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There are many reasons to visit Cordoba from Seville – it’s only 45 minutes away by train, it’s got a fascinating history and architecture, and the city also has a lively tapas scene and great restaurants.
Cordoba was the capital of the Moorish kingdom in Spain for centuries, and the Muslim legacy can be seen in the Grand Mosque – now a cathedral – and the evocative Old Town.
If you don’t have your own car, don’t worry. There are plenty of trains and buses that connect Seville and Cordoba every day. In fact, the Seville – Cordoba route is one of the most popular in Spain.
If you don’t mind sharing a car with a stranger you can also use Blablacar, an App that connects drivers with free seats with people who want to travel to the same destination.
Travel Time: 45 min | Frequency: every 45 min – 1 hour
Travel Time: 2 hours | Frequency: every 3-4 hours
Travel Time: 1 hour 30 min
Cordoba is about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Seville. This distance makes Cordoba an excellent day trip from Seville.
Thousands of tourists travel by train or bus from Seville every day to visit Cordoba and return to Seville at night.
But to be honest, we recommend spending at least 1 night in Cordoba, as it is a small city, but it has a lot of history and incredible places to visit. You won’t regret it!
Of course, this question depends on the preferences of each traveler (time, price, travel experience, comfort, etc.).
In our opinion, the best way to travel from Seville to Cordoba is by train as it is the fastest and most comfortable option.
However, the value for money of the bus is really very attractive. If you surf the internet, you can find discounted tickets from 5 euros!
Looking to travel from Seville to Cordoba on a budget? Undoubtedly, the cheapest way to travel between the two cities is by bus.
A one-way ticket on a direct bus will cost you as little as €10-15 (depending on the time of day). As mentioned above, if you are flexible with your schedule you can even find tickets for 5€.
The big disadvantage of the bus is the length of the trip. The journey takes around 2 hours.
In terms of speed, there is no doubt. By far the train is much faster than the bus.
The train takes only 45 minutes from the center of Seville to Cordoba. Keep in mind that this is a high-speed train, which reaches speeds of almost 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour).
The bus, at best, takes 1 hour 45 minutes (direct bus). If it is not a direct bus, the bus ride from Seville to Cordoba usually takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
It really depends a lot on the profile of the traveler.
For example, families and middle-aged couples prefer the train. And it’s not just the speed that makes the train so popular – it’s also the comfort and convenience. The high-speed trains are clean, and air-conditioned, and they have plenty of space for luggage.
On the other hand, students and backpackers prefer the bus because it is much cheaper, and the travel time is not excessive (around two hours).
Going from Seville to Cordoba by train is super easy. Seville is a very touristy city and all directions at the station are in English. In addition, the public address messages are in English, and the staff also speaks English.
Before booking your train from Seville to Cordoba, you must know that there are a few different options, depending on your budget and time constraints.
The Seville-Cordoba route is operated by 2 railroad companies: Renfe and Iryo.
Renfe is the state-owned railway company in Spain. It operates a vast network of trains, including high-speed trains (AVE, ALVIA and AVANT).
Iryo is jointly owned by Trenitalia (the primary train operator in Italy), Air Nostrum, and Globalvia.
Both companies (Renfe and Iryo) offer high speed trains.
These trains are very comfortable and reach speeds of up to 250km/h or 155 miles per hour. One of these high-speed train is the closest equivalent to an airplane on land.
High-speed trains also have a restaurant car where you can have a drink or a snack.
Travel time from Seville to Cordoba by high-speed train is around 45-50 minutes.
If you’re looking to save some money, Renfe also offers slower regional trains (MD “Media Distancia”). The price of this train is approximately 10-15€ (one-way ticket). MD trains take approximately 1.5 hours between Seville and Cordoba. And of course, they are much less comfortable than the AVE, ALVIA, AVANT and Iryo trains.
-Price: from 20€
-Time of travel: 45 minutes
-Frecuency: every 30-60 min.
<<<LINK PARA RESERVARRRRR>>>>>>
The best option is to buy your train tickets to Cordoba online. This way you can easily compare prices, schedules, etc.
To buy your train tickets from Seville to Cordoba you have the following options:
1) Omio.com This website is our favorite option as it allows you to find discounted tickets, compare prices and schedules between bus and train and has different language versions (English, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, etc.).
2) Surfing the Internet. You can visit the Iryo and Renfe websites and compare for yourself the different options, train types, schedules, etc.
Iryo website is great but Renfe website is not particularly intuitive, and sometimes it is not possible to pay with credit cards issued outside Spain. In other words, you will need a lot of patience to book your train tickets to Cordoba on this website.
3) Of course, you can also buy your train tickets from Seville to Cordoba at the train station. This is our least recommended option. Seville train station is one of the busiest in Spain and the queues at the ticket office are usually very long (sometimes more than an hour wait).
Trains to Cordoba depart from Santa Justa Station.
