From King's Landing to Dragonstone! These real castles brought Game of Thrones to life (See pics)

The ancestral seat of House Targaryen, Dragonstone featured dramatic cliffside visuals filmed on the islet of Gaztelugatxe in northern Spain. Its winding stone stairway leading to a chapel was reimagined in the show as the approach to Daenerys’s castle.

The sky-high castle of House Arryn, known for its dizzying height and dramatic drop through the Moon Door, was conceptually inspired by the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora in Greece. Although CGI was used for the final visuals, the real-life location gave the Eyrie its vertical, remote character.

The capital of the Seven Kingdoms, King’s Landing was primarily filmed in Dubrovnik, a coastal city in Croatia. The city’s medieval walls, towers, and terracotta rooftops provided the perfect backdrop for the political drama and grandeur of the Iron Throne.

Home of House Stark, Winterfell is one of the most iconic strongholds in Game of Thrones. The early seasons were filmed at Doune Castle in Scotland, a medieval fortress that dates back to the 14th century. Its rugged stone structure and isolated location set the tone for the northern stronghold of the Starks.

Harrenhal, the largest but most cursed castle in Westeros, was shown in ruins, reflecting its tragic history. While its onscreen version was built with a mix of sets and digital effects, its crumbling design drew from real medieval ruins like Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland, known for its coastal decay and dramatic backdrop.

Ait Benhaddou, an ancient walled city in Morocco, is one of the country's top tourist spots and a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its centuries-old architecture and rich cultural history, it’s a destination in its own right — but its role as a stand-in for one of Game of Thrones’ key cities makes it even more of a must-visit.