Opening hours of museums and monuments in Cordoba
Cordoba is known for its rich history and cultural heritage. This ancient city offers a wide variety of museums and monuments that capture the essence of its historical and artistic legacy. Whether you are a history lover, an art aficionado or an international Erasmus student looking for new experiences, you will know that this city will not disappoint. In between parties, you should always take some time to soak up the local culture, so here are the main museums and monuments in Cordoba, with their updated opening hours.
BOTANIC GARDENS
In 1987 a fascinating museum was opened in Cordoba, a true centre of plant culture that invites you to immerse yourself in a world of natural wonders. The museum is made up of different areas that house a wide variety of collections. The tour begins in a beautiful arboretum, which recreates the beauty of a natural forest. As you progress, you will discover different greenhouses, the agricultural school, a charming rose garden and picturesque gardens. The grounds also house the impressive Museum of Palaeobotany, where you can explore detailed information about the different floras that have existed throughout history.
The Ethnobotany Museum is another highlight, with a permanent exhibition that examines the relationship between society and plants through various modules and instruments. Finally, the Hydraulic Museum immerses you in history through culture, water management and traditions related to the use of plants. This museum is located in the Molino de Martos and offers a fascinating insight into how plants have been sources of food (such as cereal flours), dyes (used in cloths and fabrics), tanning agents (for the treatment of skins) and vegetable fibres.
The museum’s garden, with its views and proximity to the Guadalquivir River, allows you to enjoy and understand the flora.
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-2pm – Closed on Mondays (if a Monday is a public holiday, it will open on Monday and close on the following Tuesday). Closed: 1 January, 24, 25 and 31 December (full day); 5 January, Thursday and Good Friday (closed in the afternoon).
PRICES:
Adults: 3€
Children (from 5 years old), students and senior citizens: 1,50€
Concerted groups (minimum 20 people) and Youth Card holders: 2€.
Sundays: 1€
Regular visitor’s card (annual fee): 10€.
Monitor-guide for general visits: 20€.
Monitor-guide for specialised visits: 30€.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The Archaeological Museum of Cordoba is responsible for conserving, researching and disseminating the material remains that form part of the archaeological legacy of Cordoba and its surroundings, from prehistoric times to the era of Al-Andalus. In its various rooms and courtyards, representative samples of different periods and architectural styles are exhibited. Walking through its three courtyards and eight rooms, one has the sensation that history itself speaks through the pieces on display, transporting us from one room to another and from one courtyard to another, to immerse ourselves in the evocative Cordoba of the past.
In January 2011, a new building was added adjacent to the existing one. This extension, of contemporary architectural design, accompanies the Renaissance Palace of Jerónimo Páez. The new building provides modern, attractive and functional museum spaces that meet the current needs and expectations of society in relation to the archaeological museum of Cordoba.
Inside this new building is an exceptional jewel: the archaeological site of the city’s Roman theatre, discovered on the site where the building was erected. This historical treasure has been restored, converted into a museum space and can now be visited in the basement of the building, allowing easy and accessible access. Undoubtedly, this visit is a must for all those who appreciate art and history at its best.
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. Sundays from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. Mondays closed.
Price: free for all EU citizens. 1.50 for the rest.
THE BULLFIGHTING MUSEUM
The Bullfighting Museum of Cordoba is located in the Plaza Maimonides, in the vicinity of the Hospital del Cardenal Salazar. It is housed in an old 16th century stately mansion. This museum houses a valuable collection dedicated to the five famous bullfighters of Cordoba: Lagartijo, Guerrita, Machaquito, Manolete and Manuel Benítez, known as El Cordobés, reflecting the deep-rooted bullfighting tradition of the city.
Through photographs, bullfighting costumes, old bullfighting posters, engravings, bullfighting instruments, sculptures and paintings, visitors can immerse themselves in the history of bullfighting and feel closer to this cultural expression.
The Bullfighting Museum of Cordoba has been completely remodelled in terms of its contents and has been fully restored, preserving the integrity of the historic building that houses it. Following this renovation, the museum reopened its doors to the public on 1 April 2014.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 8.15am to 8pm. Thursdays (excluding public holidays), free from 18.00. Saturdays: 9.30am to 6pm. Sundays: from 8.15am to 2.45pm.
Price: Adults: 4€. International students under 26: 1.50€.
PALACIO DE VIANA
In the Plaza de Don Gome stands this impressive building, whose areas extend around twelve beautiful courtyards and a magnificent garden. Various types of flowers decorate and perfume every corner of this luxurious museum. The last owner of the palace, Sophia of Lancaster, exquisitely preserved the ancient history of this 14th century mansion. The Viana Palace houses a wide variety of collections in its many rooms (paintings, crockery, mosaics, tapestries, tiles, firearms). The incredible works of art on display here make a visit to Cordoba an enriching experience. Particularly noteworthy are the collection of guadamecíes and the extensive library, which spans from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00 to 19.00. Wednesdays free from 2pm to 5pm (courtyards only). In July and August: from 9.00 to 15.00. Sundays from 10.00 to 15.00.
Price :Full visit: 11€ – Visit only courtyards: 7€ – Visit only palace: 7€ – Free for children under 10 years old.
FINE ARTS MUSEUM
Located in the Plaza del Potro, it opened to the public in 1862 under the direction of Rafael Romero Barros, father of the famous Cordovan painter Julio Romero de Torres. The museum occupies several areas of the former Hospital de la Caridad, which has a plateresque style. Over the years, expansions were made and in 1936 its current state was established, following the Renaissance style. Although paintings by Italian Renaissance masters can be found on its walls, most of its collections focus on Baroque and 19th-century art. Highlights include works by artists such as Bartolomé Bermejo, Luis de Morales, Valdés Leal, Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo, Antonio del Castillo and the Cordovan sculptor Mateo Inurria. The building itself is a must-see, with its charming courtyard full of orange trees and a Baroque staircase with an octagon-shaped wooden ceiling.
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 9.00 to 21.00 (until 15 June). From 16 June, from 9.00 to 15.00. Sundays, 9am-3pm.
Price: free for EU residents – €1.50 for others.
CALAHORRA TOWER
Located at the southern end of the Roman Bridge is the Calahorra Tower, a historic defensive construction from ancient times mentioned in numerous references from the Christian conquest of Cordoba to the present day. At the beginning of the 20th century it was declared a historic-artistic monument. It currently houses the Living Museum of al-Andalus, which talks about the coexistence of the three cultures in Cordoba: Jewish, Christian and Muslim.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00.
Price: Adults 4,50€. Reduced rate: 3€
If you want to know the opening times of the rest of the museums and monuments of Córdoba you can access the website of the del Córdoba Tourism Consortium and download the document.
