The third season of House of the Dragon premiered on 21 June 2026, bringing viewers back to the fictional world of Westeros. While dragons, castles and battles may belong to fantasy, many of the locations seen on screen are real places that can be visited across Europe. The series continues a growing travel trend known as “set-jetting”, where fans choose holiday destinations inspired by films and television shows. For season three, the production once again turned to Wales, Spain and England to recreate some of the most recognisable locations from George R.R. Martin’s fantasy universe.
One of the biggest stars of the new season is Wales, whose rugged coastline and natural scenery provide the backdrop for several important locations in Westeros. The island of Driftmark, home to House Velaryon, appears once again in the series. While earlier seasons used St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall to represent the island, season three moves to Llanddwyn Island and Beaumaris Pier on the Welsh island of Anglesey. Their rocky shores and dramatic coastal views create the perfect setting for Driftmark as it becomes increasingly affected by war. Fans visiting the area today can explore sandy beaches, coastal walking trails and panoramic sea views that are just as impressive in real life.
Wales also doubles as several other locations featured throughout the season. Union Rock, near the village of Llanberis, was transformed into Harrenhal, one of the largest and most feared castles in Westeros. In the story, the fortress has a dark reputation because of its violent history and ruined appearance. Nearby, the mountains and lakes of Eryri National Park, also known by its English name Snowdonia National Park, were used to portray the rugged landscapes crossed by the characters. Woodland scenes were filmed in Newborough Forest on Anglesey, a 2,000-acre forest that combines pine woods, sand dunes and walking paths. These natural locations help create a believable fantasy world without relying entirely on computer-generated effects.
Spain also returns to the spotlight thanks to the historic city of Cáceres in the country’s western Extremadura region. The medieval streets and stone buildings once again represent King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms and home to the famous Iron Throne. Cáceres has become closely linked with the Game of Thrones universe after appearing in previous seasons of both House of the Dragon and its predecessor. The city’s remarkably well-preserved old town has earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status, making it a destination that attracts both history enthusiasts and television fans. Walking through its narrow streets, visitors can easily recognise corners that have been transformed into one of fantasy television’s most famous cities.
Not every scene was filmed outdoors, however. Many of season three’s large-scale battle sequences were created at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England. The studio, located in Hertfordshire, is one of the best-known production facilities in Europe and has been home to numerous major film and television productions. For House of the Dragon, filmmakers combined detailed physical sets with green-screen technology to recreate castles, armies and dragons that would not be possible to build entirely on location. This mix of real scenery and studio work allows the series to create the scale that viewers expect while still grounding much of the story in authentic European landscapes.
The combination of natural scenery, historic cities and modern filmmaking techniques continues to be one of the strengths of House of the Dragon. Rather than relying only on digital effects, the series makes extensive use of real destinations that add atmosphere and authenticity to the fictional world of Westeros. For travellers inspired by what they see on screen, many of these filming locations are open to visitors throughout the year. From the windswept coastlines of Wales to the medieval streets of Cáceres, season three offers plenty of opportunities to follow in the footsteps of Team Black and Team Green while discovering some of Europe’s most remarkable destinations.
