Game of Thrones Season 5 May Boost Spain Tourism

The HBO hit series Game of Thrones is currently filming its fifth season in Osuna, Spain, and following the series' boost in tourism to other on-site locations (think IcelandDubrovnik and Northern Ireland), it seems likely that the region may benefit from the exposure.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau during filming in the Real Alcázar in Seville. Photo courtesy of Spain.info.

According to Time Magazine, previous filming locations have reported dramatic increases in tourism following the show’s visit. The number of tourists visiting the town and the Seville area is expected to rise by 15 percent, according to U.S. ambassador to Spain and former HBO exec James Costos.

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Local businesses are already preparing for an influx: Casa Curro, an Osuna restaurant, has prepared a Games of Thrones-themed menu with dishes like the Joffrey — a bacon and trout dish with mulled wine. Business Insider reported that Osuna's business association plans to offer special location tours, while one restaurant will redecorate in a "Game of Thrones" theme.

The town hall is also thinking of setting up a museum dedicated to the film shoot and will update its tourism web page to highlight the sites featured in the series, Osuna mayor Rosario Andujar told the paper. Osuna is approximately 50 miles from Seville, making it appealing for a day-trip. According to the Spanish tourism board, scenes were also filmed in the Andalusian city of Cordoba, specifically on its Roman bridge. The tourism board also predicted that the Guadalquivir River in Cordoba could serve to recreate the Greenblood River in the fictional city of Dorne. 

Entertainment Weekly said that filming initially focused on the 15th century Alcázar palace, a lavish sprawling compound in Seville that will serve as the home of House Martell in the series. 

How to Get There and Where to Stay

Those interested in exploring filming locations can fly into Seville from Madrid, or take a 2.5-hour ride on the high-speed AVE train system. (Rail Europe can help arrange rail tickets.) In Seville, the Hotel Alfonso XIII is one of the most popular (and lavish) accommodations, and is a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection. Other top properties in and around Seville include the Fairplay Golf Hotel and Spa, the Gran Melia Colon, the Hotel Barcelo Renacimiento and the Casa de Carmona

For those looking for a place to stay in Osuna itself (which is only an hour's drive away from Seville), we hear actress Emilia Clarke, who stars as Daenerys Targaryan on the show, celebrated her birthday in town at the Hotel Palacio Marques de la Gomera