48 Hours in Córdoba: The 2026 Itinerary

Two days cover the essentials of Córdoba: the Mosque-Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter on day one, and Medina Azahara and the courtyards of the Palacio de Viana on day two. This guide uses prices and opening hours published by the monuments themselves (checked in October 2026); where we could not confirm an official figure, we say so and point to the relevant website.

Practical information before you go

Place	Official information
Mosque-Cathedral	General ticket 15 €. Free visit Monday to Saturday 8:30-9:30. Bell tower: 4 €. Night visit “The Soul of Córdoba”: 25 €
Medina Azahara	Free for accredited EU citizens; 1.50 € for other countries. Museum-to-site shuttle: 3 € return. Closed Mondays, except the eve of a holiday
Palacio de Viana	12 courtyards and institutional area: 8.5 €. Guided tour of the interior: 9 €. Combined: 14 €. Under-10s, free

According to the Mosque-Cathedral, the last entry is half an hour before closing and hours may change for special events, so check the day’s hours on its tickets and hours page. Tickets can be bought online or at the Information and Reception Centre in the Patio de San Eulogio.

Day 1: Mosque-Cathedral, Jewish Quarter and Alcázar

First thing: the Mosque-Cathedral

The free slot from 8:30 to 9:30, Monday to Saturday, is the quietest, although entry stops at 9:20 and groups are not admitted. If you prefer to visit at leisure, buy the general ticket (15 €) on the official site. Allow at least a couple of hours: the forest of columns of the Umayyad mosque and the Renaissance cathedral set into its centre are the heart of the visit.

Jewish Quarter and Synagogue

Walk through the old town to the Calleja de las Flores and the Synagogue (calle Judíos, 20), the only medieval synagogue preserved in Andalusia. Its hours and admission conditions change, so confirm them with the Córdoba tourist office before going.

Lunch and an afternoon at the Alcázar

Order local dishes: salmorejo, flamenquín, oxtail stew and, to drink, a fino or amontillado from the Montilla-Moriles denomination. In the afternoon, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, with its gardens and Roman mosaics, is a good choice for the hottest hours. Check its current hours and price on the Córdoba City Council website before going.

Sunset at the Roman Bridge

Cross the Roman Bridge to the Calahorra Tower, home of the Living Museum of al-Andalus (eight rooms on Andalusi culture, with panoramic views of the historic centre from the top).

Day 2: Medina Azahara and Palacio de Viana

Morning at Medina Azahara

The caliphal palace-city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018, is 8 km from Córdoba on the A-431 (km 5.5). You can take the tourist bus run by the municipal tourism institute, which leaves twice a day from Tuesday to Sunday from Paseo de la Victoria, or drive to the museum; from there the site can only be reached by shuttle (every 15-20 minutes; the last one goes up an hour before closing). Hours change by season (from September to March, Tuesday to Saturday 9:00-18:00 and Sundays and holidays 9:00-15:00), so check the site’s website.

Afternoon at the Palacio de Viana

The 12 courtyards of the Palacio de Viana (plaza de don Gome, 2) are one of the most pleasant visits in the city. According to the palace, from September to December it opens Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-19:00 and Sundays and holidays 10:00-15:00; it is closed on Mondays. You may take photos for personal use in the courtyards, but not inside the palace.

Dinner at Mercado Victoria

End the trip at Mercado Victoria (Paseo de la Victoria), a gourmet food market with stalls of local products where you can try several tapas in one stop.

Tips

• In July and August the midday heat is strong: keep monument interiors for the middle of the day and outdoor walks for early morning and late afternoon.
• Traffic in the historic centre is restricted. For parking, see the car park map of Córdoba City Council.
• Book the Mosque-Cathedral in advance in high season if you do not want to use the free slot.

If you are travelling on through Andalusia, see our section on Córdoba.

Official sources

• Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba — tickets and hours
• Madinat al-Zahra archaeological site — general information
• Madinat al-Zahra archaeological site — access
• Palacio de Viana — visits
• Calahorra Tower — Living Museum of al-Andalus

To prepare the visit, the Córdoba guide and the history of the Mosque.