How Many Days in Cordoba Should You Spend?
How many days in Cordoba is enough?
Despite being a charming Andalusian city rich in history, culture and architecture, all the main attractions are in the city centre, so you can easily visit Cordoba in two days.
However, it’s worth staying longer in Cordoba to explore other beautiful Andalusian cities like Seville or hidden gems like Iznajar, a charming whitewashed town not far from Cordoba.
Having visited Cordoba a few times, I’ve compiled a one to three day itinerary of Cordoba, tours and accommodation recommendations so you spend less time planning and more time enjoying your time in the city.
This post contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click through and purchase something, I receive a small commission on the price at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the content up to date and make other improvements to the blog.
1 day itinerary for Cordoba
Is it possible to see Cordoba in a day? Yes, I travelled from Malaga to Cordoba for the day and visited most of the main attractions.
If you plan to visit Cordoba for a day, I’ve got you covered with this itinerary, which is the one I followed.
- Visit Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
- Explore Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
- Taste Cordoba’s local food
- Wander the Jewish Quarter
- Visit Cordoba Synagogue
- Watch the sunset at Puente Romano
💃🏻 EXTRA ACTIVITIES: Guided tour of the patios of Cordoba and visit to Jardines de la Agricultura
2 day itinerary for Cordoba
Two days in Cordoba is the perfect time to explore everything the city has to offer. You’ll see Cordoba’s main attractions at a more relaxed pace and discover other interesting places that you won’t normally have time to see in one day in Cordoba.
DAY 1
- Visit Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
- Explore Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
- Taste Cordoba’s local food
- Wander the Jewish Quarter
- Visit Cordoba Synagogue
- Watch the sunset at Puente Romano
DAY 2
- Go to Palacio de Viana
- Visit Casa Andalusí
- See Templo Romano
- Discover Palacio de la Merced
- Relax Jardines de la Agricultura
💃🏻 EXTRA ACTIVITIES: Watch a flamenco show or go on a food tour.
3 day itinerary for Cordoba
Are 3 days in Cordoba enough? Yes, you can actually see the city in 2 days and spend your last day going on a short day trip.
Follow days 1 and 2 from the previous itinerary and add one of the following options for your third day:
Option 1: Medina Azahara
Duration: 16 minute drive (one way)
Medina Azahara is the easiest day trip from Cordoba, and it’s perfect if you just want to spend a couple of hours exploring somewhere close to the city.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a beautiful city palace that was built for Abd al-Rahman III, who proclaimed himself Caliph in 929 A.D.
There are many speculating reasons why Medina Azahara was built; however, one of them is that he wanted to showcase it as the most powerful Caliphate kingdom in Europe.
Visiting Medina Azahara takes you back to the Muslin period in Andalusia, and it’s truly an experience. Although you can see it on your own, and if you’re from Europe, you can visit it for free, I highly recommend taking a guided tour to learn all the interesting facts about the place.
Overall, you’ll understand Cordoba’s history and culture by visiting the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and Medina Azahara.
📌 Check out this 3 hour guided tour to visit this interesting historical site.
Option 2: Sevilla
Duration: 1 hour and 40 minute drive or 1 hour train ride (one way)
Seville is one of the most popular day trips from Cordoba by train, as the journey only takes 1 hour.
If you’ve never been to Seville, this is an excellent opportunity to visit the capital of Andalusia. Seville is a destination that every traveller needs to see: its historical buildings, architecture, food, and friendly locals make it a fantastic city.
There are many things to do in Seville, and even if you spent three days, you couldn’t see everything it offers. I’d personally visit Seville for 2 days, at least.
But if you don’t have time, you can see some of the main attractions in Seville in one day.
The unmissable things to do in Seville in a day include exploring the beautiful Plaza de España and its park (María Luisa Park) and visiting the Royal Alcazar of Seville and the Cathedral. In addition to this, you could also add Setas de Sevilla to your itinerary.
Setas de Sevilla is a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral, and it offers beautiful panoramic views of the centre of Seville. I visited it during the day, but if you have time, go in the evening to watch the sunset and enjoy a beautiful light display.
Option 3: Iznajar
Duration: 1 hour and 15 minute drive (one way)
Small but full of character and picturesque streets, Iznajar is a town near Cordoba worth adding to your itinerary.
Iznajar is an example of the traditional pueblo blanco (whitewashed town) in Andalusia: white-painted houses, beautiful flower pots hanging on the walls and interesting monuments that uncover the town’s history.
Visit Iznajar Castle, take pictures at Patio de las Comedias, including in the kissing corner, discover one of its few museums, enjoy a traditional Cordoban meal and admire the breathtaking views of the reservoir and its mountain surroundings.
Whilst you won’t spend more than half a day in Iznajar, you can combine the visit to this town with another nearby town like Rute, known for its delicious Christmas sweets and chocolates.
Recommended tours and hotels
BEST ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN CORDOBA
The good thing about accommodation in Cordoba is that you can find hotels for every traveller and budget.
- Best hotel in Cordoba with an Andalusian courtyard: Hotel Boutique Patio del Posadero
- Best hotel in Cordoba with a pool in the centre: Hotel NH Collection Amistad Córdoba
- Best luxury hotel in Cordoba: Hospes Palacio del Bailio
Where to eat in Cordoba
Cordoban cuisine is delicious but a bit different from other parts of Andalusia. Here you’ll find more hearty and meaty dishes than in cities like Malaga, where fish and seafood are the norm.
