Córdoba is an absolute must do on your Andalusia visit. The city has one of the oldest medieval centers in the world. The remnants from the time when Catholics, Muslims and Jews lived together peacefully here are particularly exciting. A novelty when you think of the politics of today. At that time, Córdoba was the most important city in the Christian West alongside Damascus, the government was based here and writers and scholars from all corners of the world came and went.
I’ll give you Córdoba tips on the best sights that you definitely have to see in 1 or 2 days.
Despite the fact that Córdoba is a little further inland in Andalusia, it is quite pleasant here all year round. A visit is therefore also worthwhile outside the main tourist season in the colder months.
You can also find all Córdoba tips here on the map:
If you are visiting Córdoba by car, be careful when driving through the city center. The streets here are very narrow and take you through busy pedestrian areas.
If you don’t have much time to explore the city on your own, then a hop-on hop-off ticket on the sightseeing bus is a great option to get to the most important sights quickly. You can find more information about this here.
Accommodation in Córdoba
The Hospedería Del Atalia has cozy rooms and a fantastic roof terrace with a view of the bell tower. Especially in the evening, when it slowly gets dark and the building is lit up, it’s a great place to relax with a glass of wine. The central location of the hotel is also very convenient for exploring the city.
1. Walk through the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
For just €5, you can get an entrance ticket to Córdoba’s most beautiful gardens: the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. You will be particularly enchanted by the many water features and the orange trees, which are still fragrant in October. You also have a great view of the entire complex from the tower on the fortress wall.
I’m walking along the time-honored walls of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. In front of me are the almost perfectly symmetrical water basins of the green gardens. The calming sound of a small water feature makes me pause for a moment. In the pool next to me, fish circle the spot where I have stopped. The scent of ripening oranges fills my nose. Pomegranate trees blow in the wind. It can be so beautiful in October.
from my travel notes
2. Discover Córdoba’s culinary specialties
Of course. Tapas are simply part of Andalusia. Every time I visit here, the scales show a few extra kilos afterwards. But it also tastes just too delicious. These are my absolute Córdoba tapas favorites:
- The Bodegas Mezquita (Céspedes): The store is quite well-known and is located right in front of the Mesquita. It is a typical tapas restaurant that is particularly popular with tourists. However, the tapas are still very tasty
- The Casa Pepe de La Judería: This tapas restaurant is usually fully booked and is also very popular with locals. To be on the safe side, you should book in advance.
You should definitely try Córdoba Salmorejo. This is a cold soup in the Andalusian style.
A particularly popular delicacy here are snails. You can get them in restaurants but also at stalls all over the city. However, they are not my thing.
3. Visit the bullfighting museum
Andalusia and bullfighting – they simply belong together. In addition to Sevilla, Ronda and Málaga, you can also learn a lot about the history of this Andalusian tradition in Córdoba.
The Museo Taurino de Córdoba is located in the middle of the Jewish quarter, in a building that dates back to the 16th century. In a total of 6 halls, you can learn all about bulls and bullfighting.
4. Walk across the Roman bridge
The Romans came to Córdoba over 2,000 years ago and stayed there until around the 8th century A.D. The Roman bridge in the middle of the city dates back to this time. The 16 mighty stone arches cross the River Guadalquivir.
5. Visit the breathtaking Mesquita Catedral de Córdoba
The Mesquita is the highlight of Córdoba and one of the most famous buildings in the world. The images of the forest of columns with its red and white striped arches are particularly well-known.
The imposing building offers an impressive mix of Moorish and Catholic architecture. It was once built as a mosque. Today, however, it serves as a Catholic church with its huge altar inside the complex.
Admission to the cathedral costs €13. The ticket office is on the other side of the entrance. I recommend that you go there in the morning and buy a ticket. In the afternoon, the queue in front of the ticket office is huge.
If you don’t want to queue and are also interested in a tour with a guide who will give you lots of information about the Mesquita, then take a look here.
The Mesquita is not open all week. On Sundays and public holidays, all visitors are asked to leave the cathedral between 11:30 and 15:00. Opening hours are also shorter between November and the end of February.
6. Climb the Bell Tower of the Mesquita
Next to the actual cathedral is the bell tower, from where you have a super view over Córdoba. Entry here costs an extra €2.
However, only 20 people are allowed up every 30 minutes. This means there is a ticket limit per day. That’s why it’s best to get a ticket as early as possible.
7. Discover the most beautiful courtyards of Cordoba at Viana Palace
The Viana Palace is truly impressive with its 12 fantastic courtyards, which you should visit for just €5 admission. Each of the courtyards has its own character. But you can relax very well in all of them. For €12, you can also take a guided tour of the inside of the palace
You can get a normal admission ticket for €8 online here.
Tip: At the end of the tour, you can also walk the same route again. I liked it so much here that I did the same. There weren’t so many people around the second time.
8. Discover the Jewish past of Córdoba
Until the 15th century, there was a flourishing Jewish community in Córdoba. The old synagogue dates back to this time. It is the only building of its kind in the whole of Andalusia. Admission is free for EU citizens
In this guided tour of Cordoba you will explore the mosque, the Alcazar and the synagogue as well as the Jewish quarter.
9. Stroll through the Juderia
Today’s old town is the former Jewish quarter. One of the most famous spots here is the Calleja de las Flores. From this small alley, you have a particularly great view of the bell tower. Tip: Come here in the evening, because then the alley is not so crowded.
Other than that, I recommend simply getting lost in the narrow alleyways of the old town and letting the impressions sink in. You’ll discover lots of great places and cool local stores.
If you want to take a more structured approach, then a guided tour through the patios of Cordoba is a good option for you.
10. Visit the market stalls in the Plaza de la Corredera
The somewhat idiosyncratic architecture of the surrounding buildings at the Plaza de la Corredera is particularly striking. They don’t really seem to fit in with the rest of the city and are worth a visit for this very reason.
Under the colonnades there are tapas restaurants, cafés and market stalls selling items such as baskets and wickerwork. Concerts are also regularly held in the square.
11. Enjoy the best view of Córdoba from Las Ermitas
Slightly outside, north of the city, lies the hermitage “Las Ermitas de Córdoba“. Monks have lived here in seclusion from the rest of the world since the 17th century. And even today there is still a pleasant silence here. But there is also a fantastic view over the rooftops of Córdoba.
As you can see, Córdoba is well worth a visit. In 2 days you should have enough time to discover all the highlights mentioned here and also to explore the city on your own without any pressure. Do you know any other great places in Córdoba? Then write it in the comments.
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