Dragons, tyrants, witchcraft, war, and no short supply of deathly surprises—there are plenty of reasons why Game of Thrones is considered one of the most successful television shows of all time. 🐉🏰
The nail-biting fantasy drama produced by HBO and written by George R. R. Martin has amassed a global cult following for its suspenseful dialogue, epic CGI effects, and complex character arcs.
But another aspect of Game of Thrones that’s contributed to its overwhelming success is its stunning use of natural landscapes spanning virtually all corners of the world.
Iceland, Spain, Morocco, and Ireland are just a few of the shooting locations for Game of Thrones, and many of the most legendary scenes were in real places that the public can visit.
Whether you’re a die-hard GoT fan who wants to immerse yourself even deeper into the story, a curious traveler looking to tour exotic and exciting locations or an avid photographer with a desire to capture iconic sites (and sights!) for yourself, this list is bound to get you packing your suitcase.
1. King’s Landing: Dubrovnik, Croatia
King’s Landing is one of the most frequently visited fictional cities in Game of Thrones. The old Croatian town offers sublime turquoise waters, 16th-century stone walls, and cobbled streets best known in the series for Cersei Lannister’s Walk of Shame in Season 5.
In the center of Dubrovnik is Fort Lovrijenac, a beautiful real-life fortress used in Game of Thrones as the location for the infamous Battle of Blackwater.
2. Arrowhead Mountain: Kirkjufell, Iceland
In Game of Thrones, Arrowhead Mountain is Jon Snow’s goal destination as he embarks on a journey beyond the Wall. But in real life, the mountain is called Kirkjufell, one of Iceland’s most popular nature photography spots.
Famed for its clear visibility of the ice-capped mountains and perfect view of the Aurora Borealis, Kirkjufell is one of the must-visit shooting locations for Game of Thrones.
3. Battle of Brienne and the Hound: Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
In the world of Game of Thrones, both Brienne of Tarth and the Hound are known for their vigorous battle skills, so when it came to finding a backdrop for their first meeting, Thingvellir National Park made perfect sense.
A UNESCO World Heritage-designated national park, Thingvellir offers dramatically beautiful jagged cliffs and sharp cliff drops, making it a sight to behold and photograph. It is also where you’ll find Silfra Fissure, a natural (and very cold) snorkeling location.
4. The Kingsroad: Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland
The Kingsroad is Game of Thrones’ main highway throughout the series—virtually every traveler knows its looming path. In reality, the Kingsroad is a mystical-looking forest road called the Dark Hedges in Northern Island.
With its tall, twisted trees and long, winding path, the Dark Hedges path is a fascinating part of Ireland to explore via bike or foot for a truly immersive experience.
5. Dragonstone: Itzurun Beach, Zumaia, Spain
Game of Thrones first takes its viewers to Dragonstone in season 7, but Spain’s Itzurun Beach in Zumaia has attracted tourists long before. With its rugged shorelines, epic rock and cliff faces, and mountainous vistas, it is no wonder this is one of the most visited shooting locations for Game of Thrones.
6. The Iron Islands: Ballintoy Harbour, Northern Ireland
Ballintoy Harbour is a historic part of a fisherman village in Ireland that has been featured a number of times in Game of Thrones as the Greyjoy family’s Iron Islands.
With its misty cliffs, soft ebbing waters, and local charm, Ballintoy Harbour is a great place to visit for anyone doing a tour of Ireland’s best and most beautiful fishing spots.
7. The Citadel: The Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants; Girona, Spain
In the Westeros world, the Citadel is a central library for storing ancient texts, manuscripts, and knowledge of all kinds that various characters visit throughout the show.
In reality, the Citadel is the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants in Girona, Spain—an ancient building that has served as home to many holy men throughout history. Tourists may visit with permission.
8. King’s Landing Gardens: Trsteno Arboretum, Croatia
Nature lovers and GOT fans can unite with a visit to Croatia’s stunning Trsteno Arboretum, a 70-acre gardenscape containing hundreds of luscious plant and flower species. You’ll have spotted many of your favorite characters trawling through this garden, including Sansa, Tyrion, Lancel, and Olenna.
9. King’s Landing Dragonpit: Itálica, Spain
Itálica is a beautiful spot in Spain with ancient Roman ruins. This made it an incredible backdrop for the King’s Landing Dragonpit from season 7, when Cersei, Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Tyrion finally meet for the first time.
The amphitheater is enormous and full of complex ancient stonework. You can take guided tours through this 2,200 year old labyrinth of ruins to absorb its historic beauty.
