The Best Day Trips to Take from Córdoba, Spain

If the length of your stay in Córdoba permits, a day trip to the jaw-dropping Sierras Subbeticas National Park should be high up on your itinerary. This vast area of wild countryside is every bit as dramatic and beautiful as Granada’s Sierra Nevada (although smaller) and is home to the largest population of griffon vultures in southern Spain. In addition to these slightly intimidating-looking birds, the park boasts the highest point in Córdoba province—the peak of the 5,144 feet (1,568m) La Tiñosa—as well as intriguing rock formations named dollinas, and 17 enchanting little towns and villages. To really make the most out of a day in one of Spain’s most stunning natural parks, pack a hearty picnic and stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere to enjoy it, keeping an eye out for vultures as you do so.

The remains of what was once Islamic Spain’s most important city are located just a few miles outside Córdoba and make for a great day trip, especially when combined with a rustic picnic in the surrounding countryside. Medina Azahara—“The Shining City”—was built in the middle of the 10th century by the Caliph of Córdoba who, according to legend, intended it to be a gift for his favorite concubine. During its 70-year lifespan (it was sacked and subsequently abandoned in 1010) this extensive complex of houses, government offices and royal residences was the administrative capital of Islamic Spain. Spend a morning exploring its fascinating remains, then take a picnic out into the dramatic countryside to make the most of your trip out of the city.