Ireland has played Westeros, Ahch-To, Viking settlements and a quiet island torn apart by a broken friendship. Here is where the cameras rolled and how to see it.
Ireland's screen appeal spans two Star Wars films on Skellig Michael, eight years of Game of Thrones across Northern Ireland, Vikings in Wicklow, and recent shoots including Wednesday season 2 and The Banshees of Inisherin. Most visitors base themselves in Dublin or Belfast, combine studio tours with coastal locations, and drive the Antrim coast or Kerry's Slea Head.
Ireland has spent more than a decade doubling as somewhere else. Its cliffs became the Cliffs of Insanity in The Princess Bride and a Horcrux cave in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Its beaches stood in for Normandy on D-Day in Saving Private Ryan. Its mountains and lakes hosted Viking armies, and a remote Kerry island became the most famous Jedi retreat in the galaxy.
The result is a country where screen tourism is now woven into the travel economy. Virgin Media research counted 104 productions shot in Dublin and 40 in Wicklow, and Tourism Ireland actively promotes filming locations for new releases including 500 Miles, shot in Wicklow, Kerry and Dublin for 2026. Visitors can walk real sets, stand on actual beaches, and take guided tours led by people who appeared on screen.
Sixteen major productions have left marks on the Irish map, ranging from The Quiet Man in 1952 to How to Train Your Dragon in 2025. Game of Thrones ran from 2011 to 2019 and used multiple Northern Ireland sites as Winterfell, the Kingsroad and the Iron Islands. Vikings and its sequel Vikings: Valhalla filmed around the Wicklow Mountains and Lough Tay. Two Star Wars films, The Force Awakens in 2015 and The Last Jedi in 2017, used Skellig Michael and Slea Head. Recent years brought The Banshees of Inisherin to Achill Island and Inishmore, Brooklyn to Enniscorthy and Curracloe, and Wednesday season 2 to Wicklow, Dublin and Offaly in 2025.
| Title | Year | Type | What was filmed here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game of Thrones | 2011-2019 | TV | Multiple Northern Ireland sites as Winterfell, Kingsroad, Iron Islands |
| Star Wars: The Force Awakens | 2015 | Film | Skellig Michael as Ahch-To |
| The Banshees of Inisherin | 2022 | Film | Achill Island and Inishmore as fictional island |
| Vikings | 2013-2020 | TV | Wicklow Mountains and Lough Tay |
| Normal People | 2020 | TV | Trinity College Dublin and Sligo coastline |
| Star Wars: The Last Jedi | 2017 | Film | Skellig Michael and Slea Head |
| Vikings: Valhalla | 2022- | TV | Lough Tay and Wicklow locations |
| The Quiet Man | 1952 | Film | Cong, County Mayo |
| Braveheart | 1995 | Film | Trim Castle and Curragh |
| Saving Private Ryan | 1998 | Film | Curracloe Beach D-Day scenes |
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | 2009 | Film | Cliffs of Moher cave sequence |
| Derry Girls | 2018-2022 | TV | Derry/Londonderry streets |
| Irish Wish | 2024 | Film | Kilruddery House and Lough Tay |
| Brooklyn | 2015 | Film | Enniscorthy and Curracloe |
| Wednesday | 2025 | TV | Wicklow, Dublin, Offaly locations for season 2 |
| How to Train Your Dragon | 2025 | Film | Northern Ireland coastal sites including Dunseverick Castle |
12 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Kerry, Portmagee area, Ireland Ticketed
Filmed here: Luke Skywalker's island sanctuary Ahch-To
The UNESCO island off Kerry's coast played Ahch-To, Luke Skywalker's sanctuary, in two Star Wars films. Boat tours run from Portmagee, but access is weather dependent and strictly limited, so book ahead and build flexibility into travel plans. The monastic island appears much as the films present it: steep, windswept and unforgettable.
Antrim, Armoy, United Kingdom Free to see
Filmed here: The Kingsroad
This beech avenue in Armoy, County Antrim, served as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones. The road is now closed to traffic, with free parking at the Hedges Hotel. Arriving early beats the tour buses and gives the tunnel of trees the moody, empty look that made it famous on screen.
