When traveling from Madrid to Seville or Granada, the charming old town of Cordoba with its cobblestone streets is the ideal destination to spend a day.
Cordoba is the ideal destination for a day trip because it has an enormous amount of old world beauty and is located on the main train route that runs from Madrid to Seville.
The renowned Mosque-Cathedral La Mezquita is just one example of Cordoba’s beautiful architecture and interesting history. The UNESCO-designated medieval town center is sure to astound you.
The beauty and soul of Cordoba cannot be properly appreciated in one day. But we also understand that time is valuable and that one day is plenty to see the main attractions in the old town.
We took our time and spent 3 days in Cordoba. For those who intend to spend an additional day in Cordoba, we’ve added more to our jam-packed day of highlights.
We will always have a particular place in our hearts for Cordoba, Spain. The travel blog Where Are Those Morgans was founded there.
A Synopsis Of Cordoba’s Past
Between 169 and 152 BC, Roman consul Claudio Marcelo built Cordoba. In their conflict with Variathus and the Lusitanian people, the Romans made the city their base of operations.
Up to his demise in 139 BC, Variathus was the Iberian Peninsula’s most effective leader in defying the Romans. The fortified city was known as Corduba and served as Hispania Ulterior’s capital during the Roman era.
The city prospered under Roman authority, and it is known that a simple Roman Forum was constructed during this time.
20,000 people were tragically slaughtered when Julius Caesar attacked the city in 45 BC because they had backed Pompey.
With the designation of Colonia Patricia and the promotion to Hispania Baetica’s capital under Emperor Augustus, Cordoba experienced a turn for the better.
The forum was renovated, and the walls enclosure reached all the way to the Guadalquivir River. The Forum of Augustus in Rome served as its model.
Before the Visigoths and Byzantines (the Eastern Roman Empire) fought for control of Cordoba in the sixth century AD, Cordoba’s history was rather unremarkable. The city deteriorated over the 150 years that the Visigoths reigned.
Moorish Invasion of Cordoba
A new era of authority in Cordoba and much of Southern Spain began in the year 711 AD. Much of Cordoba was taken over and largely destroyed by the Muslims.
It took until 756 AD, when Abd Al-Rahman of the Umayyad line assumed control of the Muslims in Spain, for the city to be rebuilt.
The Caliphate of Al-Andalus will eventually replace the Emirate of Cordoba. Al-Rahman laid the foundation for Cordoba’s enormous mosque.
But it would take his successors until 976 AD to finish the Mosque. In the year 785 AD, work on the Alcázar got under way. The large mosque the following year, in 786 AD.
Under Umayyad control, Cordoba experienced economic prosperity and developed into one of the most modern cities in Europe. At the height of the caliphate in the year 1000 AD, Cordoba is thought to have had around 500,000 residents.
The Golden Age was a time when Jews, Christians, and Muslims coexisted peacefully and, albeit under Muslim law, for the most part.
The Christian rebellion occurred in the 11th and 12th century AD. When Cordoba was taken by the Castilian King Ferdinand III as part of the Spanish Reconquista in 1236 AD, the 200-year struggle for dominance finally came to an end.
The Alcázar was being renovated as the enormous mosque was being transformed into a Roman Catholic cathedral.
Under Christian authority, the city fell into ruin. Only 20,000 people lived in Cordoba at the height of the Renaissance. The French deposed Cordoba in 1808 for encouraging the uprising against Napoleonic rule.
One of the first Spanish cities to be taken over by Francoist forces during the Spanish Civil War was Cordoba.
Getting There Cordoba
Seville, Malaga, and Madrid are the three airports having the best access to Cordoba if you are arriving in Spain via international flight. Your alternatives from each of those cities are shown below in order of their distance from Cordoba.
The fact that Cordoba is situated on the main rail route between Madrid and Seville makes it the ideal destination for a leisurely day trip between the two popular tourist destinations.
Our recommendation is to take an early train and spend the majority of the day in Cordoba if you intend to go from Madrid to Seville or from Seville to Madrid. Then, take another train in the evening.
If the bus station’s lockers are full, the bags are typically put in the office; otherwise, you can leave your luggage there and pick it up when you get off.
