Most of the Game of Thrones locations are in Northern Ireland, and the easiest way to see them is by car from Belfast, one area at a time. County Down holds the Studio Tour, Winterfell, Inch Abbey and the Haunted Forest; the Causeway Coast holds the Dark Hedges, Ballintoy and Larrybane. Each makes a comfortable day, and three days covers the headline places without rushing. Downhill Strand, Binevenagh, Cushendun and Glenariff are easy additions on the coast, while Gosford in County Armagh and Belmore Forest in Fermanagh are better saved for a longer stay.
House of the Dragon is a different trip. Its locations are spread across Great Britain, so treat each area as its own visit: a Cornish day around Marazion and the Lizard, an afternoon in Castleton in the Peak District, a morning on the heath near Farnham, or two or three days in Snowdonia and on Anglesey. Nothing remains of the sets, so these are trips for the landscapes themselves, with the filming history as a bonus.
Almost everything outdoors is free to see from public roads, paths and beaches. The exceptions are the Studio Tour, the Castle Ward estate and St Michael's Mount, which charge for entry, and forest parks such as Tollymore, Glenariff and Gosford, which charge for cars. Many coastal locations depend on the tide, and several upland ones need proper walking gear, so check conditions before you set off and leave yourself time to turn back.
By rail
Northern Ireland Railways runs from Belfast to Derry~Londonderry via Coleraine and Castlerock, the station for Downhill Strand, with a branch to Portrush; the Enterprise links Belfast and Dublin via Newry. Most County Down and Antrim sites are not near a station. In Great Britain, Great Western Railway serves Penzance for St Michael's Mount, Hope station on the Sheffield to Manchester line is two miles from Castleton, Farnham station serves Bourne Woods, and the North Wales coast line reaches Bangor, with the Conwy Valley line to Betws-y-Coed.
Translink's Ulsterbus and Goldline services connect Belfast with Downpatrick, Newcastle, Banbridge, Ballycastle and the Glens towns, and seasonal coastal buses run along the Causeway Coast in summer. Buses are fine for a single stop but slow for a full location day, and the Dark Hedges, Larrybane and Binevenagh are awkward without a car. In Cornwall, frequent buses link Penzance and Marazion, and bus 34 reaches Lizard village, two miles from Kynance. In Snowdonia, the Sherpa'r Wyddfa network serves Llanberis and the Ogwen Valley. Check current timetables before relying on any service.
The Studio Tour includes free parking with general admission, and Castle Ward, Tollymore, Glenariff and Gosford have estate or forest park car parks. The Dark Hedges has a designated car park by The Hedges Hotel; do not park on Bregagh Road. Ballintoy Harbour's car park is small and reached by a steep, narrow lane, and Larrybane uses the Carrick-a-Rede car park. In Cornwall, the National Trust car parks at Kynance and Holywell charge non-members and fill early in summer, and St Michael's Mount uses the pay car parks in Marazion. In Wales, Ogwen's lay-bys and Llanberis car parks fill by mid-morning on fine days.
Seasons and opening
Spring and early autumn are the best times: roads and car parks are quieter, light is good for photographs and the coast paths are easier. Summer brings coach tours to the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy and crowds to Kynance and Holywell, so start early. St Michael's Mount and the Castle Ward house keep seasonal opening calendars, and the Mount's castle is usually closed on Saturdays. Winter storms close coast paths and bring down trees at the Dark Hedges; upland walks at Sallagh Braes, Binevenagh and Ffynnon Llugwy need settled weather in any season.
The Studio Tour is the most accessible location; read the operator's accessibility guide before you book. Castle Ward offers blue-badge parking, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The Dark Hedges avenue is level tarmac. Ballintoy Harbour's slipway area is flat but the access lane is steep. Kynance Cove has no vehicle access and a steep path with steps, and St Michael's Mount's castle is up a steep cobbled path, though a bookable all-terrain Tramper serves the island village. Upland, cave and quarry sites are unsuitable for wheelchairs. Contact each venue before travelling.
Private means private.
Some places in this guide are private and are not pinned on our map. Shillinavogy Valley, the Cairncastle slopes and the fields below Sallagh Braes are working farmland; Gosford Castle is private apartments; the land beyond Cushendun's main cave is a private home; and much of Dinorwig Quarry is restricted. Please look from public roads and paths, keep out of fields, close gates, don't block farm entrances and don't photograph people's homes. On Bregagh Road, respect the residents and the road closure.
Allow 45 to 60 minutes from Belfast to Inch Abbey, about 20 minutes on to Castle Ward and 35 to 50 minutes from there to Tollymore. Castle Ward charges admission and Tollymore charges for cars; stay overnight in Downpatrick or Newcastle.
Causeway Coast: the Kingsroad and the Iron Islands
Full day from Belfast, half a day from Ballycastle · Car
The Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbour and Larrybane Quarry, three of the best-known sites, all within half an hour of each other.
Larrybane Quarry· Renly Baratheon's camp; the Ironborn Kingsmoot
Allow 75 to 90 minutes from Belfast to the Dark Hedges, 35 to 45 minutes on to Ballintoy and 10 to 15 minutes to Larrybane, then about 75 to 100 minutes back. The Giant's Causeway is close by if you have time; Ballycastle makes a good overnight stop.
Studio Tour, Winterfell and Inch Abbey
Full day · Car
Start indoors at the Banbridge Studio Tour, then see Castle Ward's Winterfell courtyard and finish at the ruins of Inch Abbey.
Book a morning Studio Tour slot and allow two to three hours there. Castle Ward is 45 to 60 minutes' drive east and Inch Abbey 15 to 25 minutes beyond; Downpatrick is the natural overnight base.
Cornwall: Driftmark and the Stepstones
Full day · Car
St Michael's Mount as High Tide, Kynance Cove's Valyrian camp and the Stepstones coast at Holywell Bay.
Start in Marazion and plan the Mount around the tide and the castle's opening days. Allow 45 to 60 minutes to Kynance and 55 to 75 minutes on to Holywell; summer car parks fill early, so this works best outside school holidays.
Guided tour
Game of Thrones Studio Tour packages
The official Studio Tour sells admission with return coach travel from Belfast and Dublin, running every day of the week. Check dates and book direct.
An independent Belfast operator running day tours to the Winterfell and Iron Islands locations and a Tollymore Forest trek. Confirm which stops are included, then check dates and book direct.