Private Córdoba Day Tour: the Mezquita and the Jewish Quarter

What you'll see

• The prayer hall of the Mezquita, with its rows of columns and striped arches
• The mihrab and its gold Byzantine-style mosaics
• The cathedral nave built inside the mosque in the 16th century
• The Patio de los Naranjos, the old ablution courtyard planted with orange trees
• Judería lanes, the medieval synagogue and the statue of Maimonides
• The Roman bridge and the view back to the city from the Calahorra tower
• Salmorejo and flamenquín, the two dishes Córdoba claims as its own

For three centuries Córdoba was the capital of al-Andalus, and its great mosque is still the building that stops visitors in their tracks. Begun in the late 8th century and enlarged several times, it is a forest of columns under red-and-white double arches, with a Renaissance cathedral inserted into its heart after the Christian conquest. On this private Córdoba tour your driver brings you from the coast to the edge of the old town, and a guide holding the Junta de Andalucía's official accreditation leads you through the Mezquita-Catedral and the lanes of the Jewish Quarter.

The city is compact and flat, which makes it one of the gentler day trips from the coast. Everything worth seeing in a single day lies within a few hundred metres of the river: the Roman bridge, the Puerta del Puente, the gardens of the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs and the flower-filled alley of Calleja de las Flores. Córdoba is also one of the hottest cities in Spain in July and August, so in summer we start early and keep the walking for the morning.

In pictures

Choose where we pick you up

How the day goes

Your guide

Your guide carries the official accreditation of the regional government and spends about two and a half hours with you. Most of that time is inside the Mezquita-Catedral: the courtyard, the original prayer hall, the successive extensions, the mihrab and maqsura, and the cathedral at the centre. The rest is a walk through the Judería, covering the synagogue, Maimonides and the everyday life of the three faiths that shared the city. We can always offer English or Spanish; for French, German or Italian, ask when booking and we will check who is free.

Tickets

Entry to the Mezquita-Catedral is paid separately at the official price; we can arrange it for your group or you can buy it yourself. Some hours are reserved for worship, as it is an active cathedral, so the tourist visit has its own timetable which we check when you book. Climbing the bell tower needs a separate timed ticket with limited places. The synagogue and the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs have their own entry; your guide will tell you on the day which are open.

Good to know

• From late June to early September Córdoba regularly passes 40 °C in the afternoon; plan the walking for the morning and lunch indoors.
• The Mezquita is a place of worship: shoulders and knees covered is the respectful choice, and hats come off inside.
• The streets are flat but paved with uneven cobbles; trainers or comfortable walking shoes are best.
• May is a lovely time to come, with the Crosses, the Patios festival and orange blossom, but also the busiest; book early.
• Most of the Mezquita is on one level, which makes it one of the easier monuments for wheelchair users; let us know so we drop you at the closest point.
• On rainy days the Mezquita is still a superb visit, and the taverns of the Judería are made for long lunches.

Price per vehicle

Fixed price for the whole vehicle and the whole day, the same from anywhere between Málaga and Marbella. Includes driver, fuel, tolls and parking and the official guide. Entry tickets not included.