Andalusia 7-day Itinerary
Spain
Where to go and what to see in Andalusia to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
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Overview >Best things to do & places to stay:
Cordoba
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
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Last updated: 23 February, 2023
No city better distils the essence of old Andalusia than Cordoba. From the 9th to the 11th centuries, it was the most populated and brilliant metropolis in Europe, a past glory that lingers in its sublime Great Mosque, one of the world’s greatest buildings.
But all of old Cordoba is a World Heritage site, irresistible for history lovers and romantics, for getting lost in its intricate maze of medieval lanes, for its flowery patios and picturesque relics of its Roman and Moorish past, including the ruins of the spectacular Medina Azahara, the palace of the Caliphs.
Orientation
The Mezquita is in the old Jewish Quarter (the Juderia) on the Guadalquivir river, while just south is San Basilio, site of the Roman bridge and medieval Alcazar of the Christian kings.
Modern Cordoba’s Centro district is just north of the Jewish Quarter, around key hub Plaza Tendillas; further north is the Santa Marina district, with the Viana Palace, famous for a dozen patios, and an ancient Roman temple.
Our writer’s recommended itineraries for this destination
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Mezquita of Cordoba
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
One of the world’s greatest buildings: a thousand-year-old love letter from the glory days of Moorish al-Andalus.
Best for ages: 13+ | £8
Holy week (Semana Santa)
Andalusia, Spain
Holy Week in Andalusia is extravagant and full of intense, passionate and often spine-tingling emotions.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 1 week
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Overview >Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Experience
El Zoco
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
Also known as the Mercado de la Artesania, this patio house in Calle Judio hosted the first handicraft shops in Spain. Come here to peruse the city’s traditional arts – leather, ceramics and silver – and watch silversmiths make delicate filigree.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Experience
Fiesta of Patios
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
For two weeks in May, home-owners in Cordoba’s old neighbourhoods show off their gorgeous white-washed courtyards to the public, filled with flowers in a mind-bobbling explosion of colour and fragrance.
Best for ages: Any | Free | 2 weeks
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Experience
Hammam at Hammam Al Andalus
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
Next to La Mezquita, a small hammam in a traditional Andalusian brick, tiles and garden setting. The massages are excellent including the hot stone bed option; it’s so relaxing your two-hour slot will seem to fly by. Book online here.
Best for ages: 18+ | £29 | 1-3 hours
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Experience
Medina Azahara
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
The partially excavated and reconstructed halls, mosque, gate, porticoes and gardens of a 112-hectare mysterious palace city. It was built in the 10th century by Abd-ar-Rahman III, the first Caliph of Cordoba; now a World Heritage Site.
Best for ages: 18+ | £17
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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Best of Cordoba Guided Tour
Cordoba
Explore this historic and cultural city of Andalusia where you will develop your knowledge of the famous Jewish quarter, the Mezquita, a mos...
€42 | Rating 4.62 / 5 [64 ratings]
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Bike Tour Córdoba
Cordoba
On this bike tour through Cordoba, you visit the most beautiful places in the city. Of course you see the Mezquita, the Jewish quarter, squa...
€29 | Rating 4.93 / 5 [61 ratings]
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City Sightseeing Cordoba Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Cordoba
There is no better way to see Cordoba than on this City Sightseeing double-decker, hop-on hop-off bus! See top Cordoba attractions on this c...
€20 | Rating 4.20 / 5 [104 ratings]
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Classic Cordoba: Mosque, Synagogue & Jewish Quarter Guided Tour
Cordoba
Embark on a 2-hour guided tour of classic Cordoba, one of the most interesting and must see locations in this region. Make the most of your ...
€43 | Rating 4.55 / 5 [74 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Hotel Balcon de Cordoba
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
An evocative 17th-century mansion with plush rooms, a charming courtyard, a panoramic rooftop bar and a superb location near La Mezquita.
Official star rating:
Hotel Madinat
Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain
Delightful 11-bedoom hotel for couples, packed full of quirky charm and local flavor, right in the heart of old Cordoba.
Official star rating:
When to go
Peak season is spring, with Semana Santa and other fiestas: Christmas is another busy time. The city roasts in July and August; if you go then, take a long afternoon siesta. Autumn is lovely and warm; January and February are quiet, and can be rainy, but offer a good chance to feel like a local.
Getting there and away
The nearest airports are in Seville and Malaga, both less than an hour from Cordoba by high-speed trains (AVE); even if you fly into Madrid, you can be in Cordoba at an hour and 40 minutes.
Getting around
The city is so compact you won’t need any public transport; you’ll want to just park your car and leave it. Sites outside the centre, such as the Medina Azahara, 8km from Cordoba, are perfect for visiting by bike; some rental shops offer guided tours.
Where to stay
Cordoba is compact, and for sightseeing the best places to stay are the hotels concentrated in the warren of lanes in the central barrios (neighbourhoods), all of which are in easy walking distance of the sights, restaurants and bars. Santa Marina and San Basilio are two of the prettiest, and the lack of traffic means they remain pleasantly quiet in spite of tourist numbers.
Motorists may find the central barrios a bit tricky as access by car is extremely limited; if you’re driving make sure you know where to park before arriving or look for a hotel away from the centre.
There are bargains to be had by the train station, as long as you don’t mind the 20-minute walk to the centre.
Where to eat or drink
There are delightful restaurants, tabernas and tapas bars scattered throughout Cordoba’s medieval core, with large concentrations of terraces along the Guadalquivir on Calle Ronda de Isasa north of the Roman bridge.
Where to shop
The Jewish quarter in the heart of Cordoba is packed with shops, from souvenir tat to quality leather and ceramics.
East of the centre, the Sunday morning Mercadillo Arenal along Calle de El Infierno has over 200 stalls, selling handicrafts, olive oil, Iberian hams etc.
Look for the city’s famous traditional crafts – leather, Arabic-style fabrics, jewellery, ceramics and guitars.
Other guides relevant to this destination
Andalusia
Andalusia, Spain
A big dazzling region, packed with fascinating cities, beautiful landscapes and beaches, colourful fiestas and oodles of sunshine.
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