Santa Justa Station, located very close to the historical center (just 15 -20 minutes’ walk from the Cathedral and the Alcazar), is one of the busiest train stations in Spain. From here you can easily catch a train to any of the major cities in the region (Malaga, Cordoba, Cádiz, etc.).
As you can imagine, Santa Justa Station has all the amenities that you would expect. There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as a large waiting area. The platforms are all well-signed and easy to find.
After visiting Spain and riding the Ave high-speed train, we are even more excited to work with Renfe as our operating partner! Just think about how beautiful Texas will look at nearly 200 miles an hour 😍 pic.twitter.com/CxLwGT4Slx
— Texas Central (@TexasCentral) August 17, 2019
Cordoba Train Station is located about 20-25 minutes from the Old Town by foot.
To be honest, it is very easy to get to the Old Town on foot. Just take the Avenida República Argentina, which is a huge avenue, and you will arrive at the Almodovar Gate where the historical center and the Jewish quarter begin.
However, if you come with heavy luggage, walking is not an option.
In that case we recommend taking a cab. You will find a cab stand just outside the train station.
Official cabs in Cordoba are white (Uber, Cabify or other similar apps are not available in Cordoba).
The official cab ride from Cordoba train station to the historic center is about 5-10€ approximately, depending on which part of the historic center you are going to (the historic center of Cordoba is huge).
In general, cab drivers in Cordoba do not speak fluent English, but they are used to working with tourists and you will have no problem communicating with them.
As a third alternative, you can take an urban bus. Without a doubt an immersive experience, since tourists do not usually take this type of bus. Most tourists move around Cordoba by cab or walking.
Take line 5 (bound to Hospital Reina Sofía) and get off at Glorieta de la Media Luna. The bus ride from the train station to the historical center is about 10-15 minutes.
The price of the urban bus from the train station to the historical center is approximately 1,5€.
You can buy the ticket in cash from the bus driver. But try to pay the exact amount as bus drivers don’t have change if you pay with 50-100€ banknotes.
If you don’t like to use cash, you can download the App Imbric and pay directly with your cell phone on the bus. This app has an exclusive agreement with the city council of Cordoba.
If time is not a problem for you and prefer to save a few euros, the bus is an excellent option.
Depending on the stops, the bus ride from Seville to Cordoba ranges from 1 hour 45 minutes (direct bus) to 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Regardless of the travel time, the price is the same. You won’t save money if your bus takes longer to get to Cordoba.
Therefore, before booking your ticket, we recommend you to pay close attention to the travel time.
-Price: from 5€
-Time of travel: 2 hours 15 min.
-Frecuency: 3-4 hours
<<<>>>>>>
Off on my second bus trip with @ALSA_Autobuses in #Spain. This time from #Granada to #Cordoba. I find the buses very comfortable and actually much better with luggage than the trains. Also wifi on this bus. pic.twitter.com/QPlqbGIQLg
— Gary Newcombe (@newkstar) July 7, 2019
To book online your bus tickets from Seville to Cordoba you have two options.
1) Our favorite booking option is omio.com as it is a very intuitive website and allows you to find the best prices, and check all schedules (train and bus).
2) Website of ALSA (bus company that operates the Seville-Cordoba route). This is also a really good website where it is easy to book. It is also available in several languages. The only drawback is that it does not allow you to compare prices and schedules with the train. On the other hand, ALSA’s website is great because sometimes they publish offers and you can get tickets from 5€.
If you decide to ignore our advice 🙂 and prefer to go to the bus station to buy your tickets…you run the risk of the tickets for the next bus being sold out. In that case you will have to wait 2-3 hours for the next bus.
Buses from Seville to Cordoba depart from 3 different stations. So, pay close attention to your ticket to find out where your bus to Cordoba departs from.
Most of the buses that connect Seville with Cordoba leave from this station. Plaza de Armas Bus Station is the main bus station in Seville (more than 20 different bus companies operate from this station).
This station, inaugurated in 1992, has two floors: the top floor is where the ticket offices, cafeterias, stores, etc. are located. Below floor you will find the bus docks.
This beautiful-and very small-bus station was the first one in Andalusia (it was inaugurated in the 1940s) and is located very close to the historic center. It is only a 15-minute walk from the Cathedral of Seville.
In total this bus station has 32 platforms. 24 of these platforms are used for long-distance buses, while the other 8 are used for local buses.
Although it is a small building, it has basic services such as ticket offices and vending machines. In the surroundings of the station, you will find numerous bars where to have a cup of Joe.
Some buses depart directly from Seville Airport to Cordoba. Seville International Airport is the closest airport to Cordoba (130km / 80 miles) so, some tourists travel by plane to Seville and then by bus to Cordoba.
Finally, be aware of the parking situation in Cordoba. The city is relatively small, but parking can be tricky. There are a few public parking garages, but they can fill up quickly.
If you’re planning on staying in Cordoba for a while, it might be worth it to find a hotel with parking included. With those things in mind, the drive from Seville to Cordoba is relatively easy. Just follow the signs and you’ll be there in no time.
