Jewish Quarter Tours in Cordoba

You should definitely visit the Jewish Quarter on your trip through the city of Cordoba, to learn about its history and picturesque corners that will take your breath away. Sound good to you? Keep on reading.
Jewish Quarter Tours in Cordoba

Other popular activities in Cordoba

More about: Jewish Quarter Tours in Cordoba

On your visit to the city of Cordoba you will have many activities and things to see and do and I recommend that you include in your itinerary a visit to the Jewish Quarter. It is a Jewish quarter that is located in the historic center of the city and is part of the area designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

The Jewish quarter was formerly separated from the rest of the city by a walled enclosure that isolated the Jews who lived there and protected them from the Christians. Today, it is a tourist area and very popular with visitors who are interested in learning about its history and enjoy walking its streets and appreciating its architecture. You will visit the Maimonides Square and key points of the neighborhood such as the synagogue, the municipal souk or the market. I tell you which are the best tours to visit the Jewish Quarter.

1. The most complete guided tour: Jewish Quarter, Mosque-Cathedral and Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs

Mosque-Cathedral by night| ©Michel Gauthier
Mosque-Cathedral by night| ©Michel Gauthier

Enjoying these three classic attractions of Cordoba in a single tour is a great plan. For about four hours you will visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba knowing all the secrets that houses inside one of the most visited monuments in Spain, the picturesque streets and corners of the Jewish Quarter, such as the Souk or the Synagogue and the Alcazar of the Christian Kings, the former residence of Castilian kings.

In addition, the tour will be accompanied by the experience of an expert guide who will be in charge of the tour telling you secrets and unique facts, making this tour more interesting and entertaining.

Interesting details

  • Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at 38 € per person.
  • Duration: 4 hours.
  • Advantages of this type of tour: in addition to the walk through the Jewish Quarter, you will have included: entrance to the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, entrance to the Synagogue and entrance to the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs.
  • Disadvantages of this type of tour: it may not be enough time if you want to visit the three places at your own pace and in depth.

Book a tour of the Jewish Quarter, Mosque-Cathedral and Alcazar of the Christian Kings

2. An exclusive walking tour of the Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter of Cordoba| ©Joan Carles Doria
The Jewish Quarter of Cordoba| ©Joan Carles Doria

In this exclusive tour you will learn in depth every detail of the history of this iconic neighborhood of Cordoba, from the time of the Romans, when the walled perimeter surrounding the Jewish Quarter was built, through the time of the Islamic and Christian invasion.

With an expert guide, you can tour the Plaza de Maimonides and learn about the origin of the successive names it has had throughout history and meters from there, the Municipal Bullfighting Museum of Cordoba, where you can learn more about the tradition of the city and other emblematic sites such as the Synagogue, the municipal souk or the market, where you will find local crafts, and enjoy its narrow, colorful and picturesque streets, nourishing yourself with the architecture of medieval times and the history that conveys every corner of this mythical neighborhood.

Details of interest

  • Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price from 8 € per person.
  • Duration: 1 hour.
  • Maximum number of travelers: up to 19 people can participate in this tour.
  • Advantages of this type of tour: in addition to the walk through the Jewish Quarter you will have included tickets to the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, the Synagogue and the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs.
  • Disadvantages of this type of tour: meals are not included.

3. A tour of the gardens of Cordoba with a visit to the Jewish Quarter

Visit Alcazar de los Reyes| ©Peter Stuart-Roberts
Visit Alcazar de los Reyes| ©Peter Stuart-Roberts

This is a different way to get to know 2 of the main neighborhoods of Cordoba, the neighborhood of San Basilico and the Jewish Quarter. In this case, your guide will be a courtyard keeper and you will be able to enter the amazing courtyards of the city and discover their origin, curiosities and secrets and even talk to the families that live in them.

The renowned Patios of Cordoba, were open spaces that during the Muslim era defined the architecture of the houses, provided them with light and contained a well that supplied water to the house. Today, these patios have been awarded in the Festival de los Patios and stand out for their shapes, colors, varieties and the aspect of the Muslim past that still persists in them.

In addition, you can visit the small ethnographic museum that is located in one of the courtyards and is an icon in the history of the kitchen. And to get even closer to the essence and tradition of the Cordoban patios, this experience includes an exquisite tasting of local wines.

