How to Spend 2 Days in Cordoba Spain

Planning to spend 2 days in Cordoba, Spain, but not quite sure how to structure your itinerary? Fret not, you’re in the right place!

I’ve spent a lot of time in Cordoba over the years, and with 2 days, you can squeeze in most of the top sites if you plan it well and book tickets in advance.

With four UNESCO World Heritage sites, there are plenty of epic things to experience in Cordoba, from the unique Mosque-Cathedral and the lost city of Medina Azahara to the colorful patios.

In this Cordoba 2-day itinerary, I’ll cover the top sites and give you the best tips for booking tickets in advance to plan your trip.

Finally, I’ll include some tips about the best way to get there, when to go, and where to stay so that you can make your Cordoba weekend itinerary a reality!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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First Day: 2 Days in Cordoba, Spain

As I mentioned before, you need to book tickets in advance to get the time to see all these things on a 2-day Cordoba trip.

If you don’t, a lot of time and stress will go into standing in ticket queues and waiting for available entry times.

I’ll link to where you can book tickets for each of the attractions you need to pre-book so you can plan accordingly.

By booking early, you can follow this itinerary easily, but if you book at the last moment, you might have to shuffle around a bit to manage to see all the places you want to include, as time slots might be taken.

Here are some of the top tours in Cordoba.

Visit the Mosque-Cathedral

Start the morning by visiting one of Cordoba’s UNESCO sites, the Mosque-Cathedral. This is by far one of the most essential things to do in Cordoba. If you want to visit the minaret as well (which I highly recommend for the views!), allow at least a couple of hours for this site.

The mosque-cathedral is one of the most unique attractions in Spain. After the reconquest, all mosques were destroyed so that churches could be built in their places.

But this masterpiece was kept intact.

Instead of demolishing it and building over it, the Christians chose to incorporate their church into the existing building.

It’s truly unique and so amazing to see inside how the old parts of the great mosque, like the Moorish arches and Islamic details in walls and ceilings, have been kept.

At the same time, there’s a majestic altarpiece and choir present in the part where the cathedral was built inside.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS:

I highly recommend booking this guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral to learn first-hand about the history of this one-of-a-kind religious building.

If you prefer going individually with an audio guide, book here or check out more options here.

Walk around the Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos

Next, head to the Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos. This is also one of the most important attractions in Cordoba, dating back to Roman times.

However, the Alcazar is most known for the constructions that the Moors did and later for becoming a royal residence after the reconquest.

Today, you can walk its halls and defensive walls, climb its towers, and stroll around its perfectly groomed gardens. Inside, you’ll also see a large Roman mosaic as a reminder of its origins.

Due to its history, I recommend taking a guided tour of the Alcazar and its gardens to get the most out of it. Touring the palace shouldn’t take you more than an hour.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS:

I highly recommend this guided tour of the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs to dive deep into the intriguing history of this site.

You can also check out this guide that I wrote for all the best ticket options.

Cross the Roman Bridge

After exploring the big attractions, head to the Roman Bridge. It dates back to the 1st century BC and is a fantastic reminder of how old the city is.

I love crossing the bridge as it’s always so full of life with people, buskers, and artists selling their creations.

You’ll get a great view of the city and the Mosque-Cathedral on one side and the Calahorra Tower on the other side.

Climb the Torre Calahorra

On the other side of the Roman Bridge, you’ll reach the Calahorra Tower. It was built in the 12th century by the Moors to protect the city from attackers on the other side of the river.

After the reconquest, it underwent a lot of changes, taking its current shape.

There’s a small museum inside where you can learn more about the co-existence of the three religions, the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian religions of Cordoba’s history.

Yet, my favorite part is the view of the Roman bridge from the top of the tower.

Grab lunch in the Old Town

Before you continue, go for a stroll in the old town for a nice place for lunch. There are quite a few restaurants along the road that is parallel to the river when you cross back on the Roman Bridge and turn right.

I’ve always found nice food there and in the streets going in from the river, where you’ll find even more restaurants.

