Game of Thrones Northern Ireland Coastal Drive Tour

Essential driving safety tips for Northern Ireland's narrow, winding rural roads. Watch for blind corners, single-track sections, and use passing places courteously. Drive safely through Westeros.

Leave Belfast behind and enter the world of Westeros. The M5 motorway becomes your gateway to fantasy as green hills and salty sea air transform ordinary Ireland into the Seven Kingdoms ahead.

Castle Lug ruins appear on your left - a crumbling 1500s watchtower by Thomas Lugge. Though not a filming location, its lonely stones and sea views feel perfectly suited for the world of Westeros.

Carrickfergus Castle stands for 900 years, one of Ireland's best-preserved medieval fortresses. Built in 1177, this Norman stronghold overlooks Belfast Lough and resembles iconic Westeros castles perfectly.

Discover why Northern Ireland became the perfect filming location for Game of Thrones. These landscapes possess the raw, weathered beauty that matched George R.R. Martin's fantasy world vision.

Whiteharbour Marina holds 150 years of maritime history. While sharing its name with Westeros's White Harbor, this restored 1850s harbour with limestone archway is purely coincidental but atmospheric.

Magheramorne Quarry transformed into Castle Black and the Wall. This abandoned limestone quarry became the Night's Watch stronghold using massive sets, green screens, and CGI magic for epic scenes.

Drive through Magheramorne, feeling the atmosphere where Game of Thrones filming occurred. Though sets are gone, the dramatic landscape still echoes with memories of the Night's Watch and the Wall.

Glynn village witnessed dramatic history worthy of Game of Thrones. Saint Patrick built a church here in 435 AD, and Sir John Chichester was beheaded in 1597 during clan conflicts and power struggles.

Larne's Jubilee Crown roundabout features a 26-foot steel sculpture celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. This golden, gem-decorated crown divides local opinion but commands attention nonetheless.

The spectacular Antrim Coast drive offers dramatic cliffs, crashing Irish Sea waves, and rolling green hills. This breathtaking route doubled as Westeros's rugged shores throughout Game of Thrones.

Ballygally Beach curves golden along the coast, while Ballygally Castle hotel houses Door of Thrones No. 9, carved from Dark Hedges wood depicting the Battle of the Bastards and direwolves.

Cairncastle was the first Game of Thrones filming location in Northern Ireland. These rugged hills became Winterfell's exterior for Ned Stark's execution scene in Season 1, Episode 1's opening moments.

The breathtaking Causeway Coastal Route offers cinematic views between sea and cliffs. Waves crash below while ancient stone walls cling to hillsides, creating an otherworldly, fantasy-like atmosphere.

Madman's Window is a natural rock arch with tragic legend. Local lore tells of a heartbroken man waiting for his lost love's return, while nearby White Bay offers serene, turquoise shallows.

Carnlough Beach offers peaceful coastline with soft sand, calm waters, and gentle waves. Fishing boats drift in the harbor while the village nestles quietly at the base of Antrim Glens.

Carnlough Harbour became Braavos for Arya Stark's desperate escape scene. These stone steps witnessed her emergence from dark waters, wounded but unbroken, in Season 6's most intense survival moment.

The Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretches along dramatic cliffs and hidden bays. Nine ancient glens reach inland like giants' fingers, each holding folklore and legends.

Pass the impressive Red Arch carved through cliffs in 1817, then Glenariffe Harbour and Red Bay Castle ruins. These weathered stones command the coastline with ancient medieval pride and drama.

Cushendun Caves are carved into cliffs by centuries of waves and wind. Here Melisandre gave birth to her shadow creature, and later Jaime fought Euron in brutal combat for the series.

Drive through ancient wilderness along the A2 where towering evergreens guard thousand-year-old secrets. Misty forests and mysterious cairns look perfectly suited for the Children of the Forest.

Bonamargy Friary ruins haunt the landscape like something from Harrenhal. Built around 1500, this crumbling monastery holds clan conflicts, whispered prophecies, and legends of the Black Nun ghost.

The ever-changing sky tells stories above the Causeway Coast. From misty dawn whispers to stormy Atlantic squalls, the weather creates dramatic moods worthy of dragons and ancient gods.

Carrick-a-Rede car park launches your visit to Larrybane Quarry, which became Renly's war camp. Here Brienne earned her place in the Kingsguard, and Ironborn gathered for the Kingsmoot ceremony.

The National Trust's Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge spans 20 meters, 30 meters above crashing seas. This thrilling crossing leads to the island where salmon fishermen once worked in solitude.

Ballintoy Harbour became Lordsport, Pyke's principal port. These jagged black rocks witnessed Theon's return, his baptism, Euron's drowning rebirth, and Melisandre's mysterious comings and goings.

White Park Bay stretches as a stunning National Trust crescent of golden sand between rugged headlands. This wild, untouched beauty could easily represent Dragonstone or Dornish coastlines in Westeros.

Dunseverick Castle ruins cling to clifftops like bones of a long-dead beast. Once a royal Irish seat visited by Saint Patrick, it feels perfectly suited for Ironborn raids and fortress battles.

The Giant's Causeway features 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by ancient volcanic activity. Legend says giant Fionn MacCumhaill built this bridge to Scotland to face his rival in combat.

Slow down and look ahead at Dunluce Castle rising from clifftops. Find parking to explore these dramatic ruins up close, or admire from outside as legends and history unfold before you.

Dunluce Castle clings to basalt cliffs, becoming Pyke in Game of Thrones. These ruins gave soul to House Greyjoy's sea-blasted stronghold where Balon, Euron, and Yara plotted their destinies.

White Rocks Beach glows golden to your right near Portrush. Early Game of Thrones scouts once considered these limestone cliffs for Dornish exteriors before choosing Spain's warmer climate instead.

Portstewart Strand became Dorne's coast where Jaime and Bronn fought Dornish guards. These golden sands witnessed steel flashing, waves roaring, and honor colliding with defiance in Season 5.

Welcome to Coleraine. Turn right onto Millburn Road where gas stations offer fuel stops. Take a quick break before heading off to the next part of your Game of Thrones location adventure.

Turn right onto Castlerock Road, reminiscent of Casterly Rock. Picture the Lannister stronghold carved into massive cliffs, its golden halls echoing with political intrigue and royal footsteps.

Continue straight onto Mussenden Road toward breathtaking cliffs. Like Dragonstone's caves where Jon and Daenerys found ancient symbols, Children of the Forest carvings, and nearly held hands together.

Mussenden Temple sits 120 feet above the Atlantic, becoming Dragonstone's exterior. Here Stannis drew Lightbringer from flames while Melisandre whispered prophecies on Downhill Beach below the clifftops.

Downhill Beach stretches below Mussenden Temple where Melisandre called on her Lord of Light. "For the night is dark and full of terrors" echoed across these dramatic, windswept shores.

Binevenagh's volcanic cliffs became the Dothraki Grasslands where Drogon rescued Daenerys from Meereen's fighting pits. These windswept heights witnessed the Mother of Dragons soar into legend and freedom.

Learn about the Kingsroad's true history and Arya Stark's transformative journeys. Built by King Jaehaerys to unite the Seven Kingdoms, it became the path where childhood died and survival was born.

The Dark Hedges - your final destination. These 18th-century beech trees became the Kingsroad where Arya fled King's Landing. Walk where she stood in this natural cathedral of shadow and light.