from colorful patios to impressive Moorish architecture

Originally published May 4, 2020. Updated February of 2024

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated

An enchanting city: top things to do in Cordoba Spain

Cordoba is one of Andalucía’s most charming cities.

A lot of travelers make the city a day trip from Seville.

But I think that is a Spain travel mistake.

With so many things to do in Cordoba, it’s worth spending a few days here to take it all in and really get to know the city.

A city that interweaves Spain’s Islamic (Moorish), Jewish, and Roman pasts is full of history. A visit to Cordoba will transport to a time when the Jews and Moors lived in relative harmony together, building universities, libraries, advanced water systems, way ahead of the times.

Charming, chill, and very Andaluz, spend a bit of time in Cordoba to get a true feel for it.

A passion for Cordoba

Spain Less Traveled loves Córdoba so much! It’s one of those places that we are passionate about writing into our handcrafted Spain travel itineraries. And remember, we can help you personalize your trip to Spain too.

(Check out our top reasons why you should use a travel advisor to plan your trip to Spain)

Where is Cordoba Spain?

The province of Córdoba Spain is located in the north-central part of Andalucía, the South of Spain. Very centrally located, it borders the provinces of Seville, Granada, Jaén, and Málaga in Andalucía as well as the regions of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. In the center is of it all Córdoba on the Guadalquivir river.

Handpicked recommended top things to do in Cordoba

La Fiesta De los Patios

If at all possible, I highly recommend visiting Cordoba during the first two weeks of May. Why? Because a visit that coincides with the city’s beautiful La Fiesta de Los Patios will enhance your time in Cordoba so much!

Out of all the things to do in Cordoba Spain, this is my very favorite. Not only that, but it is my favorite festival in all of Spain. And for a country with so many festivals, that is a big statement for me to make. But it’s true!

Once a year, the owners of those private Cordoba style patios, which are usually behind closed doors, open their patios for the public to view. There is a contest for the best patio. These two weeks bring a plethora of cultural programing to Cordoba too, including flamenco concerts.

It is such a privilege and a treat to attend. Colorful flower pots (usually cobalt blue, or a bright yet rusty red) and filled with vegetation such as geraniums, orange trees, and bougainvilleas cascading down the white-washed walls. Not only are these patios beautiful, but they are functional too. Cordoba summers are hot, and these private, shady interior gardens are meant to keep their inhabitants cooler.

The festival is free, and the visitors center provides a map with six walking routes of about 50 patios in total. The routes go throughout Córdoba’s historic center, providing visitors with an amazing walking tour of some of the neighborhoods a bit more afar.

Wear comfortable shoes! You will be walking all over the city, often on little cobblestone roads.

The Mezquita-Cathedral: a treasure of Moorish architecture

This is the centerpiece and most impressive of Córdoba’s monuments, out of all of the things to do in Cordoba Spain, this is the most visited site and a must-see!

Luckily, some of the cathedrals built on top of great Mosques have better preserved their Moorish architecture. In the city of Córdoba Spain, you will find just that at the Mezquita Mayor of Córdoba.

The Mezquita’s unique history makes it unforgettable. These days it’s the Mezquita-Cathedral, in the 16th century, years after the Muslims were expelled from Spain, the Catholics built their cathedral right on top of the mosque.

The Mezquita-Cathedral is Córdoba’s working cathedral. Nowhere else will you see a Catholic chapel plopped right in the middle of an in-tact former mosque.

What you see today is an interesting mix of Moorish and Renaissance and Baroque-style architecture. No doubt that what remains of the Mosque is splendid. Its iconic bright orange and white arches are world-famous. Don’t forget to look up too!

Typical of Moorish architecture, the Mezquita also has its own grand patio, el Patio de los Naranjos. Naranjo means orange tree in Spanish, and you will soon see (and smell) why! When the orange trees are blooming the whole area (and Cordoba in general) is engulfed in a delightful smell of Cordoba’s signature fruit.

Make sure to also climb the bell tower for a great view of Cordoba. Unfortunately that the old minaret is gone, but the bell tower was built where it stood to give you a better idea of what the Mezquita looked like during the heyday of Moorish Cordoba.

