Where was Conan the Barbarian filmed? Explore the locations in Spain, Mexico, Bulgaria, and Malta behind two very different Conans.
Two Conans entered the cinematic arena three decades apart, and decided that ordinary landscapes were simply not dramatic enough. All films draw on Robert E. Howard’s Conan mythology, but they take very different routes to Hyboria.
Conan the Barbarian (1982) & Conan the Destroyer (1984) star Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Cimmerian warrior who escapes slavery and sets out to avenge his parents by taking on the snake cult of Thulsa Doom.
The 2011 Conan the Barbarian reboot gives Jason Momoa the sword, replacing Doom with the ruthless Khalar Zym and sending Conan on another revenge-fuelled adventure involving the Mask of Acheron.
Schwarzenegger’s Conan transformed Spain and Mexico into an earthy, almost mythical world of deserts, mountains, forests, and monumental sets. Momoa‘s reboot moved production to Bulgaria and Malta, mixing rugged real-world landscapes with studio sets and digital effects.
So, where were all the Conan movies filmed? Time to track down the locations worthy of a Cimmerian road trip.
Table of Contents
⚔️ Conan The Barbarian Filming Locations (1982)
The 1982 Conan the Barbarian was filmed primarily in Spain, with major locations around Almería, Madrid, Segovia, Ávila, Cuenca, and Granada – a spectacular mixture of deserts, mountains, forests, and historic architecture that became the Hyborian Age.
Almería was the production’s principal outdoor playground, supplying everything from the Tabernas Desert and coastal dunes to salt marshes and rugged mountains. The province’s historic architecture also doubled beautifully for Hyborian cities.
Peña de Bernal became the exterior of Thulsa Doom’s Temple of Set, while the Cimmerian village was constructed near Valsaín in Segovia. The strange rock formations of Ciudad Encantada in Cuenca appeared during Conan’s encounter with the witch.
Interior sets were constructed in industrial buildings around Madrid, including major material for the Tower of Serpents and Temple of Set. This gave the 1982 film its gritty, tangible look, for some of its most ambitious fantasy sequences filmed across Spain.
What was filmed here:
- Tabernas Desert, Almería: Vast desert landscapes and journey sequences.
- Peña de Bernal, Vícar: Exterior of Thulsa Doom’s Temple.
- Valsaín, Segovia: Cimmerian village and opening scenes.
- Ciudad Encantada, Cuenca: Witch encounter among strange rocks.
- Almerimar, Almería: Salt marshes and climactic battle scenery.
- Alcazaba of Almería: Hyborian marketplace and architectural scenery.
- Madrid-area warehouses: Major interior sets and constructed environments.
What to see & do here:
- Tabernas Desert: Hike the PR-269 desert trail.
- MiniHollywood Oasys: Explore Western sets and cinema museum.
- Fort Bravo Texas Hollywood: Tour historic Western film sets.
- Alcazaba of Almería: Explore the Moorish fortress and museum.
- Ciudad Encantada: Wander among sculpted rock formations.
- Peña de Bernal: Photograph the dramatic temple rock formation.
⚔️ Conan The Destroyer Filming Locations (1984)
The 1984 Conan the Destroyer sequel moved Conan’s adventures almost entirely to Mexico, using everything from vast desert landscapes and an extinct volcano to rugged plains and purpose-built studio sets.
Mexico City provided the production base, while locations across Chihuahua, Estado de México, Hidalgo, Coahuila, and Sonora expanded the film’s version of Hyboria.
The production also ventured into some spectacular natural terrain, including the Samalayuca Desert, Nevado de Toluca, Pachuca, Juárez, Durango, and Bavispe.
Much of the studio work took place at Estudios Churubusco Azteca in Mexico City, where Stages 1 through 8 were used for major practical sets. The United States even got a small share of the action, with Yuma, Arizona, used for additional desert footage and pickup shots.
What was filmed here:
- Samalayuca Desert, Chihuahua: Sweeping desert landscapes and outdoor sequences.
- Nevado de Toluca, Estado de México: Rugged high-altitude mountain terrain.
- Pachuca, Hidalgo: Additional geographical backdrops and exterior scenery.
- Juárez, Chihuahua: Rugged exterior landscapes and location work.
- Coahuila: Sweeping plains and natural landscapes.
- Durango & Bavispe, Sonora: Background scenery and additional location footage.
- Yuma, Arizona: Desert pickup shots and minor location work.
- Churubusco Studios, Mexico City: Major interior sets and practical environments.
What to see & do here:
- Samalayuca Dunes: Explore the desert dunes and Chihuahua landscape.
- Nevado de Toluca National Park: Hike around the extinct volcano and its crater lakes.
- Pachuca: Explore the historic mining city and surrounding Hidalgo landscapes.
- Mexico City: Visit the Museo Nacional de las Culturas and historic Centro Histórico.
- Churubusco: Explore the former monastery and Museo Nacional de las Intervenciones.
- Yuma: Experience the surrounding Sonoran Desert and Colorado River scenery.
🐍 Conan The Barbarian Filming Locations (2011)
The 2011 Conan the Barbarian starring Jason Momoa was filmed primarily in Bulgaria, with additional footage in Malta, giving the reboot a distinctly different version of Hyboria.
New Boyana Film Studios in Sofia provided major controlled environments and constructed sets. Bulgaria’s Pernik and Vitosha supplied rugged woodland and mountainous terrain.
Bolata Beach on the Black Sea coast added dramatic seaside scenery. The strange limestone formations of Pobiti Kamani (Stone Forest) brought an otherworldly quality to the fantasy landscapes.
