Cordoba tours
Take the plunge and join a guided tour of Cordoba to discover the most enigmatic and fascinating side of the city with an expert guide. You will be amazed!
The streets of Cordoba | ©Jean Baptiste
Cordoba is a charming city. Strolling through its old town is a delight because it has an inexhaustible wealth of monuments. However, for a newcomer it can be overwhelming as it is one of the largest in Europe. Having the help of a local guide will make it easier for you to discover the city and see its exciting history from a different perspective. Are you up for this adventure?
1. What are the best guided tours in Cordoba?
2. Full day tour of the city of Cordoba with entrance to the Mosque
Discovering all the charms of the Andalusian city is an adventure. It is true that as in any trip, you can see the same monuments on your own, but the wonderful thing about taking a guided tour is not so much what you see, but what you feel when you understand the soul of Cordoba.
That is, not to stay on the surface but to delve into the meaning of each place and its secrets. To understand, for example, the reason why there is a cathedral inside a mosque or why there are Christian chapels with Mudejar decoration.
A full day tour of the city of Cordoba with a local guide and entrance to the mosque is a highly recommended experience that opens the eyes and the mind.
About the visit to the Mosque
It is the most emblematic monument of Cordoba. This temple summarizes the evolution of Umayyad art in Spain mixed with elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style of the Christian cathedral inside, resulting in an enigmatic work of art at the service of spirituality and God.
About the visit to the Jewish quarter of Cordoba
This is the best preserved medieval Jewish quarter in Europe. A labyrinth of white houses and narrow streets where treasures such as the sculpture of Maimonides, the Mudejar chapel of San Bartolome, the traditional souk or the synagogue of Cordoba, the only one of medieval origin in Andalusia are located. Contemplating the living legacy of the Sephardic community was an experience I enjoyed very much.
About the visit to the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs
A medieval palace-fortress of great historical importance in Spain. Learning about the episodes that took place in its halls and that changed the course of history is fascinating but so is strolling through its beautiful gardens and along its battlements, from where there are stunning panoramic views of the old town of Cordoba. Get your camera ready! You won't stop taking pictures.
Why I like this option
In just four hours you will see the highlights of Cordoba, in an interesting tour that through its narrow cobblestone streets will lead you through some of the most beautiful corners of the city.
Isabel's Traveller Tip
The cathedral-mosque of Cordoba is a universal monument but also a religious temple. Remember that to visit it is required to dress with decorum, avoiding clothes with straps and above the knee.
3. Guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral and the Alcazar
The old town of Cordoba is a beauty to get lost in a thousand times. Its monumental wealth is enormous but if you want to know more in depth its great icon, the Mosque, I suggest a guided tour of this temple with which you will have the feeling of making a trip back in time to Al-Andalus and the period of the Reconquest.
In addition, this guided tour of the Cathedral-Mosque of Cordoba also includes the entrance to the Alcazar of the Christian Kings, a medieval palace-fortress that played an important role in the history of Spain and has beautiful gardens on the banks of the Guadalquivir River worthy of a postcard.
About the visit to the Mosque
Considered the greatest exponent of Andalusian art, it will leave you in awe of its charm and beauty. Contemplating it inside while listening to the guide's narration is like taking a trip back in time to the heyday of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After the Reconquest it was adapted to Christian worship, giving it that peculiar aspect that makes this temple a unique place in the world.
About the visit to the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs
A beautiful medieval palace-fortress from the 14th century that has many surprising spaces inside such as the tower of the Lions, the royal baths of Doña Leonor or the museum of Roman mosaics. My favorite corner are the gardens, the pools and fountains outside, it is simply beautiful!
Why I like this option
This option is one of the most complete and you get to see the most relevant of Cordoba in a tour of 2 hours and 30 minutes. In addition, you will have the chance to explore these monuments with an expert local guide, who will show you Cordoba in a different way and all the secrets you didn't know.
Isabel's Traveller Tip
Keep your camera handy because in this tour you will have the most beautiful panoramic views of Cordoba.
