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Sevilla to Cordoba Day Trip: How many hours needed?

Sevilla to Cordoba Day Trip: How many hours needed?

Old Jul 23rd, 2016, 11:53 AM
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Sevilla to Cordoba Day Trip: How many hours needed?

Hoping for any advice on how much time is needed in Cordoba for a day trip via the train.

My parents and I will be there at the end of September (on a Friday, in case that matters) and are looking to book our train tickets. We definitely want to see the Mosque and Old Town...and would love to soak up as much of the city as possible. (Any other reco's would be appreciated too!)

If we arrive at 10:30 in the morning and leave at 5:30 - is that enough time? Are we better off leaving later? Will everything close down in the afternoon?

We're first time visitors, so not exactly sure what to expect with shops/cafes being open in the afternoons.

Thanks!
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Old Jul 23rd, 2016, 12:10 PM
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Your call! I spent 2 full days in Cordoba, and wish I'd had more time there. The Mezquita should be open until 7 p.m.
http://www.mezquitadecordoba.org/en/...ue-cordoba.asp
You can, of course, check the opening hours for any of the city's other delights on line yourself. You can walk around at any time. Two of my favorite dinners in Andalusia were in Cordoba. Really, it depends on what you and your parents want to see and experience.

Enjoy!
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Old Jul 23rd, 2016, 01:33 PM
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I spent all day there, probably about that time and I saw the most important things to me. You'll have to decide for yourself. Mainly the Mezquita and the Alcazar were what I was interested in. I'm sure some restaurants may close in the middle of the afternoon, after lunch but before dinner time. Some of the museums in Cordoba or minor sights (which you probably won't go to) do close early in the day, like around 3 pm. And the Mezquita is closed on Sunday for a few hours around noon but if you are going on Friday, that's not an issue. The Alcazar typically closes at 3 pm.

If your main interest is shops and cafes, I can't say as I don't like shopping and didn't do it there.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2016, 02:41 PM
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Hi,

Half a day would be enough.

See the Mezquita, walk around the old town a bit and you're done.

The Alcazar is very much in ruins and nothing much to look at at, though its gardens are nice.

The new part of Cordoba is an eyesore.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2016, 03:59 PM
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I believe there are trains at 8:00 and 8:50 taking 45 minutes.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 12:04 AM
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Hva lunch in one of the many excellent, local atmosphere and affordable tabernas in the Roman part of Córdoba some 3-400 meters North/North-east of the Mezquita. The restaurants and tapas bars in the Mezquita/Jewish quarter area are very touristy. And Roman Córdoba is an attraction in itself with the Roman temple etc.

Taberna Salinas from 1879 is one of many excellent options up here and comes with a Michelin guide recommendation. http://tabernasalinas.com/

And lots of other great options in this part of town: http://www.cordoba24.info/tavernen/h...vernen_en.html

Great outdoor cafés in the two main plazas of the city, Plaza de las Tendillas and the Plaza Mayor-in-Madrid-like Plaza de la Corredera, both in the Roman part of town.

Lunch from about 1:30pm to 4:30 pm, then the restaurants open again at night at 8 or 9pm. And now Córdoba really comes to life. In September, people will stay out in the outdoor cafés and bars long into the night, Plaza de las Tendillas is crowded at 3am in the weekends. In the Mezquita area there are lots of places that cater to tourists and are open all day.

10:30 to 5:30 seems like a good idea, then you'll have time to see the Mezquita, soak up some of the atmosphere and have a great lunch, and be back in Sevilla? in good time before the evening starts here.

This video will get you in the Córdoba mood, "Córdoba- vida y genio" (life and spirit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 12:26 AM
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I'd aim to return later than 5pm, more like 8. But you could stay even later and eat supper in Cordoba and then take the last train "home"
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 03:18 AM
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Like kja, I spent 2 days in Cordoba & could have easily filled in another.

I thought it was a fascinating place.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 03:40 AM
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Agree with bilboburgler, stay as long as possible in Córdoba, once the most advanced city in Europe, and you will be rewarded with experiencing a different vibe at night when most of the day-trippers have left. The last train to Sevilla on a Friday night leaves at 23:24. That would give you time for dinner in one of the many tabernas before taking in the Córdoba atmosphere in the outdoor cafés in Plaza de las Tendillas or Plaza de la Corredera.

