Córdoba, oh Córdoba you stole my heart 😊 When I visited Córdoba I left knowing I would definitely return one day! I say this about a few places, but Córdoba really earned a special place in my heart. The heat, the sound of the busy streets, the streets and alleys where I got lost, the sound of live flamenco echoing through the streets at night…

Córdoba is a whole experience worth living and so, without further ado, I leave you with some tips on what to visit in 1 day in Córdoba.

Córdoba is known for being one of the hottest cities in Spain. A few weeks before I visited the city, the thermometers had reached an all-time high of 47ºC!!! Lucky me, the maximum temperature was around 37ºC/38ºC when I visited. All this to tell you that visiting Córdoba in the middle of summer may be a bad idea.

Although the warm weather feels good at night, sightseeing with temperatures above 35ºC can be very challenging and, I would say, not even recommended. Of course, you can always wake up very early to enjoy the morning until around 11 am and then resume sightseeing around 6/7 pm. But, having said that, it is rather preferable to visit Córdoba in spring or autumn, when the temperatures are milder.

My visit to Córdoba took place on a road trip through the Spanish region of Andalusia. However, it is totally feasible to visit on a single trip. Since there are no flights to Córdoba, if you do not have a car, the best option is to fly to the two nearest airports (both located about 2 hours drive from Córdoba):

• Seville
• Málaga

The first option is renting a car to get from Seville/Málaga to the final destination. Alternatively, you can opt for public transport:

• Train Seville – Córdoba: 45 min trip for 11€ (RENFE trains)
• Bus Seville – Córdoba: 2-hour trip from 11€ (ALSA and Socibus companies)
• Train Málaga – Córdoba: 1 hour trip from 14€ (RENFE trains)
• Bus Málaga – Córdoba: the journey takes 2h to 2h30 and prices start at 11€ (companies: ALSA, Socibus, Flixbus and Avanza Grupo)

I chose to stay in a simple but quite nice accommodation – Hotel Gonzalez. Located right near the historic centre of Córdoba, the hotel is recent and has good conditions. However, I would just note that on weekend nights, the restaurant below the hotel has Flamenco shows that can be heard throughout the building past midnight. However, if you don’t go to bed early, I’d say it’s still a good bet for an overnight stay in Córdoba 😊 For breakfast, you can take advantage of the Cosmopolitan Food cafe (€) right in front of the hotel!

Even so, I leave here other suggestions for accommodation which, although I have not personally tried, seem to have good value for money:

• Los Patios “El Carmen”
• Hotel Abadi
• Exe Ciudad de Córdoba
• De Patios
• Hospedaria Alma Andalusi

Before starting the list with what to visit in Córdoba, I’ll share with you a map version of the main points of interest in the city.

The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba was the place I most wanted to visit in Córdoba and I was not disappointed. On the contrary, it even exceeded all expectations! This is a place that had religious importance for Visigoths, Muslims and Christians and has a long and rich history.

The Mosque was commissioned by Abd-ar-Rahman I during the 8th century taking advantage of the construction of the old Visigoth Basilica of Saint Vincent.

Over the centuries, the mosque was extended and underwent several remodellings. However, it was in the 13th century with the reconquest of Córdoba by Ferdinand III that the mosque became a Cathedral. Various modifications were made to the building in order to include Christian elements.

Various modifications have again been made over the years and today, the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba is probably one of the most beautiful religious sites I have ever visited. The symbiosis between the elements of different eras and cultures makes it a simply unmissable monument.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Tickets can be purchased online here and cost 11€. You can check the latest opening hours information here.

Puerta del Puente, located next to the Roman Bridge, was one of the gates that provided access to the old walled city of Córdoba and in the 16th century, during a visit by King Philip II, it underwent some modifications.

Connecting the two banks of the Guadalquivir River, this bridge was the only one in the city for many long years. It is estimated that it was built in the 1st century B.C. and that Via Augusta used to pass through here and it even appeared in scenes from Game of Thrones.

Don’t miss the chance to walk across this bridge and stop to admire the flowing Guadalquivir river but also the statue of San Rafael located halfway across – a saint to whom the people of Córdoba have great devotion.

Another highlight is Calahorra Tower, at the opposite end of Puerta del Puente, which was built in the 14th century by King Alfonso XI. Inside the Calahorra Tower, we can visit the Three Cultures Museum and also get one of the best views of the city and, in particular, of the Cathedral. Entry to the museum costs 4,5€.

Next is Paseo de la Ribera… a pleasant promenade along the Guadalquivir river that starts at Plaza de La Cruz del Rastro and ends at Ronda de Los Mártires.

The Jewish Quarter is one of the most historic quarters of the city. This neighbourhood is known for its narrow streets that have witnessed the existence of three very different religions over the years: Jews, Christians and Muslims.

