Castle Ward, Northern Ireland: Winterfell
If you take a look at this castle, you can easily tell how this was part of _Game of Thrones_. Its architecture is iconic, and early on in season 1, we recognize it as the home of the Stark family, located in Winterfell. Remember when Robert Baratheon visited Winterfell?
While this castle may look like it would represent Winterfell to perfection, it was actually used for just a few of the scenes, so if you head to Castle Ward, don’t expect to feel like you’re in the show.
Alcázar, Seville, Spain: Palace Of Dorne
It’s easy to recognize the picture below as the city of Dorne, home to the Martell House where Prince Doran Martell was lord. If you ever want to experience the beautiful architecture of the Unbowed, Unbent, and Unbroken, then make sure you head to Alcázar, Spain.
The palace in Alcázar has been standing tall for centuries. It was built back in 913, and it still retains every bit of its original beauty. The gardens of Dorne that we see in _Game of Thrones_ are the most identifiable given their warmth, greatly contrasted with the cold landscapes we so often saw in the show.
Bardenas Reales, Spain: The Dothraki Sea
When you think about the warmth of Dorne, and then you remember the scenes of the Dothraki Sea, you probably notice a huge contrast. You shift from the water gardens to the desert with the dull rocks, and you probably think that the scenes from the Dothraki Sea were filmed in the dullest place on Earth.
However, you would be surprised that those scenes took place in Bardenas Reales, Spain. Still a desert, but a much more colorful one than the one depicted in _Game of Thrones_. Located in Navarre, the Bardenas Reales covers an area of 162.2 mi².
Castillo De Zafra, Guadalajara, Spain: The Tower Of Joy
If you are a big _Game of Thrones_ fan, then probably this is the castle that kept you glued to the screen for a few seasons. The Tower Of Joy was the one that Bran Stark kept having flashbacks to and the one where the greatest mystery of the show revolved around.
It’s the spot where Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark eloped and got married, and we’ll leave it at that in case you haven’t watched the show yet. The castle dates back to the 12th century, and it is called Castillo de Zafra. It’s located in Guadalajara, Spain and was built by the kingdom of Aragon.
Peñíscola, Castellón, Spain: Meereen And Bay Of Dragons
Meereen is one of the three cities of Slaver’s Bay. It’s the one located on the northernmost part, above Yunkai and Astapor, and it is also the largest one. Meereen is one of the first cities that the dragon queen, Daenerys, visits on her way towards her final destination, the iron throne.
Peñíscola is a beautiful coastal town in Spain that sits next to the Mediterranean. It’s famous for the Pebret and Norte beaches and the 13th-century Peñíscola Castle, which has an amazing view of the Blue Coast and of Artillery Park, a botanical park with palm trees, olive trees, and lavenders.
Trujillo Castle, Cáceres, Spain: Casterly Rock
Another iconic castle of _Game of Thrones_, Casterly Rock, belongs to the House of the Lannisters, and it is located on Westeros’ Western coast. It is the richest realm of House Lannister and the main source of their wealth. In the series, Casterly Rock is 6000 years old.
Also located in Spain, Casterly Rock is filmed in the Trujillo Castle, and we don’t see it during the first few seasons even though it is often mentioned. The Trujillo Castle is the highest point in Trujillo, and it dates back to the 13th century. However, while it was built in the 13th century, it was built on top of an old Arab fortress from the 9th century.
Ait Benhaddou Morocco: Yunkai
You can let out a sigh of relief; _Game of Thrones_ was not fully filmed in Spain. Here we have Ait Benhaddou, located in the Ouarzazate province in Morocco and the setting for Yunkai, another slave city that Daenerys Targaryen manages to set free.
A beautiful example of what the southern architecture of Morocco looks like, Ait Benhaddou is on the foothills of the High Atlas slopes. It’s a ksar, which is the North African term for “fortified village”. Primarily, it is a group of earthen dwellings surrounded by defensive walls.
Essaouira, Morocco: Port City Of Astapor
Another beautiful location that was filmed in Morocco is Essaouira, the setting of the Port city of Astapor. This is a significant place because it is where Daenerys gets her unsullied army, which she buys and then sets free from the masters of Astapor.
Essaouira is a magnificent port city in Morocco, and if you ever go, you will not be disappointed. The town is protected by ramparts that were designed by the greatest minds of Europe. There are cannons lining the walls made out of brass that ensured the inhabitant’s safety.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: King’s Landing
Arguably one of the most important places that we see in _Game of Thrones_, King’s Landing is a central piece of Westeros. It is where the King lives and where the whole fight for the throne begins. Basically, without King’s Landing and its iron throne, there would be no show.
King’s Landing is filmed in the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Not only is it super important for the show but it is a famous spot for tourists as well. You’ll find amazing architecture and a stunning blue ocean to gaze upon if you ever decide to head to Croatia.
Trsteno Arboretum, Trsteno, Croatia: Gardens Of King´s Landing
Yet another gem of Croatia, Trsteno Arboretum is also a spot that the _Game of Thrones_ producers found to be perfect for the Gardens of King’s Landing. Not surprisingly, it is located just 15 miles from Dubrovnik, which, as we’ve learned in our last slide, is where King’s Landing was filmed.
The Trsteno Arboretum is located in Trsteno, a district with a population of 237. It is the oldest arboretum in the area, and it was built by the House of Gozze, a local noble family belonging to the Dubrovnik nobility. What makes it so unique is that the family requested captains to bring seeds from other places while they traveled around the world.
