Game of Thrones tourism: Culture and Travel Context

Game of Thrones (abbreviated GoT) is a television series based on the medieval high fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, written by George R. R. Martin; A Game of Thrones is the title of the first novel. The series was produced by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and has been very successful, with many viewers, much critical acclaim and many Emmy awards. It was produced by and for the American pay television channel HBO, but was also carried by other TV companies around the world.

Eight seasons were aired between 2011 and 2019. All seasons are available on DVD, Blu-Ray and, depending where you live, perhaps also on cable TV. Eventually there are supposed to be seven novels, but it is not clear when; the 1st was published in 1996 and the 5th in 2011. As of early 2024, there has been no announcement of when the 6th will appear.

The series is one of very few in the fantasy genre to feature graphic sex and violence, as well as foul language. It is also adult in its exploration of moral gray areas and of philosophical and political concepts.

The setting of the series is loosely based on various periods of English history, most notably the Heptarchy, which served as the inspiration for the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and the Wars of the Roses, with the Houses of Stark and Lannister standing in for the Houses of York and Lancaster respectively. The quick succession of monarchs, court intrigue, backstabbing and religious persecution in the capital has many similarities with the Tudor court of late Medieval/Renaissance England. The Red Wedding was inspired by two events in Scottish history; the Black Dinner in 1440 and the Glencoe Massacre in 1692. The Ironborn of the Iron Islands were loosely inspired by the Vikings, who conducted raids on the British Isles throughout the Middle Ages. The Wall is loosely based on Hadrian's Wall in northern England, which was built during the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian at what was then the northern boundary of his empire.

The series draws some inspiration from the history of other parts of Europe as well. King's Landing is said to be an amalgamation of various medieval European capitals, combining the royal and political machinations of Paris, the religious might of Rome and the mercantile grittiness of London. The banking city of Braavos, built on a network of canals, has clear parallels with Florence and Venice at the height of their power in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. The massive Titan of Braavos statue recalls the sadly lost Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Martin was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, and has said in interviews that growing up in view of New York City, its light and harbor as well as the ships entering and leaving it, let his imagination run rampant and served as an inspiration to think of various sci-fi and fantasy stories that ultimately became the books he is now famous for.

The series was shot in a number of locations in different countries. We describe many below, and a web search will turn up at least a half dozen other sites with lists and descriptions; we link to some under #See also below.

Much of the series was shot in the Paint Hall Studio in 1 Belfast, Northern Ireland. This is part of Titanic Studios, located in a former shipyard where the great ship RMS Titanic was built, and is generally not open to the public. Most of the interior scenes for any of the fictional locations were shot in that studio, and the green screen work was done there as well. For the prequel House of the Dragon, the main studio used is in Watford, England.

Many outdoor locations were also used; quite a few are near Belfast, and organized tours are available that go to many of those; the local tourist promotion site "Visit Belfast" has a list that includes both guided tours and self-guided tours on foot or by bicycle. Some of the series' sets have been left up to attract tourists.

GoT Legacy Tours (Northern Ireland). A joint venture between HBO and Linen Mill Studios, the eight-night/nine-day tours feature visits to studios and filming locations, medieval-themed activities and meals, overnight stays in castles, and opportunities to meet some of the cast. US$4,200-4,600.

This cultural overview is an excerpt of a community travel guide. Confirm current access, schedules and prices with the venue before planning a visit.

Source and licence

Text adapted from Game of Thrones tourism by Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. This adapted text is shared under the same licence. Contributor history.