I will be spending 3 weeks in Spain, first visit, the last 2 weeks of October and first week of November. I have already made some decisions, and I plan to stay in Cordoba for one week in October. I will be alone for that week. Mainly, I want to relax and enjoy the environment there (this trip is to mark my retirement). But I will have enough time to take a day trip or two. For those familiar with the area, any suggestions? Aside from Cordoba, I will already have time in Madrid, Sevilla and Granada, so no need to include those locations. But should I think about a day in Malaga? Elsewhere? I enjoy the outdoors but cannot take on anything like ambitious hiking. I also enjoy history and art. Thanks for any thoughts!
Posted by
Surrey, UK
1073 posts
If you don't mind the train ride, a day in Malaga would be well spent - Roman ruins, Moorish castle, lovely old town, Picasso museum, all in a quite compact area.
Shorter train ride would be Antequera, historic town with dolmen and mediaeval Moorish fortress.
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
2387 posts
Malaga is an excellent choice! The train ride is about one hour from Cordoba to Malaga so it's doable as a daytrip.
Just a thought . . . We loved Malaga! There is so much to see and do in Malaga. Would you be open to spending 2 nights in Malaga? Instead of visiting as a daytrip? You won't be bored.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8746 posts
A short distance west of the city is Castillo Almodovar del Rio and closer to the city is Medina Azahara - Conjunto Arqueológico Madinat al-Zahra. About 1.5 hours from Córdoba is Übeda that is a UNESCO heritage city. It’s nice to walk around for a half day. The suggestion of Málaga is a good one. Málaga is about two hours from Córdoba.
Antequera was also nice. The Alcazaba is a fairly easy uphill walk from the historic center. It isn’t large, but worth visiting. The dolmens are further out from the center. When we were there in May the largest and most interesting dolmen was closed for emergency repairs. The smaller one beside it only took a couple minutes to see. A third dolmen is a few miles further outside of town. You’d probably need to take a taxi and have it wait for you. Personally, with the largest dolmen closed, I’d skip the dolmens and use that time to visit the town and Alcazaba. If you enjoy wine, there is a small (cash only) bar in the bull ring. It has a few tables set inside the ring itself. That was a unique experience.
We had a rental car.
Posted by
Utah via SF Bay Area
548 posts
Presenting another angle-- with that much time in Cordoba, celebrating moving on to another chapter in your life, why not take some classes? I found this link, but maybe there are more. Maybe learn how to make a real paella at a local cooking school.
You can probably take a train anywhere from there. I was on a RS Best of Andalucia tour-- (you can see my scrapbook for 2025 in the scrapbooks) The Montilla wine region was very interesting . Ubeda is loaded with art, architecture, and more. You may need a car, but maybe hire a driver. You only live once. Do some olive oil tasting, too.
Take into account siesta time where many places shut down for 2-4 hours. Be ready to get your second wind at 5 pm so you can go well into the evening when everything is hopping.