Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is an American television series created by David Benioff and D. Weiss. Game of thrones is one of the best series on TV and the cinematography has a lot to do with it. Based on the best-selling book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin, the TV-series Game of Thrones is a huge success. It is beautiful to watch. It is filmed in nothern Ireland, Iceland, Morocco, Croatia, Spain, Malta, Scotland, BiH, United States. The Game of Thrones TV series is one of the largest production in televison history, with each season filming on location in multiple countries. 

The main actors of this series is Daenerys Targaryen, Arya Stark, Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, Jamie Lannister, Joffrey Baratheon, Robb Stark, Ned Stark, Bran Stark, Catelyn Stark, Hodor and many others.

The series is set on the fictional continent of Westeros and Esosa and follows the action several members of noble families in the struggle for the Iron Throne and the power of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as the arrival of winter and mystical creatures from the north. The series deals with topics such as social hierarchies, religion, loyalty, sexuality, civil war and crime.

Brace yourself, winter is comming!!!

King's road

The Dark Hedges is a quiet road near the town of Ballymoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Lined with beech trees twisted branches forming an arch over the road it makes for impressive photographs indeed. However, over the last year or so, the trees branches have been pruned and the tunnel is just a little less impressive.

The Dark Hedges might possibly be the most beautiful avenue of beech trees in the world. Planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion (Gracehill House), they still do the job very well. Doubling up as the Kingsroad, north of King's Landing, it was here that Arya escapes from the city disguised as a boy, with Yoren, Gendry, Hot Pie and others destined for the Night's Watch. Head north on the Bregagh Road in Ballymoney to see them for yourself.

Castle Black

We all love John Snow and the Knight’s watch. The majority of these scenes are filmed in Iceland. Iceland was made for movies. It’s landscape is out of this world and it feels like a fantasy visiting. Filming happens all over the country and a drive around the ring road will offer you the chance to check out many. While staying at a hotel near Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, we were told that the Game of Thrones cast and crew stayed there for weeks working during the short filming days.

Notable real life Game of Thrones filming locations in Iceland are Höfðabrekka located near Vík, the southernmost city of Iceland.

Castle Black is an ancient stronghold and is the headquarters of the Night's Watch. The castle is situated along the Wall between Queensgate to the west and Oakenshield to the east, near the center of the Wall, at the northern end of the kingsroad. The village of Mole's Town is located half a league to the south along the kingsroad.

On the Wall, the men of the Night's Watch protect Westeros' northern border against marauding Wildlings and White Walkers, frozen zombie-like figures that come riding resurrected horses, mammoths or ice-spiders. To create a cold, barren world capable of housing such supernatural creatures, HBO shot many of these scenes in Iceland.

Nothern Ireland

The magic  happens in Belfast at Titanic Studios. The Titanic Museum is one of the greatest attractions to Northern Ireland, and while you are there, venture a little further down the road to see the sound stages where GOT scenes are shot.But Castle Ward located in Downpatrick in County Down, Castle Ward is probably the most organized tours of all Game of Thrones filming locations. Everything is dedicated to enjoying your day in Westeros. You can even done a fur lined cape and learn to shoot a bow and arrow just like Bran did when John Snow taught him in the courtyard while the family looked on.

Tollymore Forest Park, covering over 600 hectares at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, is a great area for outdoor activities such as hiking, not to mention a bit of a looker in terms of seaviews. Not surprisingly, it features several times in Game of Thrones. It is here that a member of the Night's Watch sees a family of Wildlings dead on the snow and then encounters a White Walker. Early on in the story, Ned Stark and his sons find the direwolf pups here and, much later, Theon Greyjoy is chased on horseback by Ramsay Snow, the Bastard of Bolton.

Dragonstone

This beautiful 11km stretch of golden sand and turf is best known for being the location of Mussenden Temple, near the coastal town of Castlerock. This Classical round temple was built to be a summer library, while today it stands dramatically on top of a cliff, gazing down the Northern Irish coast. You might recognise the beach and the clifftops as the Dragonstone exterior - remember Melisandre burning the old gods by night? Or 'one true King' Stannis Baratheon drawing a flaming sword from the flames? That all happened right here.

