Best Things to Do in Cordoba in One Day

Planning to visit Cordoba Spain? I have you covered with this Cordoba travel guide.

Quite often, with time constraints and also with budget constraints, we are city hopping seeing just the main attractions. I travelled during my kids’ vacations so I had limited time. During our stay in Seville, I made a quick one day trip from Seville to Cordoba.

It was one of the best journeys I made, because Cordoba is well packed city with top sights within walking distance. It was possible to top sights of Cordoba and made it worth visiting Cordoba for a day.

Cordoba was an important Roman city in the middle ages and it still has the reputation of being important in the map for tourists of Spain. If you are worried whether one day is sufficient to tour Cordoba, I will say go for it.

One day is sufficient to see the Mezquita wonder, loiter the beautiful streets around Mezquita, visit Alcazar, Roman bridge, shop for gifts and also have time enough for a hearty meal. We did exactly that.

Cordoba things to do

Cordoba Spain – Things to do

How to Reach Cordoba?

First let me make it easy for you decide how to travel to Cordoba. By Road: We travelled by road to Cordoba from Seville in our hired car, a distance of 140.5 km via A-4 in 1 hr 45 min.

By train: There is non-stop train service. It will take 45 minutes, starting at 9.65 euros (fastest)(1235 INR). There are 19 direct trains from Seville to Cordoba each day.

By bus: There are bus services throughout the day from Sevilla Santa Justa in Seville. It costs 19$ and takes 2 hr. 5 min.

By air: The closest airport is Sevilla (SVQ). Other nearby airports are Granada Federico Garcia Lorca (GRX) or Malaga (AGP).

This should help you choose the best way to reach Cordoba from Seville. You can buy cheap tickets to Cordoba by booking in advance.

sightseeing Cordoba at Night

Sightseeing Cordoba at Night

CORDOBA SPAIN THINGS TO DO

Mezquita (Great Mosque) Cordoba Spain 

Without any doubt Mezquita is the outstanding monument. It has the unique distinction of being the only religious place which houses the temple of another religion.

The double arched painted in stripes of white and red, some 800 of them makes a mesmerizing sight. Before being Mosque (VIII, IX and X centuries), it was a Visigoth temple and prior to that a Roman Temple.

Later the place became Christianized 1236, during El-Rey Fernando III Kingdom. Most probably this was also a Mozarabic and Jewish place. The tower here was renovated in XVI and XVIII century, during Carlos V’s reign.

Mezquita and the area including it were declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. The Cathedral inside the mosque is equally fascinating.  Read more –> Mezquita – Cathedral of Cordoba

Tour time: 2hrs
Tickets are available at counter at site and not online.
Adults – 8euros, Children 10 to 14 – 4euros, children below 10 free.

Things to do Cordoba

Mezquita (Great Mosque) Cordoba

Bell Tower of Cathedral of Córdoba

This bell tower was built over the ruins of a Muslim minaret in 1660. When the Mesquita got christianized, the minaret got converted to Bell Tower of Cathedral of Cordoba. For centuries when it was under the control of Muslims a cleric would ride up the ramp of minaret to call out to resident Muslims to face the direction of Mecca and pray. Today you have to buy tickets to climb up to the top and the reward is fine views of the city.

During the tragic Lisbon earthquake this tower was badly damaged. After enormous repair works like building additional walls the old minaret got hidden. Unfortunately for me I ran out of time, so missed climbing the steep steps to top.

Bell Tower Cordoba

Things to Do in Cordoba

Bell in Bell Tower Cordoba

Jewish Quarters and Synagogue, Cordoba

People actually stay here. This Jewish Quarters is an exciting mesh of narrow streets, far less commercialized than the area outside it. This should be included in your itinerary of must see places in Cordoba.

Jewish Quarters and Synagogue Cordoba

Jewish Quarters and Synagogue Cordoba

Most striking factor is the flower decked patios of this area. In the month of May, competitions are held as to who can put up the most beautiful patio laden with flowers. There are 2 important must see sights here:

  1. the 15th-century Mudéjar-style synagogue at the center of the quarter
  2. the Casa de Sefarad (House of Spanish Jews) museum

Both sights are on the Calle Judíos street.

Time to tour: If you can tour the place without getting confused or lost in the narrow lanes you can complete this tour in one hour. But for a relaxed tour with a halt for coffee to sit back and soak in the beauty of patios 2hours would be ideal.

Open timings
From Tuesday to Saturday 09:00 to 19:30
Weekend from 09:00 to 15:30
Closed: 1 May and on Mondays.

Ticket Prices
General: €0.30
EU members: Admission free

flower decked patios

Flower decked patios

Castle of the Christian Monarchs

This is the castle of Christian Monarchs built in 1328 by Alfonso XI.  Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos served as the headquarters of Spanish Inquisition for almost 300 years. Worth seeing inside are the 3 towers: Tower of Lions, Tower of River, and Tower of Allegiance.