Whether you’re spending a day or three, Cordoba is home to many lovely bars and restaurants offering local and international cuisine.
Taberna El Capricho, located near the famous Calleja de las Flores, is a budget-friendly tavern serving local dishes. They also have a set menu that works out very cheap, and you can enjoy a main, a second course, and dessert.
For a more elevated experience, go to Restaurante Regadera. The menu includes classic dishes with a twist, all prepared with fresh and local ingredients.
If you love eating traditional food on your trips, these are some delicacies in Cordoba:
➢ Salmorejo cordobés is a soup similar to gazpacho. It’s made with tomatoes, bread, garlic, olive oil and salt. The cold tomato soup is topped with hard-boiled eggs and Serrano ham.
➢ Flamenquín is a dish made with pork, Serrano ham and cheese. Serrano ham and cheese are wrapped in pork loin, coated in eggs and breadcrumbs and fried. It’s usually served with a portion of homemade chips.
➢ Arroz cordobés is a rice dish that contains key ingredients like pork, chicken or rabbit, tomatoes, peppers, onions, white wine and saffron.
➢ Rabo de toro is oxtail stew. It’s a traditional recipe in Cordoba and other cities like Seville.
How to get to Cordoba
Unfortunately, Cordoba doesn’t have an airport, so you’ll need to fly to a nearby airport and get your way to Cordoba from there. The closest airports to Codoba are:
- Aeropuerto de Sevilla (SVQ) – 1 hour and 25 minute drive
- Aeropuerto Málaga-Costa del Sol (AGP) – 1 hour and 45 minute drive
If you don’t find a flight to any of these airports from your origin destination, you can also fly to Aeropuerto de Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD). Madrid Airport is 4 hour drive from Cordoba, but you can also take a train from Madrid, which is about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
🚗 Are you thinking of renting a car? Check out Discover Cars to find the right car for your trip to Andalucia.
Is Cordoba expensive?
No, Cordoba is one of the cheapest cities in Andalusia and Spain too, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly destination in Spain, look no further.
Examples of prices in Cordoba:
- Meal at a restaurant: 10 to 12.00 € per person
- One-way bus ticket: 1.30 €
- Taxi start tariff: 3.00 €
- The average price of attractions: 12.00 €
How to plan your Cordoba itinerary
There are no rules to create your Cordoba itinerary; you can follow one of the itineraries I provided above, but you ultimately need to create one that works for you. However, it’s helpful to know a few things before visiting Cordoba.
Here are my top tips for visiting Cordoba:
- Travel to Cordoba in May. Late spring is the best time to visit Cordoba for many reasons, such as the weather being likely to be good and two major events taking place: Festival de los Patios (the Courtyard Festival) and Feria de Córdoba (Cordoba’s Fair). By attending these events, you’ll have a good time and learn a bit more about the local culture.
However, if you don’t like crowds, avoid May (the busiest month) and go to Cordoba in April instead!
- Don’t visit Cordoba in the summer. It’s one of the hottest cities in Andalusia during the summer months, alongside Seville. Temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, which means it’s challenging to sightsee. In addition to this, Cordoba doesn’t have a beach, so there isn’t a breeze like in Malaga, Cadiz or Almeria. If you decide to visit Cordoba in the summer, I highly recommend booking a hotel with a pool.
- Visit the main attractions first in the morning. The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is the main historical building in the city and is always busy. Book your tickets online and be there early to avoid big queues.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The centre of Cordoba, especially the Jewish Quarter, has plenty of picturesque cobblestone streets, but walking in them with just any shoes isn’t easy. Avoid heels and opt for comfortable trainers or flat boots.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Cordoba, Spain
Is 1 day in Cordoba enough?
One day in Cordoba is enough to see the main attractions, such as the Mosque-Cathedral and Alcázar fortress of the Christian Monarchs. The city is relatively small and walkable.
Is Cordoba Spain walkable?
Yes, Cordoba is a small city that is easy to walk in. The main points of interest are in the city centre, so you won’t need to use public transport.
Which is more interesting, Seville or Cordoba?
Both Andalusian destinations have incredible historical buildings and culture. However, Seville has much more to offer than Cordoba.
Conclusion on how many days to spend in Cordoba
So, how many days does it take to visit Cordoba? 2 days is the ideal time to visit Cordoba, but you can stay longer to visit nearby cities in Andalucia or outside Andalucia, like Madrid, or start a Spain road trip.
Enjoy your time in Cordoba!
Cristina x
Save this guide about how many days in Cordoba for later
Things to do before visiting Cordoba
- Check out cheap flights to Seville or Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport with Skyscanner.
- Book the best accommodation in Cordoba with Booking.com
- Discover great activities you can do in Cordoba with Get Your Guide.
- Eat like a local by tasting these authentic Andalusian dishes.
- Rent a car to move around Andalucia with ease.
- Stay connected with your loved ones by using Airalo. The best eSIMs available in over 200 countries, including Spain.
- Don’t forget to buy travel insurance for your trip.