  

Malta, first filming location

Mdina Gate (King's Landing Gate)

The 4000 year-old capital of Malta, Mdina is a walled hill town in the centre of the island, commonly called the Silent City. In Game of Thrones season one, Catelyn and Ser Rodrik Cassel ride into King's Landing through the gorgeous Mdina Gate to investigate the attack on Bran. Fort Ricasoli (Red Keep Gate in King's Landing)

A large seventeenth century fortification built by the Knights of Malta on the promontory known as Gallows Point. It is one of the first things you see if you visit the picturesque village of Kalkara, since it dominates the Grand Harbour. It was a military installation for centuries and played an active part in the defence of Malta during World War Two, when it was badly damaged. Due to its state it can't be visited up close, but take some snaps and you'll be in possession of a good few claims to fame - it's been used as a location for films and TV series.

Fort Ricasoli has been used to represent the Red Keep in King's Landing. Since 1987 Verdala Palace has been the official summer residence of the president of Malta but its origins date back to the sixteenth century, when it was built on the site of a hunting lodge. The elegant palace is surrounded by Buskett Gardens, which were used by the Knights of Malta to hunt game, while in the eighteenth century it was used as a military prison by Napoleon. It is closed to the public, but you can walk through the nearby gardens and imagine you're spying on the house of Illyrio Mopatis - the place where Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen meet Khal Drogo and his kalissi before the wedding.

San Anton Palace (The Red Keep)

This sixteenth century palace located in Attard is the official residence of the President of Malta and is surrounded by private and public gardens. San Anton Palace stands in for parts of the Red Keep in Game of Thrones. In the first series the Starks arrive there and use their stables, and later on a number of their attendants are murdered by Lannister soldiers while unloading some cargo. It is also the Red Keep's Hallway, where Varys and Littlefinger inform Ned Stark that the Goldcloaks are under his control.

Fort Manoel (Great Sept of Baelor)

This is another of the great fortifications of Malta, once a hugely important military stronghold. Fort Manoel stands on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour, north-west of Valletta and will now be remembered forever as the Great Sept of Baelor, the infamous place where King Joffrey executes Ned Stark after his confession, at the end of season one.

Spain, Scotland

We have yet to see the scenes shot in Spain for Season Six. But while visiting Costa Brava last year at this time, the announcement was made that Game of Thrones would be filming in this part of the world. I can understand why, Catalunya is filled with medieval villages, castles and stunning nature. Game of Thrones will fit in perfectly and seamlessly here.

We have heard that filming is taking place all over the country at locations like Gerona, Valencia, Alhamila mountains, Barcelona, Seville, and Andalusia. It is just a matter of time before the Game of Thrones tours start gearing up all around Spain.

 

Doune Castle (Winterfell)

This medieval stronghold in Doune near Stirling was originally built in the thirteenth century and has survived quite unchanged since the fourteenth century, an impressive strategic site at the crossroads of Scotland. Doune Castle can be seen in several films and series such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and the classic adaptation of Ivanhoewith Elizabeth Taylor, as well as the very first appearance of Winterfell in the pilot episode for Game of Thrones.

Split, Klis Fortress, Krka National Park, Ston

Scenes involving Cersei Lannister from the fifth season of Game of Thrones were filmed inside this UNESCO World Heritage site. The great palace complex of the Roman emperor Diocletian spread its architectural heritage across what's now the city of Split so you can visit for free, as part of the third century buildings were used to build the medieval cathedral, cafes, and many more structures within the old walls.

The medieval Klis Fortress, overlooks Klis village near Spilt, and is one of the places where Daenerys plans her return to power. It's not on screen for long, but this once royal castle on the hillside is definitely worth the climb to see Split from above.

Jump on the bus from Split to see this lush green nature reserve, which has provided some stunning backdrops for locations all over the Seven Kingdoms during the series so far. With bright sparkling waters and the constant sound of gurgling streams and gushing waterfalls, Krka National Park is a tranquil place, seemingly far removed from the violent on-screen world.

Located in southern Croatia, a bus ride from the other King's Landing, Dubrovnik, the famous Walls of Ston have featured as the fortifications surrounding the western part of the city. You'll see more clambering tourists than men of the royal guard here, as fans of the show flock here to traipse across Ston's stones on 'the Great Wall of Europe'.

Sibenik (Braavos), Meteora

The medieval town of Sibenik hit the small screen in the fifth season as Braavos, one of the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea. The Braavosi are a race of sailors and adventurers, and this city is home to the famous Iron Bank, as well as sheltering Arya Stark in her flight from Poniente. With its walls and its ancient architecture, Sibenik is protected by four fortresses and you may even come across the fabled 'House of Black and White', or the temple of the God of Many Faces. It also serves as the headquarters of the guild of assassins known as the Faceless Men. It sits alone on a small island in the lagoon of Braavos. Although it can be reached by boat or bridge from other locations in the city, the island is usually deserted.