Details of interest

  • Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at 13 € per person.
  • Duration: between 2 hours and 2 hours and a half.
  • Advantages of this type of tour: it is a tour that in addition to the Jewish Quarter covers other neighborhoods and the Patios Cordobeses, so you will get more out of it. It includes entrance to the courtyards and wine tasting.
  • Disadvantages of this type of tour: it does not include meals.

Book a tour of the Patios Cordobeses and the Jewish Quarter

4. Another option: the tourist bus of Cordoba with a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter

Cordoba Tourist Bus| ©Magaly
Cordoba Tourist Bus| ©Magaly

I can assure you that there is no better option to tour the city in a short time and without missing anything, than the tourist bus of Cordoba. But in addition, this bus has the particularity that offers 2 free walking tours and one of them is through the Jewish Quarter. This small tour departs from stop 16 at 5 pm and lasts about an hour and a half.

In addition, you will be able to tour the entire city in this comfortable double-decker bus, with a professional guide and making stops at the main attractions and the best neighborhoods. You will have 17 stops throughout the city and among them you can visit the Jewish Quarter, the Mezquita (the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba), the Roman temple of Cordoba, the Calahorra Tower and much more.

Another point in favor of this option is that you can use the bus freely, avoiding the traditional means of transport to move from one side of the city to the other and get off at any place you want to go at your own pace, fantastic!

Interesting details

  • Price: you can enjoy this experience for a price starting at 19 € per person.
  • Duration: it has two routes, one panoramic and one intimate, each one lasts 1 hour and the buses leave between 9:30 in the morning and 8 in the evening.
  • Advantages of this type of tour: it includes a walking tour of the Jewish quarter that departs at 5:00 p.m. from bus stop 16 of the panoramic route and lasts 90 minutes. It also allows you to see the main attractions of the city.
  • Disadvantages of this type of tour: if your idea is to visit only the Jewish Quarter, you may want to choose another option.

Book the tourist bus of Cordoba

How to book a tour of the Jewish Quarter

Touring the Juderia| ©Joan Carles Doria
Touring the Juderia| ©Joan Carles Doria

You can book any of these tours to the Jewish Quarter online, quickly and easily, always indicating the exact date on which you are going to do it. Immediately after the purchase, you will receive the confirmation of your reservation and that's it!

As your plans may change for any reason, or you may even regret it, you will be able to cancel any of these tours for free, 24 hours before the starting time.

Duration of the tours in the Jewish Quarter

At night in the Juderia| ©jsalinero1
At night in the Juderia| ©jsalinero1

All tours through the Jewish Quarter usually last between 1 and 4 hours. So they are a perfect option to combine with other activities and excursions. Just keep in mind that you should be at the starting point a few minutes before the tour begins, so you can take the opportunity to have a snack or a coffee somewhere near the starting point.

In addition, a tour of the Jewish Quarter can be a perfect plan if you plan to be in the city for a short time and do not want to miss its best attractions. I leave you a guide of what to see and do in Cordoba in 3 days so you can organize your trip in the best way.

Finally, keep in mind that in this neighborhood there are a variety of highly recommended restaurants, so you can consider eating something in the area at the end or before starting the tour.

How much does a tour of the Jewish Quarter cost?

Money in Euros| ©Pixabay
Money in Euros| ©Pixabay

Exclusive tours of this emblematic, traditional and historic neighborhood cost around 8 and 38 euros and in case you decide to take the tourist bus, about 19 euros.

Keep in mind that everything will depend on the attractions included in your tour, the number of people with whom you share the excursion and the services included. You have tours with many different options, which include other activities besides the Jewish Quarter, and it will be up to you to choose the one that best suits your tastes.

Why is it advisable to take a tour of the Jewish Quarter?

Streets of the Juderia| ©kurt_puhm
Streets of the Juderia| ©kurt_puhm

When you take a tour of the Juderia you can learn about its history and discover the secrets, curiosities, myths and truths that lie behind this charming and emblematic neighborhood that underwent several transformations over the years and the company of an expert local guide will be indispensable.

Keep in mind that this is a neighborhood whose origin dates back to the Middle Ages and had to fight against various obstacles and discrimination in order to preserve its identity over time.

These tours will allow you to know the history behind every corner of this neighborhood and how people live today in the Jewish Quarter, being one of the most interesting areas of the city.

Where to eat in the Jewish Quarter

At Casa Mazal| ©Ramón Berreio
At Casa Mazal| ©Ramón Berreio

As you can see, none of the tours include food, but that's not a problem when you are walking through such a traditional and touristic neighborhood, which also has an incredible gastronomic offer. I'll tell you what are the best options to eat something in the Jewish Quarter.

