Arches in Córdoba's grand Mosque-Cathedral; María Renée Batlle Castillo/flickr
If you’re visiting Córdoba on a budget, you’re spoilt for choice for accommodation. This fascinating Andalusian city is home to some fantastic hostels, all of which are located in the old town near the principal attractions. Read on to discover the ten best hostels in Córdoba.
Córdoba Bed And Be, Córdoba
Boutique Hotel, Bed and Breakfast
Communal lounge at Córdoba's Bed & Be Hostal; | courtesy Bed & Be
Visitors to Córdoba rave about Bed & Be, describing it as a “five star hostel” run by “exceptional” staff. It’s not hard to see what the fuss is about: located on one of the old town’s principal thoroughfares, this stylish hostel offers modern, light-filled rooms and a rooftop terrace on which guests can enjoy a cold beer and views over Córdoba. Other perks of staying at one of the city’s coolest and best-value hostels include the free daily breakfasts and free sangria every other night.
Newcomer Option Be is already one of Córdoba's trendiest hostels; | courtesy Option Be
The team behind Bed & Be have also recently launched Option Be, a trendy hostel for young travellers that is quickly becoming one of the city’s most popular places to stay. The quality of the fittings and facilties and the superb service has led many guests to say it feels more like a classy boutique hotel than a hostel. Its star attraction is a rooftop terrace with a pool – perfect for an early evening copa – whilst trips to local tapas hotspots head off every night at half eight outside Bed & Be.
May Flowers Hostel takes its name from Córdoba's patios festival, when houses in the old town are beautifully decorated with flowers; | poperopop/pixabay
May Flowers Hostel takes its name from the city’s annual Fiesta de los Patios, one of southern Spain’s most captivating festivals. In traditional Cordoban style, the rooms are located around a central patio boasting arches reminiscent of those in the city’s great Mosque-Cathedral. All come with private bathrooms and are individually named and themed around a different flower. Couples on a romantic weekend will want to book the Azahar suite, which comes with its own “hydromassage” facility.
Despite being just a few hundred metres from the Mosque Cathedral and a busy riverside thoroughfare, Hostel Santa Ana offers a tranquil base from which to explore Córdoba. It offers 18 recently-refurbished bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms and some with balconies looking out on the typical Cordoban street outside. Visitors consistently praise Santa Ana for offering excellent value for money and the cleanliness of its rooms and communal spaces, one of which is a rooftop solarium.
HOstel Seneca is just a two-minute walk from Córdoba's Mosque-Cathedral | waldomiguez/pixabay
Hostel Seneca enjoys a prime spot in the heart of Córdoba’s old Jewish quarter, just a two-minute walk away from the Mosque-Cathedral. Views of the this amazing building can be enjoyed from the hostel’s rooftop patio, whilst breakfast is served in the typically-Cordoban ground floor courtyard around which the rooms are centred. The friendly staff are happy to arrange extras that will better acquaint you with the charms of the city, such as private flamenco recitals and nightime walking tours.
Hostel La Fuente is located in the heart of Córdoba's charming old town | Francisco Anzola/flickr
Hostel La Fuente offers several single and double rooms as well as apartments in a separate building a few doors down. It sits on one of the historic centre’s main streets, so there are no shortage of tapas bars nearby in which to sample local dishes; but if you fancy staying in, the hostel has its own superb restaurant. The lively riverside promenade of Calle Ronda de Isasa is at the end of the street and the Mosque-Cathedral and Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos are about a ten minute walk away.
The Alcazar Hostel is situated opposite the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos | Pixels4Free/pixabay
One of Córdoba’s best-value hostels, the Alcazar is situated directly opposite the historical attraction that shares its name. Also on its doorstep is the beautiful old Jewish quarter (Juderia), which the friendly owners know inside out: make sure that you ask them for tips about where to eat and things to see. Some rooms have their own bathrooms whilst others have shared facilities and there are also suites with living rooms available for families or groups.
Explore Córdoba's former Jewish quarter whilst staying at The Dreamers & Co; | elojeador/flickr
Housed in a lovely Cordoban house decorated in bold Mediterranean blues, greens and whites, the Dreamers & Co hostel offers some of the best budget accommodation in Córdoba. It’s run by a Spanish couple who want to offer guests a home-from-home experience, so expect a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and a laid-back ambience. The cathedral, synagogue and Alcazar are just a few minutes’ stroll away and there is abundance of traditional old tapas bars on the hostel’s doorstep.
Fancy some tortilla? Bar Santos is just down the street from Hostel Osio and serves the largest in Córdoba; | gaelx/flickr
For basic but charming budget accommodation in the centre of old Córdoba, Hostel Osio takes some beating. Situated just down the road from the Mosque-Cathedral in a cheerful blue-and-white fronted building, it offers a selection of vibrantly-decorated shared and private rooms, all of which are clustered around a typical Cordoban courtyard. If you fancy a snack, head down the street to Bar Santos, which is famous for serving the largest tortillas in Córdoba (they are enormous).
Stay in a traditional Cordoban townhouse at La Corredera; | Wolfgang Manousek/flickr
Situated in a 200 year-old building on one of Córdoba’s largest and grandest squares, Hostel La Corredera offers a superb base from which to explore what was once medieval Europe’s greatest city. All rooms have shared bathrooms (there are two on each floor), most of which offer views onto Plaza Corredera itself. Visitors love the shared spaces, which include a cosy TV lounge, a spectacular rooftop terrace and the El Sotano bar and restaurant in the basement. All of the city’s key attractions are within a ten minute walk.
