Where Vikings Is Filmed (It’s Not In Scandinavia)

Vikings is set in different parts of Scandinavia, but it hasn’t been filmed there – here are the real-life locations used in the series. Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings debuted on History Channel in 2013, and it was originally planned to be a miniseries. However, it was so well received that it was quickly renewed for a second season, and so viewers got to really know the stories of Ragnar, Lagertha, Floki, and the rest of the Vikings.

The series initially focused on Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his own travels and raids alongside his Viking brothers, among them his real brother, Rollo (Clive Standen), with whom he had a complicated relationship. After a while, the series began shifting its focus to Ragnar’s sons – Bjorn Ironside, Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar – and their own travels, becoming the protagonists of the series, especially after Ragnar’s death in season 4. Vikings is now on its sixth and final season, with fans waiting for the final batch of episodes to be released – and in the meantime, why not looking back at the series and the places it has been filmed at?

Vikings takes place in different parts of Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, and Denmark), as well as England and France, where some of the raids took place. However, the series hasn’t been to all those places to film their respective scenes, and instead opted for a more neutral location that can easily pass as any of those places: Ireland. The city of Kattegat is one of the main settings of the series, but the real Kattegat is not exactly a place where a show like Vikings can be filmed, and so all scenes have been shot in County Wicklow. Scenes that require a green screen are filmed at Ashford Studios, and a lot of scenes from season 6 were shot at Powerscourt Waterfall, Powerscourt Estate, and Lough Tay.

Another location used in Vikings is Iceland, where Floki settled in (and where he might or might have not died, as his fate continues to be unclear) and, surprisingly, the crew of Vikings actually filmed some of those scenes in Iceland, most notably at the Skógafoss waterfall and the black sand beaches near Vík. Vikings also matched the location used for the English colony Jórvik, which is modern-day York, and shot those scenes there, while the ones set in Sicily, as seen in season 5, were actually filmed in Morrocco. Other locations used in the series are Searchmont and Prince, both in Ontario, Canada, and Hellesylt, Norway, though this last one has only been used for backgrounds.

Those interested in visiting the places where Vikings has been filmed at can do so, as many of them (especially those in Ireland) offer tours, and others are places where tourists can arrive and take a look around. Vikings won’t be the only one filmed at Wicklow County, as the spinoff series Vikings: Valhalla is also planned to be based at Ashford Studios, so you can be sure there will be a lot more incredible settings to enjoy.

About The Author

Adrienne Tyler
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Adrienne Tyler is a features writer for Screen Rant. She is an Audiovisual Communication graduate who wanted to be a filmmaker, but life had other plans (and it turned out great). Prior to Screen Rant, she wrote for Pop Wrapped, 4 Your Excitement (4YE), and D20Crit, where she was also a regular guest at Netfreaks podcast. She was also a contributor for FanSided’s BamSmackPow and 1428 Elm. Adrienne is very into films and she enjoys a bit of everything: from superhero films to heartbreaking dramas, to low-budget horror films. Every time she manages to commit to a TV show without getting bored, an angel gets its wings.

When she’s not writing, you can find her trying to learn a new language, watching hockey (go Avs!), or wondering what life would have been like had Pushing Daisies, Firefly, and Limitless not been cancelled. Breakfast food is life and coffee is what makes the world go round.

Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. It was great.

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