Realistically you need more than one day to explore everything Córdoba has to offer truly. However, if you're looking for a quick city break with plenty of sightseeing and activities, one day is enough to sample this beautiful city.
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Personally I'd spend 3 nights in Granada and 4 nights in Sevilla. I'd visit Cordoba as a daytrip either while traveling between Granada & Sevilla or from Sevilla. This will give you enough time to adequately see Granada and Sevilla. It would basically be 2 full days Granada, 3 full days Sevilla and a day in Cordoba.
If your day is short due to the traveling time from Madrid, I would go for Cordoba. There is so much to see in Seville that unless your trains are early / late you will miss a lot of it. The old part of Cordoba (Mezquita, alcazabar, Jewish Quarter) is comfortably seen in a day. I agree with stumblebum.
Is Malaga or Cordoba Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers? Malaga is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Cordoba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Malaga is a very popular port city to visit for backpackers.
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.
While many people visit Cordoba on a day trip from Seville, you could easily spend 2 days in Cordoba or more. If you only have one day in Cordoba, be sure to join a guided tour to get a good feel for the city, its history, and ensure you don't miss any of the main things to do in Cordoba.
Walking the streets, you can't help but visualize people of the past, coming from three very different religious backgrounds, yet all living together and adopting the same culture. If you have extra time in Seville, a day trip to Cordoba is hands down the easiest and most worthwhile.
If you're in Granada only for one day, you won't have time to visit the Arab and Moorish houses of the neighbourhood, nor its medieval palaces and convents, but you can have some tapas or stop for lunch in one of its many restaurants. The Albaicin has an abundance of traditional bars to choose from.
Córdoba is famous around the world for its Great Mosque. Its historic old town is a World Heritage site, full of little streets to be explored, courtyards full of flowers, inviting squares and lively taverns where you can enjoy a good flamenco performance or try the local cuisine.
How many days should you spend in Seville, Cordoba and Granada? If you have limited days to spend in Andalucía I would recommend staying at least two nights in Seville, one night in Cordoba and three nights in Granada.
If your plan is to stay 1 day in Cordoba, focus on the city's historic sights and the surrounding historic neighborhood. The Mosque-Cathedral, the Alcazar, the Roman Bridge, and a wander through the Jewish Quarter can be seen in the first half of the day. Stop for lunch and be sure to order a bowl of salmorejo.
We recommend three days in Seville; however, you could easily stay longer. If you only have a weekend – and Seville is a great European weekender – two days would allow you to see most of the main attractions.