Cordoba, Spain

Separate tickets required

Luggage store info ...
http://english.turismodecordoba.org/seccion/supervised-left-luggage-office---locker-cordoba

http://www.cordoba24.info/english/html/consignas_ferroviarias.html

The timing seems a little tight in Cordoba to me.

These trains on the current timetable give you 6 hours at Cordoba. I would suggest that as a minimum amount of time for a near decent experience.

AVE 2090
Dep 09:00 MADRID-PUERTA DE ATOCHA (Spain)
Arr 10:50 CORDOBA-CENTRAL (Spain)

ALT 9330
Dep 17:08 CORDOBA-CENTRAL (Spain)
Arr 17:53 ANTEQUERA-SANTA ANA (Spain)
TRN13077
Dep 18:11 ANTEQUERA-SANTA ANA (Spain)
Arr 19:45 GRANADA (Spain)

I'll start by saying Cordoba is my favorite Spanish city and there are enough sights to fill 2-3 days. Its major sight, second only to the Alhambra, is the Mezquita, which is what most tourists go to Cordoba to see and 1/2 day is plenty of time for that. First check your luggage at the bus station across the street from the train station. Then make your way to the Mezquita - it's walkable but it's only a short taxi ride that will save you from taking a wrong turn in the warren of old town alleyways. Allow at least an hour for the Mezquita, more if you want to examine the intricate details and/or climb the tower. That gives you lots of time to see one of the other sights and/or explore the medieval Juderia.

Lastly, check the ALSA bus schedules. You may find a bus from Cordoba to Granada that has a better departure time than the train. The journey's about the same length. The main difference is that the bus station in Granada is a km or so farther from the historic center than the train station. If you take the train, allow enough time to go through security at the station and board the train. BTW public toilets in the bus station are awful, use the ones in the train station - modern and clean.

Thank you so much for all this valuable and helpful information. Another question--In Madrid, where we'll start our trip, we'll be staying in the center of Madrid. What is the most cost effective way to get there from the airport when we land?

Re: Madrid - there is a yellow airport express bus that runs from the airport to Atocha station for 5 euros. I think it makes one other stop, plaza Ciebeles maybe? Anyway I find this the best option. You can walk, metro, or short cabride to your hotel from the bus stop, depending on where exactly the hotel is. You can also take the metro from the airport, but I find the bus easier and still quite inexpensive.

Cordoba - you can see the Mesquita in half a day. I would take the fast train from Madrid but consider ALSA bus to Granada. It has more times - so you can leave in the later evening if you want a few more hours. See the mesquita (2 hours?), eat (1?), wander the town (1-2?) and then get a cab to the bus station. 6 hours from train arrival to train/bus leaving would work. Obviously there is more there but the Mesquita is the highlight

Luggage storage lockers are in the bus station, right across the street from the train station.

I need your input. Is Córdoba worth visiting? Is their Mesquita that much different than what we'll see at the Alhambra for example ? Thanks.

The Mezquita is a mosque, defiled by the imposition of a Christian church, but that is its history.
The Alhambra is a Moorish royal palace.
Some architectural details you will notice at both, but no, overall they are not similar at all.

The Mezquita is both unique and beautiful. It's the best sight in Spain after the Alhambra.

Yes, La Mezquita should not be missed! It is worth the trip to Cordoba. It is quite different from the Alhambra.

Thank you so much for your replies. I think we'll be visiting Cordoba for at least 1/2 day before heading south to Granada.

We will also travel from Madrid to Cordoba on a day trip. Do we need to hire a guide or can we do a self tour of the Mesquita. How close is the train station to the Mesquita?
Thanks

The Mezquita is totally different from the Alhambra and if I had only one place to visit in all of Spain, it would be the Mezquita
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/the-mezquita-at-least-the-catholics-had-the-good-sense-not-to-destroy-it-when-they-desecrated-it/
We thought it was the most amazing thing in Spain including the Alhambra and the Alcazar in Seville (similar to the Alhambra) there is nothing at the Alhambra, magnificent though it is, that is close to the Mezquita.

We spent 2 nights and 1 full day in Cordoba and that was the minimal amount of time I'd recommend. We arrived via train from Madrid mid-day and spent the afternoon exploring close to the river. The next day we went to the Mezquita which blew us away. Nothing had prepared me for how amazing it is and how different it is from the Alhambra. If you have the opportunity to visit, you really must go. That afternoon we explored the old city looking into courtyards and patios and ended up in Plaza Las Tendillas where we sat on a restaurant terrace with a glass of wine and some tapas with the locals. If your time is limited then spend just half a day but don't miss the Mezquita. The other thing I'd recommend is to do some reading in advance - the Mezquita is truly remarkable and worth having the historical context in advance.

KAS in YVR (and any others) - what reading would you recommend before visiting Cordoba. I am reading Ornament of the World but wondering if there are other books that will help me prepare for visiting the Mezquita.

Thanks

I found the small Al-Andalus museum in the Tower just across the Roman Bridge from the Mesquita and Arch to be very enjoyable and interesting. It has sort-of dioramas presenting different eras and major personalities of Cordoba's history, along with artifacts of everyday life through the ages.

I certainly agree that the Mesquita is unique, beautiful and memorable. When I was there just over a year ago, admission into the Mesquita was free from 8:30 am until just before the Mass begins at about 9:30 am, when they empty the building of non-mass visitors. After the Mass, the building is re-opened but with an admission charge.

@thistleamy: I read a guide book called Spain Revealed: Cordoba's Mezquita. I think it's only available in a Kindle version but it was quite helpful.