Andalusia travel guide 2026
Córdoba awaits. Find your inspiration, choose how long you want to stay, and build an itinerary that fits your pace, your budget, and the season.
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From the magnificent Mezquita to the royal Alcázar, discover the architectural treasures of Córdoba.
14th-century fortress-palace where the Catholic Monarchs directed the Granada campaign. Formal gardens, Roman mosaics, and four climbable towers. UNESCO site.
33,500 pieces from prehistory to medieval Islam in a Renaissance palace built over a Roman theatre. Roman mosaics, Iberian sculpture, Caliphal ceramics. Free for EU citizens.
Philip II's 1568 Royal Stables, birthplace of the Andalusian horse breed. Evening equestrian show combining classical dressage, vaquera riding, and flamenco. UNESCO heritage.
Medieval Islamic tower guarding the Puente Romano. Houses the Living Museum of Al-Andalus with panoramic rooftop views over the Mezquita. €4.50 adult admission.
Córdoba's most photographed alley — whitewashed walls and red geraniums framing the Mezquita-Catedral's bell tower at the far end. Free, open 24 hours, best before 10am.
Well-preserved 13th-century Fernandine church with a Gothic rose window, a unique triple-arch portico, and a bell tower raised on a former mosque minaret. Free entry.
Flamenco, hammam, wine tasting, cycling... Authentic experiences to enrich your stay.
Professional flamenco shows seven evenings a week in the Judería's historic tablaos. Soleás, bulerías and fandangos, steps from the Mezquita. From €18.
Europe's largest Arab baths in a restored Caliphate building near the Mezquita. Graduated temperature pools, steam room, oil massages and Moorish architecture.
Discover Montilla-Moriles wines in historic bodegas 40 km from Córdoba. Fino, amontillado and Pedro Ximénez in a guided tasting with expert guides. From €8.
Guided cycling tour covering the Mezquita, Alcázar, Jewish Quarter and Fernandine churches. 6–7 km route with a local expert guide, bike and helmet included.
Discover Córdoba's flowering patios, a 2,000-year UNESCO tradition. Patio Festival in May with 50+ free courtyards, or year-round visits at Palacio de Viana.
Small-group guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral with skip-the-line access and an accredited guide. Architectural and historical insights across 1,300 years.
Each neighbourhood of Córdoba tells a unique story. From the laneways of the Judería to the banks of the Guadalquivir.
Córdoba's medieval Jewish quarter: narrow whitewashed lanes, flower-filled patios, a 14th-century synagogue, the Mezquita on its doorstep, and flamenco tablaos after dark.
A labyrinth of whitewashed lanes and flower-filled patios where the echo of three cultures lingers
The working heart of Córdoba: Roman ruins and baroque palaces alongside century-old tapas bars, both Michelin-starred restaurants, and the city's main nightlife.
Active and layered, with historic squares, good shops, and occupied terraces
La Ribera runs along the Guadalquivir south of the old town. The river walk has clear views of the Roman Bridge, Torre de la Calahorra, and the Mezquita skyline — best at sunset.
Peaceful and open, good for sunset walks along the river
San Basilio is Córdoba's most decorated patio quarter: private courtyards filled with geraniums and jasmine, UNESCO Patios Festival prize-winners, and quiet streets even in high season.
Peaceful and flower-filled, the very essence of Cordoban living
From the Patio Festival to Holy Week, experience the most authentic Andalusian traditions.
Córdoba's UNESCO Patio Festival: residents open flower-filled courtyards in a centenary competition. Geraniums, jasmine and bougainvillea throughout May. Free.
Córdoba's great Andalusian fair with 80+ casetas all open free to the public, Andalusian horses, flamenco sevillanas and eight festive days by the Guadalquivir.
Complete guide to Córdoba's Holy Week (29 March – 5 April 2026): 40 brotherhoods, processions at the Mezquita, the silent Madrugada, and tips for where to stand.
Spain's largest free flamenco festival: one night of performances across 11 stages set in Córdoba's historic monuments and squares. Free, from 10:30 pm to dawn.
Salmorejo, flamenquín, rabo de toro... Savour Córdoba's signature dishes at our hand-picked restaurants.
French artisan pastry shop in central Córdoba, opened in late 2025 by a Marseille pastry chef. Tropézienne, lemon-lotus cheesecake, quiche lorraine — limited daily production.
Spanish restaurant in central Córdoba with coeliac-trained staff and a kitchen built for gluten-free cooking. House-made gluten-free bread, fries in dedicated oil, 4.9/5 rating.
