How to visit the Great Mosque of Cordoba

Tips for visiting Cordoba Mezquita

• Don’t go in the middle of the day, go either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
• Skip the audioguide and the map, and go with a live tour. Because the Mezquita has changed a lot over time, it’s important to get a good idea of how it’s laid out and what changes happened when. The audioguide don’t do a greatjob of explaining this when compared with a real guide.
• Book your tickets (or tour) in advance! I can’t stress this enough.
• The Bell Tower is a separate ticket and costs only 3 EUR. It’s also a timed ticket. I’d suggest going 2 hours after your time slot for the Mezquita. The view is nice but not necessarily worth it if you went to the Giralda in Seville.
• Leave the high heels behind! There are lots of uneven surfaces, and you’ll be standing for 2 hours.
• If you want to eat after your visit, walk away from the Mezquita to the quieter parts of the city. You’ll find many small restaurants there.

Getting tickets to the Mezquita

The Great Mosque of Cordoba is definitely the star attraction in Cordoba. Make sure to get tickets well in advance. Just like for the Real Alcázar of Seville, if you wait to be in Cordoba to get tickets, you’ll be faced with long wait times. People start lining up as early as 9:30 AM. Even off season, there is still a decent amount of people.

When you buy you tickets in advance, you’ll have to choose ahead of time the date and time of your visit to the Mezquita. But don’t worry. Once you’re in, you can stay as long as you like.

So, when’s the best time to visit the Mezquita? That’s simple. You simply want to avoid the tour buses hours. (There are tours from Seville, Malaga and Granada coming everyday to Cordoba.) You mainly want to avoid the time between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Some people suggest visiting first thing in the morning, while others might try to tell you that the last hour in the afternoon is better, as you can be alone inside just before closing time. If you want a chance to escape the crowds, it’s a good idea to plan your visit on weekdays.

You need at least 90 minutes to visit the Mezquita, but I wouldn’t hesitate to extend that time to 2.5 hours. It’s a solemn, beautiful, and massive place. The more you walk, the more you’ll find, so take your time.

History of the Great Mosque of Cordoba

The Great Mosque of Cordoba was built on the remains of a 6th-century Church, the old Roman Church of St. Vincent. Not merely a sumptuous religious building, the Umayyads built it to showcase their power over the Iberian Peninsula.

The construction of the mosque began in 785 and was completed a year later. Over the next two centuries following its construction, the mosque grew four times larger.

After nearly 500 years of Islamic rule in Cordoba, the city was taken by Christian forces led by Ferdinand III of Castile in 1236.

The minaret was converted to a bell tower, like you often see in Spain. But the cathedral was cleverly built right into the mosque’s impressive design, keeping its dramatic look instead of destroying it. It is said that the King couldn’t bring himself to destroy the building and skillfully integrated the Cathedral into the existing mosque. (A bit like a reverse Hagia Sofia.)

Inside the Mezquita of Cordoba

Exterior of the Great Mosque

Walking around the exterior wall of the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is an impressive experience in itself. Its outside is made of huge walls with amazing Arabic designs and arches.

The mosque, which is over 1300 years old, though in need of some upkeep, keeps most of its original design.

With a myriad of stunning gates, the exterior resembles a fortress. However, most gates appear to be shut, while a few larger gates serve as the main entrance. This might be because the inside walls were changed into chapels when the mosque was converted to a cathedral. If you happen to be there at the right time, you can still see a bit of subtle glittering gold when the when the sun is low.

The only way to truly take in all of the exterior is to cross the Roman bridge and look back at the Mezquita. Only then can you see how big it is.

Patio de los Naranjos

Entering the Mezquita, you can walk through the charming Patio de los Naranjos. The grove in the courtyard is beautiful, with sweet-smelling oranges hanging from the trees. From the courtyard, you can see the mosque’s bell tower and main structure.

You can leisurely walk around the orange gardens while waiting for your scheduled time. (It’s rare to find a waiting area as nice as this.)

Also, you can come back anytime you want. The Patio de los Naranjos is free to enter at any time of the day.

