Game of Thrones

Your first day on the Game of Thrones tour.

You leave Edinburgh and head south through the Scottish Borders before dropping down to the ferry port at Stranraer. The crossing itself is a proper sea journey — roughly two hours on the water with the Irish coastline gradually appearing ahead of you.

There’s something special about arriving in a new country by ferry. As the ship docks in Belfast, you can already feel the shift. This is the city where so much of Game of Thrones was created — not just filmed, but built from the ground up in the old Titanic Studios.

You’ll have the afternoon and evening to settle in. A gentle introduction to the city and a chance to get your bearings before the adventure properly begins tomorrow. Many guests say the ferry crossing already starts to make the whole trip feel like an escape into another world.

You stay in Belfast tonight, ready for the Studio Tour in the morning.

The day many guests have been waiting for.

You spend today at the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour, located in the very studios where the show was filmed for eight seasons. This isn’t a theme park version — it’s the real thing. You walk through the actual soundstages, see original sets, costumes, armour, and props, and get a real sense of the incredible craftsmanship that went into bringing Westeros to life.

The tour is thoughtfully designed and genuinely impressive. Many people say it deepens their appreciation of the show and makes the landscapes they’ll visit over the next week feel even more special.

After the tour you have the afternoon to explore more of Belfast if you wish — the Titanic Museum is right nearby and well worth a visit. This is a proper city day with a cinematic heart.

You stay in Belfast again tonight before heading north along the coast tomorrow.

Today you head north along the spectacular Antrim Coast.

You begin with the dramatic Cushendun Caves, where the Red Woman gave birth to her shadow in the show. The dark, atmospheric caves feel genuinely ancient and slightly mysterious.

From there you take the stunning Torr Head scenic drive, one of the most beautiful coastal roads in Ireland, with sweeping views across to Scotland. The landscape here is wild and raw.

The day builds to a highlight as you arrive at the famous Dark Hedges — the iconic avenue of twisted beech trees that became the King’s Road. Whether you visit in the golden light of late afternoon or early morning, it’s an incredibly atmospheric place.

You stay near Ballycastle tonight, well positioned for the Giant’s Causeway and the rest of the Antrim Coast tomorrow.

A big day on the famous Antrim Coast.

You start at the Giant’s Causeway — a truly otherworldly landscape of black basalt columns that feels like something from another world. It’s easy to see why it featured so heavily in the show.

From there you continue to Dunluce Castle, the real-world inspiration for Pyke, seat of House Greyjoy. Perched on the cliff edge with waves crashing below, it’s one of the most dramatic castles in Ireland.

You’ll also visit Ballintoy Harbour (Lordsport Harbour in the show) and the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The whole day has a wild, elemental quality that perfectly captures the spirit of the Iron Islands.

You stay on the north coast again tonight, giving you time to soak in the atmosphere before you begin heading west tomorrow.

Today you continue the anti-clockwise journey around Ireland.

You leave the north coast and head west into County Donegal. The landscape quickly becomes wilder and more remote. Your main destination is Slieve League, home to some of the highest and most dramatic sea cliffs in Europe.

The views from the top are extraordinary — sheer drops into the Atlantic with sweeping coastal scenery in every direction. It has a raw, untamed quality that feels very much in the spirit of the show.

You stay in the Slieve League area tonight, giving you time to explore the cliffs properly and enjoy the incredible light at the end of the day. This is proper road trip territory.

You continue anti-clockwise through beautiful and varied scenery into the Sligo area.

Today is more relaxed but still visually striking. The iconic mountain of Benbulben dominates the landscape, and the coastline and countryside around Sligo have a gentle but atmospheric quality.

You can take your time exploring the area — perhaps visiting Glencar Waterfall or driving some of the quieter coastal roads. The change in landscape from the rugged north coast and the towering cliffs of Slieve League is noticeable and welcome.

You stay in the Sligo area tonight. Tomorrow you begin heading east across the country.

A day of ancient history as you head east.

You leave Sligo and travel across Ireland to the Boyne Valley, home to Newgrange and the great passage tombs. These ancient monuments are over 5,000 years old and have a powerful, almost mythical atmosphere that fits the tone of the tour perfectly.

After spending time at the Boyne Valley you continue on to the Dublin area, arriving in the evening ready for a full day in the capital tomorrow.

You stay near Dublin tonight.

A full day in Dublin followed by a gentle move north.

You spend the day properly exploring Dublin — wandering the historic streets, visiting Trinity College, or simply enjoying the city’s lively atmosphere. After the wild landscapes of the past week, the energy of the capital makes a welcome contrast.

In the late afternoon or early evening you drive north into the Mourne Mountains. The drive is only around two hours and the landscape changes dramatically as you enter the hills. The Mournes have a dark, brooding quality that feels very much like the North in Game of Thrones.

You stay in the Mourne Mountains tonight. This puts you in a much better position for the ferry the next day and gives you one last night among beautiful scenery.

The final day.

You leave the Mourne Mountains and drive a short distance to the ferry port in Belfast. After checking in you take the ferry back across the Irish Sea to Stranraer.

The crossing is straightforward, and once you land in Scotland it’s only around two and a half to three hours’ drive to Edinburgh.

The aim is to get you home by around 5pm with far less pressure than if you had started the day from Dublin.

As you travel, you’ll have time to look back on the journey — the wild coasts, the dramatic mountains, the ancient sites, and the unforgettable experience of walking through the real studios where Game of Thrones was made.

You arrive back in Edinburgh with a head full of stories from the road.