12 House of the Dragon Filming Locations to Visit
From north Wales to Cáceres, Spain, the Game of Thrones prequel filmed many of its biggest scenes on location. Here's how to visit.
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The world of House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel about the Targaryens, may be fictional, but many of the scenes were shot on location in Wales, England, Spain, and Portugal.
The show, based on Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin and set two centuries before Game of Thrones, details a civil war within the House of Targaryen over who should inherit the Iron Throne. Season two, which is currently airing, sees the return of Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, along with other key cast members from season one. The second season filmed during 2023, and it wrapped, the producers wrote, "To the stellar crew of HOTD S2: Thank you for taking this wild journey with us, from the fiery sets of Leavesden Studios to the rain-soaked Welsh mountains and beyond. We are so proud of what we’ve made together and so grateful for all your hard work."
Here, a guide to 12 House of the Dragon filming locations you can visit:
North Wales
You'll recognize it from: Many outdoors scenes set in the Vale, the Riverlands, and Dragonstone in season two. Plus, old Welsh quarries were used as exteriors for Dragonstone and Harrenhal castles.
Season two features a number of scenes in the north Wales region, including on Anglesey, Conwy and in Barmouth, Gwynedd, according to Joedi Langley, Head of Sector Development at Creative Wales.
"It was great to be shooting in Wales with its stunning scenery and landscapes, that bring to life our Westeros," House of the Dragon executive producer Kevin de la Noy said. "I had no hesitation in taking House of the Dragon there, as we knew the support from government and the local populous would help us achieve remarkable footage, and we were blessed with the most glorious weather too."
St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall, England
You'll recognize it as: Driftmark, home of House Velaryon
St. Michael's Mount is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, featuring a medieval church and castle. It's been home to the St Aubyn family for centuries.
Old Town of Cáceres, Spain
You'll recognize it from: Various scenes in King's Landing and Oldtown (home to the Citadel).
While in Game of Thrones, King's Landing scenes were filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia, they sometimes also filmed in Cáceres. House of the Dragon predominately uses the Spanish town as the setting for King's Landing.
House of the Dragon production designer Jim Clay loved filming in Cáceres—but says it was too clean for the world of Westeros. "Obviously, we can’t change the stonework, but the authorities cooperated as much as they could and we were able to put a ground covering throughout all of the streets," Clay told Variety. "That was partly for the look, and it was partly for horses being able to maneuver over wet cobblestones without tripping."
Monsanto, Portugal
You'll recognize it as: The exterior of Dragonstone, the ancestral home for the Targaryens.
Portugal is "a beautiful country and great for filming," House of the Dragon co-creator Ryan Condal, said. "When we saw Monsanto on a mountain, we found Dragonstone."
Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain
You'll recognize it as: The site of the confrontation on the bridge of Dragonstone in season one, when Rhaenyra arrives on her dragon.
Gaztelugatxe is an islet on the coast of Biscay, and the hermitage on the island dates back to the 10th century. House of the Dragon filmed on the famous stone bridge. Game of Thrones also filmed scenes here—the islet stood in for Dragonstone in season seven.
Kynance Cove, Cornwall, England
You'll recognize it as: The Stepstones, where Daemon's battle against Triarchy forces in season one took place (pictured).
According to Cornwall Live, Kayance Cove is "a National Trust tidal beach famous for its beautiful white sand, turquoise sea, and rock stacks."
Bourne Wood, Surrey, England
You'll recognize it as: An upcoming battle scene in season two.
Filming at Bourne Wood "was really special," actor Fabien Frankel, who plays Ser Criston Cole, says. "That’s cinematic history and we were filming on the same ground." According to Time Out UK, "Online speculation suggest the sequence filmed there involves one or more dragons."
Pictured: A scene from Gladiator filmed at Bourne Wood
Santa Clotide Botanical Gardens, Lloret de Mar, Catalonia
You'll recognize it as: The royal gardens of the Red Keep.
After House of the Dragon premiered, the gardens began offering a guided tour called "The Gardens of the Dragon," on which visitors could learn exactly where the show filmed.
Castledon, Derbyshire, England
You'll recognize it as: The Vale of Arryn in season one.
The Vale is ruled by House Arryn; it is also where Daemon's first wife, Lady Rhea Royce, lived. In season one, it appears on screen when she goes out riding (and meets her demise).
Plaza Mayor, Trujillo, Spain
You'll recognize it as: King's Landing Main Square.
The historic town square in Trujillo, Spain was used for additional King's Landing scenes. (You can see the side-by-side of the real square and the show's scenes here.)
La Calahorra, Granda, Spain
You'll recognize it as: Pentos.
La Calahorra dates back to the early 1500s, and is one of the first Italian Renaissance castles built outside Italy. If you'd like to visit, note that the castle is privately owned and only open on Wednesdays with 30-minute tours.
Warner Bros. Studios at Leavesden, England
You won't recognize it, because the studios are where many of the interior scenes in the show were filmed. The studios are famously where the Harry Potter movies were shot; thus far, House of the Dragon has used Leavesden's Virtual Production Stage, four sound stages, and the studio backlot.
House of the Dragon was the first show to use the V Stage, the studio's virtual stage. "The launch of V Stage brings a completely new dimension to filmmaking at WBSL, providing an exciting environment in which to deliver a new level of creativity," Emily Stillman, SVP, Studio Operations, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, said in an announcement. "With the show’s incredible imaginary worlds and exceptional quality HBO always delivers, House of the Dragon is the perfect production to maximize the unparalleled opportunities this space offers."
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
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