Are you thinking about booking a Malaga to Cordoba day trip?
In that case, you’re at the right place!
This article has all the detailed insights and practical local tips that will show you all the options for booking this day trip. As I have visited Cordoba myself and live next to Malaga, in this article, you will find the best local tips and practical advice that will save you a lot of time and research.
If you prefer to make your day trip booking immediately, without reading all the options, I have added a link to the bestselling tour from a local travel company below.
No time to read the article?
Book your From Malaga to Cordoba with Mosque Guided Tour right away! It has hundreds of glowing reviews and the best price available.
Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip: 4 Options for This Trip
There are four options you have for planning this trip. The most hassle-free and often most cost-effective option is booking a tour from a local travel company, which I have linked below.
If you’re on a tight budget, you should definitely consider the option of using public transport. I have outlined details for each of these options beneath.
BOOK ONLINE:
Option 1: Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip with Local Travel Company
As I mentioned, this is possibly the most hassle-free way to see Cordoba on a day trip from Malaga. Using a local travel company has a lot of benefits:
- FREE cancellation up to 24 hours before the trip for a full refund, giving you lots of flexibility in case your plans change
- Reserve now and pay later option – no need to pay the whole amount right away.
- Skip the line tickets to the Cathedral included
- Guided tour of the Cathedral, so you learn everything about its history.
- Local English and Spanish-speaking guide
- Pick up point in central Malaga
- Travel in a comfortable modern air-conditioned bus
- This trip is available 6 times a week
- Book online in just a few steps
BOOK ONLINE:
How to Book Tris Day Trip
Navigate to this page, and then follow the instructions:
- From the page, select the number of people attending, your preferred day trip, and your language preference
- You will be navigated to a payment page
- Your ID will be required to book the trip
- You will receive an email confirmation that will show you the starting time, pick-up location, and all the details that
Is it Sold Out?
In case the above trip is sold out for the dates you are visiting, you have a few options available:
Private walking tour of Cordoba with entrance to the Cathedral – this trip is a more expensive option, as it’s a private trip, not a shared bus journey. This trip is available 7 days a week and won’t be sold out as frequently as the above option. The tickets to the Cathedral are already included in the price, as is the transport to and from Malaga.
If you don’t want to pay for a private guide, you can take a train or rental car to get to Cordoba and then make your own program for discovering the city. In this case, I would strongly recommend securing your tickets to the Cathedral as soon as possible, as they sell out quickly. You can buy them online here.
Option 2: Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip with Rental Car
Driving to Cordoba makes the most sense if you have already rented a car for your stay in Malaga. If this is the best option for you, here are a few things you should be aware of:
If you’re visiting Cordoba, it’s safe to presume you would also like to see the famous Mezquita Cathedral of Cordoba. I highly recommend getting your tickets online as soon as possible, as you might end up in a situation where the tickets are sold out for the date you want to visit Cordoba.
The distance between Malaga and Cordoba is 163 km
The journey should take about 2 hours, depending on the traffic and which route you are taking.
As the drive is fairly long, I recommend leaving Malaga as early as possible so you have plenty of time to explore Cordoba on your day trip.
The drive to Cordoba from Malaga is fairly easy, but there may be some toll roads on your way, so have some spare cash in the car in case you hit the toll booth.
The outline of the journey is on the map under this section
It’s worth checking parking options in Cordoba in advance, especially if you want to stay close to the center – in many cases, the big parking places also allow you to buy day tickets in advance, saving you the hassle on the day.
Option 3: Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip with Public Transport
Using public transport for this trip is very affordable if you book your tickets online. It’s also a convenient option as there are many connections per day.
I would recommend only considering the train for this journey as the buses take between 2.5 hours to over 3 hours one way, so not a very practical option for a day trip.
The trains all leave Malaga Maria Zambrano station, within a short taxi drive from central Malaga.
- The train journey takes about 1 hour, so it’s much faster than driving by car
- There are just a few stops on the way, and no changes needed
- Tickets start as low as 23 euros one way, but can go up to 44 euros one way, depending on which train you select
- There are up to 15 connections per day, so very convenient for a day trip
- The earliest train from Malaga leaves around 8am, and your last train from Cordoba back to Malaga would be around 10pm
- Get your tickets in advance at the Renfe website, where you will also see the different departure options and prices
Option 4: Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip with Taxi
The last option, which is the most expensive one, is using a taxi for this trip.
According to estimates online, this trip would cost you between 150 and 180 euros one way for a standard car with up to 4 people sharing. If more people are travelling, it might work out as ok price as you will share the cost of the trip.
Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip: Top Travel Tips
Here are some practical tips that will make your trip to Cordoba much more enjoyable:
- wear comfortable shoes and clothing – Cordoba can be notoriously hot in the summer months, but also in early spring
- take a water bottle with you everywhere you go
- if you’re planning this trip on your own without using a local travel company, don’t forget to check and book your Mosque-Cathedral tickets right away as they sell out really quickly, especially in the main season
- if you’re travelling with a baby, you might struggle in some parts of Cordoba that have cobbled streets, and also in the orange tree courtyard of the cathedral – it might be a good idea to take a baby carrier with you
- the centre of Cordoba is not big, so I am quite confident you can see all the highlights within one day
- if you’re making this day trip on your own, without using the tour company, here are my top picks what to see in Cordoba: 1) Mezequita Cathedral of Cordoba, 2) The Bell Tower, 3) Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos and 4) old town of Cordoba. If you have time, visit a local ‘teteria’ (tea shop) or Arab bath for full experience.
- The best time to visit the Cathedral is in the very early morning hours or late afternoon, so keep that in mind when you book your tickets
Malaga To Cordoba Day Trip: Frequent Questions
What are the best coach day trips from Malaga to Cordoba?
You can book coach day trips from Malaga to Cordoba online; they are an easy and convenient way to see Cordoba on a day trip, and have an English-speaking guided and guided tour of the Cathedral included in the price. The bestselling coach trip tour is available here.
Is it worth visiting Cordoba on a day trip from Malaga?
Yes, definitely! Cordoba is relatively close to Malaga, being dubbed the ‘heart of Andalusia’ it is a truly unique place to visit. If you are planning a day trip, Cordoba is small enough, so you get to see all the highlights within one day, without having to rush from one place to the next.
Can you see Cordoba in just one day?
Yes you can! If you only have one day to explore, I recommend focusing on the three main sights – the Cathedral, the Roman Bridge and the Alcazar.
Is a day trip to Cordoba worth it?
Yes, it is! This city in the heart of Andalusia has a stunning old town, a world-famous Mosque-Cathedral you must see, and a beautiful old Alcazar with gardens that are worthy of any castle.
How much time do I need in Cordoba?
It depends on what you are planning to see. I would say to cover the highlights, one full day or day trip will be enough to see everything Cordoba has to offer.
How long is the train journey from Malaga to Cordoba?
The journey time varies a bit, but on average, one way journey by train is around 1 hour, which is much faster than a drive (2 hours) or a bus (over 2 hours).
Where do I buy the tickets to Cordoba Cathedral?
Buying tickets online and in advance is the best way to ensure you can get in on the day you visit Cordoba. While getting tickets from the ticket office is possible, they sell out pretty quickly, and you shouldn’t leave it to that chance.
Save For Later
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Malaga: Most Popular Activities & Tickets
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- Granada Full-Day Trip with Alhambra – it would be a shame to leave Andalusia without seeing the most important sight of all – the ancient palace complex of Alhambra.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
