Cordoba in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

There is truly a lot to see and do in Cordoba, as it is one of Spain's most attractive and culturally rich cities. Its history, marked by a mixture of cultures (Muslim, Roman, Jewish and Catholic), can be seen in each of its streets. It is not in vain that its historic centre and the Alcázar de los Reyes de Córdoba were declared World Heritage Sites by Unesco.

In this 3-day tour of Cordoba, I invite you to discover some of the unmissable places that will make you fall in love with the city, such as the Jewish Quarter, the Calahorra Tower, the Alcázar, its flamenco shows, its mosque converted into a cathedral, Corredera Square and the stone bridge of Roman origin.

Along with Seville and Granada, Cordoba is one of the most important and most visited cities in the Andalusian region. With its picturesque charm, touring the city is an absolutely unique experience.

Crossed by the Guadalquivir River, Cordoba can be perfectly explored on foot, in fact it is one of the best ways to enjoy its magic, as every neighbourhood and every nook and cranny is worth seeing.

Hop on a tourist bus

Start your first day with a sightseeing bus tour around the city of Cordoba. While it may be a generic option, I can assure you that there is no better way to get a feel for the map of the whole city.

You'll be able to get a general idea of where the main attractions are located, as well as receive a short and very entertaining story about the history of the place from your guide.

You will have the opportunity to get to know in a short time those places that you will surely return to later on foot, to enjoy them much more in detail, and you will be able to discard those that you are not too enthusiastic about.

Visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba

After your stroll around the city, I suggest you start your walking tour in the very centre of Cordoba. Among the many things you can see, one of the must-sees is the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.

Over the years, this has become the city's most emblematic monument. It is one of the most fascinating places of Islamic art in the whole of Andalusia.

Thanks to its great beauty, with the Christian conquest it was not demolished, but a cathedral was built in its centre. The result is a beautiful mixture of architectures that coexist in harmony.

You cannot fail to marvel at its impressive columns, the detail of its interior or its orange tree garden. From the latter you will be able to appreciate in all its splendour the beautiful bell tower, the tallest structure in the whole of Cordoba.

Tickets for the Mosque of Cordoba can be purchased online, without queuing or wasting time, which is essential if you only have 3 days to visit this charming city.

• Location: C. Cardenal Herrero, 1, Córdoba
• Price: from approximately 11 Euros
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm

Alcazar of the Christian Kings of Cordoba

A few metres from the mosque-cathedral, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, is another of the must-see sights of any visit to the city of Cordoba: the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (Fortress of the Christian Monarchs).

Former residence of the Catholic Monarchs and later a prison, it is a real jewel of Mudejar architecture, with Romanesque details and tiles, built in the 14th century.

Walking through its interior, you can feel part of the history of Andalusia. With its Gothic-style towers and walls, from which you can see the Guadalquivir and a large part of the city, this is one of the key points of Cordoba's multicultural past.

Tickets for the Alcazar de los Reyes de Cordoba are also available online, which is ideal as it is one of the most popular monuments and receives the most visitors all year round.

• Location: Campo Santo de los Mártires Square, Cordoba
• Price: from approximately 16 Euros
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 8:30am to 8:45pm, Saturdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm and Sundays from 8:30am to 2:30pm.

Cross the Roman Bridge and visit the Tower of Calahorra

Continuing our tour of the city, barely 200 metres from the Alcázar you will come across the famous Roman Bridge. An impressive stone bridge built in the 1st century BC.

This structure goes from one side of the Guadalquivir to the other, connecting the district where the Campo de la Verdad is located with the Cathedral district.

If you are a fan of the TV series Game of Thrones, you will probably recognise it, as it was recently used as the setting for one of its last seasons. At one end you'll come across the Calahorra Tower, a defensive turret from the Muslim period, declared a National Historic Monument.

This is definitely an ideal walk to do with children in Cordoba, the city is full of stories and scenarios that allow you to imagine knights in shining armour, so the little ones will be fascinated.

Visit a tapas bar

Before the day comes to a close and night falls, I recommend you take a moment to visit one of the many tapas bars in the city of Cordoba.

Three of the best are right next to the Mosque-Cathedral: Bar Santos, El Abanico and El Caballo Andaluz. You'll be able to relax and enjoy some of the best tapas in town.

