Home Spain 5 Reasons Why Cordoba Is My Favourite Place in Andalusia, Spain

5 Reasons Why Cordoba Is My Favourite Place in Andalusia, Spain

by David
Cordoba Cityscape, Visiting Cordoba Spain

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There are few regions in Europe with more to offer than Andalusia in the south of Spain. I had the good fortune of visiting Andalusia a few years ago and it simply blew me away. While there I was able to stop in at a bunch of different places, but one place where I’ve long wanted to recommend is the city of Cordoba.

For this part of Spain, big cities like Seville and Granada – plus the beaches along the coast – get most of the attention. Cordoba isn’t exactly overlooked but it usually plays second fiddle to those big-name destinations.

In my mind, there’s no doubt that Cordoba should be on your Spain itinerary. It seems some travellers aren’t sure whether they should make time to see Cordoba. Let’s put that to rest – you should go.

Even if it’s your first time in Spain, I highly recommend visiting Cordoba because it’s culturally fascinating and has loads to do. It showcases the best sides of Spain, bar the beaches, and does so without feeling busy or overwhelming. Let me get into greater detail with the below reasons.

 

 

The Incredible Mezquita of Cordoba

Mezquita Cordoba, Visiting Spain for the First Time

Just as people visit Granada to see the Alhambra and visit Ronda to see the Puente Nuevo, so too do people come to Cordoba to the Mezquita. Also known as the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, this storied building is one of the essential places to visit in Cordoba.

From the outside, the shape of the building with its flying buttresses gives the building its cathedral look, but that is much more to it than that. You only need to head inside the Cathedral alone or on a tour for proof of that.

You see, the Mezquita has a history of being a mosque or cathedral depending on who controlled the city. It’s believed that the first house of worship here was a church, which was torn down to make way for a mosque around 784 AD. This was after the Muslim conquest of the region and the creation of the Emirate of Córdoba. Functioning as a mosque for centuries, it only became a Christian place of worship again after the Reconquista in 1236.

Cordoba Mezquita, Visiting Cordoba Andalusia

While changes were made to the building after that, there’s much of the Mezquita that retains the design of the original mosque. The Mezquita is best known for its endless striped archways that are stunning to look through. All over the place, you’ll find intricate Islamic art, the kind of Moorish details you still see today in Morocco.

But then there are the Christian elements too, like the altar and choir stalls that sit in the centre, completely at odds with the halls around them. I’m pretty sure you’ll have seen nothing like it, which is exactly why you need to travel to Cordoba. Just make sure to get your tickets in advance to save time when you arrive or you can book a guided tour to learn in-depth about the site.
 

Enchanting Roman Ruins

Roman Bridge in Cordoba, Andalusia Spain

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Roman ruins and Cordoba is just one of the places in Spain where you find them. The history of Andalusia has so many chapters to it that, incredibly, you can still see these landmarks despite everything that has happened.

The main Roman site in all of Cordoba is the city’s iconic Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir River. The rest of the riverfront may be scenic but the site of this bridge from the 1st century BC just transforms it into something incredible.

The Roman Bridge isn’t alone in Cordoba though. The other noteworthy Roman landmark that I came across here was the Roman Temple. Looking seriously out of place among the city streets of Cordoba, this cleared street corner is home to the foundations and standing columns. The site was only uncovered in the 1950s, with the temple originating in the 1st century AD. If you’re a big fan of Roman ruins like I am, these two sites give you yet another reason to visit Cordoba.

 

A Real Sense of Grandeur

Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, Sightseeing Cordoba Spain

Travel through the Andalusia region and there’s little chance you’re going to leave feeling underwhelmed. Andalusia has plenty of grand sights, including really impressive palaces in cities like Seville and Granada – think the Alcazar and Alhambra. But Cordoba isn’t left out either. With stretches of city walls still intact and all those major landmarks I’ve already mentioned, Cordoba certainly isn’t forgettable.

But it doesn’t stop there, because there are many more grand things to do in Cordoba. One not to miss is the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, a gorgeous medieval palace in the city. On one of my rare early starts, I was in the door as soon as it opened and I highly recommend it.

Not only is the Alcazar and its gardens bathed in that early light but the place is extremely peaceful also. A royal residence for Isabella I and Ferdinand II, there’s oh so much to see inside. Highlights for me include the Hall of Mosaics and the views from the palace towers.

Beyond the Alcazar, there are countless elegant and beautiful spots around the city that it’s hard not to like. Whether they’re courtyards or public squares, palaces or houses, a lot of care has gone into preserving the stately character of this historic city. No wonder the Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

 

Relaxed Atmosphere

Cordoba Streets, Favourite Destination Andalusia Spain

When visiting Cordoba, I couldn’t believe how relaxed this city felt at times. My time in Cordoba came off the back of visits to Barcelona and Seville, so perhaps that explains my impression. Even still, in my head, the city was a popular destination in Andalusia and I was expecting it to be bursting with people and activity. There were certainly people about but Cordoba always felt a little gentler than my other Spanish stops.

Part of it I think is that you have the Old Town streets to wander down, with nooks and crannies all over the place. Not to mention all of the cute courtyards of Cordoba that feel like little oases. There were a few picturesque spots that drew small crowds, like the Calleja de las Flores, but on the whole crowds of tourists weren’t a problem.

