Cordoba on a Monday, castle or train early to next town?

I did like the Casa de Andalusi. Another possibility is the Casa de Sefarad, Calle Judios 14, a small Jewish-heritage museum. I thought it was very interesting. (I'm not Jewish.)

I spent quite a bit of time tracking down patios, but I do like wandering around the cities I visit in addition to going inside traditional sights. The tourist office should have a list of patios that are accessible. With some diligent Googling you might even find the information online.

Is Toledo on your itinerary, or have you been there previously?

Yeah, Toledo is on my itinerary. I have never been to any part of Spain. The casa de Andaluci is right next to the synagogue. I could fit it in easily enough. There is so much to do in Cordoba. Yet it is nonsense to think I should see every small house museums. Just one or two would be sufficient. I am giving myself too much time. I guess if I am very sure I want to leave Cordoba earlier, it would be physically possible to buy another ticket. My ticket isn't supposed to be changable.

Not certain how easy they are to get to by bus, but outside of town is El Conjunto Arqueológico Madinat al-Zahra and the Castillo Almodovar del Rio. Both are open on weekends. You could possibly visit one of them thereby saving some things to see in Córdoba for Monday.

I had assumed it would be too hard to get to the site of Madinat al-Zahra and/or I had assumed I wouldn't have time for it. Maybe I was wrong. It is closed Mondays. I hadn't realized the Castillo de Almodovar del Rio existed. I was thinking of switching my train tickets to the Monday morning to a train that leaves before 9AM and then making time for the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. I typically like to see old paintings because part of my brain feels like they should be so special because they are rare or old. Another part of my brain knows that my most memorable parts of travel are sights seen outdoors or certain old buildings or archaeological sights. The castle is open Mondays.

I never rented a car in Europe. I do actually have a valid Michigan drivers license. Would it be worth trying to rent a car (if one is available with automatic transmission) just long enough to drive out to the Castle and back?

I was suggesting to see the castle and archeological site/museum on Saturday or Sunday. That way you could wander the town Monday before taking the afternoon train. By having a rental car you could easily visit both places in the same day. Both are open on Sunday. The castle is 17 miles from Córdoba. Because of its opening time the castle would be difficult to visit on a Monday.

Castle hours in March.
Monday to Friday 11:00am to 2:30m and from 4:00m to 7::00pm
Weekends and holidays 11:00 a 19:00 horas.

For the other the hours are:
From 1 January to 31 March
Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 6:00pm
Sundays, holidays from 9:00 to 3pm.

If you decide to rent a car get an international driving permit, for $20 and 2 passport photos, at a AAA office. It’s required in Spain although nobody will probably ask to see it. In Spain I rent vehicles with manual transmissions. Driving is easy except in city centers, roads are well marked, and in good condition. To me, renting a car is worth it especially if you want to see things out in the countryside. Other than the trip that I walked the Camino for 5 days, I have always rented a car in Spain and have one reserved for my trip in a few months.

Thanks for your input. There are no rental cars available. Have you been to the Castillo de Almodóvar del Rio? Was it worth the trip?

That’s one I only heard about since COVID so haven’t been to it. It’s on my “next time we’re in that area” list. One we will see on our trip in a few months is Belmonte. It was seen in the 1960s movie El Cid. Every time we visit Spain we try to see 5 or so castles. They are all over the country. Some are restored, some ruin. Some are open to the public, others not.

Castillo Almodovar del Rio Castillo de Almodóvar del Río Looks like it’s in good shape and we’ll worth visiting. When you get into town, ask at the hotel desk to see if a bus heads out there.

Google maps and rome2rio both show ways to get to Castillo de Almodóvar del Rio by public transportation. I had thought it would make the most sense to go on the last Monday of my trip before I take a train to Madrid, my last town. I arrive in Cordoba on a Saturday at 9:38AM. That day my approximate itinerary is the synagogue, the arch a eology museum, possibly the small,art museum and likely passing by various monuments. Sunday is my ticket to the mesquite, and then I doubt whether there would be time to catch one of the buses to the castle, unless I am wrong.

Does the castle look like too much trouble to be worth the effort or should I see it anyway? Or are there better places to see near Madrid? I might will be tired of Cordoba by this last Monday of my trip. Whatever I do i will have to change my train tickets.