Wicklow, Roundwood, Ireland Free to see
Filmed here: Guinness Lake scenes and various dramatic shots
Known as the Guinness Lake for its dark water and pale sand shore, Lough Tay near Roundwood in Wicklow appears in Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla and Irish Wish. Viewing is from roadside laybys on the R759. It is a private estate, so swimming and landing on the shore are not permitted.
Clare, Liscannor, Ireland Ticketed
Filmed here: Horcrux cave and Cliffs of Insanity
The cliffs in County Clare appeared as the Cliffs of Insanity in The Princess Bride and hosted the cave sequence in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There is a visitor centre with parking, and cliff edge paths run along the top. Strong winds are common, so dress accordingly.
Mayo, Achill, Ireland Free to see
Filmed here: Colm's cottage and island scenes
Keem Bay on Achill Island in Mayo is where Colm's cottage stood in The Banshees of Inisherin. The Blue Flag beach is reachable by car and draws swimmers and sightseers in equal measure. The surrounding cliffs and white sand explain why the production chose it for the film's loneliest scenes.
Galway, Aran Islands, Ireland Free to see
Filmed here: Harbour and village scenes
The largest Aran Island stood in for the harbour and village scenes in The Banshees of Inisherin. Ferries run from Rossaveal and Doolin, and bikes or minibuses are available on arrival for exploring. The island's stone walls and Atlantic light give it a character entirely its own.
Meath, Trim, Ireland Ticketed
Filmed here: York scenes
The Norman castle in County Meath played York in Braveheart, with much of the 1995 film's town action staged within its walls. Guided tours cover the keep, and the grounds are open daily. It remains one of the best preserved and most imposing castles in Ireland, filming history aside.
Wexford, Curracloe, Ireland Free to see
Filmed here: D-Day landing and 1950s beach scenes
This Wexford beach doubled for Omaha Beach in the D-Day opening of Saving Private Ryan and later appeared in Brooklyn. It sits partly within the Irish National Heritage Park area and has parking close to the sand. The flat, wide strand looks nothing like Normandy until the films put it there.
Down, Strangford, United Kingdom Ticketed
Filmed here: Winterfell courtyard and grounds
This National Trust property near Strangford in County Down provided the Winterfell courtyard and grounds in Game of Thrones. Tickets include gardens and house tours, and the estate's woods and shoreline appear throughout the early seasons. It is the closest a visitor can get to standing inside Winterfell itself.
Dublin, Ireland Free to see
Filmed here: University scenes and campus
Trinity's campus supplied university scenes in Normal People and appeared again in Wednesday season 2. The grounds and library are accessible to visitors, with the Book of Kells exhibition ticketed separately. Its cobbled squares and long corridors make it one of Dublin's most filmed interiors.
Kerry, Dingle, Ireland Free to see
Filmed here: Coastal and island views
The drive around Slea Head on the Dingle Peninsula delivered coastal and island views in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and earlier in Ryan's Daughter. The roads are narrow, so allow time and use the viewpoint parking areas. On clear days Skellig Michael is visible from the route, tying two Star Wars locations together.
Wicklow, Enniskerry, Ireland Ticketed
Filmed here: Gardens and waterfall scenes
The gardens and waterfall at Powerscourt in Enniskerry, Wicklow, appear in Vikings and Wednesday. It is a ticketed attraction and one of the country's most visited estates, combining formal gardens with a dramatic waterfall a short drive from the main house. Filming aside, it earns its popularity on its own merits.
Two studio attractions anchor screen tourism in Northern Ireland. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge houses interactive sets from the series, letting visitors walk through reconstructed interiors rather than outdoor locations. Titanic Studios on Queens Road in Belfast handled Game of Thrones interiors and other productions, sitting within the wider Titanic Quarter, which has its own industrial and maritime draw. Pairing the Banbridge studio tour with outdoor sites such as Castle Ward and the Dark Hedges gives a full picture of how the series was made.
