where was game of thrones filmed
Game of Thrones was filmed across several countries, with different real-world landscapes standing in for Westeros and Essos.
Main Filming Hub
- Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) – This was the production’s core base.
* Belfast’s Paint Hall studios housed most major interior sets like the Red Keep and the Iron Throne room.
* Locations around County Antrim and County Down provided Winterfell, the North, the Iron Islands, and many “generic” battle and camp landscapes.
Other Key Countries
- Croatia – Dubrovnik famously became King’s Landing from season 2 onward, with its medieval walls and old town streets.
- Spain – Multiple regions stood in for Dorne, King’s Landing (later seasons), Dragonstone, Highgarden, the Dothraki Sea, and the Dragonpit.
- Iceland – Glaciers, lava fields, and frozen landscapes were used for scenes “beyond the Wall” and in the Frostfangs.
- Malta – Used heavily in season 1, including early King’s Landing and Pentos locations before the show shifted much of this work to Croatia.
- Morocco – Coastal towns and desert areas appeared as parts of Essos, including cities like Astapor and Yunkai.
Notable Real Locations (Mini Tour Feel)
- Castle Ward, Northern Ireland – Main Winterfell courtyard and surrounding grounds, also reused as various army camps.
- Ballintoy Harbour, Northern Ireland – Harbour of the Iron Islands (Lordsport on Pyke).
- San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain (Basque Country) – The winding causeway to Dragonstone from season 7.
- Itzurun Beach, Spain – Dragonstone’s dramatic black-rock beach.
- Alcázar of Seville, Spain – The Water Gardens of Dorne.
- Roman ruins of Italica near Seville – Used as the Dragonpit in later seasons.
- Girona, Spain (Catalonia) – Streets and cathedral became parts of King’s Landing, Oldtown, and Braavos in season 6.
Compact Overview Table
| In-show place | Real location | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Winterfell | Castle Ward, County Down | Northern Ireland | [9][1]
| King’s Landing (most seasons) | Old Town of Dubrovnik | Croatia | [7][5]
| Dragonstone causeway | San Juan de Gaztelugatxe | Spain | [9][1]
| Water Gardens of Dorne | Alcázar of Seville | Spain | [3][1]
| Beyond the Wall | Various glacier and lava fields | Iceland | [3][5][9]
| Essos cities (e.g., Astapor) | Coastal towns and deserts | Morocco | [5][9]
In short, if you’re wondering where was Game of Thrones filmed , think of a grand loop through Northern Ireland, Croatia, Spain, Iceland, Malta, and Morocco—each adding a piece of Westeros and Essos to the screen.
TL;DR: Game of Thrones was primarily filmed in Northern Ireland, with major additional filming in Croatia, Spain, Iceland, Malta, and Morocco, each providing real-world backdrops for iconic locations like Winterfell, King’s Landing, Dragonstone, and Dorne.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.