25 Things to Do in Córdoba in 2 Days

Cordoba is one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia, it has a lot of colour, light and traditions, but above all, a mixture of cultures living together in the same place. In this article we suggest the best things to do in Cordoba in 2 days, for a weekend getaway.

Cordoba still preserves Roman, Muslim and Christian vestiges in its large historic centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and therefore one of the most visited cities in Andalusia, along with Seville and Granada. Once the capital of Hispania Ulterior, today it is a city full of life, music and the smell of flowers.

🔘 Check out the rest of the World Heritage Sites we have visited.

If, like us, you only have a couple of days to visit Cordoba, we have a tour of the city that you will love.

Things to do in Cordoba in 2 days 25 places you’ll love

1) Visit the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, which dates back to the 14th century and is a military building (a fortress). It was one of the main residences of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon. Don’t forget to go up to the wall and its towers, where you will have incredible 360º views, some of the most beautiful to see in Cordoba.

✏️ Admission for adults to visit the Alcazar of Cordoba to 2023: 5 €. Discounts are available for students.

📷 To get the most out of your visit to the Alcazar of Cordoba, it is best to take a guided tour. It also includes the Jewish Quarter!

2) Inside the Alcazar, I discovered the Great Geometric Mosaic. The Mosaic Room contains several mosaics from the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD found in the 1959 excavations in the Plaza de la Corredera. They are impressive!

3) Find the statue of the Catholic Monarchs and Colón in the Alcazar Gardens. It is said that in 1492 Cristobal Colon met with the Catholic Monarchs in the Alcázar of Cordoba, before setting out on his voyage to what would later become America (although he never knew that he had discovered a new territory). The plants, trees, fountains and sculptures that adorn the Gardens make the walk to the aforementioned statue one of the most pleasant and best things to do in Cordoba.

4) Visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, which is one of the most emblematic and important places to see in Cordoba. Inside there is much to discover:

• The remains of the Church of San Vicente, which is the first church before the Muslim invasion. In the 8th century, it was destroyed and the mosque was built on its ruins.

• The arches of the mosque in perfect symmetry. This mosque would come to be regarded as the most important Islamic shrine in the western world.

• The impressive cathedral was sent to be built after 1236, the year in which Fernando III “The Saint” reconquered Cordoba and the Christian faith was re-established in the territory. The main chapel, the transept and the choir were built, as well as the small private chapels around the cathedral.

• The contrasts between the Mosque and the Cathedral. The good thing is that the mosque was not completely destroyed, but you walk through the arches and arrive at the centre of the complex, where you find a Christian cathedral that is perfectly maintained and beautifully detailed. On the visit, the contrasts are striking.

✏️ General admission to visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba: €13.

📷 Don’t miss out on the details of your visit to the Mosque Cathedral by taking a guided tour.

5) The Patio de los Naranjos, in the Muslim period, served as a meeting point for all those who went to pray. Today, it is a beautiful courtyard where you can rest peacefully after a visit to the Mosque Cathedral, in the shade of the orange trees that were planted in the 18th century. Together with the fountains, risk canals and flowers, it is one of the main tourist attractions in Cordoba.

6) Cross the Puerta del Puente, which is opposite the Roman Bridge and is a kind of triumphal arch (in fact it is called Triunfo de San Rafael). It is one of the 3 gates to be seen in Cordoba that still remain from what was the Muslim walled city. It has been heavily restored, as the original ones were not in very good condition. Nor has the origin of the paintings been respected, as the style is rather westernised.

7) Cross the Roman Bridge, come across the Calahorra Tower and admire the views of the city from the other side of the Guadalquivir River. The Roman Bridge is of great historical importance as it was built in the 1st century BC, when the Romans inhabited this area. Obviously, for its proper maintenance, it has undergone several refurbishments. In the centre of the bridge is a 16th century sculpture of St. Raphael, to which the faithful pay homage. One of the main things to do in Cordoba, without a doubt.

8) On the other side of the Roman Bridge, the Calahorra Tower awaits, which is a tower-fortress of Islamic origin whose function was to protect the entrance to the city before crossing the river. It can be visited because it houses an audiovisual museum run by the Institute for the Dialogue of Cultures and shows visitors the medieval era of Cordoba, from the 9th to the 13th century, with the Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures living side by side.

9) Get lost in the streets of the Jewish Quarter, one of the most visited neighbourhoods in Cordoba. Although in each of its corners you can breathe in the mixture of cultures so typical of the city, it was an area typically inhabited by Jews between the 13th and 15th centuries, after the Reconquest. They settled in the vicinity of the Synagogue they built, which can be visited today.

10) Visit the Synagogue, which dates back to 1315 and its importance lies in its antiquity and good preservation. It has not been in use since the Jews were driven out of the city in 1492 but still retains some details to note.

✏️ General admission to visit the Cordoba Synagogue: free for EU citizens. Check the opening times carefully because it closes early.

11) Enter the Municipal Zouk. The souk is the name given to the typical markets of North Africa. Here you can find all kinds of handicrafts and souvenirs of your trip, and also see a typical courtyard full of blue flowerpots and red flowers.

12) Visit an Andalusian courtyard, such as the Patios del Alcázar Viejo or the Casa-Patio at Calle Marroquíes 6. You are greeted by the neighbours who live there and they show you the courtyard full of pots and flowers, and perhaps some rooms in their houses.

✏️ General admission to visit the Patio del Alcázar Viejo: 5 €. There is a voucher to visit all the courtyards.

