Discovering Spain has been such an amazing experience. This country has so many things to offer from history to food to natural wonders and Cordoba doesn’t stay behind. Spend 3 days in Cordoba, Spain with this perfect itinerary. This city is usually overlooked in Andalucia and overshadowed by its neighbors Sevilla and Granada.
BUT the city of three cultures is the perfect stopover from Madrid and an incredibly underrated and cheap getaway.
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3 days in Cordoba
Also called the “the city of three cultures” for its history and all the cultures that influenced its architecture and design.
Below you will find a suggestion for 3 days in Cordoba. It is the city in the world with the most UNESCO World Heritage sites (4), all of which will be included here, so get ready to walk and be surprised by all its secret wonders!
Best Time to Go
Cordoba, like the rest of Andalucia, gets really hot during the summer months so we would advise you to avoid visiting during this time if possible. The heat will make it harder for you to walk and enjoy all the outdoor activities this city has to offer.
The best time to visit is during spring or the end of summer when the days are still long but the temperatures are a little bit more welcoming. However, during May the city transforms into an open garden which means crowds of people will visit to see the courtyards in full bloom. If you don’t like crowds we would advise looking up the festival dates.
Get the travel guide for more tips, places to see, and maps!
Itinerary
Day 1:
One of the best parts of Cordoba is its most historical neighborhood: el barrio de la Judería (the Jewish quarter.) Not only does it have unlimited gift stores but also showcases how the cordobés live. The area is full of patios and gorgeous picturesque streets. However, don’t be afraid to get lost anywhere in the historic quarter as you’ll see myriads of stunning buildings and plazas.
The early bird gets the worm and that is the case with the Mezquita-Catedral (Mosque-Cathedral).
Year-round from Monday to Saturday, the Mosque is open to the public from 8:30-9:30 free of charge. If you are limited on time and resources make sure to come then! You will be swiftly kicked out at 9:30 so if you think you’ll need more than one hour, it’s entirely worth paying 10€.
To be honest, we spent 3 hours completely enthralled with the interior. We recommended avoiding visits from 14h to 17h as those are peak times.
As you exit the Mezquita, you will have some time to enjoy el Patio de Los Naranjos (the Orange tree courtyard), which you’ll see from an inconvenient angle as you wait in line to get in. Many locals believe that drinking the water from the Fountain of Santa Maria located at the center of the courtyard brings good fortune. Despite the signs asking people not to drink water, we saw many thirsty passersby.
From the courtyard, you’ll see the Torre Campanario which served as the minaret during the Arab rule. You can climb to the top and contemplate Cordoba from above for 2€. There are no tall buildings in the center of Cordoba, so if you enjoy a prime birds-eye view. You won’t get a better opportunity elsewhere.
If you’re in the mood to look at local crafts head over to the zoco municipal (the local craft’s market) where you’ll see many leather bags as well as “Morrocan lamps” and jewelry 5 minutes away by foot. Even if shopping isn’t your thing, all the vendors are surrounded by dazzling patios which is an excuse in itself to go.
Just next door, there is a museum dedicated to Spain’s most controversial pastime: Bullfighting. Regardless of where you stand on the matter, we recommend you check out its patio on the entrance.
A minute walk away, you’ll see a medieval synagogue which is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday from 9h30 to 20h30.
Next to the synagogue, you’ll see the Casa de Sefarad (Sefarad’s house) which functions as an ethnographic museum.
Walk up 2 minutes up Calle de los Judios and make a left where you’ll see la Puerta de los Almodovar. This is one of the last 3 medieval gates that survived the test of time and the most authentic as it is the oldest and the least modified.
You are now only 8 minutes away from Plaza de las Tendillas (the plaza of the little stores) which is the most important plaza for the locals. It is also on the way to the Roman temple. It is a bit unexpected to see a (restored) Roman temple in the center of the city especially next to the town hall.
