Equestrian show, general entry
About 70 minutes of horses and flamenco on a numbered seat. Photography is not allowed during the show.
Why this show
Why watch horses in a royal stable
A breed with an address
Philip II set up a royal stable in Córdoba to breed the Spanish horse, and the Andalusian, or Pure Spanish Horse, is its heir. You watch the breed in the building where its standards were set, not in a generic arena.
Horse and dancer, one rhythm
The show joins classical dressage, cowboy riding and the high school of riding with a flamenco dancer who follows the horse's movements. Spain's tourism board adds that music prepared for the show accompanies the horses.
A courtyard beside the Alcázar
The stables stand next to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos in the old town. The organisers choose between a covered riding hall and the open courtyard on the night, so every evening has its own light.
The show, act by act
The show, act by act
Five ideas that run through the evening, in the order a first-timer meets them.
- Gate
Through the stable gate
Your seat is numbered, and your email carries the number and the QR code. The organisers decide whether the show is held in the covered hall or the courtyard.
- Dressage
Classical dressage
Training at its most refined: the rider asks, the horse answers, and the aids are barely visible. The Andalusian was among the first breeds used for it.
- Vaquera
Doma vaquera
The working rider's tradition of Spain, the cowboy side of the show, built on two older cavalry riding styles.
- Alta escuela
The high school of riding
The most advanced classical work, which can include movements such as piaffe, passage and the school jumps called airs above the ground.
- Flamenco
The dancer and the horse
A flamenco dancer accompanies the horse's movements, so the dance answers the animal's rhythm instead of competing with it.
Which riders, horses and numbers you see is up to the organisers on the night. Read this as a map of the show, not as the programme of your session.
The Royal Stables
The Royal Stables of Córdoba
A sixteenth-century stable that became a cavalry barracks and is now a show venue.
Built for a king's horses
Wikipedia records a decree of Philip II, dated 28 November 1567, creating the Spanish Horse breed and a royal stable in Córdoba. Sources date the founding between 1567 and 1572.
A cathedral for horses
Córdoba's tourism board describes a great stable of three naves with groin vaults, brick arches and stone columns. García Lorca compared it to a cathedral for horses.
From stud to barracks
From 1842 to 1995 the building served as a cavalry barracks and army stallion depot, caring for more than a hundred Andalusian and Arabian horses.
Two spaces for the show
The operator says the show can be held in a covered riding hall or the main courtyard, and the organisers choose on the night, whatever the weather.
Around the courtyard
Around the courtyard
The street front, a horse at its stall and the courtyard, all photographed by visitors. No frame here shows a performance.
Ways in
Three ways into the Caballerizas Reales
| Option | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Equestrian show, general entry | About 70 minutes of horses and flamenco on a numbered seat. Photography is not allowed during the show. | Anyone who wants the show itself, seated, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. |
| Premium zone (operator's own option) | Entry 30 minutes before the start, against 10 for general entry, and photographs before the show begins, according to the operator. Check the calendar for the seat options on your date. | People who want earlier entry and a few photographs of the horses before the show. |
| Daytime visit (operator's own option) | An audio-guided visit to the stables, with its own rates for children and locals, and no show. Photographs are allowed. | People who want the building without an evening commitment. |
Your evening at the stables
Book the equestrian show
Press the card to see open dates and seats for the equestrian show. Further down, the rail lists other things to book in Córdoba.
More to do in Córdoba
The practical side
Plan your night
Where to find it
Calle Caballerizas Reales 1, in Córdoba's old town, beside the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and the Guadalquivir. Your confirmation shows the meeting point for your ticket option.
Which evenings
The operator's timetable lists Wednesday to Saturday all year, with no show on Tuesday. Start times and any extra sessions appear in the booking calendar.
Your ticket and seat
Your seat assignment and a QR code arrive by email. Seats are numbered, so open the email before you reach the gate.
Hall or courtyard
The organisers choose between a covered riding hall and the open courtyard, whatever the weather. Dress for either and check the forecast.
What stays outside
No food or drink, no animals except guide dogs, and no cameras or filming during the show. Eat and drink before you arrive.
Step-free access
The booking site lists the show as wheelchair accessible. The stands differ between the hall and the courtyard, so tell the operator about your needs after you book.
Notes on the horse and the stables
Notes on the horse and the stables
Which ticket, and how to book
Caballerizas Reales Córdoba tickets
Which Caballerizas Reales show ticket to book in Córdoba: general entry or premium, which evenings it runs, how seats work and when to arrive.
Read this note → Getting there, and the night itselfCórdoba horse show: what to expect
How to reach the Caballerizas Reales, hall or courtyard, what to wear in each season, what stays outside the gate and who the show suits.
Read this note → The breed in the courtyard
The Andalusian horse behind the show
Read this note → Three riding traditions, one arenaDressage, doma vaquera and alta escuela
Read this note → A building made for horsesThe Royal Stables of Córdoba
Read this note → Before and after the arenaAn evening in Córdoba around the show
Read this note →FAQ
Before you book the show
How long is the equestrian show at the Caballerizas Reales?
About 70 minutes. Each date has its own start time in the booking calendar, which leaves room for dinner in the old town before or after.
Which evenings does it run?
The operator's timetable lists Wednesday to Saturday all year, holidays included, with no show on Tuesday. Extra sessions can be added, so the booking calendar has the last word.
Is it a flamenco show or a horse show?
Both. The show is built around Pure Spanish horses and riders, and a flamenco dancer accompanies the horse's movements. Flamenco is part of it, not the whole of it.
Is it indoors or outdoors?
Either. The operator can hold it in a covered riding hall or the main courtyard, and the organisers decide on the night, whatever the weather. Dress for both.
Can I bring food, drink or a camera?
No food or drink is allowed inside, and cameras, video and photography are not allowed during the show. Eat and drink first, and keep your phone for the ticket.
How do I get my seat?
Your seat assignment and a QR code arrive by email after you book. Seats are numbered, and the venue scans the code at the gate.
What are the cancellation terms?
Free until 24 hours before the show, with the money returned in full. The booking also lets you hold a seat now and pay at a later date, so a plan that may change can stay open.
Is it suitable for children and wheelchair users?
Both tourism boards recommend it for families. It is marked wheelchair accessible on the booking page. Tell the operator about access needs after you book.
Seventy minutes of Andalusian horses and flamenco in Córdoba's Royal Stables, free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Reserve your seat at the stables ↗Fares are per person. The booking site shows the total in your own currency before you pay.