Where is Game of Thrones filmed? Discover all the locations

First, the bad news: Westeros isn’t real. We’re sorry to say it, but you’re not going to become a knight, tame a dragon or kill a white walker. Now for the good news: the filming locations used for HBO’s legendary fantasy series are very real indeed. If you want to explore places like King’s Landing, Winterfell and the lands beyond The Wall, just hop on a plane. It may not be quite the same as flying on a dragon, but we reckon it’s the next best thing!

Kirkjufell, Iceland

Iceland has some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, so it’s no surprise that the producers chose it as the location for many scenes beyond the wall. You may remember a particular scene in which Daenerys swoops in with her dragons to save the men of the Night’s Watch in a battle with the Night King. That was filmed right here, on the mesmerising mountain of Kirkjufell.

It’s no surprise that Kirkjufell has become the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Its captivating waterfalls create rivers of dark water that break up the dense, snow-covered surroundings. This is pure, rugged wilderness — all it needs is a few white walkers to add to its mysterious charms!

See Kirkjufell, along with other Game of Thrones locations, for yourself on our tour of Iceland. We dedicate a full day to checking out these cool filming spots. Get ready with your best Jon Snow impression!

And if you’re interested, discover the best time to visit this wonderful island.

Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

When people ask where is Game of Thrones filmed, Iceland will always be one of the most popular answers. Some of the filming locations are easy to get to, while others are more like once-in-a-lifetime destinations. If you’re a hardcore Game of Thrones fan, then consider adding Vatnajökull to your bucket list. Europe’s largest ice cap isn’t particularly accessible, but those who make the daunting journey will be richly rewarded.

Scenes filmed in Vatnajökull National Park include the battle between the Night’s Watch and the white walkers on the Fist of the First Men in season two and the season seven arc, which sees Jon Snow going beyond the wall to find a wight. In fact, many of the scenes north of the Wall were filmed here, as the harsh Icelandic wilderness perfectly matches the inhospitable terrain where the Wildlings live.

This is quite a remote area, but if you’d like to get a feel for the Land of Fire and Ice, why not join our express tour of Iceland? It’s the perfect way to get to know Iceland a bit and will leave you planning more trips in the future!

Essaouira, Morocco

Where is Game of Thrones filmed? It’s not all in Europe. In fact, some of the most memorable scenes were filmed in North Africa, usually involving the figure of Daenerys Targaryen. In season three, Daenerys headed to the unpleasant city of Astapor in Slaver’s Bay. There, she bought an army of Unsullied slaves, who she then freed and instructed to kill all the slave masters. In a truly iconic scene, her army held her aloft, crying, “Mhysa!” — their word for mother.

These famous scenes were shot in Essaouira, a city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Before the Game of Thrones crew rolled up, this city was one of Morocco’s best-kept secrets, a popular destination for surfers and not many other people. Today, it attracts plenty of enthusiastic Targaryen fans, but don’t worry, it still retains its unique, laid-back charm.

Our Morocco Express tour lets you follow in Daenerys’ footsteps as you visit Essaouira, along with Marrakesh and a few other top destinations.

Aït Ben Haddou, Morocco

Essaouira isn’t the only Game of Thrones location in Morocco. Aït Ben Haddou may be one of the most interesting locations on this list. This ancient mudbrick settlement would be fascinating even without the show. It is a fortified town, originally built on an important caravan route, intended to provide protection for traders.

The distinctive red walls and unusual architecture of Aït Ben Haddou must have inspired the Game of Thrones producers because it appeared multiple times in the series. Its narrow streets were used as the free city of Pentos, packed with vendors and traders, but its most famous appearance was as the city of Yunkai. This is another Slaver’s Bay location that Daenerys and her army lay siege to and successfully destroy.

You can get to this remote settlement on a road trip from Marrakesh, or for a more complete holiday, join us for a Moroccan adventure. In our itinerary, we’ll stop at Aït Ben Haddou to let you explore before continuing into the dramatic, shifting sands of the Sahara Desert. And if you’re wondering what else there is to see, we have the answer for you.

Fort Manoel, Malta

The sunny city of King’s Landing was filmed in a number of locations around southern Europe. However, Malta’s Fort Manoel was the sight for one of the most shocking and heartbreaking scenes of all — when the young King Joffrey goes back on his word and orders the execution of heroic Ned Stark. Ned’s daughters, Sansa and Arya, were forced to look on in horror as their father was beheaded in Baelor’s Square.

