7 Tips to Visit the Mezquita Catedral of Cordoba

If you’re reading this, I could not be more excited for you! La Mezquita Catedral, “Mosque Cathedral”, is one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Andalusian region. As you will discover during your upcoming visit – it is a true architectural masterpiece and nothing short of jaw-dropping. With that said, I want to share some La Mezquita Catedral tips to help you have a wonderful visit.

La Mezquita’s history goes back to Roman times, the 6th century, when it was a Visigoth church. When the Moors took over, the partially converted the church into a Mosque in 785 AD. The Moors turned Cordoba in the biggest city in the world and consequently expanded the Mosque several times. With the expansions, the Mosque was one of the largest Mosques in the world.

When the Christian Monarchs reconquered Spain, in the 13th century, they decided to add their Cathedral to the Mosque. The incredible Renaissance-nave we see today was built in 16th century. Today we get to see two breathtaking religious monuments that co-exist with one another. Hence the name, “Mosque-Cathedral”.

Now that you have some background on this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, here are 7 Tips to Visit the Mezquita Catedral of Cordoba.

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Essential La Mezquita Catedral Tips & Things to Know

Best time to visit the Mezquita Catedral

The best time to visit the Mosque Cathedral is in the early morning hours, as it minimizes the crowds of tourists and groups. As Cordoba’s icon, it’s also the best way to truly start your Cordoba adventures.

Unless you are visiting for religious purposes, it’s best to avoid visiting the Mosque Cathedral on Sundays or religious holidays as it will be packed.

Hours of Cordoba Mosque Cathedral

The Mezquita Catedral hours tend to vary throughout the year. In the winter months, from November through February, it is open from 10 AM to 6 PM during the week and Saturdays. On Sundays, it is open from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and then 3 PM to 6 PM.

Starting in March, through October, the Cathedral extends its hours by one hour, ending the day at 7 PM.

INSIDER TIP. If you are visiting on your own, you can actually visit the Mosque Cathedral for FREE from 8:30 to 9:30 AM any day of the week – except for Sunday. 1 hour is enough to admire and walk through this work of art. However, if you are an architecture lover or plan to take photos, you’ll probably want to book a ticket and have a longer visit time.

How to Purchase your Cordoba Mezquita Tickets

Despite being the star of Cordoba, you don’t necessarily need to buy the Mezquita tickets in Advance. You can easily walk up to the ticket booth the day of and buy them. However, if you want a guided tour, it’s best to book your tour in advance.

If you want to buy them now to have some piece of mind, here are the entry tickets!👇

To Go on a Guided Tour or Not?

This completely depends on how much you want to learn about the Cordoba Mezquita. I personally would love to go back and do a guided tour to dive deeper into the history.

Here is one of the best-rated guided tours of the Mezquita Catedral, led by a art historian guide. Book your tickets here!👇

Must-See Highlights Inside the Mezquita Catedral

Arches

The Horseshoe Arches of the Mosque Cathedral are a synonym of this architectural masterpiece. In fact, when you search up the Mezquita online, you mainly see pictures of these white and red striped, never-ending arches.

Dating back to the year 785 AD, this is the oldest part of the Mosque Cathedral and is nothing short of mesmerizing. These arches showcase a blend of Islamic architecture and Visigoth architecture.

Cathedral

As an Italian I have to say… If you think all the best churches are in Italy, you are heavily missing out on Spain. The Cathedral portion of the Mosque Cathedral, which dates back to the 16th century, is a true work of art and genuinely breathtaking. I personally was not prepared to see so much intricate and beautiful baroque architecture.

In this cathedral portion, you will see several types of architecture, including Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic.

Mihrab

A Mihrab is a typical niche in the qibla wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of the Mecca. During their prayers, Muslims face the mihrab of their mosque.

The Mihrab of the Mezquita dates back to the 10th century, and has mesmerizing mosaics and details. The person responsible for commissioning this work of art was the Caliph Al-Hakam II.

Patio de Los Naranjos

The Patio de Los Naranjos is open to the public, and is the courtyard of the Mosque Cathedral. It is a beautiful courtyard to walk around or even grab a seat to relax or talk with friends/family.

This patio dates back to the 8th century, When the Mosque was being built.

Bell Tower

The Bell Tower of the Mosque Cathedral is an additional $3 to visit, and personally – it was worth the visit!

By visiting the Bell Tower, you will be able to see over Cordoba and the entire Mezquita-Catedral, and people watching. Everyone has a 30 minute slot to visit, so when you book your tickets you will pick a specific time to visit.

Dress Code and Etiquette

Being a religious site, it’s important to be on your best and respectful behavior and to dress modestly. The dress code prohibits revealing clothes, ripped jeans, and inappropriate graphics/messages, and open-toed shoes.

INSIDER TIP: The inside of the Mezquita, due to a lack of windows, tends to get a bit chilly. If you get cold easily, maybe bring an extra layer.

Accessibility Information

What’s wonderful about the Mosque Cathedral is that they have several ways to make their monument more accessible to people. It is wheelchair friendly with a ramp entrance and you can even borrow wheelchairs if needed, guide dogs can enter, and there is material for blind people.

Furthermore, there is a reduced price entry for disabled people and free entry for disabled groups.

Day Trip | How to Reach La Mezquita Catedral

If you are taking a day trip to Cordoba from Sevilla or Granada, via bus or train, you will have a 26-minute walk to reach La Mezquita. This walk is fairly straight and with a nice long park along the way, it passes by pretty quickly. Book your train, or bus, to Cordoba here!👇

With that said, unless you’re going on a guided group trip, it’s important to factor in this walk and your bus/train hours when booking your tickets. If needed, you can always get a taxi.

Planning to rent a car and drive around Andalusia instead? Get the best deals with Rentalcars!👇

FAQ

How long does it take to visit Cordoba Mosque Cathedral?

The average visit of the Cordoba Mosque Cathedral lasts between 1 to 1.5 hours. This is enough time to take in all of its wonders and snap some pictures.

Why is the Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba famous?

The Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba is famous for several things, such as being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Mosque in Spain.

Is Mezquita worth visiting?

Abso-freaking-lutely it is! This is a jaw-dropping, architectural piece of art and seeing two religious buildings combined together is a special sight.

Is the Soul of Cordoba worth it?

The Soul of Cordoba, if you don’t know, is the guided, night-time visit of the Mezquita. During this time you will see the Mezquita lit-up at night, and have a more unique experience.

If you’re staying in Cordoba for the night, this could certainly be a great activity!

More Information on Spain

• One Day in Cordoba Itinerary
• 23 Best Things to Do in Cordoba Spain
• The Ultimate Guide to the Best Patios of Cordoba
• The Best of Andalusian Food
• 15 Best Day Trips from Granada
• 16 Unique Places to Visit in Andalusia

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I have to ask…

Which of these Mezquita Catedral tips surprised you, or helped you, the most? Let me know in the comments!👇

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