The cast and crew didn’t exactly shoot on location in Meteora, but second unit was sent out to shoot plates of the magnificent Meteora Monasteries. It was used as its backdrop for the Eyrie castle in the sky, the castle above the clouds where Tyrion had his cell in the sky. Meteora was digitally mastered into the series because of it’s protected environment, the series could not officially shoot here.

Lokrum, Trsteno Arboretum, Azure Window, Essos

Only a few hundred metres off the coast of Dubrovnik lies the green and lush island Lokrum, 10 minutes by boat from the old port. The fortress is on the highest point of the island with an amazing view over the protected national park. In Game of Thrones, Lokrum is turned into Qarth, the 'Queen of Cities' on the continent of Essos, and the setting for much of Daenerys' story in season two.

If you want to wander around the lush gardens of King’s Landing, visit Trsteno Arboretum located in Trsteno, a small village right next to the sea, around 10km north of Dubrovnik. Pretend you're exchanging a secret with court whisperer Varys, as you weave your way between the fountains, vine-covered pergolas, belvedere, pavilions and rich flora in his footsteps.

Malta's Azure Window, located on the island of Gozo, was also featured in the series as the setting for the wedding between Danaerys Targaryan and Khal Drogo.

This incredible 50m high limestone rock arch known as the Azure Window formed the backdrop for Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo's Wedding. It's very popular with scuba divers and anyone waiting to explore the dazzling blue waters around this natural attraction. Apart from Game of Thrones, it has also found fame in films such as Clash of the Titans, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Odyssey.

In the third season, Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled daughter of the targaryen dynasty, travels throughout the world of Essos in search of an army. Most of these scenes were filmed in Morocco, from the historic city of Ait Benhaddou, which served as the setting for Yunkai, to Essaouira, which became the slave-trading city of Astapor. Both towns are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

King's Landing, Croatia

The medieval towns along Croatia's Adriatic coast, with their historic walls and a red-tiles roofs, were often used as the backdrop to the scenes in the South of Westeros.

It is the latest and official seat of the kings of Westeros: King’s Landing, Dubrovnik. It’s no wonder that this monumental city was chosen to pose as one of Westeros’ main landmarks: Dubrovnik’s old town is surrounded by thick stone walls and is located on a peninsula surrounded by a dramatic stone cliff. 

King's Landing, the kingdom's capital city and home of the Iron Throne, has been filmed in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, a fitting choice with its seaside locale and imposing walls. Dubrovnik also doubled as the location of Qarth, an ancient port city featured in the second season of "Game of Thrones."

Croatia is also where much of the Daenerys storyline takes place. Croatia truly feels like you are stepping back in time and one can almost imagine dragons flying overhead. I think the GOT cast and crew that drew straws for this location came out winners. While the other filming locations are amazing places to visit, filming outdoors can be cold, wet and difficult. Croatia may be hot at times, but it is heavenly. Most filming takes place in and around Dubrovnik but they have ventured out more stopping in spots like Sibenik posing as Braavos and Split which is also King’s Landing.

The mysterious House of the Undying is actually the Minceta Tower, located along the above mentioned walls of Dubrovnik. It was an important defence tower facing towards the land and a symbol of how 'unconquerable' the city is.

The Red Keep – the heart of King’s Landing – is, in the real world, Lovijenac Fortress, located outside Dubrovnik on a 37m high rock right on the shore. Fun fact: at the entrance is an ancient inscription which apparently translates as 'Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world'. Looks like the Lannister approach might not pay off after all. The scenes of the Red Keep in season one were actually shot in Malta, but from season two onward the film crew moved the set to Croatia to shoot more exterior shots of Dubrovnik and Lovrijenac Fortress. The bay right in front of the fortress was used for the climatic scenes during the Battle of Blackwater.

In the second season of “Game of Thrones,” shooting of the royal capital of King’s Landing was moved from Malta to Dubrovnik, Croatia. King’s Landing is a walled city on the water, and Dubrovnik provides the show’s creators with exterior shots of that very thing, something Malta did not. It also doesn’t hurt that Croatia offers a 20% cash rebate to any film or television production company that spends about $ 3.3 million per project there.

Several tourist companies offer package tours of the “Game of Thrones” locations, including Vetus Itinera. This agency’s Game of Thrones Tour is a one day package lasting between four and five hours, for a cost of $142 per person.