I love Plaza de las Tendillas, but close by Plaza de la Corredera is also something special: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres...corredera.html
http://english.turismodecordoba.org/...-la-corredera2
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 03:57 AM
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And I guess you know that the Bienal de Flamenco goes on in Sevilla from Sept 8 to October 2. The greatest flamenco artists in the world in theaters all around town every night A night at the Bienal could be a highlight of the trip. Tickets are starting to sell out. http://www.labienal.com/en/

Farruquito dances in the huge Maestranza theater on Saturday 24th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydyKyx7Povg

My favourite artist on the planet Rocío Molina, from Torre del Mar between Nerja and Málaga city, dances in the modern Teatro Central on Saturday Oct 1: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/20...-bosque-ardora
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 06:16 AM
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Wow, thank you all for the wonderful tips! Ideally we would have time to stay overnight, but unfortunately we won't on this trip. But it sounds like it's a matter of whether we want to experience the nightlife in Cordoba. My parents are in their 60's - so it might be too long of a day for them or they could potentially be convinced. I'll float the idea to them!

@Kimhe - thank you for the awesome info about the Flamenco shows. I had NO idea, and am so grateful for the reco! I'm going to look into this and try and book a show. Someone had also suggested doing the shows at the Museum of Flamenco. What are your thoughts? Not worth it? Or try to do both?
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 06:22 AM
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@kimhe - has the Rocio Molina show sold out? I've tried the link to "buy" and it doesn't say anything about being sold out, but not possible to buy either. Just wondering if they're not on sale yet?

She sounds incredible - and that would be the perfect end to our trip in Seville, assuming we can get tickets. Thanks for the tip!
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 06:44 AM
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Rocío Molina has been sold out for a couple of months. But usually it's possible to get hold of tickets outside the venue for a bit higher cost the last hour or so before it starts. Note that Molina is planning to go on for some four hours, starting at 11pm, so prepare for a long night with an out of this world dancer and artist.

Fabulous singer Marina Heredia in the old world Lope de Vega theater (an atrraction in itself) could be an alternative, still some tickets left: http://www.labienal.com/en/contra-las-cuerdas/

Great artists at Museo de Flamenco also, but a totally different thing than the Bienal performances where there is mostly a local and knowledgeable crowd, all dressed up for a night in the theater with sky high expecations. I use to recommend Casa de La Memória or La Casa del Flamenco as a great intro to this beautiful and powerful art, but it's very different from a night at the Bienal. But many of the artists who perform here have also, or are going to, perform during the Bienal.
Casa de la Memória: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...Andalucia.html
La Casa del Flamenco: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...Andalucia.html
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 06:53 AM
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Okay - thanks kimhe! I can see why Rocio Molina has been sold out for months, she's mesmerizing! Hope to see her one day.

I'll try for tickes to the Bienal while we're there. Thanks for the reco's for the other Flamenco venues. Is there anywhere in particular you recommend to listen to live music? Or would the Casa de la Momoria and La Casa del Flamenco be good places to start to hear good guitarists?
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:39 AM
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Always excellent flamenco guitarists in Casa de la Memória and La Casa del Flamenco. All the basic elements of flamenco, song, guitar and male and female dancer. No Food, no drinks, just flamenco for some 60 minutes.

Or see Juan Carlos Romero on Thursday 29: http://www.labienal.com/en/que-mas-da/

And if you don't stay too long in Córdoba, you can see great Patricia Guerrero Dance in Lope de Vega on Friday 30th: http://www.labienal.com/en/catedral/

Patricia Guerrero during the last Bienal in 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NacCLcjuMFc
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 08:28 AM
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this is wonderful - thank you!

I'm sorry, I have one last question on the train between Sevilla and Cordoba. I'm trying to book trains now for Sept 30, and when I attempt to purchase the "return" for that evening, it gives me an error "The places cannot be reserved right now. Please try again later (G001-M998)".

It's worked intermittently, depending on how many tickets I attempt to purchase (one at a time vs three at once).

I'm hoping to use the renfre site, not petrabax, as it's dramatically cheaper. But I'm losing my mind...can't figure out why some earlier trains will take us to the booking page, and why others give me that error.

Anyone have an idea? Thanks!
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 11:17 AM
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The resident European train expert here on Fodor's recently mentioned captaintrain.com for purchasing Spanish rail tickets. He indicated there are no additional fees, unlike Petrabax, and that the site is easy to use, unlike Renfre.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 12:18 PM
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I just compared one train, Madrid to Sevilla, captaintrain ve renfre, and the latter was cheaper by €17.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 12:50 PM
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RonZ - Same here. Captain Train is €17 per person more expensive than Renfe.

I'm ready to throw in the towel and just do it so they're booked - but it's infuriating considering it was working yesterday. I just can't understand why Renfe keeps giving me that error.

If anyone has a suggestion on calling Renfe/waiting it out/etc vs just paying the extra 50 euros and using Captain Train, I'd love any advice.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 01:13 PM
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Well, I guess The Man in Seat 61 was wrong when he said no fees or I misunderstood. Perhaps he meant they're lower than Petrabax. I'm sorry to not be of any help.
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