There are several points of interest that should not be missed:

• Synagogue (free entrance; more information here)
• Maimônides Square
• St Bartholomew’s Chapel (1,5€ during the week or 2€ at the weekend)
• Andalusí House (4€)

Located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, Calleja de las Flores is a very narrow street and one of the most touristy in the city. On the street walls, you can find flower pots, typical of Córdoba courtyards, while in the background you can see the Cathedral.

We continue our visit to Córdoba to one of the city’s most emblematic sites – its Alcazár. It is an ancient citadel and its name comes from the Catholic kings Isabel of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon who lived there.

Considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, it is also worth visiting the beautiful gardens that are part of the complex.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The Alcazár is open Tuesday to Friday from 8.30 am to 8.15 pm, Saturday from 8.30 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 8.30 am to 2 pm. The ticket costs 5€.

I wish I had some beautiful photos to show you of the fantastic, flowery and famous Córdoba courtyards (or as the Spanish say, “patios”). However, when I visited Córdoba, the San Basilio courtyards (the most famous in the city) were not yet open for visits (check times and dates here).

From the photos I’ve seen, the courtyards look gorgeous and I can easily see why their owners take pride in them.

There is a Route of San Basilio Courtyards (Rota dos Patios de San Basilio) where you can enter 5 of these courtyards to admire them (the courtyards are actually private property!). The ticket costs 5€ and can be bought online here. Alternatively, you can buy the ticket in person at C/San Basilio 14.

However, another good time (although more crowded) to visit these patios is at the Festival of Cordoban Patios, which takes place in the second and third week of May. During these weeks you can visit the patios for free, while the most beautiful patios of that year are chosen 😊

It is then time to head for the other gate of the old walled city of Córdoba – Almodóvar Gate (Puerta de Almodóvar). Its name is related to the fact that this gate linked the city of Córdoba to the village of Almodóvar del Rio. And finally, you can also get to know the last of the 3 doors that have survived over the years – Seville Gate (Puerta de Sevilla).

Built at the end of the 17th century, Plaza de la Corredera is similar to Madrid’s Plaza Mayor and is the only rectangular plaza in the whole of Andalusia. Today it serves as a meeting place for the thousands of inhabitants of the city, in the various cafés and restaurants there.

We move on to the next point on this itinerary in Córdoba – the Roman Temple of Córdoba, discovered in the 1950s. It is believed that the temple was dedicated to the imperial cult and that it was built during the 1st century.

A visit to Córdoba must also include one of the city’s most famous squares. Located next to the most commercial streets of the city, this is a lively space where thousands of people pass every day. Its name comes from the small shops (tendillas) that used to exist there.

Besides the equestrian statue of El Gran Capitán, this square also has a very characteristic feature. In one of the buildings, there is a clock that tells the time with the sound of a guitar played by the flamenco guitarist Juanito Serrano.

And because a good part of travelling is the flavours of the region we are visiting, why not take a trip to Vitoria Market? Open since 2013, it’s a more gourmet market, where we can try various dishes from Spanish and Córdoba cuisine.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: You can check the most up-to-date opening times on this website.

If the San Basilio courtyards are closed for any reason, this is a good alternative option to get a “taste” of the beauty of the Córdoba courtyards. There are a total of 12 patios inside the Palace and there are two types of tickets available:

• Visit the courtyards only – 6€
• Visit the palace’s courtyards and collections – 10€

It is usually not that busy, so you may choose to buy the tickets in person. In any case, it is possible to buy the tickets online here.

In my opinion, although I enjoyed visiting the Viana Palace’s courtyards, I was a bit disappointed because it didn’t match the photos I had seen. The truth is that August might not be the best time to see the flower pots. If the courtyards are closed, I recommend visiting Viana Palace, otherwise, I would say that visiting the San Basilio courtyards is a better option, especially when faced with a tighter travel budget.

If you visit the Viana Palace, don’t miss out on the external beauty of La Merced Palace. What was once the convent of La Merced Calzada is currently occupied by the Government of Córdoba. Also, take the opportunity to relax for a while in the gardens with the same name – La Merced Gardens.

Located just outside the centre of Córdoba, Madinat al-Zahra is an ancient city built in 936 by Abd-ar-Rahman III, and is another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: For residents of the European Union the visit is free of charge, for others, the ticket costs 1,5€.

And to finish off, how about a relaxing Arabian-style bath? Although I haven’t personally tried it, there are some experiences available in Córdoba that you can take a look at:

• Baños Árabes Córdoba
• Hammam Al Andalus

I visited the city of Córdoba during summer and on a Saturday and, perhaps even more for that reason, you could feel an inexplicable magic in the air 😊 I tried a very nice restaurant and had my dinner on a nice small beautiful patio.

The restaurant El Rincón de Carmen (€€) offers good tapas at a reasonable price! We tried the patatas bravas (so spicy!!), a kind of huevos rotos, we finally tried the “flamequín” (traditional Andalusian dish) and we finished off with a Córdoba’s pie. Besides the pleasant and modern space, the food was very tasty!

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