Planning on moving to or visiting Córdoba? Congrats, it’s a great little city! Here’s a quick guide of where to live if you’re looking for new home, or if you’re just curious and feel like wandering.

For the sake of brevity and readability, I’ve grouped some neighborhoods that are technically independent into one area. Keep in mind that in mind and use this as a general guide rule of thumb… now… ¡a callejea! 

1. Ciudad Jardín:

This is probably the least “pretty” section of the city. The buildings aren’t particularly charming, but they are typically newer and more updated than other sections of the city. And what Ciudad Jardín lacks in aesthetics it certainly makes up in personality. Because the area borders one of the main buildings of the University of Córdoba, it’s full of rambunctious college students and insanely cheap restaurants and bars – including a 1.50 euro kebab place. (If you aren’t familiar with kebabs, just wait, you’ll be drunkenly stuffing your face in no time.) Plus there’s a random gigantic palm tree with its own roundabout… because why not.

Don’t miss in your new ‘hood: Bar Moriles, which is so inexpensive it should be illegal and serves the best flamenquín in the city.

 

 

2. El Centro

The technical downtown of the city is not the historical section, it’s centered around the Plaza de Tendillas. The apartments options here are sparse, on the expensive side, but typically nice. It’s a great place to be as it is the commercial heart of Córdoba. You can shop, eat, and drink to your heart’s content AND you’ll be conveniently located to all four  of the city’s  major clubs. (P.s. Avoid Bambú… I’ve never forgiven them for not letting me in…)

Don’t miss in your new ‘hood: Omundo de Alicia, it’s a great café/bar with awesome breakfasts, delicious sandwiches and language exchange meet-ups!

3. Santa Marina, San Lorenzo, San Andrés, & La Magdalena

Full disclosure, I lived in Santa Marina so I may be a little biased. I grouped four neighborhoods together because they’re *basically* the same, although tI’m sure that a sherry-drinking old man at the local bar would take offense to that. This zone looks quintessentially “Spanish” — long, narrow streets with flowers hanging down from window pots, white walls and golden trim. There are orange trees everywhere, so in the springtime it smells like you’ve waltzed into a perfume ad. It’s a relatively quiet, predominately residential area, but because my grouping encompasses such a large section, there are plenty restaurants and bars to check out. The law school is located in La Magdalena, out on the western edge of this map, so this area can also popular with students.

 

Don’t miss in your new ‘hood: La Fábrica; ok maybe it’s not technically in Santa Marina & Co., but it’s right on the edge in an area called Ollerías. This place serves awesome food at reasonable prices and has a outdoor huge terrace to enjoy your patatas bravas on a nice day.

4. La Judería & la Ribera

Ah, la Judería; the shining star of the cordobés tourist industry. This is the place that shows up in the textbooks, shiny brochures and episodes of Rick Steves. Here is where you’ll find the magnificent cathedral tucked between little winding alleyways and hidden plazas. Just a stone’s throw away is the Guadalquivir river and the Roman bridge. History everywhere.

It’s lovely and quaint, but often stuffed with tourists and tourist traps. La Judería is a great place to live and it offers a mix of older and newer-style housing options. La Ribera refers to the area along the river, which can sometimes feel a little far from where things are happening, but has a lot of cool bars.

Don’t miss in your new ‘hood: La Bicicleta is a trendy resto-bar with cool décor and good music that specializes in freshly squeezed juices and gourmet tostadas (think toasted bread with tomato, tuna, cheese, avocado…)

5. San Basilio

While you could make a strong case that the la Judería is the most beautiful neighborhood in the, I think San Basilio wins. It’s nestled in the corner of the the remaining Roman wall that used to enclose the ancient city of Córdoba (built around 210 BC).The neighborhood is so small it often feels like its own little village and definitely isn’t short on charm. Still not impressed? San Basilio is famous for its incredible flower patios that bloom in May for the annual Patio Festival, where, all across the city, residents deck out their houses’ courtyards in hopes of snagging the top prize.

Don’t miss in your new ‘hood: Honestly, there aren’t really that many options because it’s almost exclusively residential. Just go to La Bicicleta. 😉

 

To look for specific places, I’d recommend checking out idealista.com, easypiso.com or even going to any of the University of Córdoba buildings and taking a look at their posting boards – that’s how I found my apartment!

 

Where’s your favorite place to live in Córdoba? 

Coming soon… a guide to where to eat in Córdoba! 

**Shout out to Google Maps, I obviously don’t own that map. Only the cool shapes on it**