From historic castles to religious monuments, dragon-skull crypts to flesh peddlers, King’s Landing offers something for everyone. The sophisticated and crowded capital of the Seven Kingdoms makes for a perfect weekend getaway for those looking to sample the culture of Westeros—or make a play for power.
Day 1: Prowl Around the Red Keep
The most iconic landmark in the city is the Red Keep, the political epicenter of the Seven Kingdoms. Looming atop of Aegon’s Hill in the southeastern corner of the city, this expansive complex is built completely out of red rock, and houses both the seat of power—the Iron Throne—and the royal family. Start your visit with a tour of the walls, guided by the golden-cloaked City Watch. From here you will be able to see the expanse of the city below—but be downwind of its notorious stench.
Continuing your tour, you can visit the residence of the king and royal family in Maegor's Holdfast, a walled fortress within the Keep surrounded by a moat. The residence’s most beloved tenant, the cat Ser Pounce, is known to prowl the area, looking for patches of sunlight. At the nearby Tower of the Hand, you can also catch a glimpse of the Small Council in action, deciding the fate of the realm.
However, the true highlight of the Red Keep is the Great Hall. This throne room of the king is lined with dragon skulls and houses the much-desired Iron Throne, currently held by King Tommen, First of His Name. Made out for the swords of defeated enemies, the Throne sits on a dais overlooking the ornate hall. Only the King and the King’s Hand may sit in it, but if they are away, you may try to take a quick selfie. Afterwards (if you succeed and are not beheaded), enjoy a Dornish red with the Queen Regent, Cersei, who holds council in the Queen’s Chambers.
No trip to the Red Keep would be complete without a visit to the dungeons and secret subterranean passages. To get there, you’ll pass Traitor’s Walk where you may see the spiked heads of executed disloyal subjects, like Eddard Stark. The dungeons are four-levels deep, with the torture becoming more extreme the farther you descend. If at anytime you wish to leave, you can take one of the secret tunnels that wind through the Keep, leading you out to the Tower of the Hand, the Great Hall, or via a sewer, to Blackwater Bay itself.
Day 2: A Visit to Flea Bottom
King’s Landing is not all palaces, diplomacy, and the royal to-dos. The living, breathing city is best embodied in the neighborhood of Flea Bottom. A series of winding, narrow alleyways, Flea Bottom is home to tradesman, stables, and whorehouses. Start your morning off at one of the many stalls serving the local specialty, a bowl of brown, a long-simmering stew made up of indeterminate meats. Once fed, head to Street of Steel to browse the numerous smithies and swordmakers, including the shop where Robert Baratheon’s bastard Gendry apprenticed.
For a change of pace from the hustle and bustle, in the afternoon head to the Great Sept of Baelor. This place of worship was designed with seven crystal towers, each one representing one of the seven gods. The Faith, overseen by the High Sparrow, currently occupy the Sept, preaching their faith as well as imprisoning those who defy it, like the Queen Regent who recently was required to pay penance for her sins by walking naked through the streets.
To balance the piety of the afternoon, end your day at the Street of Silk. While this street is home to many houses of ill repute, Petyr Baelish (aka Littlefinger’s) brothel is the most upscale, catering to the desires of King’s Landing elite. Enjoy some entertainment and free flowing Dornish wine, but beware a raid from the Faith.
Day 3: Learn from a Local
Start your day bright and early with a sword lessons down by the cliffs overlooking Blackwater Bay. You can enlist either a Braavosi to teach you the “water dancing” style or a sell sword for a more mercenary approach. After working up an appetite, head to the Street of Flour to tuck into a lamprey pie.
In the afternoon, head to the Guildhall of the Alchemists to see the latest inventions developed by the realm’s best pyromancers. You can watch as acolytes prepare wildfire, a key weapon in defending the city from attack. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the chief alchemist reanimating the dead.
Wind down your day at the Dragon’s Gate and the start of the Kingsroad. Running from King’s Landing all the way to the Wall, the King’s Road is the central artery of Westeros. Enjoy the sunset over the city and cheer on the volunteers passing through on their way north to enlist in the Night’s Watch.
Even though Westeros and Essos are fictional, you can "visit" when the new season of Game of Thrones starts Sunday, April 24.