Free Tour Medina Azahara

Do you want to know every detail of one of the most important medieval cities in history? During our tour, you will understand why its founder, the Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba, Abd al-Rahman III, named it "The Brilliant City."

The archaeological site was ordered to be built in the year 936 as a royal residence and seat of the government of Al-Andalus. Today, it is considered a World Heritage Site and one of the most significant and representative monuments in the history of medieval Europe.

In this guided tour of Medina Azahara, we will walk through the streets that once hosted the ancient Andalusian civil and military administration.

We will also travel back in time to wander among its ruins, corridors, rooms of guards and servants, mosques, towers, and royal halls, the pool, and the grand portico, to imagine what life was like in that majestic palace. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to delve even deeper into its history by visiting the Medina Azahara Interpretation Center, designated the Best Museum in Europe in 2012.

 

Important Information:

• You must bring your own headphones (with a 3.5 mm jack) for the use of the mandatory radio guides at the site. Otherwise, we will provide you with a pair at a cost of 0.5 euros each. 

• Public Transport
  • If you book this activity for the 10:15 or 10:45 am slots, you can take the bus departing from Córdoba at 10:00 am, returning at 1:30 pm.
      
  • If you choose the 11:15 or 11:45 am options, we recommend taking the bus to Medina Azahara departing at 10:45 am and returning at 2:15 pm.
    
    
  • Additionally, clients taking the 11:45 am slot will finish the tour a few minutes early to ensure they can catch the return bus at 2:15 pm.
    
    
  • If you decide to visit the archaeological site at night (only in summer), you can travel from Córdoba on a bus departing at 9:15 pm and returning at 11:30 pm. Please wait for our guides at the site entrance; they will join the rest of the visitors on the shuttle bus from the Visitor Reception Center.
    
    

• Medina Azahara at Night
  • The second meeting point for the night activity at Medina Azahara is at the entrance of the archaeological site. Please, if you arrive early and do not see our guides, wait for them to arrive with the rest of the group to start the tour.
    
    
  • The total duration of the night tour is shorter, as this option does not include a visit to the Visitor Center.

• Recommendations if Traveling in Summer
  • Keep in mind that Córdoba is a very hot city during the summer months, and the archaeological site is exposed to high temperatures. We recommend wearing light clothing and accessories to protect yourself from the sun, such as hats or caps, and bringing water to stay hydrated and enjoy the visit to the fullest.

 

 👀 ADDITIONAL COSTS 👀  
 - This tour requires an additional cost for the shuttle bus from the Visitor Center to the archaeological site.
 Adults: €3.00 / Children aged 5-12: €1.50.

 
- This tour requires an additional entry fee for non-EU citizens (€1.5 per person).

 
 👀 HOW TO GET TO MEDINA AZAHARA 👀

To reach our meeting point, located outside the Medina Azahara Visitor Center, between the main gate and the shuttle stop, you have several options:

1. By private car. You can access the parking lot of the Visitor Center, where our meeting point is located. Remember that you cannot drive up to the site in a private car. Taking the shuttle is mandatory.

2. By bus. There is an exclusive bus for the Medina Azahara Visitor Center departing from Córdoba.  If traveling by public transport, we recommend planning your options well for the transfer to the Medina Azahara site, as Paseando por Europa is not responsible for any transportation-related issues. 

You can find all the information here: https://www.turismodecordoba.org/bus-diario-a-medina-azahara-cordoba

3. By taxi. You can find information about prices at the following link: https://www.pidetaxicordoba.es/tarifas/#visita_ma

Important: Try to arrive early for the activity, as due to entry management issues at the site, those who arrive late will not be able to join the tour.


 👀 Reservations for More Than 6 People 👀 

• Groups of more than 6 people must pay €10 per adult. 
• The amount must be paid in cash to our guides at the meeting point before starting the activity to be admitted.
• If you cannot attend, please cancel your reservation at least 24 hours in advance.