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Interior of the Mezquita-Cathedral of Córdoba — open daily
Updated April 2026

Córdoba opening hours

Monday closes more than half the city's paid attractions. Here's what shuts, what stays open, and the free morning slots worth setting your alarm for.

Monday
10+ sites closed
Alcázar, museums, Synagogue
Mezquita free
8:30–9:30am daily
Arrive by 8:15am
EU citizens
4 sites free
Bring national ID card
Always open
Roman Bridge · plazas
Free, 24/7

Book the Mezquita in advance

In April–June and September–October, same-day tickets sell out before 11am. Book at least a day ahead on the official site.

Mezquita ticket guide

Save with the Bono Turístico

The €10 municipal pass covers the Alcázar, Caliphal Baths, and more — useful if you're visiting at least two included sites.

Passes & tickets guide

In this guide

What's closed on Monday

Monday is the single biggest trap for first-time visitors. Arrive without checking and you could find the Alcázar, Synagogue, and every city museum locked. These are the standard Monday closures — always verify before visiting, as hours can change for public holidays.

A good Monday in Córdoba

8:15am

Queue at the Mezquita's Puerta del Perdón for the free 8:30–9:30am slot — 856 columns, almost no crowds

10:00am

Cross the Roman Bridge, walk along the Guadalquivir to the old mills

11:30am

Wander La Judería — Calleja de las Flores, Calleja del Pañuelo, the old synagogue street

2:00pm

Lunch — rabo de toro at Taberna Casa Rubio or salmorejo at El Churrasco

4:30pm

Hammam Al Ándalus — book the afternoon slot (reservation required)

Open on Monday

Free 8:30–9:30am Mezquita-Cathedral Paid from 10am (€15).
10am–10pm Hammam Al Ándalus Reservation required. From €24.
24/7 Roman Bridge Free. Best Mezquita views at sunset.
Morning Churches San Lorenzo, San Miguel, Santa Marina. Hours vary.
All day La Judería, plazas, riverside Corredera, Calleja de las Flores, Guadalquivir walkway. Free.

Free slot tip: Queue at the Mezquita's Puerta del Perdón by 8:15am — the free window (8:30–9:30am) fills quickly and cannot be booked in advance.

Opening hours — top 15 attractions

Hours below are the standard 2026 winter/shoulder season schedule (mid-September to mid-June). Summer hours reduce significantly — see the seasonal section below.

Mezquita-Cathedral
Free Mon–Sat 8:30–9:30am
€15

Mon–Sat 10am–7pm · Sun 8:30–11:30am & 3–7pm

Open daily
Alcázar €7

Tue–Fri 8:15am–8:15pm · Sat 9:30am–5:30pm · Sun 8:15am–2:15pm

Closed Mon
Medina Azahara
Free for EU citizens
€1.50

Tue–Sat 9am–6pm · Sun 9am–3pm

Closed Mon
Palacio de Viana
Free Wed 2–5pm
€8.50

Tue–Sat 10am–7pm · Sun 10am–3pm

Closed Mon
Synagogue
Free for EU citizens
€0.30

Tue–Sat 9am–9pm · Sun 9am–3pm

Closed Mon
Calahorra Tower €4.50

Oct–Mar: 10am–6pm · Apr–May: 10am–7pm

Open daily
Archaeological Museum
Free for EU citizens
€1.50

Tue–Sat 9am–9pm · Sun 9am–3pm

Closed Mon
Museo Julio Romero
Free Thu from 6pm (winter)
€5

Tue–Fri 8:15am–8:15pm · Sat–Sun 8:15am–2:15pm

Closed Mon
Museo de Bellas Artes
Free for EU citizens
€1.50

Tue–Sat 9am–9pm · Sun 9am–3pm

Closed Mon
Caballerizas Reales
Visits always free
€15 (show)

Winter: Tue–Sun 11am–6pm · Shows: evening (check dates)

Closed Mon

Tue–Fri 8:15am–8pm · Sat 9:30am–6pm · Sun 8:15am–2:45pm

Closed Mon

Tue–Sun 10am–5pm

Closed Mon
Hammam Al Ándalus From €24

Daily 10am–10pm · Reservation required

Open daily

24/7

Open daily

10:30am–1:30pm & 3:30–6:30pm · closed Mon mornings, Sun afternoons

Partial closures

Hours verified for 2026. Always confirm on official websites before visiting, especially around public holidays.

Roman Bridge over the Guadalquivir — open 24/7 and free

The Roman Bridge is one of the few Córdoba landmarks open every day of the week, free of charge.

Free entry windows

Córdoba is unusually generous with free entry slots. Between EU citizen concessions and timed free windows, it's possible to spend an entire day at major monuments without paying a cent in admission. See our full free things guide for the complete picture.

Timed free slots (for everyone)

Mon–Sat 8:30–9:30am
Mezquita-Cathedral

Places are limited. Arrive by 8:15am. You'll have access to the full interior including the mihrab during morning prayer. The €15 ticket is worth it outside this slot — but the free hour at 8:30am, with no coach parties, is a different experience entirely.

Wed 2–5pm
Palacio de Viana

The 12 patios (normally €8.50 combined) open free Wednesday afternoons. A quiet hour to wander orange trees and jasmine without the morning tour groups.

Thu from 6pm
Museo Julio Romero de Torres

Winter schedule only (mid-Sep to mid-Jun). Portraits of Córdoba women by the city's most celebrated painter, free for the last two hours of the day.

Always free for EU citizens

Bring your national ID card or EU passport. These sites are free for EU and EEA nationals at all opening times, not just specific slots.

