Cidade Turismo
Spain
Córdoba

Andaluzia · Spain

Córdoba

The former capital of the caliphate of al-Andalus, with the Mezquita-Catedral, the Judería and the flower-filled courtyards, 40 minutes by train from Sevilha.

South

In the photo: Ponte Romana de Córdoba

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Córdoba is in Andalusia, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. In the 10th century it was the capital of the caliphate of al-Andalus. From that period comes the Mezquita-Catedral, a mosque begun in 785 that acquired a cathedral in its center from 1523 onward.

The Mezquita was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1984, and the historic center around it in 1994. There are the Judería, with the Sinagoga of 1315, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Puente Romano and the Torre de la Calahorra on the other side of the river. About 8 km from the city lie the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, the caliphs' palace-city, a World Heritage site since 2018.

The AVE and other high-speed trains connect Córdoba to Madri in about 1h40 and to Sevilha in about 40 minutes. For that reason a day trip from Sevilha or Madri is possible, although spending a night in the city allows a more relaxed visit to the center and the Mezquita's nighttime tour.

The weather matters for planning. In May the city usually holds the Festival de los Patios, when private houses open their flowered courtyards to visitors; the festival is UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2012.

This destination brings together 1 city: Córdoba.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Córdoba is
Córdoba

Contornos: IGN/CNIG, unidades administrativas, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Córdoba

✈ Aeropuerto de Sevilla (SVQ), in Sevilha · 131 km to Córdoba

The simplest way is the high-speed train: about 1h40 from Madri and about 40 minutes from Sevilha, to Córdoba-Julio Anguita station (formerly Córdoba Central). Travelers arriving by plane usually use Sevilha airport, about 131 km by road. Check before booking.

The local experience

Things to do in Córdoba

Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Cathedral

Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba

Mosque begun in 785 by the emirs and caliphs of Córdoba, with a forest of columns and bicoloured arches, which received a Renaissance cathedral in the centre from 1523.

Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Palace

Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos

Fortress ordered built by Alfonso XI in 1328, where the Catholic Monarchs stayed during the war of Granada and received Christopher Columbus, with gardens on three levels.

Puente Romano de Córdoba
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Bridge

Puente Romano de Córdoba

A 331-metre bridge over the Guadalquivir, of Roman origin and largely rebuilt by the Arabs, which links the Puerta del Puente to the Torre de la Calahorra and is for pedestrians only.

Torre de la Calahorra
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Museum

Torre de la Calahorra

A defensive tower of Islamic origin at the southern end of the Puente Romano, housing the Museo Vivo de al-Andalus and featuring a terrace with views over the historic centre.

See 9 more places in Córdoba
Judería de Córdoba
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Historic neighborhood

Judería de Córdoba

The old Jewish quarter, northwest of the Mezquita, with white alleys, the 1315 Synagogue, the statue of Maimonides and the Calleja de las Flores, with a view of the bell tower.

Sinagoga de Córdoba
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Monument

Sinagoga de Córdoba

Small Mudejar synagogue from 1315, on Calle Judíos, the only preserved medieval Jewish religious architecture in Córdoba, with worked plaster walls and inscriptions in Hebrew.

Palacio de Viana
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Palace

Palacio de Viana

Manor house in the Santa Marina neighborhood, with 12 courtyards and a garden, formed from medieval houses bought in 1425 and opened as a museum in 1981.

Conjunto Arqueológico Madinat al-Zahra
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Archaeological site

Conjunto Arqueológico Madinat al-Zahra

Ruins of the palace-city founded by Abd al-Rahman III around 936, 8 km from Córdoba, destroyed between 1010 and 1013 and declared a World Heritage Site in 2018.

Baños del Alcázar Califal
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Archaeological site

Baños del Alcázar Califal

10th-century Arab baths from the time of Caliph Al-Hakam II, which served the caliphs' palace, opposite the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, with cold, warm and hot rooms.

Plaza de la Corredera
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Square

Plaza de la Corredera

Enclosed rectangular square from the late 17th century, the only one of its kind in Andalusia, where bullfights were held until 1846 and where the municipal market operates.

Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Museum

Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba

Archaeology museum in a 16th-century Renaissance palace, with items from prehistory to the Middle Ages and the remains of the city's Roman theatre in the basement.

Plaza del Potro
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Square

Plaza del Potro

Small square near the river, with a 1577 fountain crowned by a foal, the Posada del Potro mentioned by Cervantes, and the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Museo Julio Romero de Torres.

Plaza de las Tendillas
Córdoba · Andaluzia · Square

Plaza de las Tendillas

The central square of modern Córdoba, designed in the 1920s, with the equestrian statue of the Gran Capitán and a clock that chimes the hours with flamenco guitar chords.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From March to May and from September to October the heat is usually more bearable for walking. May typically brings the Festival de los Patios and the city gets busier. From June to August highs frequently exceed 40 °C. From November to February it is cooler and the days are shorter.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

One day is enough to see the Mezquita-Catedral, the Judería, the Alcázar and a ponte romana on a day trip from Sevilha or Madri. With two days you can include Madinat al-Zahra, the Palacio de Viana and the Mezquita's night visit. Three days allow a slower pace, useful during the heat of June to August.

Which city to stay in

The Judería and the area around the Mezquita are walkable, but the streets are narrow and cobbled—difficult with large suitcases. The commercial center, near the Plaza de las Tendillas, has more shops and is a few minutes from the old town. The area around the Plaza de la Corredera and the Potro, to the east, is usually quieter at night. Travelers arriving and departing by train can stay near the station, about 2 km from the Mezquita.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Córdoba

Can you do a day trip to Córdoba from Sevilha or Madri?

Yes. With about 40 minutes by train from Sevilha and about 1h40 from Madri, you can arrive in the morning, see the Mezquita-Catedral, the Judería and the Alcázar, and return at night. Madinat al-Zahra, 8 km away, is hard to fit into the same day.

How many days to stay in Córdoba?

One day covers the essentials of the historic center. Two days allow you to include the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, the Palacio de Viana and the Mezquita-Catedral's night visit without rushing.

What is the best time to visit Córdoba?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September and October) usually have more comfortable temperatures for walking. In May the city typically holds the Festival de los Patios. From June to August the heat is strong, with highs that frequently exceed 40 °C; during that period, schedule visits for early morning.

Do I need a car in Córdoba?

No. The historic center is walkable and the train station is about 2 km from the Mezquita. For Madinat al-Zahra there is a tourist bus departing from the center; a car only helps if the trip continues to smaller towns in the region.

When is the Festival de los Patios?

It usually takes place in May, but the dates change each year and are published by the town hall. Check before booking your trip. During that period the city fills up and accommodation becomes more in demand.

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