Verdala Palace, Malta: Home Of Targeryens in Exile
Another beautiful palace of_ Game of Thrones_ but one that didn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves is the Verdala Palace. This breathtaking building was used as the Targaryens' home while in exile. We see it a bit during the first season, right before Daenerys gets ready for her long, long, long journey.
The Verdala Palace is located in the Buskett Gardens in Malta. It was built back in 1586 during the reign of Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, a French nobleman that fought against the Turks. Currently, the palace is the summer residence of the president of Malta.
Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland: The Roads Of Winterfell
This one is a bit harder to recognize for those that aren’t huge fans of _Game of Thrones_. But the photo below is Tollymore Forest Park, located in Northern Ireland and also the road that leads to Winterfell. You might be surprised, but this particular site is shown a lot more than the other famous spots we saw above.
Tollymore is where the Starks find the dire wolves, but beyond that, it was the first state park established in Northern Ireland. It’s about 630 hectares, and if you ever go there, you should take a look at the Shimna River, which flows through the park and has 16 bridges crossing over it.
The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland: Kingsroad
Maybe Tollymore Forest Park didn’t ring too many bells, but I bet that the Dark Hedges from Northern Ireland are all too familiar, even if you didn’t binge every season of _Game of Thrones_. The Dark Hedges is the setting for Kingsroad, and it’s one of the places most visited by fans.
One of the best moments we see in the show is when Arya tries to escape King’s Landing disguised as a boy. The avenue of trees creates the perfect atmosphere for great storytelling, and the producers of the show make sure to use the most out of them.
Ballintoy, Northern Ireland: The Iron Islands
Northern Ireland is also a favorite spot for _Game of Thrones_ producers. This time, we have Ballintoy, setting for the Iron Islands, home of the Greyjoys and one of the constituents of the Seven Kingdoms. This is where some of the most contentious scenes in the show take place.
The actual home of the Greyjoys is filmed in the famous ruins of Dunluce Castle, which has seen quite a turbulent history. Built around 1500 by the MacQuillan family, it was seized by the MacDonnell clan in 1550 and quickly became a place of rebellion and violence.
Girona Cathedral, Catalonia, Spain: The Free City Of Braavos
We are now back in Spain, and this time, we are no longer in Westeros. The Giron Cathedral was chosen to film Braavos, one of the free cities located to the east of the main continent. It is the richest and most powerful of the Free Cities, and it is home to master swordsmen.
The city is seen in the show multiple times, but probably one of the most memorable moments is when Arya meets the Many-Face God, which sets her on a whole new chapter. Girona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church, and it is the second widest one following St. Peter’s Basilica.
Castillo De Almodóvar Del Río, Córdoba, Spain: Highgarden
Another beautiful castle located in Spain, Castillo De Almodovar del Rio, is the Home to House Tyrell, probably the only wealthy family you will actually like in the show. Much like most of the castles we see in _Game of Thrones_, this one also sits high up on a cliff.
The Castillo de Almodovar del Rio has Muslim origins. While it used to be a Roman fort, the structure we see today is Arab, and it dates back to 760\. The castle went through several renovations during the Middle Ages, and then in the 20th century, it was restored under the direction of architect Adolfo Fernandez Casanova.
Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain: Dragonstone
A tiny island located on the coast of Biscay, a province of Spain, Gaztelugatxe is connected to the mainland by a bridge. It dates back to the 10th century, and it is seen frequently during season 7 of the show when Daenerys and her huge army are entering Westeros.
Gaztelugatxe is not only famous because of the dragon queen’s much-expected entrance, but it also happens to be the spot where fan-favorite Jon Snow meets Daenerys Targaryen for the very first time. The iconic bridge is used a lot during the show, and if you find yourself in Biscay, you’ll see the 241 steps in all their glory.
Itzurun Beach, Zumaia, Spain: The Shores of Dragonstone
Maybe you think that this is the same spot that you just read about, but make no mistake, Itzurun Beach (pictured below) is not the same place as Gaztelugatxe. They surely look very similar, but Itzurun Beach is where Jon Snow and Daenerys talk about plans, not where they first meet.
Itzurun is located in the small town of Zumaia, which is also in the Basque Country. Itzurun is one of the two beaches in Zumaia, the other one being Santiago. The town is of interest to many geologists around the world because it is the longest set of rock strata.
Vík, Iceland: North Of The Wall
A place that was of high relevance throughout the great majority of the show, the North of the Wall is where a huge threat to the people of Westeros lies. Home to the White Walkers, some very scary and very powerful ice creatures, and the wildlings, North of the Wall, are full of surprises.
So if you ever wondered where the land with no civilization and no laws was filmed at, you should head to Vik, Iceland. Maybe the very cold and dark beaches aren’t that much of an attraction, but you probably are interested in witnessing the Northern Lights, and Vik happens to be a spot to do so.
Svínafellsjokull Glacier, Iceland: The Fist Of The First Men
Another very cold spot, you wouldn’t be surprised that the scene where we see the fist of the first men was also filmed in Iceland, but this time, in the Svínafellsjökull Glacier. The glacier is found in Skaftafell National Park, and it is the perfect spot to represent the North of the Wall, given it is the largest ice cap in Europe.
The place is very famous amongst photographers, hikers, and anybody that is a fan of natural raw beauty. Luckily for us, people that aren’t that extreme, the Svínafellsjökull Glacier is fairly easy to reach throughout the whole year, especially if you find yourself in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.