12 Things to do in Cordoba with Kids

Cordoba is the third most populous and largest city in Andalusia and has its origins in the 2nd century BC when it was founded by the Romans. Far from being boring for children, in Cordoba you will find an excellent mix of fun and entertainment and history and learning.

You can visit the city's zoo, enjoy outdoor activities and visit traditional attractions that take you back many years. Here's a guide to 10 things to do with kids in Cordoba - your kids will love this city!

This archaeological wonder was once a city built by the first caliph of Cordoba and it's essential that you book a guided tour of Medina Azahara on your trip with kids and take the family on a tour.

The imposing site is located about 8 kilometres from the city of Cordoba and is an exciting three hour tour. It costs around 20 euros per adult and 12 euros per child. Children under 5 years old do not pay admission.

Children will love this place because beyond its history, it will be very entertaining for them to decipher the spaces of this building as if it were a great labyrinth.

Information of interest

• Location: Medina Azahara is located about 8 kilometres west of Cordoba.
• Timetable: Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 3pm and from 8am to 12 midnight.
• Price: Admission costs around 20 euros for adults and 12 euros per child. Children under 5 years old do not pay admission.
• How to get there: by guided tour or by car along the Palma del Río road (A-431) to the Madinat al-Zahra signpost, along the CO-3414 road.
• Recommendation: I recommend that you take a guided tour from Cordoba to get to know it better and also because it will be the most comfortable way to get there with children.

One of the favourite activities for the youngest members of the family is a tour of the Courtyards of Cordoba. They will be dazzled imagining what life would have been like for those who lived in those courtyards years ago. This is an activity that only takes place between September and December, but if you have the chance to travel to Cordoba during these months, include it in your plans. You won't regret it!

The guided tour takes place in the popular Santa Marina neighbourhood and inside the splendid Palacio de Viana, which was at its height of splendour from the end of the 15th century onwards. This stately residence has no less than 12 courtyards decorated with fountains, columns with capitals and lush vegetation of plants and flowers that will amaze all children.

In addition, throughout the tour, which lasts approximately 2 hours, an expert guide will tell them incredible stories and anecdotes about the people who lived there in the past. The highlight comes when they enter the stately rooms of the Palacio de Viana or some of its most characteristic courtyards, such as the Patio de los gatos, especially for cat lovers. Undoubtedly, this is a plan that will immerse children in a story that will captivate them.

Information of interest

• Location: the tour starts at the Museum of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, C. Caballerizas Reales, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
• Opening hours: from September to December, from 6 p.m. onwards.
• Price: admission costs around 16 euros for adults and 8 euros per child. Children under 5 years old do not pay admission.
• Recommendation: Make the most of a day with good weather.

Another plan par excellence for the youngest members of the family is a tuk tuk tour of Cordoba. They will travel around the city in a way that will impress them and, above all, comfortably in a motorised vehicle.

In addition, thanks to the explanations of an expert guide, they will get to know in detail the architecture and history of the city, and some of its most characteristic sites such as the Roman Bridge, the Plaza de las Tendillas, the Plaza de la Corredera, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos or the Mosque-Cathedral.

A tour of approximately one hour, highly recommended if you are accompanied by children and want to plan an original plan.

Useful information

• Location: the city centre.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, at 10am.
• Price: admission costs around 28 euros.
• Recommendation: Ideal on the first day of your stay to get an idea of the city.

Another ideal option if you are accompanied by children is to book a tour of Cordoba's courtyards, a guided tour lasting approximately 2 hours, which takes you through one of Spain's most fascinating historic quarters and is an ideal way to explore the Jewish Quarter and learn more about the city's history.

The tour also includes access to both the Synagogue and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, two surprising places not only for adults but also for the youngest members of the family, who will be impressed by the explanations of an expert guide who will entertain them during the tour.

The Synagogue in particular will captivate them, as it should be noted that only three synagogues built before 1492 have survived, and one of them is the one in Cordoba. They will be delighted to know this fact!

Useful information

• Location: The city centre.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday at 10.30am.
• Price: Admission costs around 20 euros for adults and 11 euros per child from 10 years of age onwards. Children under 10 years old do not pay admission.
• Recommendation: I recommend you take a guided tour from Cordoba to get to know it better and also because it will be the most comfortable way to get there with children.

These two sites are classic Cordoba must-sees for the whole family. I recommend the option of taking a guided tour because it is usually the most comfortable for children and you will get more out of the tour with the company of an expert guide.