If you like exploring churches, you can find San Pedro’s church next to the Roman columns. If you walk east on Calle de San Pedro you will find the Parish of San Andres Apostol, but it doesn’t pique your interest, you can continue to the nearby Plaza de la Fuenseca.
Three minutes away by foot, you’ll arrive at Palacio de Viana in Plaza de Don Gome #2. The Palacio de Viana is an impressive home full of rugs, artifacts, and history with a 6€ entry. However, most people come here to see the Patios which are believed to be the best patios you can see outside of the festival of the patios in may. If you want to avoid the crowds in May or simply are in Cordoba at a different time, the 12 courtyards of Palacio de Viana are probably going to leave you delighted. If you have the time and are interested in seeing the insides of the 15th-century abode we recommend checking both out but it would be a lie to say that the building is more beautiful than the dozen patios. The combined entry is 10€.
Where to eat
Just outside the Mosque’s walls, you’ll see sedentary crowds eating tortilla española (Spanish potato omelet) and a refreshing Salmorejo from Bar Santos. You can get a colossal tortilla (or a smaller ration) and Salmorejo for a bargain price. The Spanish tortilla might be from Extremadura but Bar Santos is one of the most famous places in Spain to get such a treat. As for the Salmorejo, it is proudly Cordobés– closely resembling gazpacho it is usually consumed in summer to make the scorching Andalucian summers more bearable.
Other dishes you might want to try are Flamenquines (deep-fried Iberian ham and pork loin), rabo de toro (oxtail stew or oxtail ragù depending on where it’s served), berenjenas fritas con miel (fried eggplant with honey) or caracoles (snails with a Cordobés twist.)
Day 2
Start your second day, at the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Palace of the Christian Kings) located in Plaza Campo Santo de los Martires.
Entry to the palace of Isabel and Ferdinand is 4.5€ (65+ free, 18- free, students 2,25€) with entry times from Tuesday to Friday 8h30 to 20h45, Saturday 8h30 to 16h30, and Sunday from 8h30 to 14h30.
Most visitors spend from 45 minutes to an hour wandering the gardens, two courtyards, the hall of Roman mosaics, and the royal bathhouse of Lady Leonor. The gardens stand out the most at the Alcazar since there is a variety of vegetation accompanied by ornate ponds. The King’s path (el paseo de los Reyes) and el Patio Morisco are particularly beautiful.
Personally, we think the entrance fee is well worth it, but if you are already familiar with the Alcazar of Seville or the garden’s of el Generalife in the Alhambra and you’re not so much of a history buff then this might not be an obligatory stop depending on where your interests lie.
Since you are already in the San Basilio neighborhood, you might as well go see some of its world-acclaimed courtyards. You can buy a tour or you can go to one or two patios that pique your interest.
Some of the most famous courtyards in this neighborhood and Cordoba:
· Calle Martin de Roa,7
· Calle Postrera, 28
· Calle Duartas, 2
· Calle San Basilio, 14
If you don’t want to pay for an entrance you will still be able to see some public open-air patios throughout the center.
Once again, if you enjoy inspecting local churches, the church of San Basilio is around the corner as are the Royal Stables of Cordoba. The Royal Stables are interesting because this is where the Andalucian Breed of Horses came to existence. Entry to the royal stables is free, and its main attractions are the vintage horse carriages. If you’d like to see an equestrian show make sure to check on its website for availability and prices.
The Arab Baths or the Caliph’s Bath House is also located in the neighborhood and is one of Cordoba’s most popular museums.
Entry is 2,5€ (1,25€ reduced entry for students.)
Get the travel guide for more tips, places to see, and maps!
Start making your way back to the Mosque-Cathedral and appreciate the triumph of the Saint Raphael monument. From here you’ll have a great view of the Roman Bridge (Puente romano), if you wish to cross it you can. It will lead you to Torre de la Calahorra.
