Want to visit Andalucia and wondering where to spend your time: Cordoba or Sevilla or Granada?
I understand, all 3 are fascinating cities with vibrant ambiances, long history, stunning architecture and fantastic views.
So here are my Cordoba vs Sevilla vs Granada battle results to help you chose, with photos and criteria such as:
- Best views,
- Most beautiful palaces and monuments,
- Best museums,
- Best access to beaches,
- Ease of exploring,
- …
Where will you go?
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Andalucia:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Andalucia: DiscoverCars
The unmissable visit: Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces
My favorite excursion from Seville: White villages and Ronda
My favorite places to stay:
- Seville, to explore the vibrant city – see best rated accommodations
- Cadiz, the charm by the sea – see best rated accommodations
- Ronda, to explore the white villages – see best rated accommodations
- Nerja, pour la Costa del Sol – see best rated accommodations
Cordoba vs Sevilla vs Granada – Comparison Overview
Cordoba or Sevilla or Granada? – Short Answer
Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada are all cities with a long history and a lot of charm. You can’t go wrong by visiting any of them. And they all deserve at least 2 days of exploring.
However, if you really need to choose, my opinion is that:
- If flying in just for a weekend, then choose Sevilla because you will have more flight option
- My absolute favorite of the 3 is Cordoba, as it feels less of a big city
- And if you want variety in what you can visit around the city, if staying for a week, I would pick Granada
Summary of my comparison
- Best views of the cities = Granada and Cordoba
- Best cathedral = Cordoba
- Best forts / Palace = Granada and Sevilla
- Best other monuments = Sevilla
- Best experience Vibe / food scene / price / crowds = tie
- Best museums = Sevilla
- Best day trips in the region = Granada
- Best access to beaches = Granada and Sevilla
- Ease of exploring = Cordoba
Read further to understand the decision and see pictures.
Where are they located? Can I visit all 3? – Map
Below is a map to help you get oriented and locate those 3 major citiesAnd the driving times (via highways) are:
- Sevilla to Cordoba = 1h40 drive
- Sevilla to Granada = 2h45 drive
- Cordoba to Granada = 2h20 drive
All locations listed are included (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) in my Travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip around Andalucia:
Plan your dream trip in Andalucia thanks to my guide
- 7 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 150+ pre-selected locations
- GPS + tips to make the most of your time
- 300+ original photos to help you choose
Best rated accommodations
Before I show you the best of those 3 towns, you might need accommodation to explore the city:
- Sevilla – Check out the best customer-rated accommodations
- Cordoba – Check out the best customer-rated accommodations
- Granada – Check out the best customer-rated accommodations
More detailed suggestions at the end of this article.
Best city views – Cordoba or Sevilla or Granada
City views in Sevilla
Sevilla is rather flat and does not offer many views from higher points.
You can climb the cathedral tower for some views and you can walk around the river for river views.
However, if you enjoy grandiose city views, this is not the best option for you.
City views in Cordoba
Cordoba has a lot of interesting options:
- From the top of the cathedral tower
- From the river side with stunning buildings all around
- From the tallest tower in the fort
- From the top of Torre de la Calahorra
Cordoba is very photogenic, in my opinion.
City views in Granada
Granada has hills… therefore it offers incredible city views. Some of the best ones include:
- From the Albaicin neighborhood for views of the city in general and specifically of the Alhambra
- From the Alcazaba, the old fort inside the Alhambra
My opinion
- Granada
- Cordoba
- Sevilla
With the hills, Granada definitively has the advantage.
But I must admit I fell in love with the views of Cordoba, especially along the river.
Best cathedral
Sevilla Cathedral
The Sevilla cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and a Unesco Heritage site. From the outside you can feel how massive it is. And inside there is much to discover. I particularly loved the chapter house. Plan at least 2h to explore!
You can also book a guided tour.
Cordoba Cathedral
The Mezquita cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in the region and a Unesco Heritage site.