Fried anchovies, patatas bravas, an omelette or even hamburgers are some of the tapas you can try with your cold beer. Don't miss out on experiencing the flavours of Cordoba.

Enjoy a traditional flamenco show

As the evening draws to a close, I recommend you close your first day in this amazing Spanish city with a traditional flamenco show. You can be sure that here you will find some of the best flamenco tablaos in Andalusia.

Attending flamenco shows in Cordoba is without a doubt an experience without comparison. You will be able to enjoy the candour of the gypsies while tasting some tapas or traditional dishes of the region in a place with history. Flamenco was born in Andalusia, a product of this mix of cultures.

Some of the best flamenco shows in Cordoba are found around the area of the Alcazar and the Mosque-Cathedral, as this is the centre of the city and the place where most of the main activities in Cordoba take place.

Getting lost in the streets of this beautiful city is the best way to get to know it. Strolling around you will come across some of its famous courtyards, full of flowers and colourful vegetation.

Like everything else in this beautiful city, its streets are also full of traces of the different cultures that have passed through here. I invite you to discover the most photographable corners of Cordoba.

Visit the charming Medina Azahara

For this second day I suggest you have breakfast at the Cafetería Don Pepe, one of the city's classics. It has two branches in the centre of Cordoba, one near the Vaina Palace and the other near the synagogue. Tip: try the churros, they are delicious.

Then get ready for a trip to one of the most important sites of the region's Muslim past, which is only 15 minutes from Cordoba. I refer of course to Medina Azahara. This ancient palace city was built as the seat of the Caliphate's government back in the 10th century.

By booking one of the tours to Medina Azahara from Cordoba you will have the chance to enjoy a 3-hour guided walk through the Muslim past of this part of Andalusia.

From the city centre you will be driven in a comfortable minibus to Medina Azahara, where your local guide will tell you all about this wonderful place.

Medina Azahara is an archaeological site recognised by Unesco as part of the Cultural Heritage of the region, a truly magical place worth visiting.

You will be able to see the Palace of Yafar, the museum, where a large number of very ancient pieces are preserved, which will allow you to learn more about the time when Cordoba belonged to the Muslim empire.

Visit the Jewish quarter of Cordoba, the Jewish quarter of Cordoba

After visiting part of Cordoba's Muslim past, I suggest a walk through the streets of La Juderia, the traditional Jewish quarter.

This is one of the oldest quarters of the city. Its labyrinthine streets and alleys are located within the historic quarter, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

You can walk through what was once one of the most important Jewish quarters in Spain. In 2008 pedestrian signage was implemented linking it to other Jewish quarters in Spain, so that all visitors can walk through this neighbourhood, according to the proposed circuit.

You can visit the beautiful synagogue, located next to the old wall of the Muslim medina. Its Mudejar style is of incomparable exquisiteness. Built in the 14th century, it was declared a National Monument in 1885. One of the entrances to the Jewish Quarter is the Puerta de Almodóvar, where you can see the sculpture of the philosopher Seneca.

If you want to know more about its secrets and history, you can book one of the tours of the Jewish Quarter of Cordoba, where you will learn all about the history of the Jewish community in Cordoba and this incredible place.

Make the most of this time to have lunch or a snack in one of the many restaurants in the Jewish quarter. For sure this is one of the best places in Cordoba.

Get lost in search of the patios of Cordoba

After enjoying La Judería, I suggest you go out in search of the most beautiful courtyards in the city. Some of them require an entrance fee, but others are free.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the city of Cordoba, its colourful courtyards full of plants and flowers are a beauty where you can stop to take some incredible photographs.

Near the synagogue is the Calleja de las Flores, one of the most popular streets. Here you will find on the white walls a large number of plants and flowers that give a very picturesque image to the place.

You will have to be patient, as it is always full of tourists who, like you, come in search of the most beautiful corners of Cordoba. Another must is the Calleja del Pañuelo, winding and narrow but full of charm.

Some of the most beautiful courtyards are to be found in this area, such as those along Calle de San Basilio, and if you are lucky enough to visit the city during the second half of May, you can enjoy the Festival de los patios cordobeses, a festival in which everyone opens the doors to their flowered courtyards for the public to enjoy.

Drinks in the Corredera Square

From here it's a 10-15 minute walk to the centre. End your day in the Plaza de la Corredera, where you can enjoy a drink or dine on one of its many terraces.

