The Real-Life City Where The King's Landing Scenes Were Filmed In Game Of Thrones
Based on the book series by George R.R. Martin, "Game of Thrones" immediately hooked audiences when it premiered in 2011. Featuring an incredible ensemble cast, meticulously choreographed fight scenes, impeccable costume design, and carefully crafted storytelling, "Game of Thrones" was a cultural phenomenon that took the world by storm. While the land of Westeros may be fictional, you can visit many of the "Game of Thrones" filming locations in real life. Some scenes are shot on sound stages in studio spaces, but the fantasy series was filmed in actual locations all over the world. For instance, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Khal Drogo's (Jason Momoa) wedding was filmed in Malta, the Stark family home in Winterfell is actually Doune Castle in Scotland, and various locations in Iceland serve as the land north of the Wall (via Travel + Leisure). For a dedicated traveler, Westeros is not so far out of reach!
One of the most important locations in the show is King's Landing, a crowded city that plays host to a number of unsavory characters, as well as being the home of the Iron Throne. To recreate a place that's so essential to the narrative, filmmakers chose a popular tourist destination that sits on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
The city of Dubrovnik doubles as King's Landing
The city of Dubrovnik in Croatia doubles as King's Landing. To bring their fictional city to life, the creative team behind "Game of Thrones" used an area called Dubrovnik Old Town, which is full of beautiful classic architecture that adds to the high fantasy atmosphere. Viewers will notice that the characters sometimes stroll along what are actually the historic Walls of Dubrovnik, which protected the city in the 13th century. Pile Gate, which serves as the entrance to Old Town, acts as Blackwater Bay, a main seaport in King's Landing (via Bustle).
Dubrovnik so perfectly served as a substitute for King's Landing that a significant challenge arose when filming the final season. Fans will recall that in Season 8, Daenerys employs her dragons and her armies to burn King's Landing to the ground, one of the many "Game of Thrones" moments that left audiences stunned. However, actually destroying Dubrovnik was clearly not an option. Instead, the streets of Dubrovnik were recreated in Belfast, Ireland for the sole purpose of filming the destruction sequence (via Shamrock Craic). Production built around 17 blocks of alleyways, streets, and shops, which were utilized to recreate the areas in Dubrovnik that act as King's Landing. Unlike King's Landing, Dubrovnik is still standing strong, giving viewers the opportunity to visit some of the locations used in "Game of Thrones."