Game of Thrones Filming Locations The Real Places Behind Westeros and Essos
Northern Ireland · Croatia · Iceland · Spain · Malta · Morocco
Where was Game of Thrones filmed? This guide maps the real castles, beaches and cities that stood in for Winterfell, King’s Landing, Dragonstone, Meereen and beyond the Wall, so you can plan your own trip.
Game of Thrones was filmed mainly in Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland, Spain, Malta and Morocco. Northern Ireland provided Winterfell, the Kingsroad and the Iron Islands; Dubrovnik in Croatia became King’s Landing; Iceland gave the lands beyond the Wall; and Spain supplied Dragonstone, the Water Gardens and Highgarden.
Filming at a Glance
The essentials at a glance before the full breakdown.
Northern Ireland: Winterfell, the Kingsroad and the Iron Islands
The production’s home base, with studio sets in Belfast and many outdoor locations within a short drive.
| Real location | Stood in for | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Ward, County Down | Winterfell exteriors | 1 |
| The Dark Hedges, County Antrim | The Kingsroad | 2 |
| Ballintoy Harbour | Pyke and the Iron Islands | 2 |
| Tollymore Forest | Haunted Forest and the direwolf pups’ discovery | 1 |
| Magheramorne Quarry | Castle Black and Hardhome | 3–5 |
| Inch Abbey | Riverrun | 1 |
Croatia: King’s Landing
From Season 2 the walled city of Dubrovnik became King’s Landing.
| Real location | Stood in for | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lovrijenac, Dubrovnik | Red Keep exteriors and the name-day tourney | 2 |
| Jesuit Staircase, Dubrovnik | Cersei’s walk of atonement | 5 |
| Minčeta Tower, Dubrovnik | House of the Undying in Qarth | 2 |
| Trsteno Arboretum | Red Keep gardens | 3–4 |
| Diocletian’s Palace, Split | Meereen throne room cellars | 4 |
| Klis Fortress | Meereen | 4 |
Iceland: Beyond the Wall
Iceland’s glaciers and lava fields became the lands beyond the Wall.
| Real location | Stood in for | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Vatnajökull glacier | The Fist of the First Men and the far north | 2 |
| Þingvellir National Park | The road to the Vale and the Bloody Gate | 4 |
| Grjótagjá cave | Jon and Ygritte’s cave | 3 |
| Kirkjufell mountain | The ‘arrowhead mountain’ beyond the Wall | 7 |
Spain, Malta and Morocco
Later seasons moved south for Dorne, Dragonstone and Slaver’s Bay.
| Real location | Stood in for | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Real Alcázar, Seville | The Water Gardens of Dorne | 5–6 |
| San Juan de Gaztelugatxe | Dragonstone causeway | 7 |
| Itzurun beach, Zumaia | Dragonstone’s shore | 7 |
| Castillo de Almodóvar del Río | Highgarden | 7 |
| Osuna bullring | Daznak’s Pit in Meereen | 5 |
| Mdina, Malta | King’s Landing gate | 1 |
| Aït Benhaddou, Morocco | Yunkai | 3 |
| Essaouira, Morocco | Astapor | 3 |
Planning a Trip
Start in Belfast
The Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge and day trips to the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy cover most Northern Ireland sites.
Walk King's Landing
Dubrovnik’s old town is compact: Fort Lovrijenac, the walls and the Jesuit Staircase are all walkable in a day.
Mix with the maps
Pair each real site with its ThroneAtlas map to see where the scene sits in the story.
Filming Locations: Questions
Mainly in Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland, Spain, Malta and Morocco, with studio work in Belfast.
In Dubrovnik, Croatia, from Season 2 onward; Mdina in Malta was used in Season 1.
Castle Ward in County Down, Northern Ireland, in Season 1; Doune Castle in Scotland was used in the pilot.
The Dark Hedges in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, appeared as the Kingsroad in Season 2.
At San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and Itzurun beach in the Basque Country of Spain in Season 7.
ThroneAtlas is an independent fan-made atlas and lore reference. It is not affiliated with HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery or George R. R. Martin. Map artwork is original ThroneAtlas illustration.
