12 Game of Thrones Filming Locations to Visit With Teenagers

You can explore twelve iconic Game of Thrones filming locations across Northern Ireland with your teenagers, from Castle Ward’s original Winterfell courtyard to the atmospheric Dark Hedges serving as the Kingsroad. Most sites offer free parking and safe walking paths, making them budget-friendly family adventures. Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture better photos at coastal locations like Ballintoy Harbour and Dunluce Castle. These accessible destinations provide authentic Westeros experiences while showcasing Northern Ireland’s stunning natural beauty and medieval history.

Castle Ward – Exploring the Original Winterfell Courtyard

When you’re planning your Game of Thrones pilgrimage on a budget, Castle Ward in County Down offers the most bang for your buck as Northern Ireland’s most famous filming location. This National Trust property served as the original Winterfell courtyard where House Stark called home in season one.

Park at the shore entrance for closest access to the farmyard where Stark children practiced archery. You’ll find dedicated Game of Thrones signage with behind-the-scenes photos marking exact filming spots. The self-guided trail map covers over twenty sites, including where Robert Baratheon’s caravan arrived and Arya’s sword Needle was forged.

Book on-site archery sessions at the actual Stark practice spots, and don’t miss the 20-minute walk to Audley’s Field where Robb Stark’s army camped. The property’s stately home overlooks the scenic Strangford Lough, making it perfect for family photos after exploring the filming locations.

The Dark Hedges – Walking the Famous Kingsroad

After leaving Castle Ward, make the hour-long drive north to the Dark Hedges for Northern Ireland’s most photographed Game of Thrones location. You’ll recognize this tunnel of 18th-century beech trees as the King’s Road from Arya Stark’s escape scene in Season 2.

Park off Ballinlea Road and walk the short trail past Hedges Hotel to reach Bregagh Road safely.

Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture better photos. The mystical tree archway looks impressive year-round, though it’s been CGI-enhanced for filming. Originally planted circa 1775 by the Stuart family, these beech trees were designed to impress visitors approaching their Georgian mansion.

Since the trees stand on private land, respect boundaries and stick to the public road.

Combine this stop with nearby Ballintoy Harbour and Cushendun’s Doors of Thrones for an efficient County Antrim filming locations tour.

Cushendun Caves – Discovering the Shadowbaby Chamber

Your next stop along County Antrim’s coast brings you to Cushendun’s dramatic caves, where Melisandre gave birth to her shadow assassin in Season 2. These 400-million-year-old natural formations provided the perfect supernatural setting for one of the show’s most pivotal scenes.

You’ll find free parking and 24-hour access to both cave systems. The left cave features a tunnel leading to the beach where rowing scenes were filmed, while the larger right cave has safety barriers preventing further exploration.

Both are teenager-friendly with manageable walking distances from the village. The caves also appeared in Season 8 during the intense confrontation between Jaime and Euron.

Located an hour from Belfast along the scenic A2 Coast Road, you can easily combine this stop with other filming locations like Giant’s Causeway and Ballintoy Harbour, maximizing your budget-friendly Game of Thrones tour.

Ballintoy Harbour – Experiencing the Iron Islands Atmosphere

Although filming crews transformed this quiet County Antrim fishing harbour into the bustling port of Lordsport on Pyke, you’ll find Ballintoy Harbour maintains its authentic coastal charm year-round.

Your teenagers will recognize scenes where Theon arrives seeking his father’s help and his baptism reaffirming allegiance to the Drowned God.

Located beneath Ballintoy village, it’s easily accessible by car along the Causeway Coast. The harbour sits just five minutes from Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and fifteen minutes from Giant’s Causeway, making it perfect for a budget-friendly road trip. Beyond the Game of Thrones connection, the harbour’s history spans centuries as a limestone trading port from the 19th century.

Plan 30-60 minutes here, though you could extend to two hours for relaxation.

The steep road down requires careful driving, but you’ll find free parking and toilet facilities.

