We are currently traveling Spain and trying to decide if we should spend one night in Toledo or one night in Cordoba. This will happen after time in Granada and one night before our flight home out of Madrid. Any recommendations on either city? This will be end of journey and we will be slowing it down a bit. Interested in history, culture and food.

Sorry Meant to say two nights before our flight out of Madrid. We are staying last night in Madrid.

I'm looking forward to returning to Cordoba more than Toledo, although the latter is nice.

Does that help?

Their historical importance is different = Toledo for the Spanish Civil War and Cordoba for the Caliphate. Culturally, Cordoba probably has an edge because of its status as the seat of the Caliphate at the apex of its power.

I thoroughly enjoyed both and both abound in history, culture, and food. Perhaps because of climate and history, Cordoba seemed more "open" -- more courtyards, etc., whereas parts of Toledo are lined by the long walls of what were (are?) monasteries. I found each fascinating.

Of the two, Cordoba is harder to reach from outside Spain. (To put that differently: Toledo is a short ride away from Madrid, with it's international airport. Cordoba is not particularly near an international airport.) For that reason, I might give the nod to Cordoba.

I don't think you have a bad choice here.

If you're in Granada, you can take the train to Cordoba, but not to Toledo. If you want to go to Toledo, you will first have to go to Madrid before heading down to Toledo, or find a bus from Granada to Toledo.

Kja makes a good point, but the cathedral in Toledo is so spectacular, it leaves one speechless. Plus, Toledo is so compact and walkable, you feel you see a lot in even half a day.

After a day and night in Cordoba, I was happy to have been there, but no great draw to return.

I have been to Toledo twice, once for a couple of nights and once on a day trip, and if I am lucky enough, I would love to go once more and again stay the night when the city has quite a mysterious quality.

"the cathedral in Toledo is so spectacular, it leaves one speechless" -- Sassafrass makes a good point, but IMO, the Mezquita in Cordoba is even more spectacular! I'm very glad to have seen both. If I could return to only one of these two specific places (Toledo's Cathedral or Cordoba's Mezquita), the Mezquita would win hands down. YMMV.

Actually Toledo was under the domain of the Caliphate of Cordoba. It has the remnants of three religions and and some of the finest examples of Mudejar architecture which is an Islamic influence during the Reconquista. If the sky is right, it looks like the dramatic mannerism of El Greco.

Tough decision. Córdoba and Toledo are among the historically absolute most important cities in Spain. Córdoba as the home of the caliphate and once the most advanced city in Europe, and Toledo, Capital of Visigothic Spain, the center of Jewish, Christian and Muslim learning since the 11th century, the home of the Castillian court until it moved to Madrid in the 16th century etc. Both were important cities in Roman times.

"Córdoba - The city that changed the world": http://www.theguardian.com/spanish-t...-changed-world
Toledo: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ity-guide.html