This is hands down one of our favorite cathedrals in Spain since it is so unique!

Cordoba’s Jewish Past

Cordoba has a rich Sephardic (Jewish) past. There are many things to do in Cordoba Spain that bring the city’s Jewish history to life. Although many Spanish cities once had a large Jewish population, the history of Jews in Spain is accessible to visitors in Cordoba.

All of the sites are in the Judería, or old Jewish neighborhood, in very close proximity to the Mezquita. This was a time when the Jews and Muslims lived in relative harmony. Wander the narrow alleyways, which are usually so alive and colorful with Cordoba’s signature flowers adorning them.

You will not want to miss the old synagogue, in mudéjar-style architecture but with Hebrew writing.

Torah scholar and philosopher, Moses ben Maimon, commonly known as Maimonides, was fro Cordoba. You can find a statue dedicated to him in the middle of the small plaza named for him, Plaza Maimonides).

Finally, to try some traditional Sephardic food, Casa Mazal restaurant cooks up delicious traditional Spanish Jewish food.

(For more places for travelers to experience Sephardic Spain, check out our guide to Spain’s Jewish history.)

And Cordoba’s Roman past

Córdoba also has a strong Roman past. You can cross the Guadalquivir, the river that flows through Cordoba, on foot on the old Roman bridge.

Cordoba also has some columns remaining from the Roman theater. The ruins are part of Cordoba’s archeology museum. But if you just want a peek of it, you do not need to enter the museum.

It might not be Merida or Tarragona, but if you are interested in Roman ruins, put these on your list of things to do in Cordoba Spain during your time there.

Plaza de las Tendillas

For a more modern side of Córdoba (and by modern I mean 1920s), head over to Plaza de las Tendillas, considered to be Córdoba’s main town square. This is where locals gather in the midst of their Sunday strolls or for a coffee break while doing their shopping.

Fun fact: flamenco guitarist Juanito Serrano, who is from Cordoba, recorded the chimes for the plaza’s clock. In typical Cordobeses style, every hour, there’s a very tiny taste of the sultry sounds of flamenco that descends on the plaza. This is the plaza where the locals gather with their grapes to ring in the new year.

Plaza de la Corredera

Constructed in the 17th century, Plaza de la Corredera was once where the city held its bullfights, horse races, and even inquisition burnings.

Today the plaza is hardly as gory, but instead is lined with cafes and bars. If Plaza de la Corredera reminds you more of the Plaza Mayors in Madrid or Salamanca, your instincts are correct. This is Andalucía’s only plaza constructed like the plazas in Castilla.

If you are looking for things to do in Cordoba Spain in January, there is an annual medieval market in the square every year.

Palacio de Viana (& the other year round patios)

If you can’t get to Córdoba in May for La Fiesta de los Patios, there are some year round patios that you can visit.

One of my favorite things to do in Cordoba Spain is a visit to the Palacio de Viana. The palace itself is Renaissance, but its has several beautiful Andaluz-style patios.

Córdoba’s Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes) has a beautiful patio as well. And the museum itself is worth checking out.

Another one of my top things to do in Cordoba Spain, Casa Arabe (Casa Mudéjar) features four traditional Moorish style patios. There is a rotating program of activities and exhibitions all relating to Cordoba’s Arab culture, past and present.

Finally if you stop by the El Zoco Artesian Market to pick up a souvenir of Cordoba, be sure to have a look around the patio there as well.

The year round patios are a good way to see these centerpieces of Cordobeses architecture any time of the year, and therefore are on my list of things to do in Cordoba Spain.

And speaking of gardens…

Cordoba Spain’s most famous gardens can be found at the Alcazar,

The interior of the Alcazar, while not as impressive as the Alcazar in Seville, has a nice collection of Roman mosaic tiles. But the real reason to visit are the gardens. With its orange trees, terraced gardens, and ponds full of fish, a stroll through the gardens is one of the best things to do in Cordoba Spain year-round.

Explore the outlaying areas of the historic center

Cordoba has one of the most charming centro historicos (historic centers) in all of Spain. The entire area is a UNESCO world heritage site. And the area around the Mezquita is beautiful, but often crowded.