  • Gastrotaberna La Chiquita de Quini: this restaurant is located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter and offers a variety of exquisite Spanish dishes. Sometimes you can listen to live music and enjoy flamenco. It is an ideal place to have lunch or dinner after walking around the neighborhood.
  • Casa Mazal: a restaurant with typical Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food to enjoy a different lunch or dinner and try new flavors.
  • Casa Pepe De La Judería: one of the best in Córdoba and located in the Judería. You will be surprised by the Michelin logo on its entrance door and you can enjoy an exquisite meal.
  • Patio Romano: is a restaurant with a variety of European and Spanish dishes for all tastes. It is located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter and is highly recommended for lunch or dinner and continue touring the area.
  • El Patio Andaluz: I recommend this restaurant for a delicious meal and to continue exploring the area. At night you can dine accompanied by live flamenco. A nice experience.

Tips for an excursion to the Jewish Quarter

Afternoon in the Juderia| ©kurt_puhm
Afternoon in the Juderia| ©kurt_puhm

In addition to having something to eat in the neighborhood and discovering its flavors and dreamy corners, beyond its history, I recommend that you wear comfortable clothes suitable for the time of year and footwear suitable for walking.

In these tours you will walk around the neighborhood and various attractions for a few hours and you will have to walk quite a bit on winding roads, so you don't want to be uncomfortable and have a bad time.

As for clothing, keep in mind that in Cordoba, both winter and summer make themselves felt, so it will be important that you check the weather before the tour and wear appropriate clothing.

Best time of the year to take a tour in the Jewish Quarter

Colorful Juderia| ©Mariano R. Guasch
Colorful Juderia| ©Mariano R. Guasch

It is important that you keep in mind that all these tours are conditioned by the weather, since they include walks and outdoor spaces, so good weather is necessary for them to be carried out, otherwise they will have to be rescheduled.

Therefore, keep in mind that autumn and spring are seasons with good temperatures, but also with more precipitation in Cordoba, although nothing to worry about. In winter, temperatures can reach 3 ° C minimum and just 14 ° C maximum and there will also be higher rainfall, while summer remains between 18 ° C and 36 ° C and is the least rainy season of the year.

Although you can do these tours throughout the year, it is a good activity to do when the heat and sun are a little more felt. I'm not saying you can't do it in winter, but my recommendation is that you choose to do it in summer. Besides, you will have other activities to combine it, you can check this itinerary of things to see and do in summer in Cordoba.

Advantages of taking a guided tour vs. touring the Jewish Quarter on your own

Taberna de la Juderia| ©Rosa G
Taberna de la Juderia| ©Rosa G

Without a doubt, taking a guided tour will allow you not only to get to know one of the main neighborhoods of Cordoba, but also to appreciate the extensive and interesting history behind it, without missing any detail. Behind its picturesque and popular streets there is a series of traditions and events very interesting to know and what better than taking advantage of the knowledge of a local guide to tell you everything! In addition, most of these tours expand into other areas and will end up giving you a general tour of some of the main sites of the city.

Anyway, I will not deny that it is also a good option to tour the Jewish Quarter on your own, at your own pace, taking your time and walking its streets and unique places, but there is something you should take into consideration: although you can walk through this neighborhood alone, you would be missing a fundamental spice, which is precisely what lies behind everything you see on your way that dates back centuries.

You should also take into account what kind of traveler you are, if you like to explore the sites at your own pace, free of time and you are good at organizing yourself, a guided tour will definitely not be for you. On the other hand, if you have little time to walk around the city or you just like to have everything under control, this tour is for you, since you will not have to worry about anything, the guide will make sure you do not miss anything and you will make the most of your time.

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 28 Reviews
  • R
    R. Z.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The guided tour was enriching, but more time to explore on your own would be ideal.
  • X
    X. W.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The guided tour of the Mosque, Synagogue and Jewish Quarter was amazing, the guide was very knowledgeable and immersed us completely in the history of Cordoba.
  • I
    I. I.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved this tour, it was like travelling back in time. I learned a lot about the history of Cordoba, a unique experience.
  • D
    D. K.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The visit to the Mosque, Synagogue and Jewish Quarter was amazing, I loved it all. The guides were very knowledgeable and made the tour super fun.
  • A
    A. H.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The visit was enriching, but it would be ideal to have more time to explore on your own.