The Real Cities Behind Game of Thrones, Photographed Street by Street

Dubrovnik: the walled city

Dubrovnik in Croatia was the main filming location for King's Landing. Its city walls, steep stone stairs and narrow lanes appear in many scenes. The King's Landing pack (220 photos) covers the city's best-known landmarks, including the streets used for the riot scene. It was shot on an iPhone 6, at up to 4608 × 3456, so it is best for layout, colour and atmosphere rather than extreme close-ups.

For more of the Croatian coast, the Croatia pack (139 photos) covers the old town of Rovinj and the Roman arena at Pula. These are not filming locations, but they share the same limestone, red roofs and Adriatic light.

Girona: steps, alleys and roofs

Girona in Catalonia, Spain, was used for scenes set in King's Landing, Braavos and Oldtown. Its old town has kept much of its medieval architecture. The Medieval City - Game of Thrones pack has 363 photos shot on a Nikon D810. The photographer worked early in the morning, so the streets are empty of tourists. That is rare, and it makes these photos far easier to paint over or use as a 3D layout guide.

The same photographer made Girona Rooftops - Game of Thrones: 110 photos looking across the city's roofs at 7360 × 4912. Rooftops are what a matte painter needs for wide establishing shots of a fantasy capital.

Other places with the same character

Malta was used for King's Landing in the first season. The Architecture and Ruins of Malta pack (362 photos) was shot around Valletta. It shows the island's honey-coloured limestone buildings, but it is not a guide to specific filming spots.

Iceland gave the show its scenes beyond the Wall. The Iceland pack (383 photos) covers geysers, mountains, valleys and rivers across the country. Again, these are landscapes of the same country, not the exact filming sites.

For more walls, towers and gates, see castle and fortress reference. For cathedrals and churches to place in a fantasy city, see cathedral reference photos.

Independent photographs, no affiliation

Fotoref is not connected with HBO, Warner Bros. or the makers of Game of Thrones. The show's name is used here only to describe where these real places appear on screen. The packs contain photographs of public streets and buildings. They contain no film stills, costumes, logos or set dressing from the production.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell fan art that I make with these photos?

The Fotoref license covers your use of the photos: you can paint, photobash and model from them in unlimited projects. The license does not give you any rights to the show's characters, names or logos. Those belong to their owners, so check their fan art rules before you sell.

Are these photos useful for a cosplay photo shoot or a tabletop set?

Yes. Many fans use them to plan backdrops, paint banners or build terrain that matches the look of the show. The empty-street photos from Girona are especially useful as clean backgrounds.

Do the photos show tourists?

The Girona street pack was shot before the crowds arrived. Other packs may show visitors. In Mixed packs, photos with identifiable people sit in a separate Editorial folder. Use them as reference, not directly in ads or on products for sale.

Do you have other medieval towns?

Yes. Medieval City Narrow Streets has 91 photos of mostly empty alleys, stairs, doors and roofs in an old town.