Destinations
❮Main Menu
CORDOBA FAQ'S
Cordoba has a working airport which allows the passage of up to 80-seat passenger aircraft. However, at present there are no regular passenger flights to Cordoba, although there are plans to start them in the future.
The nearest airports are in Seville, Malaga and Madrid.
From Seville Airport (SVQ): Car rental companies such as Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, Avis, Sixt and Goldcar are all represented at Seville Airport`s terminal building. Rental prices start at €50 per day.
To take the AVE train from Seville to Cordoba, first take a taxi from the taxi rank outside the airport terminal building to Seville`s main train station (Santa Justa Station). Flat rates are charged for taxi travel to and from Seville Airport, expect to pay at least €25 for a ride from the airport to the train station. Over a dozen AVE trains run from Seville Santa Justa station to Cordoba Central station between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. each weekday (fewer trains run on weekends and holidays). Expect to pay between €30 and €60 for a one-way ticket depending on ticket class; the journey usually takes 45 minutes.
From Malaga Airport (AGP): Hertz, Avis, Goldcar, Europcar, Sixt and Record Go car rental companies can all be found in Terminal T2. Mid-size rentals are priced at €50 to €60 per day.
During peak flight hours (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.), a RENFE suburban train connects Terminal T4 with Malaga Maria Zambrano railway station. Fares cost approximately €2 one-way and the journey takes 12 minutes. AVE trains leave at least once per hour (between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) from Malaga Maria Zambrano station, heading to Cordoba Central station. The journey between the two stations is approximately one hour in length and the cost of a one-way ticket starts at €30.
From Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD): If you`re looking to rent a vehicle, Goldcar, Sixt, Europcar, Enterprise, Avis and Hertz car rental companies have locations in both Terminals 1 and 4. Prices are competitive and a small car can be rented for under €50 per day.
Socibus (www.socibus.es/wp/en) offers a long-distance coach bus which leaves from outside Terminal T1 every evening at 6:30 p.m. The coach arrives at Cordoba bus station just after midnight. Tickets cost about €20 each way, and they can be bought online or in person at Viajes Vereda (Terminal T1, arrivals, hall 2).
RENFE trains can be found at Terminal T4. Take the C-1 line from Aeropuerto station to Atocha station, where you will switch trains and board the AVE train for Cordoba Central station. The trip from the airport to Atocha takes 25 minutes; the trip from Atocha to Cordoba takes an hour and 45 minutes. Expect to pay about €3 one-way on the RENFE train and between €75 and €125 for the AVE train to Cordoba. The AVE trains leave Atocha at least once hourly between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day.
A taxi stand is located outside Cordoba Central station; set aside €10 or so for a ride from the train station to the historic city center.
How do I get around Cordoba using public transportation?Cordoba`s bus system is operated by AUCORSA (short for Autobuses de Cordoba, S.A.M., www.aucorsa.es). The system consists of 14 routes within the city limits and five extra routes which travel to the suburbs and to areas like the Medina Azahara. Routes run at least twice hourly between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week. One-way tickets cost less than €2 and can be purchased at self-serve kiosks located at each bus stop, or at select retailers listed on the AUCORSA website.
How do I call/hail a taxi?Taxis are ubiquitous in Cordoba. They are white, and a side door will feature the city crest and the taxi`s registration number. As long as the taxi`s light is green (signifying a vacancy), you can hail a cab from the street. Taxi stands are also available all over town: at the railway and bus stations, Plaza de las Tendillas, Plaza Colon, and Calles Agustin Moreno, Arcos de la Frontera, Ciudad Jardin, and Cañero.
The base pick-up fare is between €2 and €3 (depending on day and time), and each mile will add roughly €1.50 to the final result on the meter. Keep in mind that taxi drivers in Cordoba must use the meter, so if you have a driver who insists on quoting a flat price and turning the meter off, announce your intention to get out and find another cab.
I will have a car in Cordoba. Where can I park?There are at least fifteen public parking lots situated in the historic center of Cordoba, and a two-hour limit (€2) is enforced from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday. Cordoba is also home to nine car parks which allow all-day parking for under €20.
Is Cordoba a dangerous city? Are there certain areas I should avoid?Cordoba is considered to be a very safe city, although pickpockets have been reported in areas with heavy foot traffic, such as the Mezquita and the Jewish Quarter. Men should keep their money in a front pocket, not a back pocket; women should keep their purses or pocketbooks close to their bodies. Otherwise, take common-sense precautions while on your trip: Keep your wits about you and always look like you know where you are going, even when you may not, so there is no possibility for petty thieves to take advantage of you. Be sure to keep your valuables such as your passport, camera, etc. on your person at all times.
Are there long lines at the museums? Does it make sense to buy a museum pass?Long lines are not an issue at any of the landmarks in Cordoba, not even busy tourist areas like the Mezquita. The City of Cordoba`s tourism office (english.turismodecordoba.org) offers a Cordoba Card which can only be purchased before arriving in Spain. The card costs less than €50 per person and gives the cardholder free admission into a long list of attractions, but no front-of-the-line privileges.
Can I pay/tip in US dollars?The currency of Spain is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks and ATMs can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.
I don't speak Spanish. Will many people speak English?English may be spoken at your hotel and in tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-Spanish dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10. To ask someone if they speak English, say `Habla inglés?`.
What time do Spaniards usually eat? Do I need to make reservations to fancy restaurants in advance?Traditionally Spanish people have their meals later than in other European countries. Breakfast (desayuno in Spanish) is usually from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the morning and is a light meal with `café con leche`, which means coffee with milk. With the coffee you might have a croissant or a `tostada` (toast with butter and jam). Lunch is an important meal and usually lasts about two hours, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., but some shops and business close by 1 p.m. Dinner (cena) is generally from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., but you can often find people eating until midnight. Most upscale restaurants do require a reservation, and depending on the restaurant, may require booking weeks or even months in advance.
Note: New anti-smoking laws in Spain prohibit smoking in all enclosed public spaces including restaurants and nightclubs.
What are the best areas for shopping?If you are looking for souvenirs like Spanish-made jewelry and other authentic gifts, take a look at the shops around the Mezquita. You will find great deals in a lot of these shops. If you aren`t satisfied with the selection of goods in one shop, go to another one; there`s no shortage of similar souvenir stores in the vicinity. If you are looking for designer shopping, including brands well-known in Europe and North American, you will find all the usual suspects around Plaza de las Tendillas.
Where can I rent a bicycle in Cordoba?The City of Cordoba has taken great strides in promoting bicycle travel in and around the city, not just for locals but also for tourists. The City of Cordoba has created its own daughter company, Cordobaenbicicleta (www.cordobaenbicicleta.com), which has planned out bike routes in the historic city center and the suburbs for cyclists to try. When reserving your bicycle ahead of time, Cordobaenbicicleta will ask you where your route will stop and end; they do this because they will bring you your bicycle when you want to start your journey and will pick it up when you`ve finished.