I didn’t think that was possible when travelling in southern Spain in September but Cordoba was full of pleasant surprises. Even better, the Cordoba locals felt welcoming to visitors and hadn’t seemed jaded with tourism. I hope things haven’t changed in the years since.

Cordoba City Walls, Sights Cordoba Spain

 

Epic Cordoba Sunsets

Cordoba Mezquita Sunset, Travel to Cordoba Spain

Who doesn’t love a good sunset when they’re on vacation? Cordoba delivers on that front, at least during my visit. Each evening I wandered down to the riverfront to see an awesome display in the sky. In my opinion, the best place to watch the sunset here is from the Roman Bridge.

Even though the sun sets down the river from Cordoba, being on the bridge means you get that view of Cordoba’s cityscape with an ever-changing backdrop of colours. As you probably know, around sunset is one of the best times for travel photos and some of my favourite shots from my visit were taken around this golden hour.

Cordoba Sky, Sightseeing Cordoba Spain

 

Visiting Cordoba Spain

Puerta del Puente, Things to do in Cordoba Spain

One of the best things about a Cordoba trip is that the city is so easy to visit. Being a recognized destination in Andalusia and a fair-sized city, it’s fully equipped with the things travellers need. This means you won’t have any problems finding hotels, hostels or apartments that suit your travel style in Cordoba, including these highly-rated options:

 

Similarly, the city is well connected by train with other places in Andalusia like Seville, Granada and Malaga, not to mention Madrid. You’re also well looked after once you’re in Cordoba, with countless tours and cultural experiences to be had. Just all-around easy and fun.

A day trip to Cordoba won’t give you a complete view of the city, but it’s worth it if that’s all the time you have. You can even make an easy side trip to Cordoba if you store your luggage in Seville or Granada after checking out. Cordoba is also included in some multi-day tours of Spain such as this if that’s how you prefer to travel.

 


Have you visited Andalusia and stopped to see Cordoba Spain? What other reasons would you give for people to add this city to their bucketlist? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.


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11 comments

California Globetrotter May 24, 2019 - 1:01 pm

I know I will love Cordoba 100% when I make it there one day! I didn’t realize though that there are so many Roman ruins there! And I love the love story of Isabella and Ferdinand and have read several books on them! Just another reason to visit!

Reply
David June 2, 2019 - 7:32 pm

Yep, I think you’d love a lot of Andalusia but this is definitely one of the region’s best!

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Coral Waight May 26, 2019 - 4:59 am

What a gorgeous-looking place.

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David June 2, 2019 - 7:31 pm

It really is a wonderful place Coral!

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Valarie June 23, 2019 - 11:52 pm

Love this list!

I’d also add Los Patios festival is incredible and such a good way to get a glimpse of Spanish culture! Also, there are tons of fun little sayings scattered all around the city and it’s fun to see how many you can find. More info here: https://youngadventuress.com/2012/03/mysterious-walls-of-cordoba.html

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David June 27, 2019 - 4:19 pm

Thanks for the extra recommendations Valarie, they sound great too!

Reply
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[…] shopping and nightlife to boot. Alternatively, if you want to head away from the crowds, choose offbeat locations such as Cordoba and […]

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Al March 26, 2022 - 4:53 pm

I’ve been here in Cordoba for a few days now and I’m not loving this city. Maybe I just don’t like Andalucía, as this is my first time in this part of Spain and I absolutely loved Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha. Compared to other Spanish cities I’ve visited, Córdoba’s old town is kind of run down and dirty, extremely crowded, and the people are pretty grumpy and unfriendly– pretty much the opposite of what you describe in this post. Also, the food has been, in general, expensive and terrible. I don’t know what I’m missing but, so far, Córdoba has been my least favorite place that I’ve visited in Spain.

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David April 8, 2022 - 6:20 pm

I’m sorry to hear that Cordoba didn’t gel with you. It’s very much a subjective thing and really depends on so many things, including other experiences and which regions more match your interests. I do hope you found somewhere in Andalucia that you liked. Thanks for sharing.

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Randy Dykstra April 10, 2022 - 3:18 am

Thanks for the article and the posts. I’m 67 years old and am traveling to Spain and Portugal for 15 days, the end of May and first week of June 2022 (in about 6 weeks!). Flying into Lisbon, then a short flight to Seville for a 2.5 day visit. At this point I have a choice:

1) to make a short trip to Granada (already have tickets for the Alhambra), skip Cordova and go to Madrid for three days and to Barcelona for three days. Then a flight back to Portugal for 3.5 days and back to San Diego.

or

2) spend three nights in Granada, and a night in Cordova, and then to Madrid. This would mean skipping Barcelona and flying back to Portugal from Madrid.

So, Seville and an overnight in Granada to enjoy an evening and an 8:30 am entrance the next day to the Alhambra, then to Madrid and Barcelona, or skip Barcelona for 2.5 more days in Granada and Cordova.

My first impression was to complete itinerary #2, but now am re-considering and think itinerary #1 is preferred as a more complete experience, because….

I am traveling with my 20 year old son. This will be his first trip to Europe. He may soon tire of old buildings and palaces, and may find a trip to Barcelona more memorable.

Any thoughts, tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

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David April 10, 2022 - 8:06 am

Hi Randy, sounds like you’re going to have a great trip. I don’t think you can go wrong with either itinerary really. But if it’s his first trip there then seeing Barcelona is probably worth doing and itinerary #1 shows you more of the country than just Andalucía. If he likes his first time there, he can always come back to see other parts.

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