You probably have seen many pictures of the hundreds of bicolor arches. It is stunning. But the mosque turned cathedral has so much more to offer. Plan a full hour to explore the interior. It is mesmerizing. And climb to the top of the tower!
You can also book a guided tour.
Granada Cathedral
The Granada cathedral is also one of the largest in the world. But it is a lot harder to appreciate it from the outside.
My favorite part of it, is the royal chapel.
You can also book a guided tour.
My opinion
- Cordoba cathedral
- Sevilla cathedral
- Granada cathedral
Although the Sevilla cathedral is impressive by its size, I think the Cordoba cathedral is an absolute gem and one of a kind. You won’t see similar features anywhere else in the World.
Need to rent a car in Andalucia?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Don’t take a car too large, since village streets can be narrow
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Best fort & palace
Sevilla Fort
The Real Alcazar was a wonderful surprise to me. It is a gorgeous place to visit and deserve a full half day to explore the rooms with Mudejar decors, the Banos, the patios and the magnificent gardens.
You can also book a guided tour.
Cordoba Fort
Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos is a nice place to visit but offers a lot less features that the other forts.It is a medieval fortress mainly built around the 14th century.
You can also book a guided tour.
Granada Fort
Granada is home to the famous Alhambra. At the top of the hill is a giant fortress complex which include:
- The famous Nazaries Palace, a masterpiece of architecture with room after room filled with Mudejar style decors
- Beautiful gardens
- The 13th century Alcazaba (the oldest part of the fort) with stunning views of the city
- The Palacio de Generalife with more Mudejar style decors
You can also book a guided tour.
My opinion
- Granada Alhambra
- Sevilla Real Alcazar
- Cordoba Alcazar
The Alhambra has to be at the top spot. But, surprisingly, I think the Real alcazar in Seville is really not far behind. The decor are slightly less stunning in some of the rooms but the visit experience is, in my opinion, much more enjoyable as you are not pushed in groups from one room to the next.
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But I also like other drinks and sweets!
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Best monuments
Sevilla monuments
Sevilla is very rich in monuments. To name a few:
- Plaza de Espana, one of the most famous areas of the city – a Semi circular grandiose building from the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929
- Las Setas, the impressive wooden structure designed by Jürgen Mayer and built in 2011 also known as the Mushrooms of the Incarnation
- Casa de Pilatos with beautiful tiles and and interesting architecture with a mix of Renaissance style and Mudejar decor
- Lebrija Palace, famous for its extensive collection of roman mosaics
- Casa de Alba – a palace with courtyards full of plants
Cordoba monuments
Cordoba has a lot more to offer than just the famous cathedral. It is home to:
- The Roman Bridge and Torre de la Calahorra at the end of it. This bridge is very photogenic!
- Palacio de Viana with its 12 patios which are all different!
- Plaza de la Corredera and all its arches
- The Roman temple
- …
Granada monuments
On top of the cathedral and the Alhambra, Granada is home to:
- Monasterio San Jeronimo and its a stunning courtyard with 36 arches
- The royal chapel
- Some renaissance and baroque Buildings in the center
- The stunning market streets near the cathedral
My opinion
- Sevilla
- Cordoba
- Granada
Sevilla is the clear winner in terms of other incredible monuments to discover. It offers both ancient and modern attractions. Your day will never get boring!
Best museums
Sevilla museums
Sevilla is rich in museums. The top ones are:
- Museum of fine arts
- Andalucian Museum of Contemporary Arts
- Flamenco Museum
- Archological Museum of Seville
- Museum of Arts and Traditions
Cordoba museums
In Cordoba, the top ones are:
- Museo Julio Romero de Torres (work by the painter)
- Bullfighting musum (Museo Taurino)
- Museum of fine arts
- Centro Flamenco ‘Fosforito’
- Archeological museum
- Galeria de la Inquisición
Granada museums
In Granada, the top ones are:
- Parque de las Ciencias (science museum)
- Fundacio Rodriguez Acosta – art museum
- Centro Cultural García Lorca about the life and work of Spanish writer
- Centro Cultural Caja Granada – history of Andalucia
- Museum of fine arts
- Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, about the cave-dwelling Roma people
My opinion
- Sevilla
- Granada
- Cordoba
Seville has the richest collections of all.
