Winter is coming and we have never been this excited before! Season 8 Game of Thrones is just around the corner and it’s already got our nerves jingling in anticipation as Winterfell is going to witness an epic battle or two. To celebrate the return of Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and the rest of the Westerosi, we decided to take a tour of two destinations where GoT was filmed and showcase five unique resorts that any fan of the series would want to stay in.
Among the various locations where GoT was filmed are Iceland and Spain. If you have plans to visit these two destinations or get some real ‘Lannister’ life, as any hardcore GoT fan would do, here are five resorts that you just cannot miss.
Castell d’Emporda Girona, Spain
Girona’s popularity as a travel destination soared when the sixth season of GoT featured many locales from the region. The medieval city’s preserved architecture, cobbled streets and historic Jewish neighbourhood were some of the reasons for the makers of the sixth season to choose Girona. An ideal and befitting resort to stay on your GoT journey is the Castell d’Empordà in the Emporada region and only 45 minutes away from Girona. A majestic castle that has been transformed to a hotel, Castell d’Empordà is situated on 12 hectares of land decked with olive trees and oak. Offering panoramic views of the picturesque La Bisbal d’Emporda provence, the hotel has a total of 57 rooms that are decorated with artefacts from India, China and Morocco with the charm of a 1000-year-old castle.
Along with locations that the popular television series was shot, other attractions around the historic area include the renowned Dali Triangle, the old monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, Arab Baths and the old Jewish Quarters, to name a few.
Snow Hotel, Lapland Hotels Snow Village Finnish Lapland
The ultimate tribute to George R.R. Martin’s bestseller turned series, Snow Hotel at Lapland Hotels SnowVillage is a Game of Thrones themed hotel made entirely of ice and snow. The hotel which has been built in collaboration with HBO Nordic is an hour and half away from Helsinki. The hotel which was built in just 5 weeks features myriad elements that would get any GoT fan excited. Expect to find everything from the Sept of Baelor, to an iron throne, and ice dragon to a gigantic Wun Wun starting down at you as you snuggle under covers on one of the ice beds. The hotel has 16 suite rooms and every room has a unique sculpture crafted into the ice walls. The hotel builder suggests guests spend only one night at the hotel – doubt if anyone can really stay on in the freezing hotel beyond a night. Other attractions of the Snow Hotel include an ice movie theatre where a docu-film on the making of the hotel is screened regularly; an Ice
Restaurant that serves a three-course meal and IceBar where you can try to enact Tyrion Lannister’s wine scene. Another added attraction of Snow Village is an ice chapel where weddings can be conducted. (You might want to read up on the legality aspect, though.)
King Alfonso XIII Seville, Spain
Scenes from GoT could very well have been filmed at the historical King Alfonoso XIII hotel. Built in 1929 by King Alfonso XIII for the VIP guests attending the Expo in Seville that year, King Alfonso XIII is A Luxury Collection hotel that is both majestic and opulent. Even after all these years, the original décor has been retained in various areas of the hotel which includes the patterned marnble floors, vibrant ceramic walls, mirrored wood lifts, crystal chandeliers and Triana azulejos tiles. Adding to the regal vibe of the hotel are the opulent beds with bed lamps that are adorned with crowns and plush deco that is reminiscent of the royal era.
The décor style is a mix of Castilian, Andalusian and Moorish elements. Think rich décor, Arabic tapestry, gilded mirrors and dark wood furniture. While the vibe of the hotel is regal and historic, King Alfonso XIII has everything a modern-day traveler would require. 55-inch televisions, USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity for personal devices, Signature Luxury Collection beds and Krupps coffee makers.
Want to live like Dornish royalty? This is our royal pick in Seville.
Vogafjós Guesthouse Mývatn, Iceland
A family-run resort, Vogafjós Guesthouse is a cosy choice for those looking to explore spots where GoT was filmed around Mývatn. Situated on a wonderful landscape of lava rocks, birch trees and lake Mývatn, Vogafjós Guesthouse includes a restaurant (where the GoT crew dined during the filming in 2012), boutique showcasing indigenous products and a cow shed. You can watch cow being milked early morning and, if brave enough, join in as well. Many of the milk-based products served at the restaurant are made in-house. The resort, which has a total of 26 rooms, is also a great spot for northern lights spotting and has made it to many lists as a hotel to stay to watch the splendor of the Aurora lights.
Hotel Aire de Bardenas Navarre, Spain
The khalasars wandered through Las Bardenas Reales in the sixth season. If the stunning landscape Las Bardenas is on your list, then Hotel Aire de Bardenas is where you should be staying. Las Bardenas has been a favourite of filmmakers for its sandy- red landscape and cracked clay tarmac. Bringing minimalistic and futuristic design elements to the barren land is Hotel Aire de Bardenas. The hotel, which would fit in it perfectly into a sci-fi movie, features cubicle architecture and sustainable materials. The unique feature of the hotel has to be the accommodation. There are two types of accommodations to choose from – single storey rooms with expansive windows and and bubbles. The rooms are cube shaped and thus even referred to as cube rooms and cube suites. But for a more intimate experience of nature, bubbles are the ideal choice.
Made from aluminum and reinforced plastic, a bubble tent includes a sleeping space and even a bathroom.
Hotel Kirkjufell Grundarfjörður, Iceland
The ‘mountain like an arrowhead’… is where many dramatic scenes of GoT where picturised especially of North beyond the Wall. The mountain mentioned in the movie is one of the most photographed attractions of Iceland – the majestic Kirkjufell mountain. A photographer’s delight and every GoT fan’s dream, the Kirkjufell mountain is a must visit on your trail of the television version of ‘A Song of Fire & Ice.’ The ideal place to stay is Hotel Kirkjufell with views of the glistening sea on one side and the towering Kikjufell mountain. There are only 29 rooms in this hotel that is modern yet minimalistic. WiFi, sound-proof rooms, in-room tea/coffeemakers, hair dryers and television sets are some of the amenities and services provided in the rooms. The hotel arranges whale and bird watching trips for guests as the area is renowned for both the species.
Waking up to the sight of the fascinating Kirkufell mountain is a remarkable experience and if you are lucky, you might even catch the Northern Lights frame the mountain!
