BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN
Unlike the tourist magnet of the south, this northern region of Spain is the cooler, moodier side. With acres of vivid green hills and dramatic coastline, featuring stunning rock formations, it’s no wonder the GOT location scouts were persuaded that it was the perfect setting. Itzurun Beach in Zumaia, with its spectacular flysch deposits (which look like giant slate jutting out of the shore – see pic below), is where Daenerys landed her army when they finally arrived at Westeros. Kit Harington (Jon Snow) was also seen nearby, filming at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a tiny island that’s home to a lone building dating back to the 9th century. A road trip along the rugged coastline is the perfect way to experience the beauty of this area of Basque country. Wind your way from Bilbao, through gorgeous vineyards, then finish at the pretty port of San Sebastian, where the golden sands
of La Concha Beach will remind you that you haven’t travelled in a time machine to the medieval era. Make sure you stop en route to taste some of the amazing food this area has to offer. We can only imagine the GOT catering was #foodporn while filming took place. STAY: The stunning boutique Hotel Iriarte Jauregia is slightly inland from the coast, in the mountains near Bidanea. A former palace, no less. If you can peel yourself away from one of the 19 gorgeous individual rooms, we’d recommend booking a table at the in-house restaurant, where the food is as jaw-dropping as the views. Rooms cost £150 a night (Iriartejauregia.com). SIGHTSEEING FOR SUPERFANS The Thrones cast dined at Bilbao’s Michelin-starred Restaurante Mina while they were filming, and their 14-course tasting menu costs around £100 a head if you fancy treating yourself (Restaurantemina.es).