10. Jon & Ygritte’s love cave: Grjótagjá Lava Cave, Iceland
Jon Snow and Ygritte’s romance is one of the fandom’s ultimate favorites, so touring their legendary love cave in Iceland is a must for every GoT fan.
The snowy mountainscapes and naturally heated lakes make this a romantic and fascinating Northern destination to explore and capture with your camera.
11. Meereen: Peñíscola, Spain
Peñiscola is a coastal town in Spain that offers sweeping village vistas, beautifully crumbling stone buildings, and soft, rolling hills in the background. It’s a wonderful place to relax and destress, and its incredible scenery made it a prime spot to film scenes in Meereen, a city of many secrets in season 6 of Game of Thrones.
12. The Red Keep: San Anton Palace, Malta
The Red Keep is one of the most important places in Game of Thrones lore: the powerful Lannister family palace and home to the Iron Throne itself. Fitting, then, that in reality, it is the official residence of an actual royal—the president of Malta’s San Anton Palace.
13. Tower of Joy: Castillo de Zafra, Spain
One of season 6’s most mysterious and dramatic locations, the Tower of Joy, is actually a 12th-century fortress in the Guadalajara badlands of Spain called Castillo de Zafra.
Found between Barcelona and Madrid, this ancient tower was traded between Visigoths, Moors, and Christians without ever being conquered, leaving it in good condition to explore with a guide.
14. Highgarden: Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, Spain
You only get to see the Tyrell family’s castle, Highgarden, for a brief moment in season 7 of Game of Thrones—which is a pity because Spain’s Castillo de Almodóvar del Río is a truly spectacular piece of historic architecture that is well worth exploring.
The Cordovan countryside makes visiting Castillo de Almodóvar del Río feel positively ethereal. One of the many shooting locations for Game of Thrones that will take your breath away, it features panoramic views, lush landscapes, and ancient stone walls.
15. Yunkai: Ait-Ben-Haddou, Morocco
Morocco’s dramatic, pyramid-style architecture made it the perfect place to film Game of Thrones’s large-scale slave uprising scenes from season 3. Ait-Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage site that you can explore by taking the old caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara.
16. Braavos: Šibenik, Croatia
Also known as the Free City, Braavos is one of the most important destinations in Game of Thrones. In the real world, Braavos has a different name: Šibenik, a town in Croatia with some of the most beautiful 15th-century architecture in the world, including the Cathedral of St. James.
17. Dorne: Alcázar de Sevilla; Seville, Spain
Many people were enraptured by the beauty and magnificence of the Dorne palace. And with good reason: it is Alcazar de Sevilla, a glorious Spanish mansion sporting palm trees, hedges, and all sorts of lavish architectural and typically European artworks. You can visit it as a guest when staying in Seville, Spain.
18. Winterfell: Castle Ward, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast is the perfect place to tell the story of a land equally filled with frost and greenery. In Game of Thrones, the 18th-century mansion Castle Ward takes on the role of Winterfell, one of the most famous Westeros families from the North.
Castle Ward has become an incredibly popular tourist destination for those looking for shooting locations for Game of Thrones. Visitors who want to truly immerse themselves in the location can participate in tours that involve LARPing and playing out scenes from the series.
19. Daznak’s Pit: Osuna, Spain
The surprise attack on Daenerys and her crew in Meereen from season 5 is one of the most expensive scenes in television history, making this amphitheater in Osuna, Spain, one of the most incredible shooting locations to visit.
20. Beyond the Wall: Vatnajökull, Iceland
The vast expanse of Iceland’s Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe. Unsurprisingly, the directors behind Game of Thrones chose this uniquely desolate landscape to depict a world beyond Westeros’ borders, known only as “beyond the wall.”
The glacier’s endless icy mountains are near-impossible to hike. However, if you’re looking for the ultimate location to take striking landscape photographs to add to your portfolio, this is it. The play of light on the snow-capped peaks, the deep shadows in the valleys, and the crisp, clear air create a perfect canvas for capturing breathtaking images that tell a story of nature’s raw power and serenity.
Put These Shooting Locations For Game Of Thrones On Your List
Traveling the world while seeing and photographing the places that shaped one of the world’s biggest television shows is on many people’s bucket lists. This epic series showcased some of the planet’s most gorgeous and fascinating locations, exploring everything from Moroccan heritage sites to winding Irish forests.
Whether you are a fan of the show or not, these destinations are all worth exploring—and don’t forget your camera!