Where Game of Thrones Filmed Dorne: A Room-by-Room Guide
Dorne was filmed at the Real Alcázar of Seville. Here is every room, garden and scene — the Water Gardens, Salón de Embajadores and more.
Dorne is the southernmost kingdom of Westeros — and on screen it looks unmistakably Moorish, because it is. HBO did not design the Water Gardens of Sunspear; they filmed inside a real Mudéjar palace, the Real Alcázar of Seville. If you have ever wondered exactly where the Dorne scenes were shot, the answer is one building, and this guide walks you through it room by room. To see it in person with a guide who names each scene, the Seville Game of Thrones tour is the direct route.
Why the Alcázar Became Dorne
The Martells of Dorne are written as a hot-climate, sensual, vaguely “southern” house — and George R.R. Martin’s books lean on Mediterranean and Moorish imagery for the region. The Real Alcázar delivers that look without a single prop: keyhole arches, intricate plaster stucco, reflecting pools and terraced gardens of palm and orange trees. It is a working royal palace — the Spanish royal family still uses its upper floor — and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When the camera pans across “Dorne,” you are looking at roughly 700 years of Andalusian craftsmanship.
The Dorne Scenes, Room by Room
The Dorne storyline appears across Seasons 5 and 6. Within the Alcázar, four spaces carry almost all of it.
Salón de Embajadores — Doran’s Audience Chamber
The Hall of Ambassadors, crowned by its famous gilded wooden dome, is the throne room where Prince Doran Martell receives visitors. It is where Jaime Lannister has his audience over the fate of Myrcella. On screen the gilt ceiling does a lot of work — the production framed shots looking upward to catch it.
Mercury’s Pond & the Terraces — Ellaria Confronts Doran
The long terrace overlooking the Pond of Mercury and the Grotto Gallery is where Ellaria Sand confronts Doran, demanding vengeance for Oberyn’s death. It is one of the most quoted Dorne scenes and one of the easiest spots to recognise once you are standing on the terrace.
The Baths of María de Padilla — the Sand Snakes Plot
Beneath the palace, the vaulted Baths of María de Padilla — a rainwater cistern of arches and still water — host the scene where Ellaria and her daughters scheme. The light and reflections here are what drew the cinematographers.
Jardines del Alcázar — the Water Gardens of Sunspear
Finally, the terraced Alcázar Gardens themselves are the Water Gardens of Dorne. Palm-shaded paths, fountains and tiled benches stand in for the Martell pleasure grounds where the Sand Snakes train and the young princes play.
Dorne Filming Locations at a Glance
| Alcázar space | Dorne scene | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Salón de Embajadores | Doran’s audience chamber | The gilded half-dome ceiling |
| Mercury’s Pond terrace | Ellaria confronts Doran | The pool and grotto below |
| Baths of María de Padilla | Sand Snakes plotting | Vaulted arches over still water |
| Jardines del Alcázar | Water Gardens of Sunspear | Palm terraces and fountains |
| Patio de las Doncellas | Palace interior backdrops | The long rectangular reflecting pool |
Were There Other Dorne Locations?
Yes — though they are minor. Casa de Pilatos, another Andalusian palace a short walk from the Alcázar, supplied extra Dorne courtyard exteriors. A few establishing shots used the Alcázar’s Mudéjar façade facing Plaza del Triunfo. But the heart of Dorne — every interior that matters — was filmed inside the Real Alcázar.
How to Actually Stand in Dorne
The catch: none of these rooms is labelled “Dorne.” Walk the Alcázar without a guide and you will admire a beautiful palace while missing the Game of Thrones layer entirely. The gardens alone cover several hectares, and the filming spots are scattered. A licensed guide walks the route in sequence — Patio de las Doncellas, Salón de Embajadores, down to the gardens — naming the scene, season and camera angle at each stop.
Entry is also timed and capped, so spontaneity rarely works in peak months — our best time to visit guide covers when slots are easiest to get.
Ready to Book?
Stand on the exact terrace where Ellaria confronted Doran. The Seville Game of Thrones tour gives you skip-the-line Alcázar entry and a licensed guide who walks you through every Dorne filming spot — from $44 per person, rated 4.5/5 by 212 guests, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Walk Dorne's Water Gardens — With a Licensed Alcázar Guide
Join 212 guests who rated this Royal Alcázar Game of Thrones tour 4.5/5. Skip-the-line entry, licensed guide, audio system, and the Crown Tours app — all included. Free cancellation. From $44 per person.
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