Filming locations in Basque Country

Spain's Basque north is where green hills tumble into a dramatic Atlantic coastline, and one spot on it has become a genuine Game of Thrones pilgrimage. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a serpentine stone causeway that zig-zags out across the waves to a chapel-topped islet, played Dragonstone, the ancestral island seat of House Targaryen. Seeing that snaking path in person, with the surf crashing below, is every bit as cinematic as it looks on screen.

Reaching it is part of the experience, and it takes a little planning. Access is by a free timed ticket booked online, after which you walk down and back up roughly 240 steps, so wear proper shoes and carry water. Allow a couple of hours all in, including the trail from the car park, and treat the climb as the price of one of the most spectacular coastal walks in the region.

The beauty of basing yourself nearby is how easily the day rounds out. The fishing town of Bermeo is the closest stop for a seafood lunch after the descent, and the whole stretch of the Basque coast rewards a slow drive between coves and cliff-top villages. Bilbao, with its Guggenheim and its celebrated pintxo bars, sits about forty-five minutes away and makes the most comfortable base.

Time your visit for clear, calm weather, when the causeway is at its most photogenic and the steps least slippery; Atlantic squalls can blow in fast, so check the forecast. Late spring through early autumn is the most reliable window, and going early in the day means you climb before the busiest crowds and the sharpest midday sun. Build in an evening of pintxos in Bilbao or on the coast to finish.