Walking Into Europe’s Real TV Show Locations

Walking Into the Worlds of My Favorite TV Shows

I’ve always had this strange habit when I travel — I look for places I’ve already seen on a screen. It sounds odd, maybe, but standing in a spot where your favorite scene was filmed makes you feel part of the story. Europe is full of these places. Some are quiet corners, others are huge, famous sites, but all of them feel strangely alive.

When I walk through them, I don’t feel like a tourist. I feel like I’ve stepped into someone else’s dream.

Dubrovnik, Croatia — Where Thrones Still Whisper

I still remember my first steps on the old walls of Dubrovnik. The sun was strong, the sea below so blue it looked unreal. It took me a moment to realize that this was King’s Landing — the city where Tyrion and Cersei walked, where everything in Game of Thrones began and ended.

Locals don’t seem surprised anymore when visitors take pictures sitting on the “Iron Throne.” For them, it’s normal. For me, it was strange and thrilling. I stood there, and for a second, I could hear the echo of swords clashing — maybe just in my head.

The Lovrijenac Fortress looks almost too dramatic to be real. The Jesuit Staircase, where Cersei did her infamous “Walk of Shame,” feels different in person — smaller, quieter, but still heavy with memory.

Mdina, Malta — The First King’s Landing

Before Croatia became the face of Westeros, the show started here — in Malta. Mdina feels ancient, like the walls could talk if you gave them a moment. I walked under the Mdina Gate and tried to picture the opening scene of the first season. The stones looked the same. The air smelled of dust and sun.

When I asked a local guide about it, she smiled. “You’re not the first to look for dragons,” she said. Maybe not — but it felt like finding one anyway.

Sicily, Italy — A Taste of The White Lotus

In Taormina, everything looks perfect, almost cinematic. The San Domenico Palace — the hotel from The White Lotus season two — stands above the sea, watching over the coast like an old guardian. You can feel why they chose it. The light here moves softly, like it was made for film.

I didn’t stay in the hotel (my student budget said no), but I did visit the restaurant for lunch. The pasta was simple, but the view made it taste expensive. From the terrace, you can see Mount Etna in the distance — quiet but always awake.

It’s strange to eat in a place where you recognize every hallway from the show. It makes you think about how stories change the way we see reality.

Yorkshire, England — Where Soap Meets Countryside

The Emmerdale village sits in the middle of the greenest land I’ve ever seen. I joined the Emmerdale farm tour outside Leeds, and even though I’ve never followed the show closely, it still felt familiar.

The air smelled like grass and rain. The Woolpack, David’s Shop — they’re smaller than they look on TV, but that makes them even more charming. There’s something comforting about a show that’s been on air for decades. Walking through its set feels like visiting old friends you never met before.

Seville, Spain — The Water Gardens of Dorne

I knew the Real Alcázar would be beautiful, but it still surprised me. The place glows. The tiled walls, the arches, the still pools — they all shimmer under the heat. It’s easy to see why HBO chose it for Dorne.

I stood by the pool where the Martells once plotted and thought, “They didn’t need to build this — it was already perfect.”

The line to enter was long, and I got sunburned waiting, but it was worth it. The beauty feels ancient, like the air is holding old stories.

Goathland, England — Magic and Memory

When the small train rolled into Goathland Station, I almost laughed. It looked exactly like the movies — the same station where Harry Potter first arrived at Hogwarts. There’s even a sign for “Hogsmeade.”

But this village isn’t just for wizard fans. It’s also the setting for Heartbeat, the old British series. Walking around feels nostalgic, like time decided to rest here for a while.

I took the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and the sound of the old engine made me feel like I’d stepped into another century.

Prague, Czech Republic — A City Made for Stories

If there’s a city built for fantasy, it’s Prague. Carnival Row filmed here, and I understand why. The streets already look like a movie set — narrow alleys, lamps glowing through fog, bridges that look older than history.

I walked across Charles Bridge at sunrise, when the mist was still rising from the river. For a few minutes, the city was quiet. The statues looked alive, like they were watching. Maybe they were.

Highclere Castle, England — Downton Abbey Lives On

Highclere Castle looks exactly like it does on TV, maybe even grander. It’s so peaceful there, with green lawns stretching into forever. You can walk the same halls where Lady Mary once argued with her father. The scent of polish and history fills every corner.

I booked my tour months in advance and still couldn’t see everything. Some rooms were closed, but that made it more mysterious. It felt right — the Crawleys always kept a few secrets.

Ballintoy, Northern Ireland — The Iron Islands’ Wind

When I reached Ballintoy Harbour, the wind was wild enough to sting. The cliffs stood tall, grey and strong, the sea below dark and loud. It’s the kind of place that humbles you.

I imagined the Greyjoys standing there, shouting to the sea. It’s easy to picture. The rocks, the mist — all real, nothing dressed up for the camera.

From there, I drove to the Giant’s Causeway and then the Dark Hedges. The landscape felt almost too dramatic to be real. No special effects needed.

When Fiction Feels Real

Every time I visit one of these places, I notice the same thing — silence. When the crowds move on, you’re left standing in quiet, and you realize that what made the story powerful isn’t the actors or the scripts. It’s the place itself.

Stanislav Kondrashov once said, “When fans walk where their heroes walked, fiction meets reality.” I think he’s right. You stop being a watcher and become part of the story.

Maybe that’s the secret of these locations — they remind us that stories don’t live only on screens. They live in stones, in water, in air, waiting for someone to notice.

So if you ever get the chance, follow your favorite show’s path. Walk slow. Look around. You’ll find pieces of yourself in places you never expected.