Game of Thrones Filming Locations in Malta: A Complete Guide for Set-Jetters
Years after the final episode aired, Game of Thrones continues driving significant tourism to its filming locations worldwide. Malta holds a special place in the show’s history as the primary filming location for the entire first season, with production spending 37 days on the islands and employing 900 local extras. The fortified cities, ancient architecture, and dramatic coastlines that first brought Westeros to life remain fully accessible to visiting fans.
Understanding which locations served which purposes helps transform a Malta visit into a journey through the Seven Kingdoms, connecting familiar screen moments to tangible places where actors walked and cameras rolled.
Mdina: The Gates of King’s Landing
The ancient fortified city of Mdina provided the primary exterior shots for King’s Landing in Season 1, before production shifted to Croatia for subsequent seasons. The Mdina Gate, the grand entrance to this “Silent City,” served as the iconic entrance to the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. Ned Stark and his daughters arrived through this very archway, and careful observers can spot it in multiple episodes.
Walking through Mdina today offers an experience remarkably similar to visiting King’s Landing, minus the executions. The narrow streets, ancient buildings, and complete absence of cars create an atmosphere perfectly suited to medieval fantasy. The city’s elevated position provides views across Malta that explain why fortified settlements here held strategic importance for millennia.
The production design team made minimal alterations to Mdina for filming, a testament to how effectively the real location served the fictional one. Mesquita Square, with its medieval buildings and stone paving, hosted several key dialogue scenes, while various alleys throughout the city appeared as the winding streets where Arya chased cats and overheard conspiratorial whispers.
Fort St. Angelo: Dungeons of the Red Keep
Across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, Fort St. Angelo served as the exterior and interior for the Red Keep’s dungeons and lower chambers. This medieval fortification, with origins dating to the 11th century, provided the stone-walled spaces where Ned Stark languished as a prisoner and where Varys made his conspiratorial visits.
The fort reopened to visitors in 2016 following extensive restoration, allowing fans to walk the same passages used for filming. The atmospheric underground chambers retain exactly the oppressive feeling captured on screen, with narrow corridors, heavy stone walls, and minimal natural light creating an authentic dungeon experience.
Fort St. Angelo offers educational exhibits about its long military history beyond the Game of Thrones connection, including its role as headquarters of the Knights of St. John and its importance during World War II. The upper ramparts provide exceptional views across the harbour to Valletta.
Fort Manoel: The Great Sept of Baelor
One of the show’s most shocking moments unfolded at Fort Manoel on Manoel Island, where the execution of Ned Stark sent viewers the clear message that no character was safe. The fort’s courtyard represented the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor, the religious center of King’s Landing where this pivotal scene played out before crowds of extras playing the angry mob.
Fort Manoel dates to the 18th century, built by the Knights of St. John and named for the Portuguese Grand Master who funded its construction. While the fort itself has limited public access, guided tours occasionally include interior visits, and the exterior remains viewable from various points around Marsamxett Harbour.
The Azure Window: A Location Lost to Nature
The Dothraki wedding of Daenerys and Khal Drogo filmed at one of Malta’s most spectacular natural landmarks, the Azure Window on the island of Gozo. This massive natural limestone arch, formed by the collapse of two sea caves, created a dramatic frame for the ceremony that launched one of the show’s most important character arcs.
The Azure Window collapsed during a severe storm on March 8, 2017, leaving only the memory of this iconic landmark and the footage preserved in Game of Thrones and other productions including Clash of the Titans. Visiting the site at Dwejra Bay still rewards travelers, as the surrounding coastline retains its dramatic beauty. The Blue Hole, a popular swimming and diving spot adjacent to where the window once stood, offers crystal-clear waters and underwater exploration opportunities.
Divers now visit the collapsed remains of the Azure Window, which have created an artificial reef attracting marine life. This underwater exploration represents perhaps the most unique way to connect with this lost filming location.
San Anton Palace and Gardens
The official residence of Malta’s president served as a stand-in for the gardens of the Red Keep, where several intimate conversations between characters took place amid carefully manicured greenery. San Anton Gardens opens to the public free of charge, allowing visitors to walk paths where Cersei, Ned, and other characters schemed against each other.
The gardens date to the 17th century and contain diverse plant species from around the world, reflecting Malta’s position as a crossroads of Mediterranean trade. Peacocks roam freely, fountains provide cooling sounds, and benches beneath mature trees offer pleasant rest stops.
Planning a Game of Thrones Itinerary
A dedicated Game of Thrones Malta itinerary can be accomplished in a full day, though spreading visits across two days allows more thorough exploration. Beginning in Mdina provides the most iconic photographs, ideally arriving early before crowds fill the narrow streets. The city’s cafes and restaurants offer breakfast options before the walking begins.
Fort St. Angelo and Fort Manoel require crossing to the Three Cities area via ferry or driving around the harbour. Combining these sites with general exploration of Birgu, the main settlement among the Three Cities, creates a full morning or afternoon.
Reaching Gozo for the former Azure Window site requires a separate ferry journey of approximately 25 minutes from Cirkewwa on Malta’s northern tip. Many visitors combine the Dwejra Bay visit with broader Gozo exploration, as the island offers its own distinct character and attractions beyond Game of Thrones connections.
Guided tours specifically focused on Game of Thrones filming locations operate from Valletta and Sliema, removing the logistical complexity while adding informed commentary about filming techniques and production stories. These tours typically run four to six hours and range from 50 to 100 euros depending on group size and included transportation.
For fans whose introduction to Malta came through the gates of King’s Landing, visiting these sites creates a powerful connection between fiction and reality. The same stones that served as the foundation of Westeros continue standing, inviting travelers to walk in the footsteps of Starks and Lannisters while discovering an island nation with stories far older and more remarkable than any fantasy.