Cordoba Day Trip from Seville: One Day Cordoba Itinerary
Are you thinking about taking a day trip to Cordoba from Seville by train? Well, I really think you should. Cordoba sometimes gets left off the typical Spain itinerary, but I truly don’t understand why!
Sure, it’s not as famous as Barcelona and Madrid, or even Seville and Granada. But Cordoba’s old town blends Roman, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian architecture in such a unique way that it really is worth a visit.
A couple of nights would really be great, to give you time to aimlessly stroll its narrow streets. But if one day is all you have, that’s definitely enough to fully enjoy all its main sights and get a feel for its energy.
So today, I’m sharing how you can easily make a day trip to Cordoba from Seville without joining a tour group. Ready? Then let’s get to it!
How to Get to Cordoba from Seville (and Back)
The best way to get to Cordoba from Seville (and back) is by train. Take the MD or AVANT train from Sevilla-Santa Justa to Cordoba. Then, take the same journey the reverse direction, and return to Seville to spend the night. You can book this journey in advance on the official Renfe site, the official Renfe app (iPhone and Android), or in person at the train station ticket machines.
The MD train is €11.20 and 1.5 hours each way. It is available for purchase beginning around two months in advance. The AVANT train is €17.85 and 50 minutes each way. It is available for purchase beginning a few weeks in advance.
But these prices are only if you purchase round trip (ida y vuelta) tickets. That means you need to choose your return train’s departure time in advance. If purchased as separate tickets rather than round trip, the MD train is €14 each way and the AVANT train is around €24 each way. I recommend that you allocate at least enough hours between your arrival and departure trains to have a full day in Cordoba.
Where to Stay in Cordoba
This one day Cordoba itinerary is for a day trip. But if you have time, Cordoba is a lovely place to s[end a night or two. So if you are interested, here are my suggestions on where to stay in Cordoba.
Where to Stay in Cordoba
- Apartamentos La Casa del Azafrán: I stayed in this hotel of cute apartments on my first trip to Cordoba. It’s located in the old town, but still within walking distance of the train station. So it’s perfect for those looking for a budget option that allows foregoing a cab from the train station and cooking breakfast before heading out (like I was!).
- Eurostars Maimonides: Mid-range option in the very heart of the old town, with rooms offering views of the mosque. Perfect location for those hoping to enter the mosque during the first time slot, to get crowd-free photos inside.
How to Get to Cordoba’s Old Town from Cordoba’s Train Station
Exit Cordoba’s train station, walking in the direction exactly opposite from where the train tracks are. Once you are out, walk past the outdoor parking lot, along its right side. Once you are at the end, you should see a large park on your right. These are the Jardines de Agricultura, and you can walk down them until you see the old town on your left hand side.
Orrrr…. you can also just use Google Maps! Once your train arrives, pop in the first stop on this itinerary, which is the Mezquita (exact location here).
Before you know it (roughly one hour since departing Seville), you’re finally at Cordoba’s old town!
Pssst! If all that sounds like a bit too much, there is always the option of a guided tour from Seville. This one includes entry and a guided tour of the first stop on this Cordoba itinerary, plus a stop in the town of Carmona. So do keep that in mind as you read my suggested itinerary below.
Things to Do in Cordoba
I have listed the things to do in Cordoba on your day trip from Seville in what I think is an order that makes sense. But you are of course free to rearrange the following attractions however you’d like!
Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
This is Cordoba’s main attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was once the main mosque of Cordoba and today is a cathedral. But it isn’t a cathedral built over a mosque, like you will often see in Spain and especially in Andalusia. Rather, it is a cathedral blended into the center of a mosque, creating the most unique fusion of two architectural styles that I personally have ever seen. I highly recommend that you purchase tickets in advance online from the official site. Entry into the mosque is €13. I also recommend selecting the first entry time of the day for the mezquita visit. That way, your pictures of the columns and iconic red-and-white arches will have a lot less people in them.
