Game Of Thrones Cast On Shooting Their Final Scenes And Favourite Locations

Fans all over the world are reeling from the traumatic events of the final episode of Game of Thrones. Culture Trip spoke with the cast about shooting their final moments and also discovered their favourite locations to work in.

Set in the fictional land of Westeros, Game of Thrones draws huge inspiration from real-life locations. Culture Trip caught up with the cast (who were still sworn to secrecy about details around the show) and found out about their best experiences on set.

‘Croatia was exquisitely beautiful’

For Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who portray Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister respectively, Dubrovnik, Croatia’s stunning walled city was the highlight. The city itself has become a tourist hotspot in recent years with film fans flocking to the destination having seen it on screen in Game of Thrones and high-profile films such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).

“We have so many great memories from Dubrovnik,” says Coster-Waldau. “But I would also tell people to go to Northern Ireland.”

‘Belfast is a big part of this becoming what it is’

[jwplayer 4iM08BIo]

Kristofer Hivju has played wildling raider Tormund Giantsbane for several seasons, and one place stood out for the Norwegian actor.

“I loved Belfast. I think Belfast is a big part of Game of Thrones becoming what it is,” Hivju says. “One thing is the fantastic locations, and of course the studios where they actually built the Titanic are now where they are building Game of Thrones. There are so many beautiful spots in Belfast that I think if you really want to experience Game of Thrones, Belfast is the place to go.”

Hivju’s character is from ‘north of the wall’ in the show, which meant the actor also spent time in much colder locations.

“Iceland is fantastic,” he says. “It had beautiful scenery, and we had some great times there.”

‘You could feel the ghosts in the place’

[jwplayer 54srwNaN]

“I loved Italica in Spain, where the big Colosseum scene took place in season seven,” Liam Cunningham says.

The area in Seville is home to the biggest Colosseum outside Italy, and producers turned the location into a vast set for a pivotal meeting in the last season. Cunningham’s character, known as the best smuggler in all the Seven Kingdoms, was a big part of the scene.

“To be standing in the middle of that place, where god knows how many thousands of people lost their lives, had that air of history. You could feel the ghosts in that place, which felt very weird,” Cunningham says.

Although Carice Van Houten rarely left Belfast for her scenes, she agrees with Cunningham about the spectacular nature of the locations used in the show. At last, the Red Priestess and Davos Seaworth have something in common.

Game of Thrones is now available on digital download.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.