The snow-covered forest and outdoor wilderness sequences were filmed at Zlatnite Mostove (The Golden Bridges) on Vitosha Mountain, with Bistritsa also among the filming locations.
Malta’s Blue Grotto supplied striking coastal imagery. Unlike the heavily practical 1982 production, the reboot arrived in the CGI-heavy blockbuster era, allowing real landscapes and constructed sets to be expanded digitally while keeping its fantasy geography impressively varied.
What was filmed here:
- Bolata Beach, Bulgaria: Rugged Black Sea coastline and beach scenery.
- Pobiti Kamani, Bulgaria: Strange limestone pillars and fantasy landscapes.
- Pernik, Bulgaria: Rugged terrain and wilderness action.
- Zlatnite Mostove: Snow-covered forest & outdoor wilderness.
- Vitosha, Bulgaria: Mountain forests and Cimmerian scenery.
- Bistritsa, Bulgaria: Rural surroundings and outdoor sequences.
- Blue Grotto, Malta: Dramatic sea caves and coastal vistas.
- New Boyana Film Studios, Sofia: Major interiors and constructed sets.
What to see & do here:
- Pobiti Kamani (Stone Forest): Walk among the stone pillars.
- Belogradchik Rocks: Hike among spectacular rock formations.
- Vitosha Mountain: Explore trails above Sofia.
- Boyana Village: Visit Boyana Church and Rila monastery.
- Sozopol: Explore beaches, cliffs, and Old Town.
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: Admire Sofia’s iconic landmark.
- Sofia Archaeological Museum: Explore Bulgaria’s ancient treasures.
- Blue Grotto, Malta: Take a boat through sea caves.
🎭 Conan the Barbarian FAQs
Here are the sword-swinging answers to the questions Conan fans are most likely to ask.
Is Conan the Barbarian based on a book?
Yes. Robert E. Howard created Conan the Cimmerian, who first appeared in Weird Tales in 1932. The character became one of the foundational figures of sword-and-sorcery fantasy. The 1982 film uses his character and mythology rather than adapting one single Conan novel.
Where was Conan the Barbarian born? Where was he from?
Conan the Barbarian was born in Cimmeria, a fictional northern land created by author Robert E. Howard. He was a Cimmerian warrior who later traveled widely across the Hyborian Age.
How many Conan movies are there?
There are three main Conan movies. The first two star Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, while Jason Momoa takes over the role in the 2011 reboot. Here’s the Conan movies list:
What’s the difference between Arnie’s Conan and Momoa’s Conan?
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1982 Conan follows his revenge against Thulsa Doom, while 1984’s sequel takes a lighter adventure approach. The 2011 reboot with Jason Momoa delivers a faster, gorier fantasy with Khalar Zym as the main villain.
What changed between 1982/84 and 2011?
The 1980s films relied heavily on practical effects, sets, and miniatures, while the 2011 reboot used far more CGI and digital environments.
Did Conan filming involve injuries?
Yes. The 1982 and 1984 films involved demanding stunt work, while Jason Momoa suffered a broken rib, broken nose, shin splints, and other injuries during the 2011 production.
How much did Conan’s swords cost?
For Conan the Barbarian (1982), four Master’s swords and four Atlantean swords were made at about $10,000 each. Lighter versions were used for fight scenes.
Who was in the Conan the Barbarian 1982 cast?
- Arnold Schwarzenegger: Conan
- James Earl Jones: Thulsa Doom
- Sandahl Bergman: Valeria
- Gerry Lopez: Subotai
- Mako: Akiro the Wizard
- Max von Sydow: King Osric
- Ben Davidson: Rexor
- Cassandra Gava: The Witch
Who was in the Conan the Destroyer cast?
- Arnold Schwarzenegger: Conan
- Grace Jones: Zula
- Olivia d’Abo: Princess Jehnna
- Wilt Chamberlain: Bombaata
- Mako: Akiro.
Who was in the Conan the Barbarian 2011 cast?
- Jason Momoa: Conan
- Stephen Lang: Khalar Zym
- Rachel Nichols: Tamara
- Rose McGowan: Marique
- Ron Perlman: Corin
- Bob Sapp: Ukafa
- Leo Howard: Young Conan
- Saïd Taghmaoui: Ela-Shan
What are some movies like Conan the Barbarian?
- The Scorpion King series: Desert kingdoms, warriors, sword-swinging mayhem.
- Red Sonja (1985): Swords, sorcery, warriors, and Arnold.
- The Beastmaster (1982): Classic sword-and-sorcery wilderness adventure.
- Krull (1983): Fantasy kingdoms, monsters, magic, and heroes.
- Clash of the Titans (1981): Mythology, monsters, quests, and practical effects.
- The 13th Warrior (1999): Warriors battle terrifying enemies together.
- Centurion (2010): Brutal warriors fight across ancient wilderness.
Is there a Conan the Barbarian 2022 movie?
No. The frequently searched Conan the Barbarian 2022 actually refers to a the 2022 horror movie, Barbarian, directed by Zach Cregger.
📺 Where to Watch Conan the Barbarian
Here’s where to watch the sword-swinging fantasy classic and its sequels.
- ➡️ Stream all 3 Conan movies on Prime Video
- ➡️ Own Arnie’s Conan (182 & 1984) on Blu-ray
- ➡️ Own Momoa’s Conan (2011) on DVD/Blu-ray
Conan may have changed actors, continents, villains, and filmmaking technology, but his preferred solution to practically every problem remains gloriously consistent – find a sword and swing it very hard.🗡️
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
- Where Was Conan the Barbarian Filmed? All Movie Locations - September 11, 2026
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