Tips to visit the Mezquita in Cordoba
Here are our tips to visit the Mezquita in Cordoba. It is the most iconic building in the city, making it one of the top tourist attractions in Andalucía.
Because it’s one on Spain main highlights, this section about Cordoba includes:
- A guide explaining how to buy tickets to the Mezquita.
- A guide explaining what to do if tickets to the Mezquita are sold out.
- An article evaluating if the Mezquita night visit is worth it.
Despite all the information provided in the article mentioned above, we are always receiving inquiries from readers like you, who plan to visit the Mezquita and still have some questions about the monument and how to plan their time there.
So here are the answers to the most frequent doubts of our readers along with all the practical information that you need to know.
Tips to visit the Mezquita: location
1. Where is the Mezquita?
The Mezquita is located in the heart of Cordoba’s old center, in the south of the city and a few steps away from the Guadalquivir river.
2. How can you get to the Mezquita?
If you are lodged in the center of Cordoba, you can get to the Mezquita by foot.
If you plan to get to Cordoba by train or bus and reach the Mezquita straight away, our suggestion is to go there using the bus.
The municipal bus lines that take you there are number 3 and number 5. But after getting off the bus you will need to walk 10 minutes to reach the Mezquita. Take into account that a large area of Cordoba’s old town is pedestrian so city buses don’t circulate around. Our ‘Cordoba In One Day’ guidebook contains detailed information about the urban transport of Cordoba and the tickets you need to travel by bus around the city.
3. Can you combine the visit to the Mezquita with some other place?
If you are staying two or more days in the city, you can combine the visit to the Mezquita with a visit to the Jewish Quarter or with the charming San Basilio neighborhood. If you plan to explore Cordoba during the day, our guidebook ‘Cordoba In One Day’ includes one self-guided walk around the historical center of the city.
4. Where can you eat near the Mezquita?
There are several very touristy restaurants around the Mezquita that charge prices well above average. Our ‘Cordoba In One Day’ guidebook includes a list of recommendations where you can eat either before entering the Mezquita or you can them as you exit the building.
Tips to visit the Mezquita: tickets
5. Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
No, you don’t.
As we explain in the guide How to buy tickets to the Mezquita in Cordoba, it’s not essential to purchase your tickets to visit the Mezquita in advance. However, depending on the day and the time of the day, you may have to wait in line for a bit at one of the ticket offices.
6. Where can you buy tickets?
There is no on-line or advance booking to get tickets to the Mezquita de Cordoba. You should purchase your tickets at the official ticket offices located inside the Mosque, in the Patio de los Naranjos. For more information, have a look at the article on how to buy tickets to the Mezquita in Cordoba where you can find more tips to help you with your ticket purchase, including an alert on the sale of tickets by third parties.
7. Tickets are sold out!
If the Mezquita tickets are sold out, you still have a chance to visit the complex.
8. What types of tickets are available?
Have a look at the article on how to buy tickets to the Mezquita in Cordoba to know the different types of tickets available.
9. Is the Mezquita night visit worth it?
You can find it reading about our experience visiting the Mezquita at night.
10. Is there any kind of discount?
Yes there is. There are discounts on full fare for children between 10 and 14 years old, and disabled.
11. Is there any day or time with free visitation?
Yes, but it’s only available for Cordoba residents, children under 10 and Andalucía seniors showing up the Andalucía Junta 65 card.
Tips to visit the Mezquita: access
12. Where do you enter the complex?
There are several entry points to the Patio de los Naranjos, the Mezquita main courtyard where the ticket offices are, but only one entrance to the Mezquita itself.
13. Will you get in line to enter the building?
Depending on the day and the time of the day, you may have to wait in line for a bit to enter the Mezquita.
Tips to visit the Mezquita: visit
14. What is the best time to visit the Mezquita?
Mezquita can be visited at any time of the day, it will always be an incredible experience.
However, visiting such a unique religious site will be much more pleasant if there aren’t too many people. The good news is that the building is so big that crowds easily disperse inside.
The peak hours are from 11:00 to 15:00, that’s when most tourist groups arrive as well as individual tourists from other andalusian cities for their 1-day-trip to Cordoba. The midday time is the busiest. Avoid these hours and come either before, or in the evening (most group tours finish at 16:00 latest).
Our recommendation is that you come in the morning: individual visitors can see the place between 08:30 and 09:30 (except Sunday). At this time group visits are not permitted, and there are less tourists. There is a mass that usually starts at 09:30 (you can attend it, but photos are not allowed) and at 10:00 you can continue your visit when it opens its doors to all visitors.
Avoid visiting the Cathedral on Sunday and religious holidays: aside from a high number of believers, it has different opening hours and is closed from 11:30 to 15:00. At 15:00, when the doors open the number of visitors is quite high. If you don’t have another choice but Sunday, come in the morning to visit before 11:30.
15. How long does it take to visit the Mezquita?
It’s impossible to give an exact amount of time. Each traveler is different and has various interests to appreciate each part of the complex. The time spent may differ greatly from one person to another. But you should note that the Mezquita de Cordoba is quite extensive and that the fastest of visits should not take less than one hour. If you enjoy savoring the extraordinary places, you will easily spend between one and half and two hours walking through (and photographing) each corner of the Mezquita.
16. Is there any recommended order to complete the visit?
Yes there is. The itinerary recommended by the Cabildo de la Catedral de Cordoba is detailed in the official leaflet.
Do you need more information on Cordoba?
This article is part of a complete guide about Cordoba where you can read all the information you need to plan your trip to this amazing destination in Spain.
Here is a complete summary of all the guide:
1. When to visit Cordoba
2. How many days to spend in Cordoba
3. How to get to Cordoba
4. How to move around Cordoba
5. Cordoba hotels: where to stay in Cordoba
6. What to eat in Cordoba
7. What to do in Cordoba
8. Tips to visit the Mezquita in Cordoba
9. How to buy tickets to the Mezquita in Cordoba
10. Mezquita tickets sold out. What can you do?
11. Is the Mezquita night visit worth it?
Find out more with ‘Cordoba In One Day’
‘Cordoba In One Day’ is a complete 40 pages guide featuring exclusive content, relevant websites, rich designed maps and dozens of photos, allowing you to explore Cordoba before you set a foot in Spain.
It contains a detailed step-by-step walkthrough of a full day self-guided walk with all the directions and practical information necessary to go from one highlight to the next.
Everything that you will read is based on practical and organized Cordoba first-hand advice. The self-guided walk has been personally tested to make sure that you can do it on your own. So all you have to do is download it to start reading immediately, all with one click.