Game of Thrones was filmed across a variety of real-world locations primarily in Europe, with some scenes also shot in Morocco and Canada. Key filming locations include:
- Northern Ireland : Many scenes were filmed here, including Castle Ward (Winterfell), Cushendun Caves, Ballintoy Harbour (Iron Islands), Tollymore Forest, and Titanic Studios in Belfast where indoor scenes were shot
- Scotland : Doune Castle served as the original Winterfell in the pilot episode
- Croatia : Dubrovnik was used extensively for King's Landing, including its medieval Old Town and Lovrijenac Fortress. Other Croatian sites include the island of Lokrum and Diocletian's Palace in Split
- Spain : Various locations in Spain were used, such as the Alcázar of Seville (Dorne), Bardenas Reales Natural Park (Dothraki Sea), and the Basque Coast (Dragonstone exterior)
- Iceland : Scenes north of the Wall, including the Frostfangs and the Fist of the First Men, were filmed on glaciers and in national parks
- Malta : Early southern scenes, including King's Landing in the first season, were filmed in Mdina and other Maltese sites like Fort Manoel and the Azure Window (Dothraki wedding)
- Morocco : Used for some early Essos scenes, including the pilot episode
In summary, the series combined studio work in Belfast with diverse on- location shoots across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Croatia, Spain, Iceland, Malta, and Morocco to create the rich and varied landscapes of Westeros and Essos
