Córdoba

The city of flowers

Córdoba

Max 41ºC / Min 20ºC

/ Andalusia

Córdoba is famous around the world for its Mosque-Cathedral. Its historic old town is a World Heritage site, full of little streets to be explored, courtyards full of flowers, inviting squares and lively taverns where you can enjoy a good flamenco performance or try the local cuisine.

It is at its best in spring, when the fragrance of jasmine and orange blossom is ever-present, especially in May, the month of many of Córdoba’s traditional fiestas.

Four cultures and plenty of life

The Mosque–Cathedral, the Alcázar fortress of the Christian Monarchs, the Synagogue and the Roman bridge are fine examples of Córdoba’s historic quarter. A city that reflects its Roman past and the coexistence of Christian, Islamic and Jewish cultures throughout its history. Recommended sights include the Jewish quarter, the Calahorra tower, the Roman theatre, Caballerizas Reales, Plaza de la Corredera… A good way to explore the city is to take a guided tour of the sights, or follow one of the themed routes suggested in the Tourist Offices, including Roman Córdoba, the Caliphate route, or the Fernandine route of medieval churches. Just 10 kilometres from the city, with direct bus connections, lies Spain’s largest archaeological complex, Medina Azahara, the site of what was once the capital of the Caliphate and has been a World Heritage Site since 2018.The charms of the city are not limited to its major monuments. A stroll will reveal a network of narrow streets (be sure to visit the Callejón de la Luna and the Calleja de las Flores), squares, fountains and courtyards decorated with flowers. Indeed, Córdoba’s main fiestas centre on these spaces. Particularly noteworthy is the Courtyards Festival, declared a World Heritage event, but in May the town also celebrates the May Crosses, the Battle of Flowers, and the Railings and Balconies competition. During this timethe city is filled with flowers, there are outdoor flamenco shows, and a festive atmosphere in the streets. The month ends with the Córdoba Fair.

Pleasures made in Córdoba

Going out for tapas, savouring the typical dishes of everyday cuisine, discovering the equestrian art, enjoying a flamenco show at a tablao or relaxing in a Arab baths are all special experiences in Córdoba.The best-known areas for tapas are the old quarter and the neighbourhoods of San Lorenzo, San Andrés and Santa Marina. Be sure to try local specialities like salmorejo (cold tomato soup), flamenquín (pork roll fried in breadcrumbs), aubergines with honey, mazamorra (cold almond soup), Iberian ham from Los Pedroches, cheese from Zuheros and wine from Montilla-Moriles.You can enjoy the equestrian arts and the culture of the Andalusian horse all year round with shows in the Caballerizas Reales. Meanwhile, in the historic centre there are many tablaos with regular performances of flamenco music and dance.Finally, you can enjoy the experience of relaxing in a modern hammam at the Arab baths located in the Jewish Quarter.

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

The nearest airports with international connections are:Salamanca Airport, 125 kilometres away. More informationMálaga Airport, 175 kilometres away. More informationMadrid Airport, 400 kilometres away. More information

How to get to train

Approximate journey times by high speed train:Madrid-Córdoba: 1 hour 50 minutes.Seville–Córdoba: 40 minutes.Málaga–Córdoba: 50 minutes.Granada–Córdoba: 1 hour 30 minutes.Valencia–Córdoba: 3 hours 25 minutes.Alicante–Córdoba: 5 hours.Barcelona–Córdoba: 4 hours 50 minutes.
The Córdoba railway station is very close to the old town and less than two kilometres from the Mosque-Cathedral (just over a 20-minute walk). There are also several city bus routes in Córdoba that can take you to the city centre.
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How to get to bus

The Córdoba bus station, located practically next to the train station, is close to the historic centre, two kilometres from the Mosque-Cathedral. The journey on foot is around 25 minutes, or there are several city bus routes.
You can check the bus routes to Córdoba on the station website.

How to get there by road

From Madrid, via the A-4 motorway (about 400 kilometres).
From Seville, via the A-4 motorway (about 140 kilometres).
From the Costa del Sol, via the A-45 motorway (about 160 kilometres from the capital of Málaga).
From Valencia, along the A-3 motorway and connection with A-4 via the A-43 (about 520 kilometres).
You can find out where to park your car on the Córdoba Tourist Board website. Once you’re in the city, the best ways to get around are by public transport, on foot and by bike.

Practical information

The city is easy to explore on foot.

How to get around in bus

Córdoba’s city buses usually run between 6 am and 11.00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, most lines start half an hour earlier and end 30 to 60 minutes later than their regular schedule. More information
There is a bus from Córdoba to Medina Azahara, with daily departures from Tuesday to Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Additional services are usually organised on weekends and holidays. More information
There is also a tourist bus running through the centre of Córdoba from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More information

How to get around in other means of transport

Córdoba taxis are white with their official number marked on the door. More information
As well as traditional horse-drawn carriages, several companies offer city tours using sustainable modes of transport, such as bicycles, Segways, scooters and electric vehicles.