However Granada is not far behind, because it offers a great variety of museums.
It depends on what interests you the most.
Easy of getting around
- Seville –
it is a large town, but it is quite flat. It is easy to walk around but can take you quite a while to reach your destinations on foot. It offers and hop-on hop off service – get your ticket - Cordoba –
Cordoba is overall quite flat, with some slight inclines. It is more condensed, so very easy to explore on foot. Lots of narrow streets in the old town.
There is also a hop-on hop off us system – get your ticket - Granada –
Granada has huge hills. It is not easy to explore on foot. There are steep streets and staircases.
There is also a touristic transportation system that takes you to the main sights: the city train – get your ticket
My opinion
- Cordoba
- Sevilla
- Granada
Best experience: crowds / vibe / food scene / price…
The truth is that all 3 cities offer very different experiences but quite similar in a way:
- All 3 cities are very touristy – you will find crowds everywhere – however in Sevilla, it feels much more spread out
- All 3 cities offer interesting food with great tapas and Andalucia cuisine
- All 3 cities have interesting vibe with flamenco, bodegas, musicians…
- All 3 have prices related to their tourism level…
It is difficult to pick a clear winner, sorry.
In terms of my own preferences,
- I enjoyed Cordoba the best during the day
- I enjoyed Sevilla the best in the evening
- I enjoyed the food best in Granada (but I am very far being from a food blogger, so…)
My opinion
Tie
Best access to beaches
None of those 3 cities are by the sea. Therefore, if you want to enjoy some beach time, driving is required.
To learn more, check out my article about the most beautiful beaches in Andalucia.
Seville to beaches
The closest beaches from Seville are:
- around Cadiz – 1h30 to 2h drive (Costa de la Luz) – sandy beaches and dunes
- around Malaga – 2h30 to 3h drive (Costa del Sol) – sandy beaches
Cordoba to beaches
The closest beaches from Cordoba are around Malaga – 2h to 2h30 drive.
Those are sandy beaches.
Granada to beaches
The closest beaches from Granada are
- around Motril – 1h to 1h30 drive (Costa tropical) – pebble beaches
- around Malaga – 1h to 2h drive (Costa del Sol) – sandy beaches
- in the Gabo de Gata natural park (the most scenic beaches in the region) – 2h15 to 2h45 – mix of sand and rocks
My opinion
- Granada
- Sevilla
- Cordoba
From Granada, you have access to many of the Andalusian Coastlines with a variety of beaches.
However, from Sevilla, you are not far from Cadiz and the sandy beaches of Costa de La Luz, which I love.
Best day trips from Seville vs Cordoba vs Granada
If you are staying longer than a weekend, you may also explore the region.
Let’s have a look at the best day trip to enjoy around each of the cities.
You can book group tours or rent a car to reach them.
Need to rent a car in Andalucia?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Don’t take a car too large, since village streets can be narrow
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Best day trips from Sevilla
My favorite places to visit not far from Seville are (driving times are one-way):
- Italica, the impressive roman ruins of Santiponce
- The seaside town of Cadiz – 1h20 drive
- The white villages around Arcos de la Frontera – 1h15 drive
- Antequera: the old town, the impressive dolmens, and the rock formations at Torcal de Antequera – 2h drive
- The Ronda area – gorge, bridge and white villages (including Setenil de las Bodegas) – 2h drive
- The Donana National Park and its widlife
- And you can also visit Granda and Cordoba from Sevilla
If you don’t want to drive, check out the guided options.
Best day trips from Cordoba
My favorite places to visit not far from Cordoba are (driving times are one-way):
- The main attraction close to Cordoba is the magnificent ruins of Medina Azahara (Unesco site)- 20min drive
- The fort of Almodovar del Rio – 30min drive
- My favorite white village: Zuheros – 1h15 drive
- Antequera: the old town, the impressive dolmens, and the rock formations at Torcal de Antequera – 1h20 drive
- The historical towns of Baeza and Ubeda (Unesco sites) – 2h drive
- The Ronda area – gorge, bridge and white villages (including Setenil de las Bodegas) – 2h 15 drive
- And you can also visit Sevilla and Granada from Cordoba
If you don’t want to drive, check out the guided options.