There are ‘not to miss’ intricate and beautifully restored Roman mosaics. It was declared a historical site. The Arabian style gardens here have wide variety of plants, palm trees, cypresses, orange and lemon, trees to be seen which overlook stone fountains and large ponds.

A good combination of history and beauty!

Opening Timings
May and June- 10.00h -14.00h  17.30-18.30h
July and August- 08.30h -14.30h
September to 14th October- 10.00h – 14.00h 17.30h -18.30h
15th Oct to 30th April: 10.00h – 14.00h and 16.30-18.30h
Mondays Closed

Entrance:
€1.87
Fridays Free

Puente Romano (Roman Bridge)

Moorish bridge has its foundations of the Roman Bridge which existed since 1st century BC. It is made over the River Guadalquivir. Most striking factor are the arches, two of them are believed to be original ones. The length is around 250m; you can walk across to Tower of La Calahorra.

Time – Take a leisurely walk across the wide bridge.

Puente Romano (Roman Bridge), Cordoba

Puente Romano (Roman Bridge), Cordoba

Tower of La Calahorra

Cross the Roman Bridge over to south of Cordoba to visit the Tower of La Calahorra. This gate was originally built by the Moors and extensively restored by adding a third cylindrical shaped tower connecting the outer two by King Enrique II of Castile in 1369.

This was done to defend the city from attack by his brother Pedro I the Cruel from the South. Later the monument was used a prison and then surprisingly as a girl’s school in 19th century.

Tower of La Calahorra Cordoba

Tower of La Calahorra Cordoba

Noteworthy here is the fascinating museum which is educational with audio visual presentations which vividly depict how life was in Cordoba around the 10th Century AD when three cultures lived side by side Christianity, Muslim and Judaism.

The Roman Bridge and the surrounding area in 2007 were awarded the EU prize for cultural heritage “Europa Nostra” in 2014.

Opening Times
Summer (May to September) 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 20.30
Winter (October to March) 10.00 to 18.00
Entrance: 4.50 euro, reduced 3.00 euro

Souvenir Shopping in Cordoba

Last, but not the least, the most enjoyable activity in Cordoba is shopping for souvenirs. Shop, shop, shop… shop till you drop. My eyes kept wandering from one souvenir to another, wanting to pick them all. Read more – Shopping gifts and Souvenirs from Cordoba.

Where to eat in Cordoba Spain?

Visit the restaurants in Cordoba near mosque area and try out the local specialties.

Top 4 Restaurants in Cordoba: Sibuya Urban Sushi Bar Cordoba, Pasillo Oriental, Bodegas Mezquita Cruz del Rastro, and Amaltea Restaurant.

Some popular local dishes of Cordoba are: Rabo de Toro (bull tail stew), Salmorejo (chilled tomato soup), and Berenjenas Fritas con Miel (fried eggplants with molasses) and the local Montilla-Moriles wine.

How to spend One Day in Cordoba

If you are planning to visit Córdoba in one day and see the best attractions, here is a breakup of the activities.

  • Start by visiting Mesquita (Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba). The tourist crowd is lean and photography will be easier.
  • Head out of Mezquita after 3 hours, Climb up the Bell Tower
  • Walk around Jewish Quarters and Synagogue of Andalusia
  • Have lunch at one of the restaurants near the mosque
  • Visit the castle of Christian Monarchs
  • Walk to Roman Bridge from there further to Tower of La Calahorra.
  • Indulge in souvenir shopping

You can opt for the Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus to save time and see more.

Planning to visit Spain?

Check these City Guides: Top Tourist Attractions in Seville, Granada Things to Do

Check this: 16 Exciting Europe Day Trips by Road

Did you like this travel blog on Cordoba Tourist attractions?

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Things to Do in Cordoba Spain

Indrani Ghose is an Indian Travel Writer and Blogger based in Bangalore, India. She has written for numerous publications across the globe – including Lonely Planet, The National UAE, Whetstone Asia, Deccan Herald. You can follow her on her social media handles InstagramTwitterPinterest and Facebook to see the wonderful destinations, beautiful offbeat places and get instant updates about them.

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66 Responses to “Best Things to Do in Cordoba in One Day

  • Missed Cordoba on our round of Seville, Granada, and Malaga. It could have been a short day trip. Much regret because I love Muslim/Spanish architecture as exemplified by the Great Mosque.

  • Your Spain posts make me so nostalgic…makes me want to pack my bags and just go there! Cordoba is a perfect location for me as I love old architecture…the Grand Mosque, especially, is so enchanting…

  • I love Spain and want to see more of it. I’ve been seeing tons of photos from these cities lately and it makes me want to go even more. I love the different cultures that made it up.