The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is one of the most visited monuments in Spain, and no wonder. Children and adults alike will fall in love with the structure and history of this imposing place, as they walk among the many columns and curious elements. At the entrance you will also find the Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard ), an ideal place for children, where they can stroll among the trees and fountains.

On the other hand, you can visit the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the old fortress with walls, towers and gardens. It is a great plan for the little ones who will love the colourful and flowery gardens, enjoying the open air and will love the castle and letting their imagination run wild.

Information of interest

• Location: Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs and the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, at 11:30 am.
• Price: Admission costs around 40 euros for adults and 21 euros per child. Children under 10 years old do not pay admission.

The Ciudad de los Niños is a huge enclosure with all kinds of games for children of all ages to play, relax and enjoy the green areas and the open air. It is also an ideal place to have a picnic with the family and recharge your batteries to continue touring the city.

There you will find all kinds of fun, from swings, zip lines, climbing nets, carousel, to picnic areas, fountains, boats, skate parks, and much more. A real paradise for the little ones!

To enter this park you must pay an entrance fee of 2 euros per adult and 1 euro per child and you can visit it from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 1 pm and from 8:30 to 11 pm. I recommend that you check the opening times before you go as they may vary depending on the season.

Information of interest

• Location: located in Av. Menéndez Pidal, Córdoba. A few metres from the zoo and about 3 kilometres from the city centre.
• Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 1pm and from 8.30am to 11pm.
• Price: from around 2 euros per adult and 1 euro per child.
• How to get there: you can get there on foot from the city centre in about half an hour, or by bus, lines 2 and 5 pass close by.

Next to the Ciudad de los Niños, you will find the Cordoba Zoo to continue enjoying the city with your family. It is one of the first Spanish zoos, inaugurated in 1968, where scientific research is carried out and species conservation and environmental education activities take place.

It has more than 5,000 specimens of 100 different species including reptiles, mammals and birds, and both children and adults can enjoy interacting with different animals, learning more about them and having fun learning. In addition, you will have a choice of special activities such as visits to the Zoo's technical area, entrance to the lemur enclosure, camps on special dates and educational programmes.

You can visit the zoo from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm and ticket prices range from 3 euros for children aged 5 to 16 and 5.50 euros for adults. Please note that there are special activities that usually have an additional cost, so I recommend that you check before your visit.

Information of interest

• Location: located in Av. Linneo, Córdoba, a few metres from the Ciudad de Los Niños and about 2 kilometres from the city centre.
• Opening hours: from 9am to 6pm.
• Price: from around 5 euros per adult and 3 euros per child.
• How to get there: you can get there on foot from the city centre in about twenty minutes, or by bus, lines 2, 6 and 9 pass close by.

About 10 kilometres from the city you will find Aquasierra, a real paradise of entertainment for the little ones and that adults will enjoy like children.

It is the only water park in Cordoba and is full of pools, fun slides of varying heights and sizes, VIP areas for privacy and tranquillity and lots of attractions for all ages.

It is the perfect place to enjoy Cordoba in summer. This entertaining place opens its doors every summer day from 11.30am to 8pm. Tickets vary between 16 euros for adults and 11 euros for children.

Useful Information

• Location: Aquasierra Water Park is located about 10 kilometres from the centre of Cordoba, in the Cordovan town of Villafranca.
• Opening times: in summer from 11.30am to 8pm.
• Price: Admission costs around 16 euros for adults and 11 euros for children.
• How to get there: you can get there by car on the National IV motorway, on the Camino de Cordoba KM 2.5 or by bus from Cordoba Bus Station with the Linesur company which covers the Cordoba-Villafranca route. It will cost you about 3 euros per trip.

The Plaza de la Corredera is a must on your itinerary and your children won't be able to avoid running around this huge space when they arrive. There is always something going on, you can find various activities and flamenco shows, craft fairs, clothes shops for children and adults and sometimes even churros stalls for the whole family to enjoy.

It is the only square main square in Andalusia and its name comes from the bullfights that used to take place there. You will get to know one of the most emblematic places in the city, which was declared a historical and artistic monument.

Its history is very interesting and particular and it is a very nice place to visit with children. It is also the ideal place to stop for a rest and enjoy some of the local gastronomy in one of the many bars that surround it.

Useful Information

• Location: it is located a few metres from the centre of Cordoba.
• Opening hours: There are no opening hours, you can go whenever you want.
• Price: No entrance fee is required.
• How to get there: You can walk from the city centre in about 5 minutes.

The Calahorra Tower is a fortress of Islamic origin and was once a gateway to the city of Cordoba. You will reach it through the Roman Bridge and inside you will find the Living Museum of al-Andalus.