Best day trips from Granada
From Granada, you can see a wide variety of landscapes: mountains, beaches, ancient history, desert, white villages…
My favorite places to visit not far from Granada are (driving times are one-way):
- Antequera: the old town, the impressive dolmens, and the rock formations at Torcal de Antequera – 1h15 drive
- The Sierra Nevada Mountains – 30min drive
- Guadix and the troglodyte houses – 1h drive
- The Tabernas desert and the western movie set – 1h30 drive
- The Ronda area – gorge, bridge and white villages (including Setenil de las Bodegas) – 2h drive
- Cabo de Gata Natural park – 2h30 drive
- And you can also visit Sevilla and Cordoba from Granada
If you don’t want to drive, check out the guided options.
My opinion
- Granada
- Sevilla
- Cordoba
Granada offers the largest variation in landscapes and attractions you could admire.
The city is very centrally located.
Accommodations
All cities have a wide variety of accommodations from luxury hotels, to hostels and rental apartments.
Although, I was overall underwhelmed by the accommodations in Andalucia, I have found some beautiful options in those main cities, especially, if you are looking at rentals.
Accommodations in Seville
Here are some suggestions for you:
- Luxury hotel – Hotel Alfonso XIII – check out photos and availability
- Mid-range hotel 3-stars – Soho Boutique Hotel – check out photos and availability
- Mid-range hotel 2-stars – Welldone Quality Crystal Pool – check out photos and availability
- Apartment – Green apartments Mansion Blue Catedral – where I stayed, great location – check out photos and availability
- Hostel – The Nomad Hostel & Pension – check out photos and availability
- or Check out the best customer-rated accommodations
Accommodations in Cordoba
Here are some suggestions for you:
- Luxury hotel – Hospes Palacio del Bailio – check out photos and availability
- Mid-range 3-stars hotel – Boutique hotel La Llave de la Juderia – check out photos and availability
- Mid-range 2-stars hotel – Boutique hotel Caireles – check out photos and availability
- Apartment – Apartmentos Casa del Aceite – where I stayed, practical location – check out photos and availability
- Hostel – Aldea Hostel – check out photos and availability
- or Check out the best customer-rated accommodations
Accommodations in Granada
Here are some suggestions for you:
- Luxury hotel – Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula – check out photos and availability
- Mid-range 3-stars hotel – Hotel Casa Morisca – check out photos and availability
- Mid-range 2-stars hotel – Hotel Parraga Siete – check out photos and availability
- Apartment – Apartmentos Turisticos Mauror – check out photos and availability
- Hostel – Toc Hostel Granada – check out photos and availability
- or Check out the best customer-rated accommodations
Where to stay in Andalucia?
My favorites on a road trip:
- In Sevilla, to explore the vibrant city – see best rated accommodations
- In Cadiz, the charm by the sea – see best rated accommodations
- In Ronda, to explore the white villages – see best rated accommodations
- In Granada, for the history – see best rated accommodations
- In Nerja, pour la Costa del Sol – see best rated accommodations
Want to see more of the best Andalucia has to offer?
- 21+ Best cities and towns in Andalucia – read article
- Best landscapes in Andalucia in 40 pictures – read article
- 24 best things to do in Andalucia – read article (to be published)
- 17 most beautiful white villages in Andalucia – read article
- 20 best beaches in Andalucia – read article
- Tips to plan a road trip around Andalucia – read article
- 16 best castles and palaces in Andalucia – read article
Planning a trip to Andalucia?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip in Andalucia thanks to my guide
- 7 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 150+ pre-selected locations
- GPS + tips to make the most of your time
- 300+ original photos to help you choose
And keep track of your own trip!
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