We have only one day in Cordoba. Naturally visiting the Mosque is tops on our list. I have no idea how much time is needed to visit it. Is it huge? I know time and visits are highly individual.... but some idea of the time any of you took to visit it, would help us in our plans. We probably won't get to Cordoba until mid to late afternoon, and would leave the next day.... any other places in Cordoba that any of you thought were special we would like to know about. Thanks.

We probably spent the better part of 1.5 hour (or slightly more) in the mezquita, but I am sure some people spend significantly less. Given our interest in art, history and architecture (we are self-confessed museum buffs), we thought it was a very worthwhile visit.

You might want to also wander in the historic center of town with lots of pedestrian-only streets - it has a very nice "spanish feel".

kanadajin

I'd say 60-90 minutes will be enough. Be sure you get the audioguide, because there isn't any explanation/description inside the Mezquita.

Other places I visited were:
Walking around the Jewish quarter and visitng the synagogue (quite small)
Alcazar

I love mosques, so I spent about 2 hours there, but that's probably more time than the average person would spend. It's gorgeous.

I too spend about 2 hours, but I was taking a lot of pictures which I lost when memory card had error later.
Since you're spending a night, you might want to visit Mezquita early in the morning, when it's free. I just walked in around 8:30, and there were only handful of people inside.

I was in Cordoba for about 6 hrs. Did Mezquita, Alcazar, underground Roman Bath museum, and had a lunch at Caballo Rojo restaurant. I was not rushed.

I wasn't planning to visit the Roman Bath museum originally. But I had time to kill between visits. I was sitting in a park near Alcazar and saw tourists disappearing and reappearing from the ground, so I found this small museum under the park.

On weekdays (Mon-Sat), if you get in before 10 am (from 8.30 am), it's free (saving 8 euro). You need to show respect as services (Laud and Mass) will be in progress in the choir (the central section, which is cordoned off except for those attending services), but you are free to wander around the rest of the Mezquita-Cathedral. You can take pictures, without flash. Only individual visitors are allowed in during this period, not groups. From 10 am, when charging visitors are allowed in, you can stay on and take a good look at the choir.

Just to add, the audioguide booth is open by 8:30am, so if you get there early enough to enter for free, you can still rent the audioguide.

The Roman Bath museum sounds interesting...has anyone else seen it?? Thanks for all your comments and help. We'll go early in the morning on the day we leave, and spend the day before touring the White Villages.......arriving in C. in the late afternoon.

I'd definately get the audioguide and plan to spend 1.5-2 hours at the Mezquita. I'd wait until later in the day (when the hordes of daytrippers and tour groups have left) to spend time in the Juderia (outside of the Mezquita). Personally I prefer the areas away from the Juderia in Cordoba. The Palacio de Viana is beautiful and peaceful with lovely patios. Cordoba also has some beautiful churches but they are only open just before masses. San Lorenzo in particular is beautiful with it's rose window and very local neighborhood. One of my other favorites is Cristo de los Faroles (Christ of the Lanterns). Outside is a statue of Christ of the Lanterns - it's eery but very interesting to visit at night and see the lanterns lit up.

For Dining in the Juderia:

El Churrasco Restaurante, Romero 16
http://www.elchurrasco.com/
It can get very busy so you need to arrive early. (I don't know if they take reservations but we didn't make any). I ate here in May 2009 during my last trip - it was our splurge meal and came to around 80 euros including water and wine. The gazpacho Blanco was a heavenly white gazpacho made with pine nuts. I couldn't resist ordering cogollos al ajillo - the couple next to us had this wonderful salad made with lettuce hearts and anchovies. We couldn't decide what to order for the main course - it all sounded so good. So we tried the Parrillada Mixta as it had a little of everything. It came with 2 sauces. One a green sauce that had parsley/garlic like a chimichurri and a red sauce that was a little spicier.

My other favorite in this area (and right down the street) is Taberna Casa Pepe de la Juderia (calle Romero 1). They also have a small tapas bar to the left as you enter the restaurant. The Berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant with honey) here is my favorite - it sounds strange but is addicting!

Outside of the Juderia are 3 tapas bars clustered near the Plaza San Miguel all within a block of each other.

Taberna San Miguel, “Casa El Pisto”, Plaza San Miguel 1
http://www.casaelpisto.com/
This place is very old and traditional - not expensive. I ate here several times. The Pisto Casero con Huevo Frito is one of there specialties and was excellent. It's a great place for people watching.

2 places that just opened this year are:

Taberna La Montillana, calle San Alvaro 5.
http://www.tabernalamontillana.com/
With outside tables also looking right at the San Miguel church. Traditional tapas fare with a restaurant upstairs. We tried a very good tapa portion of salmorejo for 1.8 euros and a media of puntas de Solomillo (sirloin tips) for 4.6 euros that was great.

Cordoba is not known for modern tapas but El Agua Cero, on calleja Barqueros 5 is an exception. Great wine list also. We tried several and they were all a hit (delicias con bechamel, Berenjenas and Pimientos). The portions were more of a media racione size and were a little more expensive then the other 2 places.

Near the Palacio de Viana was a very atmospheric, local place. I had seen it the night before and we made a point to come back for lunch. There were no tourists in sight here (and no menus in english either).

El Rincon de Las Beatillas, calle Plaza de Las Beatillas 1
http://www.tabernabeatillas.com/preinicio.htm
It was a hot day and we were looking for something refreshing so we didn't have a heavy meal. The salmorejo here was probably the best of my trip. We also had an ensalada mixta and it was loading with white aspargus, tuna and tomatoes.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Regarding the Roman Baths, I didn't go inside so can't comment on the site itself. However, it reminds me of something I've been meaning to post. Many guidebooks state that the entrance for the Alcazar includes entry to the Roman Baths. This is not the case - it's a separate entrance fee. A very rude man working at the Roman Baths brought this to our attention which was one of the reasons (his rudeness not the fact it was not included) I didn't enter - the other reason being a large group of loud school children entering just behind me!

The Roman Baths was not something I would set aside time to visit. It was that I was done visiting all I planned to visit, and I was taking a rest in a park before hitting stores and heading back to the station. It was a small exhibit.