Visiting the museum will be a nice activity to do with your family, it won't take you too long and you'll be able to learn a bit more about the history of the city and have the best views from there.

You can access the museum from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm all year round and in summer, from 10am to 2pm and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm. Admission for adults costs around 4.5 euros and children under 8 years of age are free of charge.

Information of interest

• Location: you will find the Calahorra Tower, where the Living Museum of al-Andalus is also located, just by crossing the Roman Bridge.
• Opening times: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm all year round. In summer, from 10am to 2pm and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.
• Price: admission is around 4 euros and children under 8 years old are free.
• How to get there: across the Roman Bridge.

Visiting the Royal Botanical Garden of Cordoba is a great plan to do with children. Here they can enjoy themselves surrounded by nature and learn curious facts about the exuberant and varied flora from all over the world that lives there.

You'll have 7.5 hectares of gardens to explore in the peace and quiet of nature. In addition, the whole family will be able to participate in the visits, educational and didactic activities that take place daily in this Botanical Garden.

Ticket prices range from 1.5 euros for children from 5 years of age to 3 euros for adults, and guided tours start at around 20 euros. Note this fact: on Sundays you can visit the Botanical Garden for only 1 euro.

As for opening hours, you can visit from Tuesday to Sunday between 9am and 2pm. Consult the guide to activities and events at the Royal Botanic Garden before you go, so that you can plan your visit accordingly.

Useful information

• Location: located in Av. Linnaeus, Cordoba, next to the zoo and just over 2 kilometres from the city centre.
• Price: from around 3 euros per adult and 1.5 euros per child.
• Opening times: between 9am and 2pm.
• How to get there: you can walk from the city centre in about 20 minutes, or take the bus (lines 6 and 9 pass close by).

You definitely can't leave Cordoba without crossing the famous Roman Bridge, and it's a plan the kids will love. I recommend you start the walk just before sunset to get the best views and enjoy a unique walk.

This impressive work of art is located over the Guadalquivir River and has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. It is also considered part of the historic centre of Cordoba, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

In an area near one end of the Roman Bridge, you will find the Miraflores Park with a children's play area that your children will enjoy and where you can sit and contemplate the views and enjoy the scenery.

If you are planning to visit Cordoba with children, it is very important that you have in mind some restaurants with a menu adapted for the little ones or with enough variety of dishes so that both children and adults can enjoy the meal. Here are a few recommendations for you to consider.

• Casa Pepe De La Judería: is very popular for its excellent service and exquisite typical Cordovan food. In some dishes you can choose smaller portions, which is an excellent option for the little ones. Seeing the Michelin logo on the door can already anticipate that the whole family will have an excellent experience.
• La Taberna de Almodóvar: is an option with a variety of authentic and traditional Cordovan dishes. You will have meat, fish and stews, classics that never fail and the whole family will love it. In addition, this restaurant is also featured in the Michelin guide, so you won't be disappointed.
• La Posada del Caballo Andaluz: this is a cosy and familiar restaurant of typical Cordovan food that has a huge variety of dishes for all tastes and in different portions. You will have space inside and the option of eating out doors on a terrace or in a bright and colourful Cordovan courtyard.
• Patio de la Judería: it is another excellent option to share a meal with the family, its menu is extensive and it has a special menu for children. It is a beautiful place set up in an 18th century manor house. Besides, you will not only taste typical dishes, but also flamenco, as it offers several live shows.

Cordoba has many things to see and do with children and you can save on many of these attractions with the CordobaPass, a card that includes the main attractions such as the Mosque-Cathedral, the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristiano, Medina Azahara and the Jewish Quarter, among others. In addition, you can choose from a wide variety of guided tours and excursions to explore the city from end to end without missing anything.

The price of this tourist card varies between 29 and 79 euros per adult, depending on the activities included. Please note that children's tickets have a reduced price.

If you don't have much time, want to save money and make sure you visit the main places in the city, booking the Cordoba tourist bus can be a great ally. It is a great means of transport to get to know the city so that your children can be comfortable and enjoy the ride. Besides, this bus has 17 free stops, so you can use it as a means of transport to move freely around the city without spending too much money.

You can tour the entire city and get off at the main attractions and neighbourhoods you want to get to know in more depth. For example, you can easily get to the Jewish Quarter, the Mosque, the Calahorra Tower and much more and choose which sites to enter, which ones you want to visit in depth and which ones you don't.

The ticket costs approximately 18 euros per adult and 10 euros per child between 5 and 12 years old, for children under 5 years old it's free.