Mezquita Bell Tower
After your visit to the mezquita, go up the bell tower to enjoy panoramic views of Cordoba. This was originally part of the mosque and was later converted into a Christian bell tower after the Christian monarchs’ reconquista. Tickets up the bell tower are €3. You can purchase them at the same site as tickets for the mezquita.
Puerta del Puente
Outside Cordoba’s mosque-cathedral, in front of the river, is the Gate of the Bridge. It is located where the Roman gates into the city used to be and was built in celebration of the city’s role in the Spanish Reconquista.
Puente Romano
After admiring the Puerta del Puente, cross the Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir River. From there, on the other side of the bridge, you can enjoy the typical postcard views of the famous mosque and Cordoba’s old town (though the river is quite drier these days!).
Torre De Calahorra
At the end of the Roman Bridge, you will find the Calahorra Tower. You can enter the fortified tower, which is home to a museum on life in Cordoba during Al-Andaluz. (Al-Andaluz was the name of the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula). You can also enjoy views over Cordoba from its top. Tickets are €4.50 and can be purchased in person, but check the official site (…once they fix the site!) for hours.
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
This medieval fortress-slash-palace is located right by the famous mosque-cathedral and the Guadalquivir River. It houses a few Roman mosaics that are in pretty good condition, so any Roman history buffs will really enjoy that! But what visitors enjoy most are probably its gardens. Tickets could only be purchased in person when I went. They were €5.
Almodovar Gate
In between the Alcázar and the Jewish Quarter, you will find the Almodovar Gate. It is the only remaining medieval gate of the original nine into the city of Cordoba. Pass through it to reenter Cordoba’s center.
Judería
After passing through the gate, turn left, towards la judería. This is Cordoba’s historically Jewish quarter and it is a UNESCO World heritage site. It is where Jewish life in Cordoba was centered until the expulsion of Jews in 1492. This well-preserved neighborhood of narrow, winding streets and white-washed houses is very pretty. But my favorite part was hands-down the synagogue.
Jewish Synagogue
Cordoba’s Jewish synagogue is absolutely stunning and one of the three best-preserved medieval synagogues in all of Spain. Entry was free when I went, though I did see before my visit that some online sources said it was a euro or two. You could technically just pop your head in, take a quick look around, and be on your way. But I suggest you give yourself enough time here to really take in all the intricacies of the detailed carvings here.
Fiesta de los Patios de Córdoba
If you are visiting Cordoba in early May, you can enjoy this festival. It celebrates the potted-plant-courtyards that Cordoba is famous for. But even if you are visiting during another time of year, you’ll still notice beautiful potted plants adorning walls around the city center. One of the most famous streets for a great view of the mosque-cathedral bell tower behind an alley of potted plants is Calleja de las Flores. Here is its exact location on Google Maps.
Templo Romano
In the middle of Cordoba, right next to the city hall, you can see the remains of a Roman temple. It was discovered in the 1950s while expanding the city hall. It dates back to the 1st century BC and was apparently part of the city’s Roman forum. It’s not often listed as a tourist attraction to see, so I just stumbled upon it by chance. But I thought it was pretty cool (and it’s free)! So I wanted to include it as a quick stop in this Cordoba day trip from Seville. Here is its exact location on Google Maps.
That’s the End of Your Day Trip to Cordoba from Seville!
I recommend that you break up the above Cordoba one day itinerary with a stop for lunch. Then, before your train back to Seville, you can also grab some tapas at a bar as a merienda (a late afternoon snack), since dinner in Spain isn’t usually until 8:00pm at the earliest.
What Do You Think of My Cordoba One Day Itinerary?
Let me know any questions you have on my guide for how to visit Cordoba on a day trip from Seville. And if you’ve been to Cordoba, I’d love to know what you thought of it! Do you agree with me that it deserves a spot on a first time Spain itinerary?
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