  • We’re hoping to go to Spain next summer. I’ve never been! Cordoba sounds wonderful; I’ll have to put the Tower of La Calahorra on my list!

  • Cordoba looks amazing. I love the architecture and climate best. We’ve had quite a few friends leave their homes in Boquete, Panama to relocate to this part of Spain due to the cost of living and smarter government. Nice list!

  • Cordoba looks stunning. I’m particularly intrigued by the Jewish Quarter – but fascinated by the heritage of the City and the Roman and Moorish culture. I’m looking forward to visiting myself and exploring some of the places you’ve recommended

  • I LOVE SPAIN but I havent been down to Seville or Cordoba yet. It seems like a totally different world from Northern Spain or even Barcelona. I love the old architecture there and the different religious influences.

  • I love how you can see the influence of so many different religions and cultures in one place. Cordoba truly is a melting pot. I think it’s also great that most everything is within a close range. Walkable cities are always easy and great to explore in a short amount of time.

  • That’s very interesting to read that the Mezquita houses another religion- I don’t think I’ve ever heard of such a thing. That facade is gorgeous!

  • I haven’t been to Cordoba yet but it is definitely on my list! The architecture is stunning, and the history there is incredible. There can’t be too many cities where Judaism, Christianity & Islam have such important and beautiful buildings so close together!

  • Córdoba looks such a lovely place to visit. I especially like the Roman Bridge, so unique. The Tower, Mosque, castle and Synagogue all look so interesting to visit too.

  • The mix of cultures and religions in Cordoba is remarkable. Jewish, Christian, Roman and Islamic elements all in one city, what a great combination! I would love to visit Cordoba in my next trip to Spain!

  • Thanks for sharing! Cordoba is such a nice place! I love the photos and the architecture of every buildings. Again, thanks for this very informative post.

  • Thank you for the guide! These locations all look stunning, your pictures are great. It’s always interesting to read about the different uses for old buildings over the years. From castle to prison to girl’s school? And connected by an ancient Roman bridge? That’s an amazing story and definitely a place my wife and I will have to visit! Thanks!

  • Cordoba seems like a place very rich in culture as well. Seville is actually more known for tourists but this is a great option for guests looking for a different day trip. Great post! 🙂

  • The Jewish Quarters and Synagogue look pretty awesome, as does the mosque and the castle of the Christian Monarchs. What a wonderful amalgamation of all religions in one city! I hope to get to Cordoba soon, I have heard so much about it.

  • I think you captured the essence of Seville. You have a mixture of Moorish, Christian, Jewish, Roman, and who knows what else living side by side for centuries. You can see them all but not understand the that the whole is more than the sum of the parts.

  • My mother recently visited Cordoba, and I’ve been wanting to visit ever since. She loved the Jewish Quarter – all those little lanes. As well as the Mezquita – such a beautiful building. I love the architecture of the Puente Romano – it looks like it is built on beehives! I plan to spend more time in Spain in the coming years, so thanks for the tips!

  • Although I have not heard of Cordoba, this place certainly does have a great importance of Spain’s history. The Great Mosque is a great architecture and surprisingly has a cathedral inside. How amazing is that? Ancient Roman architectures give an ultimate day trip!

  • I just love the Great Mosque – it looks absolutely beautiful! I have heard a lot of wonderful things regarding Cordoba. It would be the perfect day trip!

  • What a great day trip option from Seville – the Grand Mosque certainly is outstanding, and it’s so cool to see such a prevalence of ancient Roman architecture and buildings. It sounds like there’s a LOT of history in Cordoba – it seems to have a really rich past in terms of heritage and religion.

  • What a beautiful day trip! I love all of that Moorish architecture! The Great Mosque looks absolutely stunning!

  • I’ve been wanting to visit the Great Mosque in Cordoba for a REALLY long time but haven’t made to anywhere in Spain. I wasn’t aware of the other attractions in the area, that bridge is spectacular! Thanks for the inspiration

  • What a great place to visit, and it’s amazing that you can see all of that in a day. I’d love to check out the Jewish quarters and the Castle of the Christian Monarchs. So much history.

  • What an interesting place. Also, it seems like it wouldn’t break your budget. I love the blue flower pots against the wall.

  • Cordoba seems like a fascinating city — I didn’t realize how much it was at the crossroads of Roman and Moorish society. The mosque that was previously a Roman temple seems especially interesting. and good to know that you can visit all these spots on a day trip — that makes it much easier to fit into a short holiday in Spain!

  • We went to Spain for our first time last year and loved it! Did the East Coast. So next visit would be to southern Spain. So its great to learn the best things to do in Cordoba! It’s on our bucket list. Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos sounds the coolest with the Arabian style gardens. Thanks for the tips!

  • I would love to check out the masques in Seville. The Moorish influence in the region seems like the special sauce that makes southern Spain unique in Europe.