Perhaps it's because of its rectangular structure and arcades, but everything about it is reminiscent of the Plaza Mayor. One of the most classic meeting points in the city for centuries.

It is one of the few Castilian squares in the Andalusian region, and an ideal place to hang out and close this second day in this magnificent city.

With plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants, you can relax and appreciate the beauty of this square as the sun begins to set.

As you may have noticed, Cordoba is such an interesting city that it is very difficult to select just a few attractions. Get ready to make the most of this last day in the city of Cordoba.

Relax in the Arab baths Hammam Al Ándalus

For this last day I suggest you start by relaxing in one of the most incredible Arab baths you can imagine. This is not just another spa, but a unique experience, from which you will leave refreshed.

The Hammam Al Ándalus is one of the best Arab baths in Cordoba, and is located just a few metres from the Roman Bridge, almost on the banks of the Guadalquivir.

If you don't know what an Arab bath is, it is similar to what we would know today as a spa, although it must be said that the experience is much richer.

Based mainly on the use of large pools with water at different temperatures, and a series of massages, infusions, aromas and so on, they offer absolute relaxation.

In times of Muslim occupation they were very popular and so today there are several Arab baths in the city. However, many of them are preserved as museums or archaeological finds, instead of fulfilling their original function.

Such is the case of the Arab baths of the Pescadería, the Caliphal baths, discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, or the Arab baths of Santa María.

• Location: C. Corregidor Luis de la Cerda, 51, Córdoba
• Price: from 35 Euros approximately
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10am to midnight.

Visit the Royal Stables

After being treated as you deserve in the Arab baths, I suggest you to visit the incredible royal stables. Located next to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. These stables were founded in 1572 by King Philip II.

Here, as well as being able to admire the stables and the beautiful facilities where the best Andalusian horses were bred for centuries, you can enjoy some of the most amazing equestrian shows.

It is well worth a visit, especially if you are travelling with children, as they will be amazed by the tests performed by the horses.

Nearby there is a wide range of restaurants, so you can take a break and recharge your batteries with a good Andalusian meal.

• Location: next to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, Cordoba.
• Price: from 16,50 Euros for adults and 11,50 Euros for children over 3 years old.
• Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and from 5.30pm to 8pm.

Tour the beautiful Viana Palace

Just 20 minutes' walk from here, heading north, you will come across the Palacio de Viana, a beautiful palace-museum declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, built in the 15th century. One of its main attractions is undoubtedly its twelve gardens and courtyards.

A visit here is a must on any trip to the city of Cordoba. You will be able to see the Patio de los Gatos, the Patio de Recibo, the Patio de las Rejas, the Patio de Madame, among others. Each one more beautiful than the last, they are perfect for taking colourful photographs.

Its interior is also of great beauty, places like the Salón del Mosaico, the Galería de los Azulejos or the Galería de las Batallas will guide you through Andalusia's past, and its collection of paintings will not leave you indifferent either. You can enjoy works by Goya and Brueghel, among others.

The bedroom section is a journey through time, with furniture and decorations from the 16th and 18th centuries. An exciting journey through Cordoba's past.

• Location: Plaza de Don Gome, Cordoba
• Price: from 6 Euros
• Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 3pm

A visit to the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba

Almost to finish these 3 days in Cordoba, I suggest you visit the archaeological museum of the city. This 16th century palace is located a few metres from Calleja de las Flores.

It is an extremely interesting place where you can learn all about the history of the region, with a large number of pieces ranging from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages.

Admission is free for residents of the European Union. On its two levels you can enjoy, for example, the remains of the Roman theatre and some very interesting audiovisuals.

• Location: Plaza Jerónimo Páez, 7. 14003. Cordoba.
• Price: Free
• Opening times: from 16th September to 15th June: Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 8pm and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Closed on Mondays. From 16 June to 15 September:
  Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

Dinner at the Caballo Rojo

Finish this third and last day in the city of Cordoba with a dinner in one of the most renowned and award-winning restaurants in Andalusia.

Located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, the Caballo Rojo has a varied drinks area, and a restaurant, with a truly delicious menu of Mediterranean and European food.

The place is almost hidden, inside a house, next to the Mosque-Cathedral. I assure you there is no better way to say goodbye to Cordoba.