Explore the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba and learn about its origins as an Islamic mosque and history as a Catholic cathedral since the 13th century. Discover a labyrinth of beautiful columns and horseshoe arches.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 1 hour: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide: Spanish, French, English
Wheelchair accessible

Highlights

Explore the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, considered one of the best examples of Islamic art in Spain
Tour a labyrinth of beautiful columns, double arcades and horseshoe arches
Learn how a cathedral was built inside the mosque after the Christian Conquest
Admire the Baroque altarpiece and the mahogany choir stalls

Full description

Explore the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, a former Islamic mosque, and Catholic cathedral since the Conquest. Meet your guide at the only olive tree in the Courtyard of the Orange Trees (Patio de los Naranjos) for the start of your history tour. Discover an amazing mixture of architectural styles, constructed over 9 centuries. Standing in the historic center of Cordoba, the Mosque-Cathedral is one of the most beautiful examples of Muslim art in Spain. It was first built in 785 by the Muslim emir Abdurrahman I, on the site of an ancient Visigoth church of San Vicente. The mosque underwent consecutive extensions over later centuries, the last carried out by Al-Mansur in 987. As a result, the interior is a labyrinth of beautiful columns with double arcades and horseshoe arches. After the Christian conquest, a cathedral was built inside, with highlights including the Baroque altarpiece and the mahogany choir stalls. At the end of your tour, your guide will help you locate a good local restaurant or tavern, if you want to savor some authentic Andalusian tapas.

Includes

Local qualified guide
Audio Receivers to listen to the guide inside the Mosque-Cathedral
Mosque Cathedral entrance fee
VAT

Food and drink

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Meeting point

Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Important information

What to bring

Passport or ID card
Comfortable shoes
Water
Comfortable clothes

Not allowed

Luggage or large bags
Sleeveless shirts

Know before you go

Please arrive on time otherwise you may be liable to miss the tour. If you arrive late for the tour, we cannot guarantee that you can join our tour once started and you will not receive a refund and not receive the tickets for the monuments

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 1350 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.5/5
Value for money
4.2/5
Service
4.6/5
Organization
4.5/5

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Our guide Juan Carlos was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We learned so much more than if we had gone on our own.There were only 4 on the tour, but he had to split the time between English and French. Also note that the site closes at 2 pm and reopens later in the day. The Mosque Cathedral is not to be missed in Cordoba. Thank you Juan Carlos for graciously sharing your knowledge.

May 21, 2021

Breathtaking architecture/site and great guide-beyond expectations!

The site and tour were both incredible. Our guide was well informed, clear in her explanations and descriptions to make this complex history understandable and come to life, and she was professional, lively and engaging, and seemed to love sharing the information. We learned so much from her presentation. We’re still processing the information and this experience has spurred us to dig into the subject(s) more deeply.

May 26, 2019

Worth the trip!

We decided to take a day trip from Seville to see the Mesquita, and it was incredible! Paki was such a phenomenal guide and we were so pleased with our experience. It was the perfect amount of time (1 hr of tour and about 10-15 min to get organized and share some history of the building). Would recommend to anyone!

November 1, 2018

Skip the line Great Mosque-Cathedral History Tour

Skip the line Great Mosque-Cathedral History Tour

About this activity

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Breathtaking architecture/site and great guide-beyond expectations!

Worth the trip!