Bus vs train for Madrid>Cordoba, Cordoba>Granada, Granada>Gibraltar?

Why Gibraltar at all?
If there is the option of taking a train vs bus, take the train. Buy tickets ahead online. Cordoba to Granada, correct, no train right now. Take bus or hire a driver.

I used a bus to get from Córdoba to Granada, very smooth no problems. From Sevilla to Córdoba I used a train, again everything was smooth and I had no problems. I bought the tickets directly at the train/bus stations.

I also agree with Suki, Gibraltar is a tad tacky for my taste and other than the Gibraltar rock and annoying monkeys, there are not many sights to begin with.

Instead, I would recommend you visit one of these nearby cities:

Málaga - Picasso's hometown, there you can see the 11th century Moorish palace, the Alcazaba, or its counterpart, Castillo de Gibralfaro. They also have a Picasso museum.

Cádiz - The oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe (older than Rome by about 600 years). The Catedral de Cádiz is worth the visit. They also have a museum about the city's long history, starting with the Phoenicians.

Jerez - Home of the famous Sherry wines, make sure to do a tasting tour if you go. The city is also home to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, which is well known for its "dancing stallions" shows and other equestrian events showcasing the Andalusian Horse.

For Madrid-Cordoba I would certainly use the train. Even at this relatively late stage, if you book in advance you should get a cheaper ticket than the "on the day" flexible price. You're also certain of a ticket - these express trains can and do sometimes sell out. You don't have a choice of lines really. It will be a Renfe service. Some have trouble getting the Renfe website to work, so trainline.com is a good alternative.

For Cordoba-Granada, I believe Alsa run a coach (bus) service. They are a good operator in my experience - on-time, clean, working AC. Or you can go by rail, but for the second portion you will be transferred to a coach anyway since the permanent way is being rebuilt. I'd look up the options and decide which timings/price suit. The rail-replacement bus option, I think, ends at the Granada railway station, which is closer to the town centre than the bus station.

Gibraltar is fantastic and one of the best places for a day or two on the peninsula. But it won't be easy to get to from Granada via public transport (there is no rail connection to the colony anyway, getting there would require multiple bus/train links I suspect), nor will it be cheap if hiring a driver. There may be organised day-trips from Cordoba or Granada, but that would be a long day - the ones I know of are "shopping tours" that come from Malaga and that area (you don't have to shop, they're just called that because Gib is cheaper for some things). Personally, I might consider an alternative. Have you thought of Ubeda/Baeza, both beautiful and which have straightforward links to/from both Granada & Cordoba.

Gibraltar......you either love it or you hate it.

Gibraltar always reminds me of the UK in the 80's and not in a good way. It is stuck in the past, it is very insular although some of that attitude is to be expected and is a bit tacky. The Rock and its history is interesting, the monkeys are mildly amusing, the locals can be a bit odd and the booze is cheap. The food I've eaten was poor despite being the best recommended, tastes haven't moved on from the 70's.

I've been twice, once out of curiosity and the other to take my parents who wanted to visit. I have no intention or desire to return other than if I can get a good deal on a flight that will enable me to get to Estepona or Marbella.

Personally I wouldn't bother with Gibraltar, I'd spend more time enjoying Spain.

Rob,

I'd also suggest taking the train from Madrid to Córdoba and you can book your tickets in advance.
Having said this, if you plan to travel to Córdoba on day of arrival, then it's best to buy your ticket at the airport once you arrive as there may be unforeseen delays with your flight, passport control or baggage claims.

You may still find some discounted train tickets for late October. You can check train schedules and book tickets on
Renfe.com

My mom and I took the ALSA bus from Córdoba to Granada. Keep in mind that the bus station is located on the outskirts of the city, so you'll need to take a bus to the city center, or a taxi to your hotel (we took a taxi).

BTW, there are trains traveling from Córdoba to Granada; however, due to railway construction around Granada, one needs to transfer to a bus (supplied by Renfe) once the train reaches Antequera Santa Ana's train station. The bus will take you to Granada's train station which is closer to the city center.

I opted for the ALSA Bus on this route (Córdoba > Granada) since I was traveling with my elderly mom and didn't want to deal with transferring from train to bus. We purchased our bus tickets, at the bus station in Córdoba, a couple of days prior to our day of travel.

I've not visited Gibraltar, so can't help you with transportation options.

Have a wonderful trip!