Essaouira Game of Thrones: Your Complete Filming Locations Guide

Game of Thrones fans love visiting filming locations and there’s no wonder why: they are stunning. Here is Essaouira, the site for the fictional city of Astapor is no different. Depicted as Slaver’s Bay in Game of Thrones, the real port town of Essaouira has beautiful seaside walls shown in the TV show. You’ll find all the Game of Thrones filming locations, helpful tips for getting to Essaouira, and other things to do in this guide.

Both in and around the Ramparts and Squala du Port are known filming locations. Once on site you’ll soon learn that HBO did little to change the area from Essaouira’s charm to Astapor, too. While some other sites took to CGI to make them look authentic to the show Essaouira’s beauty didn’t require many alterations for TV magic to take place.

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Is Essaouira worth visiting?

Even if you’ve never seen Game of Thrones, Essaouira is worth visiting. I loved my 3-night escape to the seaside with a much slower pace than many of the Moroccan cities can offer you. Locals are friendly, weather is cooler, prices are usually marked (a surprise after the rip-offs of other areas in Morocco), and the scenery is just beautiful. 

I was so sad when I had to leave and already can’t wait to head back to the beautiful coast to spend a relaxing trip eating tajine and enjoying the ocean waves.

Looking for other things to do in Essaouira? Don't miss this Best things to do in Essaouira guide!

How to get to Essaouira

If you’re planning on a trip to Essaouira the easiest way to get here is via air conditioned bus from Marrakech. The bus operates multiple times a day and takes 3 hours with a short stop along the way. The bus stop in Essaouira is right at the start of the old media near the beach so you can likely walk to your hotel from here.

SupraTours operates this bus line. You can go to the ticket office in advance or buy yours online. Tickets are 100 Dirham, or about $10 USD each way and don’t include baggage. You’ll need to pay an additional 5 dirham for each bag of luggage to be stored. 

If you don’t want to take the public bus you can book a private transfer. From Marrakech you can book one for about $100 USD each way. The cheaper, private option is a fixed taxi at a Grand Taxi station. The taxi should cost you 600 Dirham, or about $60 USD each way. If they try to charge you more, ask to see their fixed chart.

>> Don’t miss this complete guide to getting to Essaouira for more details!

Game of Thrones locations in Essaouira

There are two main filming locations that make up the HBO sets in Essaouira for Astapor’s fictional city. Both of which are easy to navigate and free to visit. So, why not visit the real life locations?

Ramparts

First, you can visit the Ramparts along the coastal sea edge. The ramparts are in great condition, showcasing 18th century cannons still lining the walkways. You can visit anytime but it’s especially great at sunset or early in the morning. I chose to visit at around 10am and was one of just a handful of tourists and locals wandering around.

Getting to the Ramparts can be tricky and our riad offered us a map to help find the entrance location. You’ll need to enter via Rue Skala, where you’ll find a stone arch leading into the Ramparts. From there small shops line the bottom of the walkway to a ramp leading to the cannons and other areas of the fortress wall. 

If the cannons aren’t recognizable that’s because they were covered up for Astaphor but the walkway and tower are certainly easy to spot!

Squala du Port

It’s hard not to miss the beautiful view of Squala du Port when walking around Essaouira. This well preserved port entrance is sure to get your camera out. In Game of Thrones the port was featured before heading through the archway (to where the fisherman docks are). Here you’ll find a handful of blue fishing boats and views of the larger arch to the port as well as the larger tower.

Here is where Daenerys negotiates the price of the unsullied. 

I’d recommend walking into the port to see the local economy taking place. Fishing has long been the primary way of life in Essaouira. You can visit early in the morning and watch the fishing boats arriving or around noon to buy your own fish to have it prepared at a local seaside restaurant. 

Keep in mind that fishing practices in Morocco are not as sustainable as other parts of the world. Most fishermen utilize big net fishing practices, which catch any and everything. Oftentimes these practices result in death of other species of fish that are either endangered or not edible. 

Which Game of Thrones episodes are shot in Essaouira?

Fictional Astaphor is shot in a variety of locations but some scenes that make up the city are shot in Essaouira. Astaphor is shown in Season 3 of Game of Thrones with scenes in Essaouira in episodes 1, 3, and 4.

The Ramparts are heavily shown in Episode 1 of Season 3. Where you’ll see the towers, walkways, and bottom level throughout the episode. It’s here in Astaphor that Daenerys is looking to purchase the “Unsullied” to build her army. In this episode you’ll so see the fishing area of Essaouira, Scala du Port. The beautiful blue fishing boats that are iconic in Essaouira are within the scenes.

Episodes 3 and 4 show Essaouira as Astaphor on a small scale, featuring the Ramparts again through the “Unsullied” negotiations in Astaphor.

What you’ll most likely notice throughout the episodes is how much CGI and set dressing was used to make Astaphor from Essaouira. But you can still get the sense of both locations within the episodes.

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More Morocco Tips + Inspiration

• Start here for a complete guide to visiting Morocco (itineraries included!)
• Don’t miss my helpful guide to Essaouira riads so you can find the perfect place to stay
• Want help finding the best things to buy in Morocco? Check out this guide
• If you’re planning to travel to Essaouira from Marrakech this guide will give you the best ways for every budget
• Find the best things to do in Essaouira