📷 To learn more about this tradition of decorating patios with pots and colourful flowers, take a guided tour.

13) If you go to Cordoba in May, among so many other local festivals, you can’t miss the Festival de los Patios Cordobeses, which has been declared an Intangible World Heritage Site by UNESCO. There is an Interpretation Centre of the Fiesta de los Patios, where you can get more information about the history of the Festival.

14) Stroll along Cairuán street and come across the Puerta de Almodóvar, which dates back to the 14th century. This street runs along a part of the wall that defended the city, it is on a slope and there is a long and beautiful fountain that will accompany you along the route. This gate is so called because the road through it leads to a town of that name, an old Spanish custom.

15) Visit the Plaza de las Tendillas, in a modern area of Cordova, surrounded by 19th century buildings and in the centre of which stands the equestrian statue of the Great Captain, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. If you pass by and hear the sound of a guitar strumming, it is the clock on one of the buildings telling the time. Maybe it’s time for a bite to eat at one of the little bars in the square.

🔝 Take a look at these recommendations to stay in the best rural houses in Andalusia to go with children.

16) Stop by the Roman Temple next to the Town Hall. These are not the only Roman ruins to see in Cordoba, there is also the Roman Mausoleum in the Victory Gardens.

17) Enjoy the Plaza de la Corredera, which is the only Plaza Mayor in Andalusia, as most of them are in Castile. Bars and cafés can be found there. It seems to be the only major square of these characteristics in Andalusia, given that most of them are in Castile. It is called “la Corredera” because in the past bullfights were held here. This is where the mosaics on display in the Alcázar were found.

18) Visit the Corredera Market, a municipal market located in a beautiful building. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and you can find stalls selling fresh produce (greengrocers, butchers and fishmongers), as well as a bakery and bars where you can take a break. A very lively and interesting things to do in Cordoba.

📷 If you are interested in Andalusian culture, you can join us to see a Flamenco Show.

19) See the Malmuerta tower, which was built in the 15th century by Enrique III of Castile to defend the city, but which was also used for other purposes over the years. The tower’s name comes from a legend that says that the tower was actually built by a knight as a sign of forgiveness for having killed his wife, his wife’s lover and some of his wife’s relatives, because he believed that she was being unfaithful to him, which it seems was not true. It is also said to have been built to lock up his wife as an adulteress. Be that as it may, this tower is one of the things to do in Cordoba that are very interesting because of all the history behind it.

20) Visit the palace of Viana, a stately mansion from the 14th century that belonged to the Marquises of Viana. You can visit the palace and the courtyards, or just the courtyards. A real beauty worth seeing on your trip to Cordoba.

21) Enter the Church of Santa Marina is located in a very quiet residential area. It is a 13th century Catholic church with a mixture of styles, an impressive rosette and an adjacent bell tower. Nearby is the Monument to Manolete, a bullfighter.

22) Walk down the Cuesta del Bailío, a beautiful sloping street with mosaic stairs. At the top of the street is the Bailío palace, which gives its name to the street and is a beautiful Renaissance style house. In the lower part, in the Plaza de los Capuchinos, is the Christ of the Lanterns, carved in stone and adorned with 8 lanterns. Undoubtedly another of the beautiful streets you have to see in Cordoba.

23) The Catholic Church of San Hipólito dates from the 14th century and is where the remains of the monarchs Fernando IV and Alfonso XI rest. It is Gothic and Baroque in style and stands out for its very tall façade. Inside it is quite simple, with a single nave, transept and polygonal chancel.

24) The Cordoba May Fair is held in May and lasts a whole week. Although it is one of the best times to visit Cordoba because the atmosphere is very lively, it is also when it is most crowded. It works in a similar way to the Feria de Abril in Seville, with stalls where there is a lot of atmosphere, music, colour and “rebujitos”. A very enjoyable experience. ¡Olé!

25) Go to the Medina of Azahara, which is a few kilometres from Cordoba, but of great historical importance. This caliphate city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🔘 Check out the rest of the World Heritage Sites we have visited.

📷Check here the following tours to visit the Medina and book your place:
– Guided tour of the Medina of Azahara.

Useful information for travel to Cordoba

Where to stay in Cordoba

Cordoba’s city centre is not that big, so it’s not a big city.

• Hostal Esencia de Azahar (ex Santa Ana): we stayed here. If you are travelling on a budget, it is an ideal place to stay. Small but clean rooms and very good service.
• Los Patios: rustic style and facing the Cathedral Mosque, it has an excellent decoration, spacious rooms and a terrace with armchairs and views of the city.
• Hotel Casa de los Azulejos: 50 metres from the Corredera square. It is a typical Cordovan house with a central courtyard and the rooms surrounding it. Good breakfast.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find here the best hotels in Córdoba.

How to get to Cordoba and how to get from the train station to the city centre

The best way to get to Cordoba is by train or bus, as the city has no airport. If you are coming from somewhere further away than Madrid, you might want to take a combination of fast trains or fly to Seville.

Cordoba’s train and bus stations are next to each other. From Madrid, the bus station from which they depart is the South, Méndez Álvaro station. Prices for bus tickets to Córdoba you can find from 17 €. Search for your bus tickets here.

To get to the city centre, there is bus no. 3, which costs €1.50 for a single ticket. If you have your hostel in the old town, you have to get off before you reach the river, because then you have to take a detour.

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Beautiful all things to do in Cordoba, a city of great historical importance. Did you like it? Do you have a favourite spot in the city? Tell us about it!