2 locations · 22 km apart · half a day
Game of Thrones in Córdoba
Two locations near Córdoba appear in the series: the Roman Bridge stands in for the Long Bridge of Volantis, and Castillo de Almodóvar (22 km west) played Highgarden and Casterly Rock. Both are open to visitors and worth combining in a day trip.
Written by
María Fernanda González Ten years covering Córdoba's UNESCO heritage sites, sourcing from Junta de Andalucía documentation.
Updated Published
Andalusia, land of Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones made extensive use of Andalusia's historic monuments to represent the kingdoms of Westeros and Essos. Córdoba is home to two major filming sites: the Roman Bridge and the Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, both open to visitors.
In this guide
The Roman Bridge: Long Bridge of Volantis
The Roman Bridge at dusk: sixteen arches, 247 metres, built two thousand years before the show that used it as a stand-in.
The Long Bridge of Volantis
Played by the Roman Bridge Season 5, Episode 3, "High Sparrow"
The Roman Bridge of Córdoba, built in the 1st century BC, was transformed into the Long Bridge of Volantis for seasons 5 and 6. This 247-metre structure with its 16 arches carried one of Tyrion Lannister's most memorable scenes.
Tyrion and Varys arrive in Volantis after fleeing Pentos, and Tyrion insists on walking the bridge itself, past its taverns and markets, before his encounter with a red priestess turns his journey.
Visiting the Roman Bridge
- Admission
- Free
- Access
- Open 24/7
- Duration
- 30–45 minutes
- Best time
- Sunrise or sunset
- Neighbourhood
- La Ribera Explore La Ribera
- Nearby
- Next to the Mezquita-Cathedral
Did you know?
The Roman Bridge was the only crossing over the Guadalquivir for nearly 2,000 years. Moorish modifications in the 8th century enriched its architecture, creating the monument you can admire today. To learn more about Roman Córdoba, see our Roman Córdoba guide.
Castillo de Almodóvar: Highgarden and Casterly Rock
Castillo de Almodóvar del Río, 22 km west of Córdoba: the whole fortress played Highgarden, with one scene below ground standing in for Casterly Rock.
Highgarden, seat of House Tyrell
Season 7, Episode 3, "The Queen's Justice"
The castle stands in for Highgarden during Jaime Lannister's siege. Its fortifications and hilltop position frame the confrontation with Lady Olenna Tyrell, including her last line of dialogue.
Casterly Rock, one small scene
Dungeons, season 7
The castle's real credit is Highgarden; Casterly Rock only borrows its dungeons, for a single brief scene shot during the same visit. They are real, they are cold, and a standard ticket gets you into them.
The castle's underground levels stood in for Casterly Rock. This is an illustration, not a photograph of the site.
Visiting Castillo de Almodóvar del Río
- Admission
- Adults €11 · reduced €8.50 · ages 5–13 €6
- Hours
- Daily, seasonal (see below)
- Duration
- 1h30–2h recommended
- Audio guide
- Paid: €3 download, €5 device (5 languages)
- Filming route
- Self-guided, included in general admission
- Theatrical visit
- €16 adults, €11 ages 5–13
- Distance
- 22 km west of Córdoba
- Travel time
- 30 minutes by car
- Public transport
- Bus M-250 (Consorcio de Transporte)
- Parking
- Available on site
2026 opening hours
- Winter (Jan–Mar, Oct–Dec): weekdays 11:00–14:30 & 16:00–19:00; weekends & holidays 11:00–19:00
- Spring/Autumn (Apr–May, mid-Aug–Sep): weekdays 11:00–14:30 & 16:00–20:00; weekends & holidays 11:00–20:00
- Summer (Jun–Jul, early–mid Aug): weekdays 09:00–15:30; weekends & holidays 11:00–20:00
- Closed: 1 Jan and 25 Dec. Reduced hours (11:00–14:30) on 24 Dec, 31 Dec and 5 Jan.
“When you see the castle on its hilltop, you understand why the show's scouts stopped the car.”
Rebuilt from ruin, not preserved from history
Round, and safe
In 740, the Umayyads built a fortress on this hill, El Redondo, and called it al-Mudawar: "round" or "safe". The name evolved into Almodóvar, and passed down to the town below.
Three towers, by name
The castle's most significant towers are the Torre Cuadrada (Square), the Torre Redonda (Round) and the Torre del Homenaje (the keep). Their profile against the valley is what stopped the location scouts.
Deep dungeons
Underground passages run below the courtyard, cool in any season, and they carried the castle's brief Casterly Rock scene without a soundstage.
