Game of Thrones in Essaouira, Morocco: the real Astapor

Follow Explore Essaouira on Instagram

Are you a GoT fan? Check out the set locations for Game of Thrones in Essaouira on your visit to the “Windy City of Africa” and know exactly where to go with our comprehensive Essaouira Game of Thrones guide.

Perched on the Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the picturesque Moroccan port town of Essaouira features as Slaver’s Bay, Astapor, in HBO’s hit TV show, Game of Thrones. The main set location of Game of Thrones in Essaouira are around the Ramparts and Sqala du Port, and fans will notice that there was little in the way of CGI touch ups; Essaouira really does look like Astapor in real life, well minus the ‘Unsullied’.

So a visit to Essaouira really is a must for Game of Thrones fans. But how do you get to Essaouira? Where are the Game of Thrones set locations in Essaouira? Which are the Games of Thrones Essaouira episodes? Well read on GoT fans and we’ll tell you all.

About Essaouira

Essaouira’s chilled and relaxed vibe, especially in comparison to Marrakech, makes it very popular with visitors to Morocco. If you are visiting for the Game of Thrones locations, it’s certainly worthwhile staying for at least a few days to take in all the things to do in Essaouira.

It’s medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century ramparts, there’s an active fishing port to explore, and a wide long arc of beach which offers surfing, kitesurfing, horse-riding, camel-riding, and quad-biking. But if you prefer a more sedate activity, try a traditional Moroccan hammam in Essaouira, or just wander the medina to browse the shops and stopping occasionally for mint tea.

Where is Game of Thrones set in Essaouira?

There are two set locations in Essaouira for Game of Thrones:

• Essaouira’s Ramparts (click here for Google Map location)
• Sqala du Port d’Essaouira (click here for Google Map location)

It’s a short walk between the two locations, and both feature on our free and self-guided Essaouira walking tour.

Both are free to visit.

Essaouira’s Ramparts

open 9am to just after sunset every day, free entry

Essaouira’s Ramparts are featured most in the Game or Thrones’ Astapor scenes. Firstly when Daenerys Targaryen arrives to Astapor, and then again as ‘The Walk of Punishment’ two episodes later.

These fortified walls were constructed around the medina in the 18th century to protect the port from attack and are remarkably well preserved. Walking along these ramparts are one of the top things to do in Essaouira; take in the windswept views of the Atlantic Coast, with the wooden fishing boats bobbing in the water, rocky outcrops, and an offshore bird sanctuary.

The entrance to Essaouira’s Ramparts can be tricky to find and not where you expect them to be. Head to the top of Rue Skala (which is lined with artisan shops) and through a stone arch. From here, walk up the slope to the top of the ramparts. At the top of the slope take a right first to check out the views to the north (although this side doesn’t feature in Game of Thrones), before heading along the line of canon, which GoT fans will certainly recognise.

You can climb up on top of the canon and onto the wall. It’s a lovely place to sit looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, watching the world go by, especially at sunset.

Sqala du Port

No fee to view from the outside as featured in Game of Thrones. But, if you like, you can walk along the rampart and up to the tower for DH50 per person.

Sqala du Port is one of the main fortifications of the city, and is located at the entrance to the port. It’s perhaps the most iconic sight in Essaouira and features on the homepage of this website!

However, it is often photographed from within the fishing port, as the above photo shows. In Game of Thrones, Sqala du Port actually features from the other side, before you walk through the arch leading into Essaouira’s fishing port, just opposite the orange juice stalls.

It only appears for a couple of minutes in Game of Thrones as Daenerys discusses the value of the Unsullied with her advisor, Ser Jorah, and they meet Ser Barristan Selmy.

Which are the Game of Thrones Essaouira episodes?

The following details which Game of Thrones episodes and scenes feature Essaouira. It’s worth re-watching these scenes before your visit.

Episode 1, season 3: Valar Dohaeris

Astapor / Essaouira is first featured 46 minutes into episode 1, season 3 of Game of Thrones. This is when Daenerys Targaryen sails to Astapor to buy an army of ‘Unsullied’ and learns that this is an army of slaves who have be trained as children, and only one in four boys (the most disciplined, loyal and fearless) survive. Here, Daenerys walks along Essaouira’s ramparts when she first arrives to Astapor and meets the leader of the Unsullied, Kraznys.

This episode then moves along to Essaouira’s Scala du Port, as Daenerys discusses the value of the Unsullied with her advisor, Ser Jorah, before meeting a little girl with poisonous scorpion hidden inside a ball. A hooded man stops the scorpion from attacking Daenerys and as he chases the girl away, you can spot the distinct blue fishing boats that are common today around Essaouira’s port.

Episode 3, season 3: Walk of Punishment

Essaouira’s Ramparts are featured again, 28 minutes into episode 3, season 3, as the ‘Walk of Punishment’ in Astapor. Here the canon which sits along the Ramparts have been built over to create the base for each crucifix.

Daenerys‘ negotiations to purchase all of Kraznys‘ Unsullied then take place in the central base of Essaouira’s Ramparts. To get there, facing the base of the slope up to the ramparts, continue straight ahead to the left of the slope and continue around to the right. Just as you exit back into the alleyways, stop, turn around, and look behind you to spot the set of below scene.

Episode 4, season 3: And Now His Watch Is Ended

45 minutes into episode 4, season 3, Astapor is featured again, but not recognisably Essaouira. Indeed, the large scenes of the 8000 Unsullied army gathering are too big scale to fit in Essaouira’s Medina.

Although as Daenerys marches the Unsullied out of Astapor, the sea backdrop dotted with islands are still clearly the Atlantic Ocean by Essaouira, but there is a lot of CGI used here to show the extent of Astapor, with a few dragons added in (which can definitely not be found in Essaouira).

If you have found this website useful for planning your Essaouira adventures, you can show your support by buying Jenny a coffee. Thanks so much!