Recall that you need a single seat reservation for the first train and a separate individual seat reservation for the second train you would ride later in the day if you opt to spend the day in Cordoba in between Seville and Madrid.
Transport Options from Seville to Cordoba
The good thing is that you have several of transportation options for Cordoba. Some of your options are as follows:
Road/Rent a Car – 141km
By automobile, using the A-4 and E-5 routes, it should take about 1 hour 40 minutes. To avoid any traffic congestion, constantly check current traffic updates before leaving. There are a lot better ways to spend your vacation time!
Train: 119 kilometers
Between Seville to Cordoba, the average travel time is 44 minutes. The first and last trains leave Seville at 06:45 and 21:35, respectively.
Seville to Cordoba trains typically run 25 times per day, departing every 50 minutes. Santa Justa station in Seville is where trains leave from.
Prices range from a low of €12.70 for a sluggish train that takes about 1h 15m to a high of €27.59 for travel the next day, with various prices in between.
There are no modifications to this service, and Renfe is the train operator. Check out the trainline for further details.
Bus: 141 kilometers
You’ll need to look for ALSA, which is a bus business. There are typically 7 services every day, the earliest one departing from the Plaza de Armas at 07:30 and the final one departing at 22:00. Bus rides last anywhere from 1:45 to 2:05.
At €14, prices are generally stable. For further details, go to Omio.
Transport Options from Malaga to Cordoba
Road/Rent a Car – 159km
You may drive to Cordoba in 1h 45m by taking a direct route up the A-45. To avoid any traffic congestion, constantly check current traffic updates before leaving.
Train: 119 kilometers
Between Malaga to Cordoba, the average travel time is 58 minutes. The first and last trains leave Malaga at 06:20 and 20:15, respectively.
From Malaga to Cordoba, 17 trains run on average each day. From the Malaga Maria Zambrano station, trains leave.
Prices range from €26.40 to €37.75 and take 48 minutes to 1 hour and 5 minutes.
There are no modifications to this service, and Renfe is the train operator. To find out more, visit the trainline.
159 kilometers by bus
You’ll need to look for ALSA, which is a bus business. There are typically 6 services every day, the first one departing from the autobus station at 8:55 and the final one departing at 19:30.
Buses can take anywhere from 2 hours and 15 minutes to 4 hours and 20 minutes, so be sure to organize your schedule carefully.
Depending on the service, the cost is either €13 or €16.
For further details, go to Omio.
Transportation Options from Madrid to Cordoba
Road/Rent a Car – 394km
For 4 hours and 00 minutes, the E-5 is a somewhat taxing route to Cordoba. Unless you go late in the day and leave at the crack of dawn, it’s not really a possibility to visit Cordoba for only one day.
To avoid any traffic congestion, constantly check current traffic updates before leaving.
Train: 296 km
Between Madrid and Cordoba, the average journey time is 1 hour and 50 minutes, which is incredibly quick. The first and last trains leave Madrid at 06:20 and 21:25, respectively.
There are typically 27 trains per day running between Madrid and Cordoba. Atocha station in Madrid is where trains leave.
Prices range from €48.00 to €62.70, and travel times range from 1h 42m to 2h 07m.
There are no modifications to this service, and Renfe is the train operator. For further details, go to trainline.
394 miles by bus
You’ll need to seek for Socibus, which is a bus business. There are approximately 10 services every day, the first one departing from the estacion sur at 01:00 and the latest one departing at 22:30. Buses go between 4 and 5 hours.
Depending on the service, the cost is either €18 or €25.
Find out more by visiting busbud.
Plan A Tour To Cordoba
Public transportation is always advised, especially for those on a tight budget. But why not reserve a tour if you’d rather to relax and let someone else do the job for you?
Most excursions will take care of your transportation and sightseeing.
Below, you can see two of Cordoba’s most well-liked trips that leave from Seville:
The Best Activities In Cordoba For A Day
How should you start off your one day in Cordoba? Make sure to get there as early as you can.
By getting there early, you can avoid the heat and throng. Summers can be extremely hot. Phew!
You can conveniently take in the highlights of Cordoba by following this step-by-step plan. You can go around the city with the aid of the interactive map at the end of this section.
