Explore "Game of Thrones" filming locations around the world

"Game of Thrones" map

The world of Westeros - the land where most of the action scenes of "Game of Thrones" (GoT) take place - is inspired by the Middle Ages. To adapt it to the screen, the film producers chose spectacular real-life locations that could inspire and provide a strong catalyst for the atmosphere of the magical ancient world described in the original book, as well as the places where the action takes place in reality.

Iceland

Already one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, Iceland has continued to see a boom in visitors in recent years, thanks in no small part to the GoT effect. With the island nation's diverse terrain, from the rough black sands in the south - where the famous Wall was digitally erected, to the icy cold regions in the north, visitors will feel like they are taking a mini tour of Westeros in the show whenever they step outside the Icelandic capital - Reykjavík. The spectacular Thorufoss - where dragons descended, or the cave of Grjótagjá - where Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Ygritte (Rose Leslie) shared an intimate moment... With filming locations all over the country, Iceland is a dream destination for die-hard GoT fans.

Northern Ireland

Much of Game of Thrones filming took place in studios built in Belfast. Some of the interiors, like Winterfell and Castle Black, were set in the city's grand buildings, but the exteriors are scattered across the country. HBO, the network responsible for the series, has announced plans to preserve the filming locations and turn them into tourist attractions in 2020.

Scotland

Doune Castle in Scotland was originally chosen as the location for the Stark family's stay in GoT. Pilots for the first few episodes, featuring some of the cast, were filmed at the famous Scottish location. However, logistical issues and a lack of production studio space forced the crew to move to Northern Ireland for filming.

Spain

Game of Thrones is actually just the title of the first book in the A Song of Fire and Ice series. The crew discussed cold locations, but also had to find lands covered in red sand and sweltering heat like the books. And the southern part of Spain is where you'll find more than a dozen GoT locations, especially in the later seasons. A real-life bullring in Seville was used as the Meereen arena in the show, while other locations included Córdoba, Girona, and Cáceres.

Morocco

Films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Mummy (1999) and Gladiator (2000) were filmed in Morocco before Game of Thrones arrived. Scenes like Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) freeing the Unsullied and her dragons unleashing their fury for the first time were filmed there. The towns of Essaouira and Aït Benhaddou also appear in the series as part of Daenerys' journey to build her army in the south of Westeros.

Malta

Malta played a big role in the first season of Game of Thrones but has been largely overlooked since. Despite this, its stunning landscapes have stuck with fans, and themed tours still run on the main island and Gozo in the north. The city of Mdina was the first location used to depict the Lannister stronghold of King's Landing.

Sadly, visitors will no longer be able to see the famous "Azure Window" - the setting for Daenerys and Drogo's (Jason Momoa) wedding - as the stone pillars there collapsed into the sea in 2017.

Croatia

From season two onwards, King's Landing has played a much larger role in Game of Thrones. Producers found a home in Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic coast. The city's medieval-looking walls appealed to producers because they matched many of the descriptions in the original text. One of the most famous scenes in television history was filmed from atop the Spanish Steps in the Old Town. The lush greenery of Lokrum – an island quite close to Dubrovnik's old harbor – was also used for filming.

Quynh Anh