The most direct way to travel from Seville to Cordoba by car (145 kilometers, or 90 miles) is to take the A4 highway. This modern highway, which connects Madrid with Cadiz (via Seville and Cordoba), is totally safe and has rest areas and gas stations.
Direction signs on the highway are very clear and you will have no problem getting to Cordoba.
This highway is usually quite busy, especially on weekends and during Spanish national vacations. However, you should not encounter any major traffic jams except for some small ones on the way out of Seville.
The speed limit in Spain is currently 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour), one of the lowest in the European Union.
Even if you do not encounter police patrols, be careful because there are radars that control the speed and take a picture of the license plate of your car if you exceed the speed limit. Of course, after this you will receive the corresponding fine.
You will have no problem renting a car in Seville. Most car rental companies have offices at the Santa Justa train station.
SIXT has an office at Plaza de Armas bus station.
At the airport you can also rent a car without any problem.
If you’re looking for an affordable, convenient way to travel, BlaBlaCar is definitely worth checking out.
BlaBlaCar is a French carpooling company founded in 2006. The company connects drivers with empty seats to passengers looking for a ride.
BlaBlaCar is also a great way to meet new people.
BlaBlaCar is pretty simple to use. Drivers create a profile and list their upcoming trips, including the date, time, and origin and destination. Passengers can then search for trips that fit their needs and request to book a seat.
Drivers and passengers can message each other to coordinate details like pick-up and drop-off. Once the trip is complete, passengers leave a review of the driver and the ride.
There are lots of reasons to use BlaBlaCar. It’s a great way to save money – trips are usually much cheaper than taking a train, bus, or taxi. It’s also more eco-friendly than driving alone, and it’s a great way to meet new people.
BlaBlaCar takes safety seriously. All drivers and passengers are required to have a profile with their name, photo, and verified phone number. Reviews and ratings are also available so you can get a sense of who you’re riding with. In addition, BlaBlaCar has a 24/7 support team that you can contact if you ever have any concerns.
But if you plan to use BlaBlaCar in Spain it would be great if you have a certain level of Spanish. In Spain the level of English is low and if you don’t speak Spanish, you may have difficulty communicating with the driver and other passengers.
Depending on your budget and time, you have several options.
There is a bus that connects directly from Seville airport to Cordoba. However, this bus does not run frequently (1 or 2 buses per day).
–Price: 14€.
-More info and buy tickets here
–Travel time: approximately 2 hours
As mentioned above, the most popular car rental companies have offices at the Seville airport.
In total it will take you 1 hour and 30 minutes from Seville airport to Cordoba.
For those who are looking for a more comfortable and exclusive service in a private vehicle, you can book a transfer from Seville airport to Cordoba.
The driver will be waiting for you at the airport departures terminal with a sign and your name.
These drivers usually speak English, so you will have the opportunity to ask the driver for recommendations on things to do and see in the city.
Plus, you will save time by avoiding the paperwork to rent a car.
-How to book a private transfer from Seville Airport to Cordoba? More info, click here
There is a cab rank at the Seville airport.
The cab driver will be really happy to take you to Cordoba as it is a good money for him. The cost of a cab from Seville airport to Cordoba is approximately 150-170€.
The only drawback is that some cab drivers do not speak English.
Cordoba certainly deserves at least one night. But if you don’t have time, you can opt for a day trip to Cordoba.
The million-dollar question is…do I take a tour from Seville or go to Cordoba on my own?
Our recommendation is that you organize your own transport from Seville and then book a tour in Cordoba. You have plenty of walking tours (clikc here), private tours, etc. to choose from in Cordoba.
We recommend arriving in Cordoba around 9am. There is no point in arriving earlier because the monuments, museums and many bars are still closed.
Since you only have one day in Cordoba, you should focus on what is most important. For example, you can book a walking tour that includes the Jewish quarter, the Mosque, and the Alcazar.
These tours last between 3 and 4 hours and are definitely a great introduction to Cordoba and its fascinating history.
After the tour, you can spend the afternoon visiting some interesting museums such as the Archaeological Museum and enjoying the local cuisine.
If you are one of those who don’t like to compare prices, schedules, and organize a trip, you should book a tour from Seville.
You can take a look at the different tours from Seville to Cordoba here
Usually, these tours have a duration of 9-11 hours and include the most important places of the city. This time is more than enough.
Best of all, you won’t have to worry about anything. A bus will take you from Seville to Cordoba where a guide will be waiting for you to explore the city. They will take care of every last detail.
There is only one thing to keep in mind. Don´t forget to pay close attention to the reviews as sometimes these tours do not offer a service up to expectations.
Some of the tours we can recommend from Seville to Cordoba are:
We appreciate you taking the time to read our tips on traveling from Sevilla to Córdoba. Your wanderlust inspires us, and we hope your trip is filled with incredible memories. Happy travels!!