Visit The Popular Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral
First on the list, head straight for the Mosque-Cathedral Mezquita, which is the focal point of Cordoba. You’ll have plenty of time to see the rest of the city later, so don’t worry!
Many people will travel to Cordoba with the intention of visiting the Mezquita. After going, you’ll understand why. The Mezquita, one of the best specimens of Islamic architecture in the world, has a complicated past.
Prior to Umayyad Abd al-Rahman’s Muslim control, the Visigoths constructed the Great Mosque’s original shell.
The Mosque was eventually turned into a Roman Catholic church once the Christians took control of Cordoba.
Amazing arches and columns can be found inside in a structure known as an arcaded hypostyle hall. Granite, marble, onyx, and jasper are used to create the 856 columns.
It’s interesting to note that some of those were gifts sent to Cordoba.
It’s a wonderful show, in all honesty. As sunlight streams in through tiny windows and casts arch-like shadows as far as the eye can see, you can almost feel the stormy past in the air.
Start your self-guided tour in the Patio de los Naranjos if you’d rather explore on your own. The ticket office is located on the charming patio.
Information on Visiting
Tickets are €10 for adults, €4 for audio guides, €5 for children aged 10 to 14, and free for those under 10 with disabilities.
The Mosque-Cathedral is open from 10:00 to 19:00 from Monday through Saturday and from 8:00 to 9:30 and 15:00 to 19:00 on Sunday.
Pro-Tip: Monday through Saturday between 07:30 and 09:30, entry to the Mezquita is free. Of course, we didn’t realize this until after we had each paid €10! Enjoy your complimentary entrance if you can arrive early enough!
However, this tour is available here if you would prefer a guided tour with a skip the line option.
You may also enter your travel dates to Cordoba below to check on the availability of this well-liked attraction.
Cross the Puente Romano (Roman Bridge) by foot.
After leaving the Mezquita, proceed two minutes south to the river and Puente Romano. The Guadalquivir River is crossed by the Roman bridge, which was first constructed in the first century BC.
The Moors rebuilt some of what you can still see today in the eighth century, including 16 arcades with a combined length of 247 meters. It has undergone numerous restorations since then, including a substantial repair in 2006.
It is a striking bridge and an excellent location for taking beautiful pictures. Even wonderful is when everything is lit up in the evening.
Go across the bridge and turn around. The Museo Vivo de Al-Andaluz is housed in the La Calahorra tower. The 10th century AD, when Muslims, Jews, and Christians coexisted in Cordoba, is depicted in this museum.
Visit The Christian Reyes Alcázar
Return across the bridge. Just two minutes of walking will bring you to the Alcázar.
The Visigoths erected the fortress’s first foundations, as they did with many other locations in Cordoba, until the Umayyad conquest forced a renovation.
The Alcázar and palace of the independent Cordoba Caliphate were rebuilt as a result.
The Alcázar was a thriving political and cultural hub and home to the biggest library in the West. After the Reconquista, Alfonso XI of Castile ordered construction to start on the current building in 1328.
Because Alfonso loved the Mudejar style, the structure has an Islamic appearance.
Isabella and Ferdinand utilized the Alcázar as their base of operations while they led their battle against the last Moorish kingdom in Granada.
A lovely garden has been created from the former orchard outside. This three-tiered garden, with its chic water features and surrounding cypress, orange, and lemon trees, is not to be missed.
These Three Interesting Stories: Did you Know Them?
One example is the conversion of the Alcázar’s Arab baths into torture rooms for the duration of the Spanish Inquisition.
Two: While making preparations to set sail for the Americas, Isabella and Ferdinand met Christopher Columbus at the Alcázar.
Three – In 1810, Napoleon Bonaparte’s army was garrisoned at the Alcázar.
Information on Visiting
Opening Times
- Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 am, from September 16 to June 15. Saturday from 8:30 am until 8:45 pm. Sunday and bank holidays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. to 3 pm.
- From Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 am, from June 16 to September 15. Sunday and bank holidays from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. to 2.30 pm.
Adults pay €4.5; students pay €2.25; and children under 14 travel free. The entrance is free on Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 am.
You can check availability and costs for a guided tour of the Alcázar here if that is what you would prefer.