The go-to stop after the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba. Silky salmorejo, crispy flamenquín, generous portions, and wine at prices that make it hard to leave after one round.
Italian artisan gelateria in Córdoba since 1993. Over 100 seasonal flavours including the Chocolate Mezquita — 38 in the case each day, none of them industrial.
Michelin star 2026, chef Periko Ortega in Córdoba. Memory-inspired tasting menus — Recuerdos, Memoria, Nostalgia — from 95 to 150 euros, built on personal history and Andalusian produce.
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026 in Córdoba. Contemporary Andalusian cooking, a 14-course vegetarian tasting menu, and artisan olive oils from Sierra de Córdoba family mills.
Iconic dishes that are the pride of the local food culture. Taste the authentic flavours of Córdoba.
Salmorejo is Córdoba's chilled tomato soup — thicker than gazpacho, silkier, and topped with hard-boiled egg and serrano ham. The city's signature dish.
Flamenquín is Córdoba's bar staple: a thin pork escalope rolled around serrano ham, breaded, and fried to a shattering golden crust. Born in the city's taverns in the 1960s.
Rabo de toro is Córdoba's slow-braised oxtail: three to four hours in red wine until the meat falls from the bone and the sauce turns dark and glossy. Order it in autumn.
Berenjenas con miel are Córdoba's Moorish tapa: thin aubergine rounds fried until crisp, drizzled with amber honey for a sweet-salt contrast that surprises every first-timer.
Pastel cordobés is Córdoba's flaky pastry filled with cabello de ángel — candied squash jam — and ground almonds. A convent recipe from the 17th century, still sold in the city's pastry shops.
Montilla-Moriles is Córdoba's wine appellation: Pedro Ximénez grapes on white limestone soils, producing finos, amontillados, and rich sweet wines — naturally, without fortification.
Complete guides to discovering every side of the city: history, gastronomy, heritage and practical tips.
From historic palaces to charming guesthouses, our selection of accommodation for every budget.
5-star hotel in a 16th-century Renaissance palace above 1st-century Roman ruins. Restaurant with glass floor over mosaics, Bodyna Spa, and five mosaic patios.
17th-century Córdoban manor in the Judería with original stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and a fountain patio. Continental breakfast included, steps from the Mezquita.
4-star hotel on the square directly facing the Mezquita, with a central Andalusian patio, spacious rooms, Mezquita-view suites, and a restaurant on site.
Family guesthouse 1 minute from the Alcázar in the San Basilio patio district. Air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and a small interior patio. From €32.
Answers to the most common questions to help you organise your stay in Córdoba.
2 to 3 days are enough to see Córdoba's highlights: the Mezquita-Cathedral, the Alcázar, the Judería, and the flower-filled patios. Add a day for Medina Azahara or a day trip to Granada.
Spring (April–May) is ideal, with the Patio Festival and pleasant temperatures. Autumn (September–October) is also a great time to visit. Avoid July–August when temperatures regularly exceed 40°C.
Córdoba holds 4 UNESCO designations: the Mezquita-Cathedral (1984), the historic centre (1994), the Patio Festival (2012, intangible heritage), and Medina Azahara (2018).
Book online via the official Cabildo website at least 1 week in advance. Admission is €13 (2024). Entry is free Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 am (outside Mass times).
The AVE high-speed train connects Córdoba to Madrid in 1h45 and to Seville in 45 minutes. The station is a 15-minute walk from the historic centre. Alsa coaches also serve the city.
Absolutely — Córdoba is a great family destination: a zoo, parks, flower-filled patios, and charming laneways to explore. EU children get free entry to most monuments (with ID).
Budget around €60–100/day per person on a mid-range trip: accommodation (€50–80), meals (€20–35), monuments (€10–15). Budget options exist with free sites and set menú del día lunches from €12–15.
The Judería and the historic centre are ideal for exploring on foot. San Basilio offers peace and authenticity close to the patios. For a first visit, stay central.
Don't miss salmorejo (thick chilled tomato soup), flamenquín (breaded pork roll), rabo de toro (slow-braised oxtail), and berenjenas con miel (aubergine with honey). Pair them with wines from Montilla-Moriles.
Wander through flower-filled patios, linger on terraces along the Guadalquivir, catch a flamenco show, discover local tapería bars, and browse the artisan shops of the Judería.
Plan your stay with our accommodation guide and practical travel tips.