Snap a picture in Calleja de Las Flores

While in the old town, make sure you don’t miss out on Calleja de Las Flores. I know it’s really touristy, but it’s also very cute.

The narrow street is lined with blue flower pots on the walls and when you reach the little square at the end of the street and turn around, you’ll get the iconic view of the clock tower at the end of the street.

Walk through Plaza de La Corredera

After walking around the old town, make your way to Plaza de la Corredera, the largest square of its kind in Andalucia.

It’s believed that it used to be home to parts of the Roman Circus due to the findings of some incredible mosaics that are exposed in the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos.

There are several bars in the square, so if you need a drink before you go to the Viana Palace, this is your call!

Take a guided tour of the Viana Palace and gardens

The 14th-century Viana Palace is one of the most spectacular palaces in Cordoba. Takin ga guided tour of the palace is a fantastic way to learn more about the history.

Besides, you can tour the 12 patios of the palace which are all absolutely spectacular. The tickets to the Viana Palace often sell out quickly, so make sure you book early.

Alternatively, you can visit the courtyards only. In my opinion, it’s totally worth it just for the beautiful gardens.

Note that the Viana Palace closes early on Sundays and is closed on Mondays, so you might need to adjust your itinerary if you travel one of these days!

See a Flamenco show

Cordoba is home to some of the country’s most talented Flamenco dancers, so what better way to end the day than with an authentic Flamenco show?

I went to this show at Tablao El Cardenal which was really epic. Even though I’ve been to several flamenco shows, I really loved this one, and can still say it was one of the best ones I’ve seen.

Second Day in Cordoba

Visit the lost city of Medina Azahara

Start your second day of your Cordoba 2-day itinerary by going to one of the most impressive UNESCO archaeological sites in Andalucia.

Medina Azahara was a prosperous palatial city in the 10th century, and home to the Caliphate of Cordoba until it was abandoned during a civil war in the 11th century.

After this, the city was forgotten until the 20th century when the archaeological excavations began.

The visit starts at the museum and from there, you must take a shuttle bus, which is included in the ticket, to the archaeological site. It’s a 10-minute drive from the city to the museum where there’s an ample parking lot.

If you don’t travel by car, I highly recommend taking this guided tour with pickup and drop off in Cordoba.

Lunch

The tour of the Medina Azahara takes a few hours, so I suggest grabbing lunch once you return to Cordoba, so that you can enjoy the Jewish Quarter before taking a patio tour.

Again, I recommend walking around the old town area or the river area to find a restaurant. If you feel like exploring a different area, there are also nice restaurants around the shopping area near Plaza de Las Tendillas.

Visit the Synagogue

The synagogue in Cordoba is the only one left in Andalucia after the Jews were brutally expelled from the region.

I was a bit disappointed when I first visited, because I found it in a very bad state compared to other historical buildings, like the Mosque-Cathedral.

That was before I visited the synagogue in Lorca and the Jewish Necropolis in Lucena. I realized that there’s incredibly little physical Jewish heritage in Spain in general and I learned that the synagogue in Cordoba, in fact, is one of the best preserved in the entire country.

Obviously, it’s nothing compared to the synagogue in Budapest or Sofia, which are absolutely stunning, but if you take the time to look at the details, you can really appreciate the piece of art that the synagogue in Cordoba used to be.

Stroll around the Jewish Quarter

Next, take a walk around the Jewish Quarter. This walled neighborhood was inhabitet by the Jews between the 10th and the 15th centuries.

It’s a beautiful area in Cordoba melting together with the historical center, with several palaces and museums.

Make sure you go into the Zoco Municipal, an old souk that now is used by artists and a great place to go shopping in Cordoba if you’re looking for unique, artisan items.

To get the most out of the walk, I highly recommend this tour of the neighborhood to learn more about the history and different corners.

I read some reviews about the guide not showing up and wrong info about the meeting point. I didn’t have any issues and enjoyed it a lot, but I’d urge you to double check before you go so you’re not unlucky as other travelers seem to have been

Learn about Jewish history at Casa de Sefarad

While in the Jewish Quarter, I highly recommend visiting Casa de Sefarad. It’s an interesting house museum where you’ll learn so much about the Sefarad, their music, culture, and not to mention the brutality of which the Jews were expelled from Cordoba and Andalucia.

