In truth, Cordoba is a city that lends itself to being explored on foot. The main monuments are relatively close to each other. In addition, certain parts of the historical center are pedestrianized and others have restrictions on entry of vehicles. However, the closer the monuments are to the hotels, the more expensive they are. This way it is not always easy to find accommodation near the old town. You may also need to travel outside the city, for example to visit Medina Azahara, or you may arrive in Cordoba by car. Whatever the reason, here we offer you a list of the transport you can use with its advantages and disadvantages.
*The prices indicated correspond to the rates established in 2020
En este post podrás leer:
Bus
The city bus is the public transport that structures the whole city. That is to say, it is the one that the people of Cordoba usually use when they do not take the car. This implies that there are a large number of lines, connecting the city centre, the periphery and even other towns. Most probably you will be interested in those that surround the centre completely (line 3 or 12) or some of those that leave you in the spaces adjacent to it (line 5 or 7, quite useful if you don’t have accommodation in the historical centre). However, if for any reason you need another route, we recommend that you visit the company’s website. The buses start to leave at 06:00 in the morning and each stop has its own timetable depending on the number of vehicles assigned to it. Additionally, at weekends a night bus is chartered which starts its r
oute at 22:00. The basic price of a ticket is 1.3 euros but there is the possibility of getting a voucher and other types of discounts for students, large families,… Also note that although you probably don’t need to go to the bus station on Avenida de la Libertad you can have a look. It’s not the most characteristic building in the city but it won a National Architecture Award and has a garden and archaeological remains inside. There is also a special service to get us closer to Medina Azahara, whose archaeological site has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Hop-on hop-off
Additionally, in Cordoba there is a tourist bus that you can get on and off as many times as you want in one day. The ticket costs 20 euros and has 24 stops at the main points of interest. It also has audio guides and a convertible top where you can watch the streets go by in complete comfort.
Bicycle
In many places on the planet, and in Spain, it is still not a very common model of transport. Still, if you’re worried about your carbon footprint, it’s the best option. The same advantages can be applied to the bicycle as to walking, you have a greater autonomy, there are no timetables, it is easier to park, etc. Although on some narrow roads, mainly in the Jewish quarter, you will be asked to get off. Cordoba is known as the “flat”, so in spring, when the temperatures are not too high, it is easy to pedal through the streets. If you are going to stay for a long time, the city council offers a service to residents, known as Ciclocity, which involves the loan of bicycles. They have also promoted the “Cordoba Bike Program“, which are programmed routes that allow you to get to know the heritage of the town. All of them are free and are guided by professional monitors with a duration of no more than 3 hours.
Horse Carriage
Another option, in order not to get too tired, is to go around the historical centre in a horse-drawn carriage. Bearing in mind that it is a tourist attraction, this service is not too expensive. The prices oscillate around 45 Euros although this varies according to the dates, for example in Easter it is more expensive. The routes include the Alcazar, the banks of the Guadalquivir, the Puerta del Puente and the Mosque-Cathedral in a tour that lasts about 45 minutes.
Generally the drivers offer information of the city to the travellers but it is necessary to bear in mind that they are not qualified professionals and therefore the data are not verified. You can get on one of these carriage in one of the three stops in the city on Calle Torrijos, Campo Santo de los Mártires or the Red Cross roundabout.
Taxi
If you see a white car with the coat of arms of the municipality when you walk around the city, don’t hesitate it is a taxi. They may not be as iconic as the New York yellows, but they do have the same mission. By law they are obliged to show the price inside, applying the concepts of flag descent and mileage. Although for its price it is not the preferred transport of the Cordovan people they can save you from a rush. That is to say, they are not for daily use but they are affordable. A journey of 10 or 20 minutes will not exceed much more than 10 euros and you avoid all the hassle of schedules, lines, … They also have a greater offer than buses in the night and holiday shifts, although they apply special rates. The companies that operate in Cordoba are Etaxi and Radio Taxi. You can contact them by phone or through the web. Additionally they have stops all over the city, in fact there are two very close to the Mosque, the Alcazar and the Ribera.
Car
Although it is very easy to drive around Cordoba we do not recommend you bring your car as the tourist area does not need it. It is more of a burden. There are few places to park, many restrictions and the worst thing is that it loses some of its charm. Therefore the best thing is to leave it in a parking lot in the city, which would cost about 20 euros a day, or find an accommodation with its own space for vehicles. If you enter the town via the Puente Romano the best option is to walk across and leave the car on the other side. There are also public car parks near the monuments but they are quite busy. In general, it would be best to come without a car with the exception of the visit to Medina Azahara. The archaeological complex is 7 km from Cordoba and you can rent a car for that particular day.
Also you can check our best Tours in Cordoba on the next links:
Mosque of Cordoba Guided Tour
Medina Azahara Guided Tour
Patios Of Cordoba Guided Tour
Free Tour Cordoba