There is a bus operated by the Consorcio de transporte metropolitano del área de Córdoba that leaves from the Córdoba bus station at 10:00 am and arrives at the Castillo de Castillo de Almodóvar del Río stop at 10:40. It’s the M250 line. From it the castle is an 8 minutes walk away; just over a half mile. Returning, there is a bus departing at 13:30 and arriving back in Córdoba at 14:00. The ticket price would be 2.10€ each way. However, if you miss that bus the next one isn’t until 14:45 arriving at 15:25 and you’d miss your train.

If you were staying in Córdoba another night I’d visit the castle since it looks impressive. However, since you are on a fixed schedule, on this occasion, I’d play it safe and skip it, but it’s your choice. I have no idea how reliable the busses are in keeping their schedules.

Sat. to Monday is not too much time for Cordoba, if it is your first time. How much time are you staying in Granada? The best days for Granada is Sat. and Sun. All the locals are out and it so much fun. A first trip to Granada should be no less that 3 nights (and for me always over a weekend). I always book my train for the middle of the day, you depart one place and travel while it is too early to check into another. J

The summary of my itinerary so far is:

Sunday, March, 2022: arrive in Madrid. Train to Seville already purchased, arrives 5:34pm.

Monday: Alcázar (Tickets already purchased), various monuments.

Tuesday: various landmarks or monuments. Sleep in Seville. 3rd night

Wednesday: various monuments. Maybe I am giving myself too much time in Seville. Sleep in Seville. 4th night

Thursday: Bus to Granada leaves at 9:00AM. Already purchased. If time, walk past various monuments, possibly San Juan de Dios, Capilla Real, Catedral de Granada; if time: old wall, Palacio de los Olvidados, La Madraza, Casa de Castril (house with small archaeological museum), Museo cuevas del Sacromonte. 1st night in Granada.

Friday: Alhambra Moorish fortress. Already purchased. 2nd night in Granada.

Saturday. Train to Córdoba leaves 8:15am. Already purchased but I might be doubting the time I picked. Sinagoga, Museo Arqueológico de Córdoba, city walls next to the synagogue. 1st night in Cordoba.

Sunday: Mezquita (tickets not purchased, not for sale yet), Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos; if time, Baños del Alcázar Califal, Torre de la Calahorra, Templo Romano, other monuments. 2nd night in Córdoba.

Monday: Train tickets already purchased but 80% sure I picked a bad time and need to cancel it and find another ticket. I picked the train leaving at 3:27PM

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in Madrid, or so far, 5 nights and 4 whole days but expect to take a day trip to Toledo.

Plane leaves Madrid 11:40AM.

There are 2 ways to get to Castillo de Almodovar del Rio:

Renfe train from Cordoba to Posadas (Posadas is further away than the Castle). There is a train that leaves at 9:08, arriving in Posadas at 9:25; one minute walk to a bus stop; M250 bus toward Cordoba, getting off at the 3rd stop, Castillo Almodovar del Rio.

Or as mentioned there is the M250 bus from Cordoba to the castle stop (leaving at 8 or 10am) without the train.

The M250 bus from the castle stop to Cordoba leaving at 3:20PM is my best option for getting back. To heck with my current train tickets to Madrid. I'll just cancel them and buy new tickets. Maybe I'll get a refund minus 20%.

Mike, you are not giving yourself too much time in Seville, IMO. We spent 4 nights in Seville and I wish we had an extra night. Don't rush through the Alcazar! It is so beautiful and amazing! Other sights we enjoyed are the Cathedral, Casa di Pilatos, and the Plaza de Espagna. Spend some time in Triana. It's a fascinating part of the city for wandering and visit the Mercado Triana. Another interesting market is the Mercado Barranca. See a flamenco show. Take a horse and buggy ride. Seville is beautiful! Don't rush through it.

In Cordoba, I recommend visiting the Palacio de Viana and the Mercado Victoria. Cordoba is wonderful at night when the daytrippers have left and the city is illuminated. I don't think you have too much time in Cordoba. Spend some time just lazily wandering around the Juderia and soaking up its beauty and ambiance.

It is very common for attractions in Spain, and other parts of Europe, to be closed on Mondays