I first visited this museum a few years back and I was shocked to learn so much I had never heard of in Andalusian history before.

Besides, the house has a beautiful courtyard. It’s located right across the street from the synagogue, so it’s a natural stop while in the neighborhood.

Visit Casa Andalusí

Just a few meters down the road, you can visit the Casa Andalusí, which is another house museum with a lovely courtyard.

The house dates back to the 12th century and walking around the rooms, it gives you a fantastic insight in how it would have looked in the Caliphate era.

Casa Andalusí also has a small shop where you can find unique items as gifts or souvernirs.

Take a patio tour in San Basilio

No 2-day Cordoba itinerary is complete without visiting the colorful patios of San Basilio. I hihgly recommend booking a tour in advance, so you don’t miss out. It can be a bit tricky to get tickets last minute, as you’ll have to go to the neighborhood to get them.

You can read more about the patios in Cordoba here, including how to get tickets.

San Basilio is one of the oldest and most traditional neighborhoods in Cordoba and a popular area for seeing authentic courtyards outside of the Cordoba Patio Festival, which takes place the two first weeks of May every year.

Private people will open their homes and I highly recommend giving them a little tip when visiting.

Dinner in the old town

The last day of your Corodba 2-day itinerary, I suggest staying in the old town for dinner because I love it so much at night.

There’s a really cozy and local vibe after the sun goes down and I think it’s worth enjoying it as much as possible.

Where to stay in Cordoba

Before booking your hotel, make sure you read up on the best neighborhoods to stay in Cordoba so you choose the best are afor your stay.

If you want to astay central, I recommend the historic center, or lookup a private rental in San Basilio to stay in the middle of the best patios.

HERE ARE MY TOP PICKS FOR WHERE TO STAY IN CORDOBA SPAIN

LUXURY: Hotel Madinat – an exquisite hotel in the heart of Cordoba with a hammam and terraces with views of the Mosque-Cathedral. It is situated in a historical building and gives you the impression of stepping back in time – to a time of kings and opulence.

MID-RANGE: Eurostars Azahar – decorated in Art Deco Style, this is a great hotel located in the old town, yet with quiet rooms. The hotel also has a fitness room.

BUDGET: Hostal Maestre – a lovely hotel with a traditional courtyard. The hotel offers private parking.

Best time to visit Cordoba

Cordoba is one of the hottest cities in Spain during summer, and temperatures can easily reach 50ºC. The heat in the city is really humid, and even for me, who enjoys the heat, I strictly stay away from both Seville and Cordoba in the summer as I lose all energy in the excessive heat they get there.

Many attractions and shops close down during July and August, including patios, due to the heat, so I don’t recommend traveling to Cordoba in summer.

The rest of the year, however, Cordoba is a fantastic destination. Winters get colder than the coastal destinations in Andalucia, so make sure you bring warm clothes.

But the best time to visit Cordoba is without a doubt the first two weeks in May when they celebrate the Patio Festival. This is a colorful and fun time in Cordoba, where all patios that join the festival are open and free to the public.

Getting around Cordoba

Cordoba is a walkable city, and you don’t need any public transport to reach any of the attractions. There are tours taking you to Medina Azahara, and you can take the local bus to Almodovar del Rio to see the Game of Thrones Castle if you don’t have a rental car.

You can either find a hotel with parking, park in a paid parking garage, or leave your car for free at any of the parking areas around the river bend towards the Feria Ground (around 15-20 minutes walk to the old town).

Summing up Cordoba in 2 days

Summing up, you can to quite a lot in 2 days in Cordoba if you plan it well. Yet, I would recommend staying longer if possble.

There’s so much history and culture to soak in when you visit Cordoba that two days can feel a bit rushed if you’re anything like me and like to slow travel. You can check out the top reasons to visit Cordoba here.

Happy travels!