With a two year wait upon us leading up to the final season of Game of Thrones, now is a great time to stretch the legs and visit some of the amazing filming locations that set the backdrop to some of the show’s most epic moments.
Braavos: Sibenik, Croatia
Home to the Iron Bank and its faceless men, the free city of Braavos was introduced to audiences back in Season 5. The real town of Sibenik, Croatia filled in for most of the filming, and with its medieval walls and fortresses protecting its harbour, it’s not hard to see why.
Astapor: Essaouira, Morocco
Astapor was an ancient and dilapidated place where anything could be bought or sold, including the Unsullied. The beautiful Moroccan coastal town of Essaouira filled in nicely for it.
Dorne: Alcazaba of Almería, Spain
With significant screen time in Season 6, the fortified castle of Alcazaba filled in for the far-away Kingdom of Dorne and the ruling House Martell.
Yunkai: Ait Benhaddou, Morocco
With its mud-brick walls and fortified setting, Ait Benhaddou was the perfect backdrop for Yunkai and its infamous fighting pits.
King’s Landing: Dubrovnik, Croatia
Although the first season was filmed in Malta’s former capital of Mdina, the bulk of the the show’s filming in King’s Landing was done in Drubovnik, Croatia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Drubovnik reached great success in the 15th and 16th centuries as a seaport noted for its wealth and skill in diplomacy.
Great Sept of Balor: Fort Manoel, Malta
The now infamous place where Ned Stark and his head were dearly parted. Shot on an Manoel Island off the coast of Malta, Fort Manoel was built in the 18th century as one of two forts intended to protect the harbour of Valletta.
House of the Undying: Minceta Tower, Drubovnik
Long Bridge of Volantis: Roman Bridge, Cordoba, Spain
A port city on the souther coast of Essos, Volantis was a free city with 5 slaves to every free man. Filming locations were done throughout Cordoba.
Pentos: Ouarzazate, Morocco
The land-locked area Ouarzazate, Morocco was the filming location for Deanery’s scenes in the pilot episode. Pentos however, was envisioned as a port city and HBO quickly ordered extensive reshoots in Malta.
Meeren: Klis Fortress, Croatia
Located near the city of Split, Croatia, the fortress of Klis was the royal castle to several Croatian Kings and served a significant role in the defence of Europe in the Ottoman war.
Stairs to Dragonstone: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain
A tiny islet off the coast of Biscay, Gaztelugatxe was a 10th century hermitage where a small group of religious people could live and practice their faith in isolation. It’s long and winding steps formed the entry to Dragonstone, however the show’s castle above was completely digital.
Vale of Arryn – Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, Greece
Constructed between the 14th and 15th centuries, the monastery of the Holy Trinity is only one of 24 monasteries built at Meteora. At one time it had 50 monks living at it but that number has since gone down to 5. The monastery is open to visitors.
Winterfell: Castle Ward Estate, Belfast, Ireland
Standing in for many of the exterior shots of Winterfell, Castle Ward is the true setting for House Stark. A short trip from Belfast, Ireland, the castle makes up just one of several filming locations in the area.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire#King.27s_Landing