Most bookable screen tourism options in Ireland centre on Game of Thrones, departing from Dublin or Belfast and pairing filming locations with the Giant's Causeway along the Antrim coast. Options range from large coach day tours to private car tours, including one led by an actor who appeared on the show. Studio tour tickets can be booked standalone or with coach transfers from Dublin.
Game of Thrones and Giant's Causeway Full-Day Tour from Belfast
Full-day Belfast departure taking in filming locations plus the causeway.
From Dublin: Game of Thrones Studio Tour with Coach Transfer
Coach transfer from Dublin plus studio admission, rated 4.8 from 2,175 reviews, at $76.
Official Game of Thrones Studio Tour Admission Ticket
Timed entry to the interactive sets at Linen Mill Studios, rated 4.8 from 1,370 reviews, at $39.
Official Game of Thrones Studio Tour Admission Ticket
Straightforward admission to the official studio tour at Banbridge.
Game of Thrones Locations Tour including Westeros & Giant's Causeway
Covers Westeros locations and the Giant's Causeway in a single itinerary.
Game of Thrones - Private Audi A6 tour with Richard the Wildling
A private Audi A6 tour guided by Richard the Wildling, who appeared in the series.
Game of Thrones and Giant's Causeway Day Tour from Belfast
Day tour from Belfast combining the Giant's Causeway with Game of Thrones sites.
Private Antrim Coast Tour: Giants Causeway and Game of Thrones
Private touring along the Antrim coast at the traveller's own pace.
Giants Causeway & Game of Thrones Tour from Belfast
Pairs the Giant's Causeway with Game of Thrones stops on a Belfast departure.
Game of Thrones & Giants Causeway Full-Day Tour From Belfast
A full-day group tour from Belfast covering the causeway coast and key filming locations.
Game of Thrones Filming Location Private Luxury Tour from Dublin
A private luxury vehicle from Dublin for travellers who want Northern Ireland's filming sites without joining a group.
Across Northern Ireland. Castle Ward near Strangford provided the Winterfell courtyard and grounds, the Dark Hedges at Armoy became the Kingsroad, and multiple sites stood in for the Iron Islands. Interiors were shot at Titanic Studios in Belfast, and the official studio tour with interactive sets is at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge.
Yes. Skellig Michael in County Kerry played Ahch-To in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Boat tours run from Portmagee, but landings are weather dependent and access to the UNESCO site is limited, so book early and keep plans flexible.
On Achill Island, specifically Keem Bay where Colm's cottage stood, and on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, which provided harbour and village scenes. Ferries to Inishmore run from Rossaveal and Doolin.
Wednesday season 2 filmed in Wicklow, Dublin and Offaly in 2025, using locations including Trinity College Dublin and Powerscourt Estate. How to Train Your Dragon, also from 2025, used Northern Ireland coastal sites including Dunseverick Castle. Irish Wish from 2024 filmed at Kilruddery House and Lough Tay.
Travelers from Dublin can take a private luxury filming location tour or a coach package with studio transfer from $76. Those based in Belfast can join full-day coach tours pairing the Giant's Causeway with filming locations, or book a private tour, including one led by an actor who appeared in the series as a Wildling.
The studio tour at Banbridge is rated 4.8 from 1,370 reviews, with tickets at $39 for admission only. It houses interactive sets from the series and works well combined with outdoor locations such as Castle Ward and the Dark Hedges, since it shows how interiors were built and shot.
Ireland rewards screen tourists who mix studio experiences with the landscapes themselves. A sensible plan pairs a Game of Thrones studio tour and Antrim coast drive with Kerry's Star Wars sites at Slea Head and, conditions permitting, Skellig Michael. The Banshees locations in Mayo and Galway suit a slower western loop, while Dublin and Wicklow cover everything from Normal People to Vikings. Book boat trips and studio admissions ahead, and leave room in the schedule for weather.
Before You Go
The tours travellers book most for Ireland.
