Where was Game of Thrones filmed?

The third season of the epic series is here and this is a great excuse to explore some beautiful exotic places, where the most pirated TV show of 2012 is travelling this time. We'll go from the extreme cold landscapes of Iceland to the sun-kissed sandy towns in North Africa.



David Benioff, one of the creators of Game of Thrones, explains in the video blogs that the team prefers to spend the money on locations rather than with FX or using green screens in the background. To make it possible, three units filmed the different plots of the story in parallel in several countries.



This HBO production is based in Northern Ireland and most of the locations for the first two seasons have been filmed around Belfast, but we are not visiting these ones. You can find a map including the filming locations of Game of Thrones for all the series up to now at the end of the article.



The historical coastal town of Essaouira in Morocco was chosen to continue the adventures of Daenerys Targaryen, this time in the warped city of Astapor. Also some scenes set in King’s Landing were filmed here. Look at the forest of spears in the background. It seems that The Khaleesi is finally going to get her long-expected army. Image by Mohamed Amine Lakaab and Lukas Vermeer The historical coastal town ofinwas chosen to continue the adventures of Daenerys Targaryen, this time in the warped city of Astapor. Also some scenes set in King’s Landing were filmed here. Look at the forest of spears in the background. It seems that The Khaleesi is finally going to get her long-expected army.



The Unsullied are a disciplined horde of eunuch slave-soldiers for sale.

Image courtesy of HBO The Unsullied are a disciplined horde of eunuch slave-soldiers for sale.



Zoom off: Medina of Essaouira is an UNESCO World Heritage fortified seaport from the late 18th century. Its narrow streets are a mix of North African and European styles. Image by Alain Bachellier Zoom off: Medina of Essaouira is an UNESCO World Heritage fortified seaport from the late 18th century. Its narrow streets are a mix of North African and European styles.



Tourists are coming!

Image by Mark Fischer Tourists are coming!



Image from the first episode of the third season, when Daenerys and Ser Jorah arrive at Slaver's Bay.

Image courtesy of HBO Image from the first episode of the third season, when Daenerys and Ser Jorah arrive at Slaver's Bay.



In the outskirts of the walled town, the wreck of the Portuguese fort is slowly falling apart like a giant sandcastle.

Image by Ben In the outskirts of the walled town, the wreck of the Portuguese fort is slowly falling apart like a giant sandcastle.



Knights banners ready for the battle? Nope, just Essaouira's fishermen flags.

Image by Fredam 83 Knights banners ready for the battle? Nope, just Essaouira's fishermen flags.



[Mini-spoiler:] On the 7th episode, Daenerys and her allies arrive at the gates of Yunkai, the Yellow City.

Image courtesy of HBO [Mini-spoiler:] On the 7th episode, Daenerys and her allies arrive at the gates of Yunkai, the Yellow City.



Yunkai is inspired by the mud brick fortress of Aït Benhaddou.

Image by Alexander Cahlenstein Yunkai is inspired by the mud brick fortress of



The city seems out of a tale from the 1,001 nights. That may explain why it has been used as exteriors for a long list of films since the sixties, from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator, including the cult movie Time Bandits. The weather conditions at this side of the Atlas Mountains makes Aït Benhaddou a perfect filming location. Image by Thomas van Ardenne The city seems out of a tale from the 1,001 nights. That may explain why it has been used as exteriors for a long list of films since the sixties, fromto, including the cult movie. The weather conditions at this side of the Atlas Mountains makes Aït Benhaddou a perfect filming location.



Just a few miles from there, the considered world's largest film studio was built in the desert: Atlas Studios. Many sets from the filming of various movies remain in place. The complex is becoming a popular tourist destination, you can visit it on a guided tour. Image by Thomas van Ardenne Just a few miles from there, the considered world's largest film studio was built in the desert:. Many sets from the filming of various movies remain in place. The complex is becoming a popular tourist destination, you can visit it on a guided tour.



The fate of the Iron Throne is being forged here, as the Mother of Dragons makes its way through the lands of Essos. The studios also hosted the Netflix movie Image courtesy of HBO The fate of the Iron Throne is being forged here, as the Mother of Dragons makes its way through the lands of Essos. The studios also hosted the Netflix movie The Old Guard filming locations



One of the new locations in Croatia, near the old city of Dubrovnik, is the park Trsteno Arboretum. These are the gardens where the court maidens weave the plot in King's Landing. Image by Dick and Jane Travel One of the new locations in, near the old city of Dubrovnik, is the park. These are the gardens where the court maidens weave the plot in King's Landing.



Now we are going North of the Wall once more, carried away by the out-of-this-world landscapes of Iceland.

Image by Viaggiatore Fantasma Now we are going North of the Wall once more, carried away by the out-of-this-world landscapes of



The destiny of Jon Snow among the wildlings has been filmed near the shores of the Lake Mývatn.

Image courtesy of HBO The destiny of Jon Snow among the wildlings has been filmed near the shores of the



The area has a forest of bizarre rock lava pillars, known as the black castles (Dimmuborgir). As it couldn't be otherwise in this astonishing land, there's plenty of awesome geological features around. Image by Genevieve Romier The area has a forest of bizarre rock lava pillars, known as the black castles (Dimmuborgir). As it couldn't be otherwise in this astonishing land, there's plenty of awesome geological features around.



During the filming it was genuinely cold, enough to get real stalactites going down the actors' noses.

Image by Slava Rodionov During the filming it was genuinely cold, enough to get real stalactites going down the actors' noses.



This is how Hverfjall, one of the nearby volcanoes, looks like in spring.

Image by Hugi Ásgeirsson This is how Hverfjall, one of the nearby volcanoes, looks like in spring.



The scenery has many cones, known as pseudocraters, like this island shaped also as a triangle. Pseudocraters are different from volcanoes as lava never erupted from them. Image by Chris Zielecki The scenery has many cones, known as pseudocraters, like this island shaped also as a triangle. Pseudocraters are different from volcanoes as lava never erupted from them.



The cave of Grjótagj is where Jon Snow and Ygritte - Spoiler Alert! - are having a splash with a happy ending in the 5th episode. Image by Boreal Travel The cave of Grjótagj is where Jon Snow and Ygritte - Spoiler Alert! - are having a splash with a happy ending in the 5th episode.



As a tourist you can also have a burning bath in this magical geothermal cave, with water at 40-60°C (100-140°F).

Richard Madden (GoT's Robb Stark) and Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon) are both starring in 1917, the new Sam Mendes film. You can find the filming locations in our post

Image by Boreal Travel As a tourist you can also have a burning bath in this magical geothermal cave, with water at 40-60°C (100-140°F).Richard Madden (GoT's Robb Stark) and Dean-Charles Chapman (Tommen Baratheon) are both starring in 1917, the new Sam Mendes film. You can find the filming locations in our post Where was 1917 filmed

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