The Top 10 Day Trips From Córdoba, Spain

Antequera, one of the friendliest towns in southern Spain, is situated 115km (71mi) south of Córdoba, in the middle of the seared Andalusian countryside at the foot of El Torcal, among the most impressive karst landscapes in Europe. Learn about Antequera’s multilayered history with an audio tour of its hilltop fortress, the Alcazaba, for €6 (£5.40), and visit a few of its 30-odd churches before relaxing over tapas and drinks at La Cantina on the main drag or El Mercado on the market square. If you fancy heading off the beaten track, try Bar La Perdiz on Plaza Espíritu Santo, where it’ll be just you and the local people.

From Córdoba, it’s just over an hour’s drive southeast to the olive-farming town of Priego de Córdoba, one of the prettiest pueblos blancos (white villages) in the province. It’s famous for its baroque churches and the narrow, flower-filled streets of its oldest quarter, Barrio de la Villa, where you’ll also find the Balcón del Adarve (Balcony of Adarve). From here, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the olive groves and, beyond them, the dramatic landscapes of the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park. Priego’s other key historical attractions are its 13th-century castle and the Carnicerías Reales, an elegant 16th-century building that once housed a market and slaughterhouse.

Priego de Córdoba and the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park can be combined in a single day trip, as the quickest route to Priego takes you right through the middle of the park. Perfect for a day of hiking and a picnic, the Sierras Subbéticas is home to striking karst formations, 17 towns and La Tiñosa, the highest peak in Córdoba province at 1,568m (5,114ft). Also of note is the park’s collection of caves, the most important of which is the Cueva de Los Murciélagos (Bats’ Cave), where you’ll find Neolithic ruins, a Roman milestone considered to be the first-ever road sign, and several species of its eponymous winged inhabitant.

Keen hikers may also want to take a day trip to the attractive pueblo blanco of Castro del Río – a stopping point on the Camino Mozárabe de Santiago (a pilgrimage that leads to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, like the much more famous Camino Frances). From here, you can spend a day walking on the Camino itself or on a stretch of the Ruta del Califato, a historic trail that links Córdoba with Granada. Whichever you choose, you’ll have ample opportunity to admire Castro del Río’s surrounding countryside, which produces some of the finest olive oil and olive wood in Spain. The village is a 45-minute drive southeast of Córdoba.

If you don’t mind a slightly longer journey from Córdoba, take a two-hour drive or bus journey to Granada, another popular destination in southern Spain. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the city was described by the 20th-century English writer Laurie Lee as “probably the most beautiful and haunting of all Spanish cities”. Must-sees include the old Arabic quarter of Albaicín, the flamenco gipsy barrio of Sacromonte and, of course, the mighty Alhambra, one of Spain’s most-visited historical sites. Among the best places to eat and drink are Plaza Larga in Albaicín, Bar Pibe in Sacromonte (for stunning views of the Alhambra), and old-school Bodegas Castañeda in the centre.

Located on the northern tip of the Guadalquivir river—which runs down through Córdoba and Seville before spilling out into the Atlantic via the Gulf of Cadiz—is the charming countryside town of Montoro, spread over several gentle hills on the lush riverbanks. That it’s only a 45-minute drive from the regional capital makes it perfect for a day trip, during which you can take in the town’s principal historic attraction, the Puente de las Dondas. According to legend, this elegant 16th century bridge was financed by the local women, who pawned their jewelry to pay for its construction. There’s also an olive oil museum, in which you can learn about how the region’s most sought-after product is made.

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.

A pretty little town located about 45 miles south of Córdoba, Puente Genil is known throughout Andalusia for its elaborate Semana Santa (Easter) celebrations, and for producing a kind of sweet pickle called membrillo, which is made from quince. Extending eastwards from the banks of the river after which it is named (which is crossed by the 16th century Puente de Miragenil), it is also home to some beautiful churches and squares, the latter of which boast sunny terraces from which you can admire the old buildings that surround you. This town is still relatively unknown among visitors to Córdoba, so it never gets that busy, even during the summer months.

If the crowds of Córdoba get too much, then the perfect antidote is only about a 45-minute drive north of the city. Espiel makes the other pueblos blancos in this article look like bustling metropolises, so remote and rustic is this former mining village. Home to a population of just over 2,000, it extends up one side of a hill, at the top of which you can take in panoramic views from the Mirador de los Pinos observation platform. Only the most curious travelers head to Espiel, so you’ll be able to explore its quiet streets and squares in peace, undisturbed by other visitors. And when you need a break, head into one of the many traditional little tapas bars and blend in among the locals—you’re unlikely to hear any other language than Spanish being spoken.

Pozoblanco is one of the better-known pueblo blancos in Córdoba province, and is located about an hour’s drive from the regional capital, making it ideal for a day trip. It has all the graces and charms you’d expect from a small Andalusian town—whitewashed houses, narrow little lanes, sun-drenched squares with old men sitting on benches in the early evening—which can be enjoyed away from the tourist crush of Córdoba itself. Pozoblanco’s pretty bullring is famous throughout Spain for being the arena in which Paquirri, one of the most popular matadors of the late 20th century, was fatally gored during a bullfight in 1984.