I wonder if you’ve ever watched the How to Train Your Dragon animated movie and wished you could go right into that dreamy world? You know, the world of soaring dragons, rugged landscapes, and brave Burkean Vikings? With the recent release of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon in theaters in 2025, that world feels closer than ever. It’s like bringing back a more clearly defined childhood world.

The live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon was primarily filmed in Northern Ireland with a facility in Belfast, which was the central hub for much of the filming. But the crew also traveled to other visually stunning locations, both within Northern Ireland and further afield in Norway, to capture pristine, unexplored natural landscapes befitting a movie.Let’s explore these How to Train Your Dragon locations!

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How to Train Your Dragon Filming Location 2025

Giant’s Causeway
Tollymore Forest Park
Dunseverick Castle
Faroe Islands
Svalbard

Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s causeway is an arrangement of more than 40,000 unevenly sized basalt stone pillars located on the Atlantic coast about 80 kilometers northwest of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The spectacular scenery has made it one of Ireland’s popular natural landscapes and a World Natural Heritage Site.

Best time to visit: Consider visiting during the flat season of spring (April to May) or fall (September to October). The weather may be a little cooler, around 10-14 °C (50-57 °F) but you’ll have more space to explore and appreciate the magnificence of nature. Summer (June to August) is the most popular season and the busiest. Temperatures are around 16-18 °C (60-65 °F)

Things to do: Tickets here cost £14 per adult on normal days and £15 at peak times. In Giant’s Causeway besides viewing the natural basalt, you can also choose different trails to see different views. There are four trails – red, blue, green, and yellow – and it is recommended that you take the blue line (coastline) directly down to the beach and then the red line (ridge line) back to the visitor center. Interesting folklore is also available at the Visitor Center to give you an insight into the area’s charms. Don’t forget to look for strange features such as the “Giant’s Boot” and the “Giant’s Organ Pipes”.

How to get around: There is a paid parking lot at The Causeway Coast Way Car Park, and if you don’t want to walk downhill, there is a shuttle service from the Visitor Center to the main basalt columns. Of course, a bus tour to Giant’s Causeway would be a more convenient option.

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Tollymore Forest Park

Tollymore Forest Park was Northern Ireland’s first National Forest Park. It was the filming location for Hiccup’s discovery and care of Toothless, and it was once one of the Game of Thrones filming locations. Located at the foot of the Mourne Mountains in County Down, this ancient forest is covered in trees, meandering rivers, and moss-covered rocks.

Best time to visit: Tollymore Forest Park is beautiful year-round, and the best seasons to visit are spring and fall. The plants are in full bloom in the spring, and in the fall there are golden maple leaves.

Things to do: Tollymore is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. There are several well-marked walks, such as the Blue Trail which is able to view the Tollymore Arboretum, also one of Ireland’s oldest botanic gardens. The Red Trail takes you from the Shimna River to the Hermitage, an 18th-century stone building on the edge of a densely wooded stream. You can go from easy walks to more challenging hiking trails.

There are also specialized horseback riding trails in the park where you can try horseback riding in the forest. After spending time in the forest you can head to the nearby town of Newcastle, which has cafes, supermarkets and stores where you can relax.

How to get around: You can take a train from Belfast Central Station to Downpatrick. Get off the train and take a taxi or bus to Tollymore Forest Park. And the best way to explore Tollymore Forest Park is on foot.

Dunseverick Castle

The ruins of Dunseverick Castle are perched on the edge of the cliffs at County Antrim, overlooking the choppy Atlantic Ocean. Once a fortress as well as a royal site, it was destroyed in 1642. It adds a touch of gritty history to the movie set. Although only a small remnant of the original castle remains, its grandeur is reminiscent of the isolated and ancient forts that lined the coastline during the Viking Age.

Best time to visit: Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit as there are fewer visitors and the weather is pleasant. The castle is exposed, so be prepared for strong winds and potential rainfall no matter what the season.

Things to do: Dunseverick Castle is primarily a scenic attraction and due to its proximity to the Giant’s Causeway, you can arrange to visit it on the same day. Here you can enjoy its ruins and magnificent coastal views. It’s also a great spot for a seaside wander as the Ulster Way long trail passes nearby. It’s also possible to walk 13 minutes from the castle to Dunseverick Falls, where you can watch the water lapping against the rocks before merging into the sea.

How to get around: Getting to Dunseverick Castle usually requires a car, and parking is limited nearby, with a small parking lot behind Whitepark Bay Beach. The castle ruins can be visited on foot. If you want to get to Dunseverick Castle from the Giant’s Causeway, there is also the option of taking the Service 172 bus.

Faroe Islands

While the Faroe Islands were not the direct How to Train Your Dragon filming location 2025, they were a huge visual inspiration for the original animated movie. Located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Norway and Iceland, these islands are known for their spectacular grass-covered mountains, towering sea cliffs, and grass-roofed houses. If you’re looking for unexplored nature destinations, the Faroe Islands are the way to go.

Best time to visit: During the summer months, June through August, the climate is the mildest with the longest hours of sunshine, making it ideal for hiking and exploring. Many migratory birds return during this time, making it the best time for bird watching.

