Only one free day? · Day trip from Madrid
Córdoba or Valencia?
| Field | Córdoba | Valencia |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 1 h 44 | 1 h 54 most trains take 2 h to 2 h 05 |
| Transport | AVE high-speed train | AVE high-speed train |
| Self-guided | € 129–155 | € 130–174.60 |
| Tour | – | – |
| Time needed | 6–8 h | 7–10 h |
| Closed | None listed. Hours change on days with religious services | None weekly. Sundays open from 14:00 only (Oct-Jun); shut 1 and 6 Jan, 19 Mar, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, 9 Oct, 8 and 25 Dec |
| Best time | Mar-May and Oct-Nov; avoid Jun-Aug afternoons | Mar-Jun and Sep-Nov; stay a night to add the City of Arts and Sciences |
| Verdict | Worth a full day | Better to sleep there |
Our verdict
Córdoba for one day, Valencia for two.
Both are long AVE rides at a similar price: Córdoba is 1 hour 44 minutes and € 129 to € 155 with the Mosque-Cathedral, Valencia is 1 hour 54 minutes and € 130 to € 174.60 with the cathedral. Córdoba wins as a day trip because one monument and the quarter around it fit between the 08:00 train and the 18:37 back. Valencia is too spread out for that. Pick Valencia if you can stay a night, or from June to August, when Córdoba's afternoon heat is the worse problem.
Last checked: · Train times and fares from Renfe's timetable pages; opening days and ticket prices from each attraction's official site.