Game Of Thrones takes audiences to the fantastical world of George R.R. Martin's Westeros. Thanks to the vivid imagery set out in the books, The Song Of Ice And Fire saga contains some truly beautiful locations. Luckily, HBO brought these places to screen in all of their stunning detail.
Whether it's the impressive cities that populate the Seven Kingdoms or perhaps some of the natural scenery that has come to be familiar to fans, each location is designed to produce a certain set of emotions. Yet some are even more beautiful than the rest, as the set designers and production crew have gone to great lengths to ensure that these settings really pop.
The Eyrie
Despite being such a dark and desolate location, there's a natural beauty to The Eyrie that has to be respected. Home to the Arryns, this location is set far above the clouds. Built into a mountainside, it's easily defended thanks to a singular road being the only way in and out of the castles.
The towers that make up this structure are intimidating but also quite elegant in their design. In its day, The Eyrie would have likely been one of the most stunning locations in the whole of Westeros, although under the most recent leadership it has lost some of its gleam. Regardless, it's incredibly impressive.
Pyke
The Iron Islands are harsh in their design, much like the people who live there. Yet they are also one with nature, able to withstand the waves and storms that they are often subject to. The singular structures connected by rope bridges are inventive in their design.
The creativity in this location is clear to see, and there's something quite special about relying on the ocean in this way. Of course, there is some greenery surrounding the castles as well, demonstrating the life that can come from the water. House Greyjoy takes a lot of pride in the capital of Pyke.
Old Town
Old Town is the cultural and philosophical capital of Westeros. It's the location where most thinkers study and where Maesters learn their craft. Great libraries, mad inventions, and impressive structures line the streets, all of which are portrayed in an almost heavenly white.
In terms of innovation and grandeur, there are few places like this in Westeros. Yet, despite the city looking forward as the name suggests, its architecture also feels archaic. As cities go, this is expertly designed and invokes a series of complex emotions. Its portrayal on-screen is something to behold.
Beyond The Wall
There's a vast space beyond the wall, but it's a very daunting area to try to survive. Despite this, whether it's covered in snow or during a period of time where the grasslands and nature are allowed to return, its beauty is simply stunning. There's a simplicity to this location.
The desert of white is complimented by bursts of greenery or and occasional manmade structures that are crude but humble in their nature. Man and Earth are at one here, and somehow, despite going on seemingly forever, there's variation amongst the hills of ice.
Yunkai
Yunkai is one of the many places that the Khaleesi stops off at as she continues to amass her army, free slaves, and make her way toward Westeros. Like many of the locations across the sea, it is full of natural beauty and rich history. The hot climate has allowed for an interesting array of plant life, complemented by intriguing architecture.
From the color palette to the cultural designs influencing every building, there's something very organic about this location. Yunkai often feels like a fantastical realm in a far-off land, with the city being built up into the sky like one large pyramid.
Meereen
Meereen is similar to Yunkai in its design, utilizing a similar color palette and building up in the form of pyramids. However, it also has natural mountains and hills which are used as part of the foundations for the city, and the location is clearly built for defensive purposes.
There's something very bold and grand about Meereen, which is why it's used as a base for the Queen of Dragons for so long. Its architecture is once again ancient in nature and there's something strangely mystical about this stunning desert location.
Dragonstone
There are very few castles that are simply as impressive as Dragonstone. The way in which it's built into the rocks, capitalizing on some of those formations created by mother nature, makes it the perfect location for dragons and royalty alike.
Its emphasis on its relationship with the sea as well as its surrounding nature all adds to the aesthetic, but the most beautiful thing about this structure is the design of the sturdy castle itself. It looks as if it could tell plenty of stories and indeed saw lots of action in the war.
Qarth
Qarth is easily one of the most stunning locations in all of Westeros. It combines the immense beauty of some of the other areas nearby but has a much more open city planning structure. Its markets, streets, and religious buildings are complemented by a great use of natural plant life.
The city has its own harbor too, which adds an element of environmental beauty. It's a city built for the richest and that is reflected in the gold and other precious materials which gives the design an added edge of glamor. Every single road is as breathtaking to walk down as the last.
King's Landing
King's Landing is very much the home of royalty and has been that way for a very long time. It is the most historically significant place in all of Westeros and, as the capitol of the Seven Kingdoms, must cater to a lot of people and represent a number of diverse ideas.
From the harbor to the religious buildings and of course the palaces and keeps themselves, there's all manner of areas to explore in this dense city. King's Landing still somehow combines both incredible architectural integrity with the use of flora throughout.
Dorne
Dorne combines the most inviting elements of the cities beyond the sea and adds to it the surrounding beauty of the natural landscape. While most of these cities build over what's already there, Dorne builds around it, utilizing impressive courtyards and breathtaking gardens.
There's an elegance to Dorne that cannot be found anywhere else and regality which is also reflected in its people. Sunspear itself, the Capitol of the region of Dorne, is incredibly pretty and serves as a great base location for the first few seasons of the show. It's is as fantastical as the show's premise.