

The Cushendun Caves are among the most unique Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland.  These 400-million-year-old caves appear in Season 2, as the birthplace of Melisandre’s shadow assassin.

The Cushendun Caves are easy to find, free to visit, and located at the end of a sandy beach.  Whilst many visitors come just for the caves, the village of Cushendun is worth exploring too.

Read our full guide to the village of Cushendun and the caves.

Perched on a cliff top above the Atlantic Ocean, Mussenden Temple overlooks Downhill Strand, one of the most striking Game of Thrones beach filming locations.

Downhill Strand appears as Dragonstone, featuring the memorable scene where Melisandre burns the idols of the Seven Gods.  Mussenden Temple provided a dramatic vantage point for the Game of Thrones film crew looking down on the action.

Whilst you’re here, take time to explore the rest of the Downhill Demesne Estate and Gardens.  The Roman-styled round temple was designed as a library for the Downhill Demesne estate and is now one of Northern Ireland’s most stunning landmarks.

Murlough Bay is a remote, scenic cove in County Antrim, that was used a backdrop for Slaver’s Bay in the Seven Kingdoms.  Although CGI enhanced the final scenes, the raw beauty of the bay made it a perfect choice for this GOT location.

It’s one of the quieter stops on the Causeway route, ideal if you want to escape the crowds.

As well as making best use of the dramatic coastline in Northern Ireland, the film directors took full advantage of the enchanting castles in the area.

One of the most impressive castles in County Antrim, Dunluce Castle, provides the perfect location for a Game of Thrones set. Dramatically perched on a basalt crag overlooking the sea, the castle served as the exterior inspiration for Pyke Castle, home of House of Greyjoy.  It houses the tower where they tortured Leon Greyjoy.

During our visit, sea fog came rolling in from the Atlantic, making it one of the most atmospheric Game of Thrones’ filming locations in Northern Ireland.

Located near Downpatrick, Inch Abbey was used as Robb Stark’s camp, at Riverrun, in Season 1.

This ruined Cistercian monastery in Downpatrick, County Down offers a peaceful, romantic setting and is one of the less-visited GOT locations.

Castle Ward is one of the most famous Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland, serving as Winterfell, ancestral home of House Stark.

Although earlier episodes of Winterfell were filmed at Doune Castle in Scotland, Castle Ward became the primary filming location in later seasons.  Today, visitors can explore the grounds of the 18^th century gothic mansion, which is now owned by the National Trust.  You can even take part in immersive Winterfell experiences.

Located near Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Larrybane Quarry was used as the set for Renly Baratheon’s camp, with extensive CGI added later.

Whilst there’s not a lot to see at the quarry, it’s worth visiting alongside Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, one of the most popular attractions in Northern Ireland.  Originally built in 1755, the suspension bridge connects with Carrick-a-Rede island.  The salmon fishermen rebuilt the bridge each year so they could use it to access the island.

For hardcore GOT fans, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Belfast is unmissable.  It features original sets, costumes, props, and behind-the-scenes insights into how Westerow was brought to life.  Plus you can take a look at some of the amazing special effects from the show.

If you’re staying in Belfast, you could also visit The Titanic Experience, one of the city’s top attractions.

Visiting the Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland is surprisingly easy, as many are clustered along the Causeway Coastal Route.

We complete a 6-day road trip on the Causeway Coastal Route, stopping at many of the most popular filming locations, such as Ballintoy, Cushendun,  Dunluce Castle, and took a slight detour to see the Dark Hedges.  Plus, of course, we got to visit the amazing Giant’s Causeway too!

To be honest, we hadn’t intended to visit so many Game of Thrones places.  However, even if you’re not a GOT fan, these places are incredible destinations in their own right.

If you don’t have a car, the easiest way to visit the Game of Thrones filming locations is with a day trip from Belfast or Dublin.  The 1-day trip includes four popular Game of Thrones filming locations, plus a visit to the dramatic Giant’s Causeway.

The full day trip from Belfast includes Cushendun Caves, Ballintoy Harbour, Dunluce Castle, the Dark Hedges, and the Giant’s Causeway.  The tour lasts 9.5 hours and provides you with your own tour guide.

Click here for more information on the full day trip from Belfast.

Once you’ve explored the Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland, there’s plenty of other places to visit. Don’t miss the Giant’s Causeway, the famous UNESCO site or the Gobbins Cliff Path, a dramatic cliff walk.

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