What visitors walk through today is mostly reconstruction, not survival. The castle stood in ruin until 1901, when Rafael Desmaissières y Farina, Count of Torralva, hired the architect Adolfo Fernández Casanova, who also restored Seville Cathedral, to rebuild it. There was no road up the hill, so the first job was blasting one with dynamite just to haul in stone. Some 800 workmen spent 36 years moving close to 6,000 cubic metres of quarried stone into place, and neither the Count nor Casanova lived to see the work finished. That thoroughness is exactly why the castle films so well: rebuilt this completely, it reads as more castle on screen than most genuine medieval survivors, which tend to be patched ruins wearing scaffolding. Its Umayyad Arab origins aren't incidental either: the horseshoe arches and muqarnas domes that define Dorne's look on screen come from the same Córdoba building tradition. See the real architecture behind Game of Thrones' Dorne for the full story.
The Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs, inspiration for the Water Gardens of Dorne
Game of Thrones across Andalusia
Andalusia is home to many other Game of Thrones filming sites, primarily in Seville:
Seville
- Real Alcázar: Water Gardens of Dorne
- Itálica: Dragonpit (seasons 7 and 8)
- Osuna bullring: Daznak's Pit
- Las Atarazanas: Dungeons of the Red Keep
Almería
- Alcazaba: Dorne composite (CGI)
GoT circuit: Combine Córdoba, Seville and Almería for a complete tour of Andalusian filming locations. See our Seville–Córdoba day trip guide to plan your visit.
Tips for your visit
- Morning
Walk the Roman Bridge from the Torre de la Calahorra end, so the Mezquita rises in front of you. Low sun does the work here; that's why sunrise beats midday for photographs.
- Midday
Drive, or take the M-250 west to Almodóvar del Río. Thirty minutes, and the castle stays in view for most of the last ten.
- Afternoon
The castle itself: ramparts, towers, then the underground levels. Allow 90 minutes, more if a theatrical tour is running. In July and August, go earlier; the hilltop has no shade.
Both sites sit inside a wider day. The Roman Bridge is a two-minute walk from the Mezquita and the Alcázar, and the historic centre is small enough to cover on foot with our mapped walking routes. For transport options and other destinations to pair with Almodóvar, see the day trips guide, or the day trip or overnight guide if you're still deciding how long to stay.
Tours & tickets nearby
Tours are selected for quality, not commission. We earn a small fee if you book — at no extra cost to you.
Where to sleep and eat near the filming locations
Nearby hotels
To stay close to the La Ribera neighbourhood and the Roman Bridge, several options are available.
Recommended restaurants
After your visit, enjoy Córdoban cuisine at restaurants in the historic centre.
Explore Córdoba's monuments
The Roman Bridge and the Alcázar sit a five-minute walk apart in the historic centre. The castle at Almodóvar is 30 minutes by car.
Frequently asked questions
Which Game of Thrones scenes were filmed in Córdoba?
The Roman Bridge of Córdoba was used as the Long Bridge of Volantis in Season 5, Episode 3 ('High Sparrow'), the scene where Tyrion and Varys explore the Free City. Castillo de Almodóvar del Río (22 km from Córdoba) represented Highgarden (Season 7), with one small scene in its dungeons standing in for the underground of Casterly Rock.
Can you visit the Game of Thrones filming locations?
Yes, both sites are open to visitors. The Roman Bridge is free and accessible 24/7. Castillo de Almodóvar charges €11 for adults, €8.50 reduced (students, pensioners, disabled visitors) and €6 for children aged 5 to 13, with a paid audioguide available for €3 downloadable or €5 on a physical device. Allow 1.5–2 hours. Theatrical tours and medieval banquets are also available.
How do I get to Castillo de Almodóvar from Córdoba?
The castle is 22 km west of Córdoba, about 30 minutes by car. The M-250 bus (Consorcio de Transporte) runs from Córdoba. Parking is available on site. You can combine it with the Roman Bridge in a half-day trip.
Are there Game of Thrones guided tours in Córdoba?
Yes, several operators offer themed GoT guided tours from Córdoba covering both the Roman Bridge and Castillo de Almodóvar. Book ahead in high season (April–October). A self-guided visit is also straightforward.
Further reading
Official sources
- Castillo de Almodóvar del Río (opens in a new tab)
Official castle visitor information, hours and tickets
- HBO Game of Thrones (opens in a new tab)
Official HBO Game of Thrones website
- Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (opens in a new tab)
Official website of the Alcázar, whose gardens share the design tradition behind Dorne
- Córdoba Tourism Office (opens in a new tab)
Official information on filming locations in Córdoba
