By rail
Córdoba station, ~1 h 45 min by AVE from Madrid
Europe · Spain
Córdoba, Spain
The Mezquita and flower-filled patios
Getting there
By air
Seville (SVQ), ~1.5 h by road
Best time to visit
April to May — the patio festival is in May
Don't miss
The Mezquita
The Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs
The Roman Bridge
The Jewish Quarter
Things to do
The Mezquita
The Jewish Quarter
The Patios Festival
The Roman bridge at dusk
Where to eat
What to pack
Light clothes, a sun hat
A quieter corner
Medina Azahara, a caliph's ruined palace city
Questions travellers ask
When is Córdoba at its best?
April to May, and May brings the Patios Festival. Pack light clothes and a sun hat.
What are Córdoba's main sights?
The Mezquita, the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs, the Roman Bridge and the Jewish Quarter. Walk the Roman bridge at dusk.
Beyond the Mezquita, what's worth seeking out in Córdoba?
Medina Azahara, a caliph's ruined palace city. Afterwards, refuel with salmorejo and flamenquín.
How do I reach Córdoba?
By AVE, Córdoba station is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Madrid. If you fly, Seville (SVQ) is about 1.5 hours away by road.
About Córdoba
- Riverside
Where it is
Córdoba is a city in Andalusia in southern Spain, on the Guadalquivir river with the Sierra Morena rising to the north, and is the capital of the province of Córdoba.
History
Roman Corduba was the capital of the province of Baetica and the home town of the philosopher Seneca. It became the seat of the Umayyad emirate in 756 and of a caliphate from 929, and by the 10th century it was one of Europe's largest cities and a great centre of learning, later the birthplace of Averroes and Maimonides. Ferdinand III of Castile took it in 1236.
People
Cordobeses speak Andalusian Spanish, and May is their festival month, with the Crosses of May, the Patios Festival, when residents open their flower-filled courtyards to visitors, and the city's Feria. Silver filigree and embossed leather are long-standing local crafts.
Known for
- The Mezquita, the great mosque-cathedral
- Flower-filled patios and the May Patios Festival
- The Jewish Quarter (Judería)
- The Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir
- Salmorejo, a thick cold tomato soup
Did you know?
After the Christian conquest the Great Mosque became a cathedral, and in the 16th century a Renaissance nave was built right in the middle of its prayer hall of two-tiered arches.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.