Game of Thrones signs mark key filming spots for memorable photo opportunities.

Inch Abbey – Visiting Robb Stark’s Camp and Riverrun

When you arrive at Inch Abbey’s medieval ruins beside the River Quoile, you’ll step into the fictional world of Riverrun and Robb Stark’s military camp from Season 1. Your teens will recognize scenes from Episode 10 where Robb was named King in the North after the Battle of the Whispering Wood.

The abbey sits 21 miles from Belfast with free parking and easy access. Expert guides who worked as extras offer affordable tours, sharing behind-the-scenes stories your teenagers will love. The ruins are safe to explore, but watch footing on uneven stones near the river.

This historic site also served as the backdrop for Hooster Tully’s funeral scenes at Riverrun, adding multiple layers of Game of Thrones significance to your visit.

Combine your visit with nearby Castle Ward and Tollymore Forest for a budget-friendly day covering multiple filming locations within 20 minutes of each other.

Tollymore Forest Park – Tracking Direwolves in Winterfell Forests

Twenty minutes from Inch Abbey, Tollymore Forest Park offers the most recognizable Game of Thrones location where your family can walk the exact trails where Ned Stark discovered the direwolf pups in Season 1’s opening episode.

You’ll recognize the Gothic Arch where Jon Snow and Tyrion shared their campfire conversation, plus Parnell’s Bridge spanning the Shimna River.

The park’s free admission makes it budget-friendly for families. Choose the 30-minute Blue trail for younger teens or tackle the challenging 5.5-mile Mountain Trail for adventurous groups.

Stick to marked paths—the 1,600-acre forest can disorient visitors. Pack water and snacks since facilities are limited. The forest’s eerie atmosphere made it perfect for filming the supernatural White Walkers encounter in the series pilot. Watch for red squirrels and fallow deer while exploring these atmospheric Winterfell woodlands that doubled as the Haunted Forest beyond The Wall.

Magheramorne Quarry – Standing Where Castle Black Was Built

Just fifteen minutes from Belfast, Magheramorne Quarry transforms an abandoned cement plant into the iconic entrance of Castle Black. Though you can’t explore the set directly due to filming restrictions, you’ll need to book an organized Game of Thrones tour to glimpse this location. Independent access isn’t permitted.

Tour buses drive past the quarry, allowing you to photograph the natural stone formations that created Castle Black’s authentic medieval fortress appearance. The barren wasteland scenery perfectly captures the harsh essence of The North as depicted in the series.

The quarry also hosted major battle scenes including Hardhome and Blackwater Bay sequences. While you can’t walk through the actual sets, the striking landscape provides excellent photo opportunities from designated viewing areas.

Budget-friendly tour packages often combine this location with nearby filming sites, maximizing your investment while ensuring safe, supervised access to restricted filming areas.

Larrybane Quarry – Reliving the Storm’s End Scenes

Located 100 metres from the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Larrybane Quarry doubles as both a filming location and practical overflow parking area for one of Northern Ireland’s busiest tourist attractions.

You’ll recognize this old chalk quarry as Renly Baratheon’s war camp from Season 2, where Brienne defeated Ser Loras in tournament before joining the Kingsguard.

The quarry’s towering rock faces overlook dramatic coastline views, with Rathlin Island visible on clear days.

Since it’s walkable to Giant’s Causeway, you’ll save money combining multiple attractions in one trip.

Game of Thrones fans appreciate photographing where Catelyn Stark negotiated alliances and the shadow assassin storyline began.

Include this stop when visiting the rope bridge—it’s free and adds significant value to your Causeway Coastal Route itinerary. The site is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm with no booking required.

Murlough Bay – Following in Theon Greyjoy’s Footsteps

While most travelers flock to Northern Ireland’s busier attractions, Murlough Bay offers a free alternative that’s equally spectacular for budget-conscious travelers. You’ll recognize this dramatic coastline from Theon Greyjoy’s return to Pyke and his horseback scenes with Yara.