Here you will have the opportunity to visit the Al-Andalus museum for 4.5€ and be able to go up the tower for a great view. If you are planning on going up Torre Campanario then it might be a bit redundant to go up the Calahorra tower as they offer similar views (except you’ll be able to see the mosque from here quite well).
Make your way back to the Mosque to check out the best-known street in the city: Calleja de las Flores. This street was at one point a patio which was turned into a pathway and then a street; it was also voted the prettiest street in Spain. This is a great spot to take a couple of photos. On the very same street, you will find Meryan- Artesanía en piel. The leather store has a beautiful pair of patios adorned like the typical cordobés courtyard with myriads of plants and a fountain in the center.
The owner saw us wandering through his courtyard and kindly invited us to his store without the expectation that we would buy anything. If you don’t plan on paying to see patios, make sure to come to this welcoming place.
Where to eat
If you begin to get hungry and aren’t trying to pay a pretty penny you can get a really cheap and hearty meal or sandwich at el Gallo de Oro located a couple of minutes away in Plaza de Abades.
This to-go joint is perfect as there are several benches in the plaza where you can chow down and enjoy the omnipresent Cordobés sun. The lady who owns the place is a sweetheart and specializes in rotisserie chicken and potatoes. However, if you don’t want something as filling you can order a variety of well-furnished sandwiches for 2.5€ apiece during the weekdays. Also worth mentioning that these sandwiches hit the spot and the price/quality is ridiculously high.
Day 3
Plaza del Potro is a place that has seen a ton of history. The first thing you’ll see is another monument to the Triumph of Saint Raphael, the city’s patron saint who protected the city in its most dire times. In Cordoba, it is very common to name your child Rafa to pay homage to the saint and there’s a total of 11 monuments to the saint around the city.
Plaza del Potro has a lot of culture to offer, the last Posada (an old Inn) named Posada del Potro was turned into a flamenco museum. As you might know, flamenco is native to Andalucia and one of its most famous exports. The museum is free of charge and has yet another courtyard, it has two stories and public restrooms. Here you will learn about this musical discipline broken down into three parts: the dance, the singing, and the guitar. You will also learn about the cultures that have influenced it, such as the Romani or Gitanos as they are called in Spain. This museum is pretty interesting and probably will take up around half an hour.
Right across the flamenco museum, you will find the dwelling of the most famous Cordobés artist: Julio Romero de Torres. Entry is 4.5€ although many people qualify for free or reduced entrance. This two-story museum with six galleries where you’ll find Romero’s praise of Andalucia and Cordoba through his chef-oeuvres as well as some of his personal objects and correspondence. Even if you chose not to enter, the courtyard is open to the public where you can appreciate the orange trees and a surprising amount of tranquility for being in the heart of the city.
7 minutes away by foot you will arrive at Plaza de la Corredera, if you don’t mind taking a slight detour by a couple of minutes you can visit the La Iglesia de San Francisco (the Church of Saint Francis) which is considered one of the city’s most beautiful.
Once you are in the Plaza de la Corredera, you might notice that this plaza is different from those in Andalucia as the region’s main plazas are circular like a bullfighting ring. This is, however, the exception in Andalucia as it is the only main plaza that is rectangular. This is because the architect was from Castilla and Léon and designed it using Salamanca’s Plaza Mayor as his inspiration. If the weather is good– as it usually is in Cordoba– this is a great spot to sit down and have a beer or some tapas as you people watch.
If you have some time left make sure to go and visit the Medina Azahara which is 7km outside of Cordoba. Currently, it is a slowly evolving archeological dig but this UNESCO world heritage site is open for visits. The entrance is 1.50€ and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9h to 18h. Make sure to check the schedule before visiting as these hours can change depending on when you visit.
Thank you for taking some time to read our blog, we sincerely hope this suggested itinerary for 3 days in Cordoba, Spain is helpful to you and we wish you safe travels. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and Instagram for more ideas and tips.
Get the travel guide for more tips, places to see, and maps!
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