A coastal city that's been inhabited since prehistoric times due to its natural harbor, Essaouria is known as "the wall" in Arabic due to the natural fortress that encloses the original town center. Not only was it an ideal site for producers to replicate the Slaver's Bay city of Astapor, but it's also a longtime cultural center and was a hippie hangout in the '60s that attracted Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens.

A trading crossroads in Morocco, Ouarzazate, nicknamed the door to the desert, didn't find its first moment in the spotlight via Game of Thrones. Home to Atlas Studios, the city's rugged terrain and casbahs have formed the backdrops for numerous films, from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this fortified clay city was used as a set for many scenes featuring Daenerys Targaryen.

A series of nine valleys in Northern Ireland, the Glens are a major tourist attraction due to their natural beauty and made for a fitting backdrop for the nomadic Dothraki.

The rough terrain of this abandoned limestone quarry made an ideal setting for scenes set in the inhospitable north of Westeros, including the Wall and Hardhome. Maybe when things cool off, the Night's Watch could take a page form the books of the quarries current owners, who have plans to turn it into a cycling and scuba center.

This private home in Ballycarry, Northern Ireland, Redhall Estates, used for scenes early in the first season, can be rented out for weddings. On second thought, a Game of Thrones wedding is probably a pretty bad idea.

Based on the Temple of Vesta in Italy, this circular structure looking over the Atlantic was used as a stand-in for Dragonstone, where Melisandre burned the old gods. Perhaps a beach BBQ would be more fitting in real life.

One of many buildings that have played the role of Winterfell in the series, Castle Ward has its own interesting backstory. The two-faced design, split between classical and Gothic styles, was the results of a couple, Lord Bangor and Lady Ann Bligh, compromising on the look of their home.

This renowned state park, celebrated for its natural beauty and numerous stone bridges and structures, has been named one of the best picnic sites in the region.

This chalk quarry was the site of Renly's war camp.

These roughhewn, scenic cliffs were used for scenes replicating the Iron Isles.

Two sites at the northern tip of the Irish isle make for dramatic backdrops. The creepy woodlands of the Dark Hedges represent the pathway to King's Landing (foreshadowing), while the Cushendun Caves served as the site where Melisandre had her baby.

Known as "the Silent City," the ancient walled fortress-city of Mdina has been inhabited for millennia. Supposedly St. Paul the Apostle lived here in 60 AD after being shipwrecked off the coast.

A throwback to early episodes, this villa stood in as the home of Illyrio Mopatis.

The dungeons at this fortress in the Birgu harbor, once the home of the Knights of Malta, played the part of those in the Red Keep.

One of many locations in Malta used to film scenes set in King's Landing, Fort Saint Elmo is known for withstanding a massive siege from Turkish invaders in the 16th century.

Known as a "star fort," Fort Manoel was built with outstretched arms that housed artillery such as cannons.

Built within a series of formal gardens, San Anton Palace is the residence of the President of Malta. Some of the trees within the gardens are more than 300 years old.

Contrary to its portrayal of Braavos on GoT, there aren't any mysterious assassins lurking around the historic village of Sibenik on the Dalmatian coast.

The highest point of Dubrovnik's defensive wall, this tower topped with a Gothic crown has done double duty as a site for multiple scenes in the series.

Klis Fortress, a stand-in for Meereen, is located at an important crossroads in Dalmatia and has been the site of numerous battles throughout the centuries.

These unique structures, natural rock formations that look like ancient castles, were created by lava flows and are a huge tourist attraction in Iceland.

This steep landscape in the north of Iceland recreated the harsh landscape north of the wall.

It's not exactly the grotto at the Playboy Mansion, but these thermal springs, once the home of a famous outlaw, were the filmmakers choice for a place that Jon Snow won't soon forget.

The expansive Icelandic National Park, carved by glaciers, includes a massive waterfall framed by black basalt columns.

The real-life Palace of Dorne, Real Alcázar is a Moorish castle that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site and still functions as a royal palace to this day.

This sandstone bull-fighting ring is over a century old.