The remote County Antrim location provides sweeping sea views and wild headlands perfect for adventurous teens. Pack sturdy walking shoes since paths are uneven and rocky. The steep cliff edges demand constant supervision and safety awareness.

You’ll find free parking nearby, making this an ideal budget stop along the Causeway Coast route. From Ballycastle, it’s a short drive to explore this untouched landscape. The bay also served as Slaver’s Bay in scenes where Tyrion and Ser Jorah were captured by slavers.

On clear days, you’ll spot Scotland and Rathlin Island across the Atlantic waters, creating memorable photo opportunities for your Game of Thrones adventure.

Carnlough Harbour – Exploring More Iron Islands Territory

Although Carnlough Harbour appears in only one pivotal scene, it’s where Arya Stark’s dramatic escape unfolds after the Waif’s brutal attack in season six. You’ll recognize the stone steps where Arya crawled toward the sea, though the location doubled for Braavos rather than the Iron Islands.

Located in County Antrim, this nineteenth-century harbour sits 90 minutes northeast of Ballymena. The drive’s straightforward, and parking’s typically free near the waterfront. Your teenagers will enjoy recreating Arya’s escape route down the historic stone staircase.

The harbour owner at nearby Londonderry Arms often shares filming stories with visitors and directs reenactments for enthusiastic fans. Budget about two hours here for photos and exploring the coastal paths. Stay alert near the water’s edge, as waves can be unpredictable along this dramatic shoreline.

Shillanavogy Valley – Witnessing Dothraki Wedding Grounds

When you’re driving north from Belfast toward the dramatic peaks of Slemish Mountain, you’ll discover Shillanavogy Valley’s rolling green plains that doubled as the Dothraki Sea where Daenerys wed Khal Drogo. Located just 40 minutes from Belfast city center, this accessible filming location offers expansive grasslands perfect for group photos and exploration.

You’ll find the valley at coordinates 54.861380, -6.049300 on Shillanavogy Road near Ballymena. The open landscape encourages teenagers to roam safely while recreating iconic Dothraki scenes.

Since it’s a straightforward detour from coastal routes, you won’t need expensive guided tours—self-drive exploration works perfectly. Pack snacks and water, as amenities aren’t readily available.

The striking mountain backdrop creates memorable photo opportunities without entrance fees, making it an ideal budget-friendly stop for fan families. The valley’s unspoiled areas showcase the natural beauty that made Northern Ireland perfect for capturing the medieval fantasy world of Westeros.

Dunluce Castle – Capturing Epic Coastal Fortress Views

From Shillanavogy Valley’s inland plains, your Game of Thrones journey shifts to Northern Ireland’s dramatic coastline at Dunluce Castle.

Here, House Greyjoy’s fortress of Pyke was brought to life through medieval ruins and CGI magic. You’ll find parking near the cliff-edge ruins, accessible via bridge from the mainland.

The castle opens 10 am to 6 pm daily, though you can photograph the exterior anytime. Visit late afternoon for fewer crowds and stunning sunset shots over the ocean.

At 59.5 miles from Belfast, combine this stop with Giant’s Causeway tours to maximize your budget.

The dramatic coastal position offers epic fortress photography opportunities that’ll impress your teens while showcasing the Ironborn stronghold’s imposing presence. Local legends speak of shipwrecks and banshees that once haunted these cliffs, adding an extra layer of mystery to your visit.

Last Words

You’ll create unforgettable memories visiting these Game of Thrones locations with your teenagers. Pack comfortable walking shoes, weatherproof clothing, and snacks to save money on tourist prices. Always check weather conditions before heading out, especially for coastal sites like Dunluce Castle. Book accommodations early for better rates, and consider staying in nearby towns rather than tourist hotspots. Most importantly, respect the natural environments and follow local guidelines to keep these filming locations pristine for future visitors.