Fort Manoel is located just to the north of the Maltese capital, Valletta. This UNESCO World Heritage Site actually stands on its very own tiny island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. It has a long, fascinating history dating back to the days of the order of the Knights Hospitaller, and it’s a great spot for a day trip.

Ballintoy Harbour, Northern Ireland

It may seem that the answers to the question of where Game of Thrones is filmed are fabulously exotic, but that’s not always the case. You can find some impressive Game of Thrones sets in the UK, including this small town in Northern Ireland. Theon Greyjoy wasn’t too happy to return to his family’s ancestral home on Pyke, a rocky, windswept island off the coast of Westeros. You’ll probably find it a lot more enjoyable than poor Theon.

This rugged corner of Northern Ireland is located conveniently close to Giant’s Causeway, the region’s famous natural wonder, so make sure to visit both. The incredible collection of huge, geometrically-shaped basalt rocks on the edge of the water didn’t make it onto Game of Thrones, but it certainly looks like something from a fantasy world!

Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland

Here’s another great filming location in Northern Ireland. It’s one that will take you all the way back to season one, which is when Robb Stark, Bran Stark and Jon Snow found a litter of dire wolf puppies in the woods. The mother wolf had died, so the boys decided to take the wolves home, with consequences that would last throughout the entire series.

This dense area of woodland is perfect for living out your very own Game of Thrones fantasies. If you fancy an adventure, try camping overnight in the woods, which are nestled at the foot of the impressive Mourne Mountains.

Doune Castle, Scotland and Castle Ward, Northern Ireland

Where is Game of Thrones filmed in the UK? Well, both Scotland and Northern Ireland can claim to be the set of Winterfell, home of the ill-fated Stark family. This is one of the series’ most famous locations, the site of battles, feasts and betrayals.

Scotland’s Doune Castle was used as Winterfell in the pilot episode before the action shifted to Castle Ward. If you’re a TV buff, you’ll enjoy visiting Doune Castle, which was also used in Outlander, as well as Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The Basque Country, Spain

Spain’s windswept Atlantic coast proved to be one of the most popular filming locations for Game of Thrones. Both the town of Itzurun and Muriola Beach were used to create Dragonstone. On this small island, Stannis plotted with Melisandre to seize the throne for himself.

In real life, these two locations are about an hour’s drive from each other. But through the magic of TV, they look like they’re part of the same beach.

Seville, Spain

Where is Game of Thrones filmed in Spain? It’s not just the Basque Country! On the other side of the Iberian Peninsula, the city of Seville housed lush locations like the Water Gardens of Dorne and Daznak’s Pit, where Ser Jorah fights to impress Daenerys. Daznak’s Pit was filmed in the city’s bullring, a fitting location for such a violent spectacle.

Split, Croatia

Split provided a location for Meereen, the last of the three Slaver’s Bay cities. This was where Daenerys settled and ruled as queen, locking her beloved dragons away. The dragon jail is, in fact, the Diocletian’s Palace, an ancient Roman building that dates back to the fourth century.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Croatia also provided some famous locations in King’s Landing, including the exterior of the Great Sept of Baelor. Many market scenes were filmed here, along with what might be the most notorious scene of all, Cersei’s walk of shame through the city streets.

Bonus: where was House of the Dragon filmed?

Sadly, Game of Thrones has now finished — and the less said about the final season, the better! Now, fantasy fans have to get their fix from HBO’s spin-off, House of the Dragon, which focuses on earlier generations of the Targaryen family.

So far, House of the Dragon has not shown an extensive world like in Game of Thrones. Most of the action has taken place in King’s Landing and Dragonstone. For King’s Landing, the producers have headed to the old town of Cáceres in western Spain. Meanwhile, many of the exterior Dragonstone locations are filmed in Cornwall, especially Holywell Beach and Kynance Cove.

One of the most beautiful locations in House of the Dragon is Driftmark, home of the important Velaryon family. This is filmed at St Michael’s Mount, also in Cornwall.

House of the Dragon uses more extensive CGI than its predecessor, not just for dragons but also for sets. As such, it doesn’t have that many filming locations to visit…yet. We’re hopeful that, as the series continues, we’ll see more great real places on our screens!