Best Areas to Stay in Córdoba, Spain

The Historic Centre of Córdoba is one of the largest and most fascinating in all of Spain.

This historic area is located on the north bank of the Guadalquivir River and it offers one of the largest concentrations of monuments, museums and tourist attractions in Europe.

The main tourist attraction in the centre of Córdoba is undoubtedly its Mosque-Cathedral. Currently known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, this Catholic temple was built on the ancient Great Mosque of Córdoba, which in turn was (arguably) erected on the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to the god Janus.

With an eclectic mix of styles, the Mosque of Córdoba stands out mainly for its hypostyle hall, which originally served as the main prayer space for Muslims. The structure of the mosque is considered an important monument in the history of Islamic architecture and is considered by many scholars to have had a great influence on Moorish architecture in the western Mediterranean regions.

To the northwest of the Mosque is the old Jewish Quarter and the Córdoba Synagogue, the main place of worship for the Sephardic population of the city that still preserves its patio, a stucco room and the women’s balcony. The nearby Casa del Judío is considered one of the most beautiful mansions in the city.

The Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba exhibits archaeological artefacts ranging from prehistory to the Middle Ages, as well as Moorish art.

A little further north is the Roman Temple, which together with the mausoleum, the bridge and the remains of the amphitheatre make up the main Roman-era sites in the city.

The Roman Bridge of Córdoba, which dates back to the 1st century AD is located next to the Mosque and was, for centuries, the only structure that crossed the Guadalquivir River in the city.

To the southeast of the Mosque is the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, a palace complex in the Mudejar style with gardens, terraces, Roman mosaics and Gothic towers offering panoramic views.

The Historic Centre of Córdoba consists of a tangle of narrow streets that invite you to be explored on foot. To move from one area to another, the best option is to get lost in the history of its intricate alleys. Additionally, the widest streets in the area offer several bus stops.

As expected of the best area to stay in Córdoba, the Mosque area is full of places to stay. The accommodation offer in this charming neighbourhood is very wide and includes a multitude of boutique hotels in medieval palaces, small family establishments, tourist apartments, hostels and guest houses.

The Palacio de Viana is located in the northeast area of ​​the Historic Centre of Córdoba, in the Santa Marina neighbourhood.

This palace-museum was declared a Spanish Cultural Site in 1981. Built in the 15th century and expanded over the centuries, its name comes from the Marquisate of Viana, the last family that owned the property. This heritage complex covers 6,500 square metres and includes twelve courtyards and a garden.

The Santa Marina neighbourhood is considered one of the most traditional of the city and the cradle of bullfighting in Córdoba.

In the surroundings of the palace, there are some tourist attractions, such as the Plaza de Colón, the Roman Temple, the church of San Lorenzo Mártir and the Palacio de la Merced; an 18th-century Baroque convent that now houses government offices and events.

The nearby Torre de la Malmuerta was built in the 15th century on a pre-existing Almohad structure to defend the gates of Rincón and Colodro. Later, it was also used as a prison for noblemen.

The area south of the Guadalquivir was traditionally the suburb of the city of Córdoba, a territory outside the walls that in Arab times was called “suburb of Saqunda”.

Connected to the city centre by the Roman Bridge, this area offers impressive views of Córdoba and several must-see tourist attractions.

The Torre De Calahorra is an Islamic-era fortress conceived to protect the access to the Roman Bridge and the city centre. Today, the tower offers panoramic views and houses a small municipal museum.

The nearby Center for Contemporary Creation of Andalusia C3A is a space dedicated to the production and creation of contemporary art in all its forms. On the other hand, the Centro Cívico Arrabal del Sur offers temporary exhibitions of local artists.

Miraflores Park is one of the main green areas in Córdoba and has panoramic views of the river and the city.

Córdoba station, formerly known as Córdoba Central, is the main railway station in the city.

It is located on Plaza de las Tres Culturas, north of the Historic Centre of Córdoba.

Inaugurated in 1994 to replace the old 1859 terminal, Córdoba station offers a large number of Long and Medium Distance services, both on conventional and high-speed lines (AVE).

The station has four international gauge tracks for AVE (high-speed) trains and four more Iberian gauge for Media Distancia services. The main destinations that can be reached from here include Madrid, Seville, Málaga, Barcelona, ​​Jaén, Granada and Cádiz.

The surroundings of Córdoba train station offer the most modern facet of the city and are the best areas to stay in Córdoba for travellers in transit or those on a train route through Andalusia.