Game of Thrones Malta Guide

I’m a nerd. Like honestly. Yes, I love Game of Thrones, so I needed to check out the Game of Thrones Malta locations.

Game of Thrones Malta

Many first-season scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed in Malta before production moved to Croatia for later seasons. (Check out this map for all the Game of Thrones filming locations.) If you’ve been to Malta, you won’t be surprised. At many places on this island, you feel like you’re walking through another world or another time. Especially Mdina really fascinated me. When you’re walking through its narrow streets, you’re just waiting for the Kingsguard to come round the next corner, or you’re looking for a pile of horse dung, just in case you’ll be meeting Joffrey.

The Complete List of Game of Thrones Malta Filming Locations

1. Mdina Gate — King’s Landing Gate

Mdina Gate was used as King’s Landing Gate in episode #103, “Lord Snow,” when Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik ride into the city. It’s also where Ned says his final farewell to Catelyn. Mdina is a living, walled city — you can freely walk through this one any time.

2. Pjazza Mesquita — Littlefinger’s Brothel

Pjazza Mesquita in Mdina was Littlefinger’s brothel exterior, also in episode #103. It’s also where Jaime Lannister and his spearmen clash with Ned’s guards in “The Wolf and the Lion.” Like the gate, this square is freely walkable — grab a coffee at one of the cafés on the square while you’re there.

3. Fort Ricasoli — Gate of the Gods

Fort Ricasoli, in Kalkara on the east side of the Grand Harbour, doubled as the Gate of the Gods — the entrance to King’s Landing seen when King Robert’s party arrives, and again when Arya tries to re-enter the city. Heads up: Fort Ricasoli is not generally open to the public, but you can get a great view of it from across the harbor in Valletta.

4. Fort St. Angelo — Red Keep Dungeons

Fort St. Angelo in Birgu was used as the Red Keep dungeons, where Arya overhears Varys and Illyrio conspiring. Unlike Ricasoli, this one is open to visitors as a heritage site, so you can actually walk the same passages.

5. Verdala Palace — Illyrio Mopatis’s Mansion

Verdala Palace in Buskett Gardens served as Illyrio Mopatis’s mansion in Pentos, where Daenerys and Viserys first meet Khal Drogo. This one’s the official summer residence of Malta’s President, so it’s closed to the public — but you can still walk the surrounding Buskett Gardens and get a look at the exterior.

6. San Anton Gardens — Pentos Grounds

San Anton Gardens also appears in the Pentos scenes. The gardens themselves are open and free to walk through, even though the adjoining palace (another presidential residence) isn’t.

7. The Azure Window, Gozo — Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s Wedding

The Azure Window on the island of Gozo was the unforgettable backdrop for Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s wedding in the very first episode, “Winter is Coming.” Important update: the Azure Window collapsed into the sea during a storm in March 2017 and no longer exists. It’s genuinely sad — it was one of Malta’s most iconic natural landmarks — but the site at Dwejra Bay, Gozo is still worth the trip. You can see where it once stood, and the surrounding cliffs and Inland Sea are still spectacular. Just don’t expect to find the arch itself.

Why did Game of Thrones stop filming in Malta?

Game of Thrones only filmed in Malta for Season 1 — production moved to Dubrovnik, Croatia for the following seasons. There’s genuine disagreement about why: some reports claim Malta’s government banned the production after finding the Azure Window site was left damaged (unremoved sand used to create the desert set), while Malta’s own Environment and Planning Authority later investigated and found no lasting damage. Other accounts point to the much less dramatic explanation that budget and logistics simply made Croatia a better fit for the following seasons. Either way, Malta welcomed film crews back afterward — the island has hosted other major productions since, just not Game of Thrones itself.

Take the Malta Walking Tour linked since they will point out these locations! The tour will take you to two of the main towns of Malta: Mdina and Rabat. They will stop along the way to serve you Maltese food and local craft beers. They will also tell you the history of Malta and the many invasions over their history. Highly recommend this tour as it was a highlight of our trip to learn about Malta, eat delicious food and see some of our favorite Game of Thrones Filming Locations! If you’d rather do a dedicated locations tour, GetYourGuide runs a few different Game of Thrones tours in Malta covering Mdina, Fort St. Angelo, and the Gozo coastline. The other stop on our Malta trip that we loved was Valletta — don’t miss the city’s famous colorful wooden balconies while you’re there!

A lot of the later seasons of Game of Thrones were filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia. They have a designated Game of Thrones Walking Tour in Dubrovnik so make sure you check it out if you are in Croatia!