Lunch With Tapas At Bodega Mezquita
Is there anything else that makes you as hungry as traveling? For us, they go hand in hand, so we assume you’re about hungry by now!
It’s time to unwind for a while now that the important places have been checked off the list. Bodega Mezquita is a great place to have some delicious tapas.
Actually, there are four places that are close to the Mezquita. We selected location 12, on Calle Cespedes.
There is nothing better than tapas and a glass of wine for lunch while you are in Spain. Cordoba is no different. We heartily recommend this restaurant because the cuisine is very good.
If you’ve followed us up to this point, it should fit wonderfully with your schedule as it opens at 12:30pm.
View Cordoba’s Busiest Street For Photos
Calleja De Los Flores, also known as “flower alley,” is the ideal example of an Andalusian alleyway’s allure and charisma.
The white-washed walls of the nearby buildings are decorated with hundreds of flowers in tiny blue buckets. The street becomes so small that it can only comfortably accommodate one person, giving the impression that it is fully encircled by flowers.
The restaurant serving tapas for lunch is only a two-minute walk from this incredibly beautiful street. Turn left onto Cardenal Herrero and then another left onto Velázquez Bosco as you head back in the direction of the Mezquita (see first image below).
Flower Alley begins when you take the first right. When the geranium flowers are in full bloom and showing off their brightest hues in late April, that is the perfect time to visit.
You should arrive early or late in the day to obtain the greatest shot because this is another tourist hotspot.
A little courtyard can be found if you proceed all the way to the end of the lane. Additionally, you may see the lavishly adorned iconic number 2 mansion! Despite the alley’s short length, you can still shoot some stunning pictures.
Pro-Tip: Take a picture of flower lane with the Mezquita bell tower in the distance.
Investigate the Jewish Quarter and UNESCO Historic Center.
It’s simple to throw around phrases like “picturesque” and “winding charming cobbled streets” at random, but Cordoba’s historic center is actually a fascinating area to wander around.
After finishing flower alley back at the Mezquita, turn west and proceed to the Jewish neighborhood. To properly appreciate the beauty of the area, be sure to turn down every street you encounter along the route.
The Jewish neighborhood is a nice area to stroll through. The Cordoba Synagogue is an important location. A different option is to go to La Casa Andalusi to experience life in Cordoba during the 10th century AD.
Discover Cordoba’s Famous “Hidden” Patios.
Depending on when you visit, the next item on the list may be.
La Fiesta de los Patios is Cordoba’s best-kept secret if you’re fortunate (or clever!) enough to be there during the second and/or third week of May each year.
Locals invite guests into their homes in the spring to admire the beauty of their indoor courtyards as the flowers blossom in Andalusia. They are adorned with mosaics, flowers, trees, and fountains.
The competition features about 50 patios and is open to all participants. When making hotel reservations, be mindful of the uncontrollable crowds.
The 50 patios are located on this interactive map. The celebration appears to have been well-captured in photographs.
When was the other time of year in Spain? No issue!
Some of the famous patios in the San Basilio neighborhood, close to the Alcázar, can still be seen if you visit Cordoba before or after the festival because they are open all year long. After passing through the Jewish neighborhood, proceed along the way there.
There are doorways that lead into lovely courtyards hidden among the alleys of the ancient district.
Do you need assistance locating these lovely patios? Visit this page to schedule a patio tour.
Leaving the Old City Center
*At this point, we have two choices for the late afternoon.
Option 1 is to stay in the old city, slow things down, and savor the relaxed ambiance before returning to your base. Put your feet up and get a well-earned glass of wine if you’re sick of going about and touring.
The hub is surrounded by a wide selection of eateries and pubs. If the weather is good, look for a spot with outdoor seating.
If you are staying in Cordoba for two days, this is also the time to take it easy for the remainder of day one before continuing with this itinerary on your second day.
Option 2 is to walk for 10 to 15 minutes in the north-east. This might seem absurd because the historic center is so beautiful, but you’ve already been there. There is more available.
You only have one day in Cordoba, and we did promise it would be plenty of excitement!
Option 2: One-Day Visit OR Option 2: Two-Day Visit
If you select option 2, proceed to La Plaza de la Corredera, Cordoba’s former bullring.