4. Tourist bus tour with free stops around the city of Cordoba
Strolling through the streets of Cordoba sightseeing is a real pleasure for the traveler, especially when it comes to a historic center as beautiful as the old Umayyad city. But have you thought about taking a tourist bus with free stops to move quickly around Cordoba while resting and enjoying the scenery at the same time?
It is a good idea if you are making a quick visit to the city or if your trip takes place during the sweltering Andalusian summer, when temperatures soar and walking down the street can be a challenge. The tourist bus is an ideal option for touring Cordoba and enjoying the sights without getting cold or hot.
How does it work?
This sightseeing bus tour with free stops around Cordoba is based on the concept of free stops (also known as Hop On Hop Off). This means that you can use the ticket as a means of transportation to hop on and off as many times as you want at the stops that make up the route or doing the whole tour to explore the city comfortably.
You can choose between a 1-day or 2-day ticket and there is no limit to the number of days you can use the bus during that time. All the tourist buses have air conditioning on board and are adapted to carry baby strollers and to allow wheelchair users to board.
This tourist bus tour of Cordoba is a fantastic way to get to know Cordoba because it also includes two free walking tours that you can take to get a closer look at some of the main tourist attractions of the city.
Panoramic tour of Cordoba
With a duration of 90 minutes, the Axerquia-Centro walking tour departs at 12:00 noon from bus stop 16. Some of the tourist attractions that you will be able to see during the panoramic route of Cordoba are:
- Palacio de la Merced
- Roman Bridge
- Botanical Garden of Cordoba
- Victoria Market
- Almodovar Gate
- Baths of the Alcazar Caliph of Cordoba
Intimate tour of Cordoba
With a duration of 90 minutes, this walking tour of the Jewish Quarter departs at 5 p.m. from bus stop 16. Some of the tourist attractions you will see during the intimate route of Cordoba are:
- Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs
- Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba
- Palacio de Viana
- Palacio de la Merced
- Roman Temple
Why I like this option
The truth is that taking a tourist bus tour, although it may seem an overcrowded option, allows you to have the best panoramic views while you go quietly resting (and escaping the heat) and listening to a guided commentary of the whole city.
In addition, the ticket includes two free walking tours highly recommended to combine the bus tour with a couple of very interesting guided walks through the most popular corners of the city.
Isabel's Traveller Tip
Don't hesitate and take the free walking tours of Cordoba included with your tourist bus ticket - you'll more than offset the cost of the ticket and learn a lot about the city!
5. Why is it worth taking a guided tour in Cordoba?
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, the historic center of Cordoba is one of the most beautiful I have ever had the opportunity to visit.
Throughout history different peoples such as the Romans, the Visigoths, the Muslims, the Jews or the Christians settled in this land and left their mark, which today constitutes the beautiful historical and artistic heritage of Cordoba.
Walking through the streets of the old town on a stroll is a joy. There is always something amazing to contemplate in every corner but I recognize that for a newcomer it can be a bit overwhelming. The center is so big, there is so much to see and you might not know where to start your visit.
That's why I recommend you to have the help of a local guide. From experience, I think it makes the difference between seeing Cordoba and feeling it. In addition, taking a guided tour of Cordoba makes it easier to discover the city, its secrets and what I like the most, the guides show it to the traveler in a different and fun way, telling curiosities that would probably go unnoticed in a free route.
Advantages of taking a guided tour of Cordoba
- You will be accompanied by a local guide passionate about the historical and artistic heritage of Cordoba.
- You will not have to wait in long lines to buy tickets at the ticket office.
- Direct access to the monuments.
- You will know the most iconic tourist attractions of Cordoba, its history and surprising curiosities that will make you live a very entertaining day during your stay.
6. What other places to visit in Cordoba?
The old town of Cordoba is one of the largest in Europe and has a vast historical and cultural heritage, the result of the mark that various peoples have left here over the centuries. It is an exciting place because you can truly feel the history of the city.
If you are planning a trip to the caliphal capital and want to know what other places you can't miss during a visit, I advise you to take a look at my article on what to see and do in Cordoba. It is one of the most beautiful cities in southern Spain!