What to do in Cordoba
Discover here what to do in Cordoba, the places and experiences you should not miss. Be sure to check out our tips!
Cordoba owes its tourist fame to the amazing Mezquita and the charming Jewish Quarter, but, trust me, the city has so much more to offer. Do not miss our tips and get to know the must see places of the city!
1. Mezquita
The Mezquita of Cordoba is one of the most amazing temples in the world. In what once was one of the largest mosques in the Muslim world, a Christian cathedral was built as an attempt to overshadow the beauty of the Arab temple. Arches, ceilings, walls,… A visit to the Mezquita will surprise you constantly when you think of the amazing skills of the artists who built it.
But most importantly, don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance. The number of visitors allowed inside the complex is limited and tickets are quickly sold out!
If you prefer to have a complete cultural experience, you should definitely book a guided tour.
2. Judería
The Judería de Córdoba, the Jewish Quarter of the city, is very close to the Mezquita. This area is a labyrinth of narrow streets, houses painted white and tons of flowerpots!
If you get lost in the streets and squares of Judería (which is not difficult at all), don’t worry at all. You’ll surely find spots which still retain the medieval memory of the city of three cultures, as the neighborhood is packed with charm and magic.
3. Patios de Cordoba
The extremely hot and dry weather of Cordoba forced its early inhabitants (we’re talking about the Romans here) to design their houses with an architecture that would provide some comfort and a place to cool down. That’s why the houses were designed with a central courtyard and the rest of the house was built around this space. The patio works as if it was a kind of oasis, with abundant vegetation, to increase the sensation of humidity.
Every year, in May, the Fiesta de los Patios de Cordoba takes place – a competition to choose the most beautiful patio in the city. For the contest, the patios are adorned with countless flowers and plants. The a competition so emblematic that it was designated Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012. The good news is that the courtyards can be visited throughout the year.
There are courtyards in several areas of Cordoba, but the large majority are in the Alcázar Viejo neighborhood, more specifically in Calle San Basilio.
4. Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos is a military fortress built in 1328 over the remains of several Muslim buildings.
While conducting their campaign against the Arab kingdom of Granada, the Catholic Kings lived eight years in the Alcázar of Cordoba. It was during this period, in 1486, when Christopher Columbus met with the Catholic Kings to request support for his expedition to the Indies.
If you have visited places like the Alhambra in Granada or the Alcázar of Seville on your Andalusia trip, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos may disappoint you. However, don’t miss the chance to stroll around the beautiful gardens and enjoy the views of the city from the top of the fortress towers.
5. Caballerizas Reales
The Caballerizas Reales (Royal Stables) were founded in 1570, with the purpose of creating horses of pure Spanish race to serve the monarchy. Here was born the Spanish horse, also called Andalusian, of Arab descent.
During the day, the stables are open and you can visit them freely to contemplate the beautiful horses that are raised there. The Equestrian Show at the Caballerizas Reales is a beautiful horse show that takes place several days a week.
6. Puente Romano
The Puente Romano (Roman Bridge) of Cordoba plays the role of an authentic boardwalk in the city, where people take a stroll at the end of the day of the summer months, when temperatures are more pleasant.
The bridge was built in the 1st century and was renovated between 2006 and 2008. As a result of the renovation, you may find hard to imagine that you are crossing a bridge so old. But you are actually doing it!
7. Tapas
If you happen to be a foodie, eating in Cordoba is a treat: the food is fabulous and the prices are reasonable. Plus, this southern sleepy town – once the largest and most splendid city in the world – is home to two delicious cornerstones of Spanish cuisine: bulls’ tail stew (rabo de toro) and salmorejo (a thicker, creamier version of gazpacho). Actually, there are many other specialties but I’ll let you find them out once you are there…
In our guidebook ‘Cordoba In One Day’ we take you to the best tapas bars in Cordoba!
8. Arab Baths
Situated right next to the Mezquita, Cordoba’s Arab baths are the largest in Europe. Similarly to other baths, it’s decorated in the lavish Arabic style with ornate marble columns, graceful arches and intricate carvings.
The experience consists of a 1.5-hour circuit of the baths’ three water pools – a warm pool of 36ºC (97ºF), a hot room of 40ºC (104ºF), and a cold room of 18ºC (64ºF). Spend your time here relaxing in pools of varying temperatures before enjoying a 15-minute massage with essential oils of rose, orange blossom, lavender or red amber. Finally, you can visit to the Hammam’s steam and rest rooms, where you can cap enjoy a delicious cup of traditional Arabic green tea infused with mint.
A truly blissful experience which will leave you feeling invigorated and relaxed!
9. Tea Houses
Cordoba and Granada are, without a doubt, the Spanish cities with the strongest Arab influence.
Even though it may sound contradictory, a cool way to refresh and relax on a hot day in Cordoba is to take a sweet mint tea at one of the many tea houses (salón de té) scattered around the city. The menu usually includes a multitude of teas and many exotic flavors, so I’m sure you’ll find something that will please you.
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.