Sanchez Pena market is now located in the Plaza. It was given that name in honor of the industrialist who purchased the structure in 1846 and installed steam engines there to manufacture hats.
There is a lot of space in the Plaza. It has previously served as both a town hall and a prison.
It takes one minute to walk north-west from the plaza to the Templo Romano. Emperor Claudius began work on the Roman Temple of Cordoba in 41 AD, but it wasn’t completed until the latter part of the first century AD.
Even if only the foundation, some stairs, and a few columns are left, it is still worthwhile to visit!
The primary hub of Cordoba’s cosmopolitan community is Plaza de las Tendillas. You may mingle with the locals in high-street shops, bars, and eateries.
If you have more time or chose not to participate in the other excursions we mentioned, Guru Walk offers a free walking tour. On one of our days with Carmen, we took this walking tour, and it was fantastic!
The trip departs from the square at 10:30 am and meets there as well.
You’ll need to get dinner before returning to the city, right? We have the location, which is close to the Plaza.
La Tagliatella Restaurant
The meal at Resurante La Tagliatella on Calle Jesus Maria 6 is still in our dreams. We just returned from a lengthy trip in Italy, so there was some stiff competition before Cordoba.
But with the chef and the foods we selected, we unquestionably discovered the ideal pairing. We apologize to tapas, but this may have been our favorite Spanish meal.
Mmmmm! We would return just for this location!
What makes option 2 the best? You’ve already traveled halfway back to the bus or train station.
One Day Itinerary on an Interactive Map of Cordoba, Spain
Accommodations In Cordoba
Spending the night in Cordoba the day before or the day after can help you make the most of your one eventful day there. As the number of visitors drops, savor the atmosphere of the evening.
We spent a few nights in Cordoba and relished the laid-back atmosphere. We travel on a low- to mid-range budget and prefer to stay in hotels. Therefore, wherever possible, we conduct research to identify the best double rooms for the money.
For the most of our vacation through Spain, we stayed in pensions. They are well known to everyone who has visited Spain on a tight budget!
They occasionally provide a private bathroom and a double room, but unexpectedly, the quality of the rooms isn’t always the best.
However, we discovered our favorite lodging during our two weeks in Spain in Cordoba.
Conde de Cardenas served as our hotel. It is less than ten minutes’ walk from the Mezquita on Calle Conde de Cardenas.
Every night, we spent €35. The service was helpful and the accommodation was excellent. Even though our room featured two enormous double beds, which was one too many, there was still plenty of room for storage!
It had an 8.9 rating on booking.com, and we have to agree that it was a great deal. But Cordoba offers a wide range of additional lodging choices. Make sure to compare prices.
The Ideal Season To Travel To Cordoba
Conditions in Cordoba
At the end of May, we went there. WOW! It was bone-dry and swelteringly hot! You may anticipate daytime highs of 35C/95F in July and August, occasionally much higher.
Don’t forget your sunscreen, and look for accommodations with fans or air conditioning. It’s difficult to go through the day in the heat without stopping by a pub for a refreshing pint of beer!
You’ll have a better chance of finding a good deal on lodging during the cooler and less crowded months of April through May and September through October. How hot you like it and how much money you have to spend will determine.
Activities in Cordoba
Annual carnivals take place in Cordoba, usually towards the end of February or beginning of March.
The first Thursday after Trinity Sunday each year is when the Andalusians commemorate Corpus Christi. A banner can be seen hanging from the Mezquita’s walls in the photo above, which was taken when we were fortunate enough to visit in 2018.
The largest celebration of the year, Semana Santa, takes place in Cordoba every year during the week before Easter Sunday. Everybody in the city participates in this.
Every year, the first few days of May are when Cruces de Mayo takes place. Large crosses made of flowers are raised by locals in many of Cordoba’s squares. Partying is a given.
People go from all over the world to Cordoba for the Patio Festival to take in the city’s lovely, flower-filled patios. The contest starts right after the May Crosses.
Despite the short duration of the festival, this interactive map illustrates where the patios are located.
Planning your trip to Spain should be made easier with the help of this One Day in Cordoba guide!
If you have any inquiries about visiting the lovely Andalusia, kindly contact us.
Travel safely,
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