To get a real taste of Cordoba, wander away from the Mezquita down the maze of cobblestone streets with whitewashed houses.

Cordoba is compact, and just a few minutes (by foot) away from the Mezquita and Judería, the streets are much quieter and more quaint.

Head towards the Santiago and San Lorenzo areas. In these parts, you will find local bars with sherry from nearby Jerez as well as many of Cordoba’s local specialties such as salmorejo, a cold tomato soup made with bread. Simple tapas, yet very Spanish. Wandering away from the crowds is one of my favorite things to do in Cordoba Spain.

One of the best things about Cordoba is that even though it is a maze of cobblestones and whitewashed streets, you can never get too lost. It’s compact and easy enough to always get back to the Judería and Mezquita area.

The major guidebooks often don’t have anything about the real neighborhoods in Cordoba. And the big packaged tours surely don’t bring you there. But getting off the beaten path and seeing how the locals really live belongs is one of my favorite things to do in Cordoba. And devoting some time to just wander and get lost is a Cordoba essential.

Mercado Victoria

To get a local taste of Córdoba, head over to the Mercado Victoria, in the beautiful Paseo de Victoria park near the main train station. This is always one of everyone’s top things to do in Cordoba Spain.

Local specialties such as salmorejo are served up here, as well as local Montilla wines.

But it’s not only Cordobes food. The market offers a variety of the best food in Spain and even some from all over the world in a fun and festive atmosphere.

Moorish Ruins outside of the city

Córdoba was the capital of the Muslim world in the early middle ages. And the Medina Azahara (or Medinat al-Zahara) is what was the capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba. The ruins of the city were excavated in the early 1900s, and are some of the best-preserved Moorish ruins in the world.

There is an informative museum explaining the history of the Medina Azahara. But the real treat is getting to wander around what remains of the palace complex and the mosque. The site is impressive and was surely fit for royalty!

There are daily buses from Córdoba city. And advanced reservations are necessary. Some prefer to hire a guide or take an organized day trip from Córdoba.

Zuheros

It is clear that Córdoba is one of the best cities in Spain. But like all Spanish cities, it’s also is good idea to get out of the city and explore the province. And we recommend that you rent a car and do just that in Córdoba!

With a car, you can get out of the city and explore the pueblos and the beautiful area around the Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas.

There are opportunities for olive oil tastings on the way. Finca Duernas is right on the way to Zuheros, one of Córdoba’s province’s most charming pueblos.

Zuheros is center of Córdoba province’s cheese and olive growing region, There is a path up the hill that leads to the old castle.  Be sure to try the region’s specialty cheeses on a terrace with castle and olive tree views.  The town itself is also worth a stroll with whitewashed buildings, charming and typical of Andalucía.

Almodóvar del Río

Just a few kilometers out of Córdoba city is the town of Almodóvar del Río, made famous because its castle was used in Game of Thrones.

With its imposing castle, one of the best castles in Spain, and just west of Córdoba, Almodóvar del Río played an important role in defending the Caliphate of Córdoba when the Moors ruled this area.

On a cliff watching over the town the castle, which has Muslim origins, is nothing short of impressive.

Open in the mornings and can be reached by foot (about a 20-minute uphill walk) from the center of town. If you are arriving by car, there are two car parks for those driving, one below the castle (which requires an uphill walk) and one right next to the castle. Count the towers, there are eight of them.

The town itself is pleasant and traditional and can be reached by bus from Córdoba’s bus station, making it an easy day trip and one of the most special things to do in Córdoba Spain.

(For more top picks for Andalucía off the beaten path check out our Ultimate Guide to Hidden Southern Spain!)

Inspired by all the things to do in Cordoba Spain?

A walking audio tour of Córdoba from your home

We teamed up with the “When in Spain” podcast to take you on a wander around Cordoba during la Fiesta de los Patios, stopping at some of the patios and taking in some of Cordoba’s sites. Listen here!

Personalized Spain travel itineraries (and yes, with Córdoba of course!)

Need more ideas about things to do in Cordoba Spain and beyond? Looking for the perfect Spain travel itinerary to make your Spanish travel dreams come true? Let us help you design the perfect trip to Spain personalized just for you.

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