UNESCO Medina Azahara UNESCO Synagogue
Archaeological Museum
Museo de Bellas Artes

Always free (no restrictions)

Roman Bridge (24/7) Caballerizas Reales Calleja de las Flores Plaza de la Corredera Roman Temple All plazas & parks

Seasonal hour changes

Winter schedule mid-Sep to mid-Jun

  • Junta de Andalucía museums (Synagogue, Arch. Museum, Bellas Artes) open until 8–9pm on weekdays
  • Alcázar open until 8:15pm Tue–Fri
  • Caballerizas Reales: daytime visits, shows on select dates
  • Calahorra Tower: 10am–6pm (Oct–Mar), 10am–7pm (Apr–May)
  • Julio Romero Museum free Thursday evenings from 6pm

Summer schedule mid-Jun to mid-Sep

  • Most Junta museums reduce to 9am–3pm only — plan for mornings
  • Calahorra Tower: 10am–2pm then reopens 4:30–8:30pm (siesta gap)
  • Caballerizas Reales: morning visits (8:30am–2pm) plus evening equestrian shows (8:30pm–midnight)
  • Julio Romero Museum free slot shifts to Thursday from noon
  • Palacio de Viana: reduced to morning hours (10am–3pm Tue–Sun)

Rule of thumb in July–August: do all indoor visits before 1pm, then rest during the 37°C afternoon.

For temperature-by-month advice and what to expect in each season, see our best time to visit guide.

Public holiday closures

Spain has 14 public holidays a year, and most Córdoba attractions close or operate reduced hours on the main ones. The biggest risk dates:

Key closure dates

National holidays (most sites close)

  • Jan 1 New Year's Day
  • Jan 6 Epiphany (Three Kings)
  • Good Fri Semana Santa (Viernes Santo)
  • May 1 Labour Day
  • Dec 25 Christmas Day

Reduced hours or special schedule

  • Dec 24 Christmas Eve (early close)
  • Dec 31 New Year's Eve (early close)
  • Holy Week Variable hours at many sites
  • Patios Fest Some municipal sites adjust hours in May

Junta de Andalucía sites

The Synagogue, Archaeological Museum, Bellas Artes, and Medina Azahara follow a fixed Junta holiday closure calendar. Check museosdeandalucia.es before visiting on or around a national holiday.

Municipal sites (Alcázar, Caliphal Baths)

These sometimes stay open on national holidays with a reduced schedule or special hours. Check the Ayuntamiento de Córdoba website or call ahead if your visit falls on a holiday.

Frequently asked questions

What attractions are closed on Monday in Córdoba?

Monday is the most common closing day for Córdoba's paid attractions. The following sites are closed on Mondays:

  • Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos — closed all day Monday
  • Palacio de Viana — closed Monday
  • Synagogue — closed Monday
  • Archaeological Museum — closed Monday
  • Museo Julio Romero de Torres — closed Monday
  • Museo de Bellas Artes — closed Monday
  • Caliphal Baths — closed Monday
  • Caballerizas Reales — closed Monday
  • Jardín Botánico — closed Monday

What stays open: the Mezquita-Cathedral (free 8:30–9:30am, then €15), the Roman Bridge (24/7, free), the Calahorra Tower (daily), and Hammam Al Ándalus (daily 10am–10pm).

What time do Córdoba's attractions open?

Most attractions open between 9am and 10am. The Mezquita-Cathedral has a free access slot from 8:30am on Monday–Saturday, then paid entry from 10am (Mon–Sat, 7pm last entry). On Sundays, paid access starts at 8:30am. The Alcázar opens at 8:15am Tuesday–Friday. In summer (mid-June to mid-September), many museums shift to morning-only hours and close by 3pm.

Can I visit the Mezquita for free?

Yes. The Mezquita-Cathedral is free to enter Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 9:30am (excluding public holidays). This slot is limited — arrive by 8:15am to guarantee entry. You can see the full interior including the forest of 856 columns during this hour. From 10am, the standard ticket price is €15 for adults. Note that the Patio de los Naranjos (orange tree courtyard) is free to enter at any time.

Which Córdoba museums are free for EU citizens?

Several sites managed by the Junta de Andalucía are free for EU and EEA citizens (bring your national ID card or passport):

  • Medina Azahara — free for EU citizens (€1.50 for non-EU)
  • Synagogue — free for EU citizens (€0.30 for non-EU)
  • Archaeological Museum — free for EU citizens (€1.50 for non-EU)
  • Museo de Bellas Artes — free for EU citizens (small fee for non-EU)

For more, see our complete guide to free things in Córdoba.

Do opening hours change in summer in Córdoba?

Yes, significantly. From mid-June to mid-September, most Junta de Andalucía sites (Synagogue, Archaeological Museum, Bellas Artes) switch from their winter schedule (open until 8–9pm) to a reduced summer schedule (open 9am–3pm only). The Calahorra Tower introduces a siesta break in summer: it closes 2pm–4:30pm and then reopens until 8:30pm. The Caballerizas Reales also changes completely — winter hours are daytime visits, summer evenings are for the equestrian shows. Plan indoor visits for mornings.

Is the Alcázar free on any day?

The Alcázar no longer has a standard free Tuesday morning slot as of 2025–2026. Admission is €7 for adults. The site is closed on Mondays. It is included in the Bono Turístico municipal pass (€10), which also covers the Caliphal Baths and other municipal monuments — worth it if you plan to visit two or more of the included sites. Under-14s accompanied by an adult enter free. Always verify the current free entry policy on the Córdoba tourism website as policies can change.

Official sources

This guide draws on official and recognised sources to ensure the accuracy of the information provided.