The Mihrab

Whether you spend 30 minutes or 2 hours exploring the Mezquita-Catedral, there’s one thing you can’t miss: the Mihrab.

Think of the Mihrab as the mosque’s main focal point, similar to the main altar in a church. The one in Cordoba is made out of beautiful multi-colored glass and enamel cubes, located on the southern wall and standing under a stunning starry dome framed by golden arches.

Dating back to the mid-10th century, this Mihrab is special for two reasons: it’s a room, not just a niche, and it doesn’t face Mecca. Instead, the Mosque of Cordoba’s Mihrab points south, like the Damascus Mosque (ask your guide or figure that one out).

Don’t forget to look up at the dome when you’re in front of the Mihrab!

The Cathedral

In 1236, the Catholics constructed a fancy cathedral in the middle of the mosque… as you do.

The cathedral itself is also really impressive, but what makes the building wonderful is the mix of styles, and (let’s be honest) you’re really here for the mosque part. The ornate Catholic cathedral is still an active church, holding prayer services regularly and accommodating 40,000 people.

The Bell Tower

After you leave the Mezquita, you can grab a ticket for the belltower (also known as the Torre Campanario). It’s not too pricey, but they only have a limited number of tickets.

From the top, you can check out the city of Cordoba and admire the Mosque-Cathedral. While the city looks nice from the ground, it’s not as impressive from up high. However, the views of the courtyard are nice, and you can see how big the cathedral is.

The Oldest Part of the Cordoba Mosque

Here’s the deal with the Mosque Cathedral. I didn’t think it looked that great in pictures.

But you can’t really capture the beauty of this cathedral and mosque in words or images. There are supposed to be more than 800 columns, arches in all directions, and a mix of mosque and cathedral elements – lots of Roman columns topped with Islamic horseshoe arches made of alternating red brick and white stone.

It’s really amazing, and you have to see it in person to understand.

Hidden Gems in the Great Mosque

You can go on and on about all the nice things to see in and around the Mezquita of Cordoba. For the real history buffs out there, here are some of its hidden gems:

• Roman Mosaics underneath the mosque (seen through a glass panel on the floor)
• Roman Milestones in the Patio de los Naranjos
• Ceiling above the centre aisle of the Mosque
• Starfish fossil in the wall along Calle Torrijos

FAQ on the Mezquita of Cordoba

Where is the entrance to the Cordoba Mezquita

The entrance to the Mezquita is in the lovely Patio de Los Naranjos.

Guided Tour of the Cordoba Mezquita

There’s no way I would suggest against a guided tour of the Mezquita. It’s the only way to really appreciate its amazing character and history.

The Alhambra in Granada vs the Cordoba Mezquita

It’s hard to stress how important both of these buildings are for Spanish and Islamic architecture. It’s kind of like picking between the Vatican and the Colosseum, not an easy choice, right?

For the sheer size and variety, I’d go with the Alhambra. But obviously, you should try to do both.

Best time to visit Cordoba Mezquita

Like stated before, if you’re staying in Cordoba, the best time to visit the Cathedral is either the first or the lasts tickets of the day. There will be less visitors when the tour buses have not yet arrived.

The Mezquita is free to visit from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM Monday through Saturday.

You can enjoy the mystery of the place at night in a small guided group tour.

When you visit the Mezquita at night, it feels like you’re in a completely different place. On this « Soul of Cordoba » tour, you get headphones with a narrator guiding you through different parts of the building. Only the cathedral is lit, creating a unique atmosphere.

Best View of Cordoba Mosque

For the best view of the Mezquita, head to the other side of the Guadalquivir River, on the far end of the Roman Bridge. Otherwise, you can admire it from above if you climb up the bell tower.

Best Hotel with Views of the Mezquita

Just a stone’s throw away (20 meters, to be exact!) from the majestic La Mezquita Mosque, Hotel Balcón de Córdoba is sure to be the highlight of your visit to Córdoba. Its rooftop terraces has one of the best views of the Mezquita anywhere in the city.