  • My wife and I have always wanted to visit Spain. We will definitely have to check out the Mezquita, if we ever manage to make it there. I love the history and the beautiful architecture. I especially like the fact that you can walk to all the sites mentioned in the article. Thanks for sharing!

  • Your pictures are stunning, especially of the Jewish quarter – it gives me a Moroccan vibe. I was just in Seville and I wish I had known about Cordoba, it sounds like a charming spot to spend the day. I’d love to visit the mosque.

  • Wow it looks like there is so much to see and do in Cordoba! I’ll be honest, it really wasn’t a destination that was on my Spanish bucket list but it is looking like I’m going to have to change that. That mosque looks absolutely stunning and the history of the city sounds fascinating.

  • This is a great little list for a quick visit to Cordoba. I’d like to visit the Great Mosque and the Jewish Quarters myself. You’ve taken some beautiful photos.

  • Jenni Sheldon
    7 years ago

    This is great timing as I am going to Seville so will definitely try and do this side trip as it looks so interesting. Cordoba looks as though its going to be a great place to stroll around

  • These are awesome places to visit. I am particularly interested in visiting Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. I have seen photos of the gardens and patio. They are beautiful. I want to see the old structure too.

  • Rahul Khurana
    7 years ago

    These are really interesting spots to visit. I am crazy for castles and would also want to see an Arabian Style Garden someday. Those pots hanging on the wall look so pretty. 🙂

  • I have wanted to visit Cordoba for so long but have never made it, I haven’t actually looked at the points of interest there so it’s interesting to see and read about what I would see on a visit there. I would love to photograph the Mezquita and the fact that it’s a UNESCO site is a plus. The Roman Bridge also stands out to me, I’d love to walk across it, taking photos, maybe in the evening and try get a sunset and avoid the heat!

  • Spain is definitely on my list. I’ve heard good things about Cordoba in particular. Glad to see you had a great time!

  • Rachelle
    7 years ago

    Great list for a fun getaway! I’m not really familiar with Córdoba, so this was enlightening and something I have pinned for a future trip! Can’t wait to get lost and wander around this city!

  • Jitaditya Narzary
    7 years ago

    Wonderful list and guide. Surprised to see the Jewish quarter, I thought these areas were dominated by the Arabs in the past. It must have seen a lot of struggle during the crusade.

  • I was supposed to do the same trip from Seville to Cordoba. However I had to cancel my Seville trip and hence Cordoba had to be missed. I had heard so much of the Mesquite and hopefully I can go there next time. Now you have given me more reasons to visit Cordoba

  • I’m ashamed to admit I don’t know much about Córdoba, and nor have I looked in to it as a possible destination to visit. I can see now that I was mistaken. It looks like a place steeped in history and culture, and that bridge looks mighty impressive!

  • A great compilation Indrani. The Roman Bridge looks stunning. Did you book a day trip or did you do all this on your own? A very detailed guide and will help anyone planning a trip to Cordoba.

    • Indrani Ghose
      7 years ago

      This was completely self planned Swati. It was a day trip from Seville.

  • This is actually really well done! I remember when I was there and went to the tourist information place and they gave me far less information than this haha. I did not see any of this! The photos make it look beautiful though.

  • Celma Costa
    7 years ago

    Hi Indrani,

    Thank you for taking the time to compile this list!

    Just yesterday I met a fellow nomad who is currently working in Cordoba and he did tell me it’s a wonderful city — I guess he is right!

  • Informative post.Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Wow ! So wonderful Mezquitas and the other cultural heritages of Spain !! Lucky are those who get to visit and explore !!

  • Very nice places Indrani, with good pictures and it is helpful. Thank you for sharing 🙂

  • Interesting Post, Indrani.. Thanks for sharing!

  • I hope I get to go there someday!

  • WOW!! What a virtual drooling!! Enjoyed the trip through your words…beautiful places!!!

  • Bookmarked for a future visit. That mosque is stunning! Moorish architecture is so subtle the richness lies in the details.

  • All the pictures are very nice and description is very informative . I think you write timings of the places first time ever ?

  • A wonderful list. All the places look great 🙂

  • Nice list, quite helpful and I'm bookmarking it… 🙂

  • That's a good list. A mosque, Jewish snagogue and Christian monarchs staying in proximty seems to be indicative of harmony.

  • Loved all the pictures!

  • Loved the post for narration and elegant pictures!

  • I loved the Jewish Quarters! 🙂

  • enjoyed ur post !

  • An interesting piece on frozen history

  • That's an awesome list 🙂

  • Nice places to visit 🙂

  • subhadipindia
    9 years ago

    Architecture and craftsmanship at its best… Thanks for sharing.

  • Ah, those are indeed beautiful places and I have been there!! Thanks for sharing and for the memories, Indrani!! Hope you've enjoyed a lovely weekend and have a great new week ahead!

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