Things to do: The Faroe Islands are mainly composed of several islands such as Vágar, Streymoy, Eysturoy, Borðoy, Kalsoy, Sandoy, and Suðuroy. So it is possible to spend 5-7 days touring here.

On Sandoy, for example, one can travel to Húsavík, a stretch of very old villages. Or on Streymoy, the coast of Vestmanna, where you can cruise through grottoes and narrow channels, exploring while witnessing birds in their natural habitat. The Kallur Lighthouse and the statue of The Seal Woman on the island of Kalsoy are well worth a visit to see.

How to get around: The only port airport in the Faroe Islands is Vigil Airport, with regular direct flights to Denmark and Iceland throughout the year, and flights to Scotland and Norway in the summer.

Renting a car is the most flexible way to explore the Faroe Islands, allowing you to travel to remote areas and organize your trip on your schedule. The Faroe Islands also have their public transportation system, Strandfaraskip Landsins, which can be reached by ferry between the islands public buses are available on the islands, and it is recommended that you purchase a multi-day ticket to allow unlimited travel on regular route buses and ferries.

Svalbard

Svalbard is an archipelago between the Norwegian mainland and the Arctic, with rare tundra terrain. Polar bears, reindeer, and Arctic foxes inhabit the area. While it is not clear whether the live-action movie was set here, Svalbard was certainly one of the places that inspired scenes for the animated movie. The sheer scale of the natural environment here is a reflection of the grand scale of the movie.

Best time to visit: Summer (June through August) is the easiest season to get to the North Pole, during which polar days occur and the sun is visible in the middle of the night. Visitors can take boat trips, hike, and see wildlife. Winter (November through February) offers the chance to see the Northern Lights. Be aware that during this time there is a polar night, which can affect other outdoor activities.

Things to do: Svalbard is an Arctic adventure paradise. Activities include snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice cave exploration, hiking, and wildlife viewing by boat. Many visitors also take adventure cruises to explore remote fjords and glaciers. The capital is Longyearbyen, and nearby is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a storehouse of hope for the future, like a seeded version of Noah’s Ark. Although you can only view the exterior of the building and an informative version of it from the outside, it’s a very unique experience.

How to get around: The main mode of transportation to get there is a flight to its capital, Longyearbyen, with direct flights to Svalbard from both Oslo and Tromsø, which take about 3 hours. Within Longyearbyen, you can walk or take a cab. If you want to explore further afield, you’ll need to join a tour. Independent travel outside the main settlements is often limited due to the presence of polar bears and rugged terrain.

Where is How to Train Your Dragon Set in?

The movie is set on an island called Berk. In the animated movie, Hiccup describes the place like this, “twelve days north of Hopeless, and a few degrees south of Freezing to Death. It’s located solidly on the Meridian of Misery.” Although a fictional address, the island was able to receive inspiration from real-life geography based on its appearance, such as the cliffs and coastline, and its remote location.

Cressida Cowell, author of the original How to Train Your Dragon series of books, drew a great deal of inspiration from the rugged beauty of the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. There are wild and untamed landscapes, ancient history, and ubiquitous natural elements. In particular, the unique basalt columns and hills of the Faroe Islands had a major influence on the visual style of the animated film.

The live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie, which hits theaters on June 13, 2025, aims to capture that same sense of realism. While parts of the movie relied on CGI for the dragons and fantasy elements, the production team traveled to different locations for live-action filming to give the most realistic look at the world of Viking.

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Other Major Attractions in Northern Ireland

Many amazing places and attractions in Northern Ireland are well worth visiting besides the How to Train Your Dragon filming locations.

Murlough Bay: This enchanting bay on the Antrim coast boasts some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Northern Ireland. This includes treacherous cliffs, sandy coves, and views stretching to the Isle of Rathlin and the Scottish coast. It’s also one of the backdrops for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon CGI of dragons flying.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge: Built-in 1755, this bridge connects the mainland with the small island of Carrickarede. The bridge also offers a magnificent view of the sea at your feet. You can walk along the seaside walkway to the 20-meter long rope bridge, and when you reach the island you can spend some time checking out the fisherman’s huts here.

Dark Hedges: These 18th-century beech trees, made famous by the “Kingsroad” in Game of Thrones, are so thick and leafy that they form a natural tunnel. This is one of the 10 most beautiful tree tunnels in the world.

Belfast: Belfast itself is a lively city with a rich history. You can explore the Titanic Quarter, visit the historic Crumlin Road Prison, or just visit the Ulster Museum to learn about Irish culture and history.

FAQ

What place inspired How to Train Your Dragon?

In particular, Cressida Cowell’s original novel was largely inspired by the Hebrides in Scotland. In terms of visual effects, especially for the animated movie, the Faroe Islands with their unique basalt formations and magnificent natural environment had a major impact on the movie.

Where is Berk supposed to be?

Berk is a fictional island in the world of How to Train Your Dragon. It was inspired by the Scottish Islands and other similarly remote islands.

Where is the How to Train Your Dragon theme park?

How to Train Your Dragon theme park at Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida. This is a new area opening in 2025.