by artencordobaIf you are looking for a free tour of the Mezquita of Córdoba, there is one thing worth knowing before you book: the city’s free walking tours explore the old town and pass right by the monument, but visiting the inside of the Mosque-Cathedral requires a paid ticket. In this guide we explain the difference between a free tour and a guided visit with tickets, and compare three options we know well, using the information each website publishes as of 26 October 2026.
Is there a free tour of the Córdoba Mosque?
A free tour is a guided walk that you book at no cost and pay for with a voluntary tip at the end, depending on how much you enjoyed it. It works very well outdoors, but it cannot include monuments with an entrance fee, because someone has to pay for the ticket. That is why, in Córdoba, the free tour takes you to the Mezquita and tells its story from the outside, while the prayer hall, the mihrab and the cathedral are visited on a fixed-price guided tour.
If you are travelling on a tight budget, first read our guide to visiting the Mosque of Córdoba for free, where we explain the times and tricks to get in without overspending.
Free walking tour of the historic centre
The free walking tour of Córdoba’s historic centre starts at Plaza del Triunfo, next to the Puerta del Puente, between the Roman Bridge and the Mosque-Cathedral. It lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and has two morning departures: 10:15 all year round and 12:30 all year except July and August. The route covers the Roman Bridge, the Triunfo de San Rafael, the Mosque’s Courtyard of the Orange Trees, the narrow lanes of the Jewish Quarter and the medieval quarter.
Córdoba at night free tour
If you prefer the evening, the Córdoba at night free tour leaves from the same spot and also lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. The start time depends on the month: 18:30 from November to March, 20:00 in April, May, September and October, and 21:00 in summer. It explores the riverside, the Alcázar Viejo quarter, the city walls and the Fernandine churches.
1. Tour Mezquita de Córdoba: the full visit inside
If you want to go in and really understand the monument, the Tour Mezquita de Córdoba visit is a regular 1.5-hour guided tour of the interior, with tickets arranged so you skip the ticket office queue, guides and interpreters authorised by the Cathedral Chapter, and audio headsets.
Times, meeting point and languages
It runs Monday to Sunday from the Puerta del Perdón, at the foot of the tower, at 10:00, 12:30 (except Sundays) and 17:00, which moves to 16:00 from November to February. It is offered in Spanish, English and French. The price is shown in the booking calendar when you choose a date, and you can add the Alcázar for €13 or the Jewish Quarter and the Alcázar for €16.
Who it suits best
Travellers who have done (or will do) the free tour outside and want to spend their time in the Mezquita on what really matters: the forest of columns, the Umayyad extensions, the mihrab and the Renaissance cathedral.
2. Arte en Córdoba: published prices with or without tickets
The Arte en Córdoba guided tour of the Mosque-Cathedral also lasts around 1.5 hours and publishes a very clear price table: €17 without ticket and €32 with ticket per adult; over-65s pay €17 (€29 with ticket), children aged 10 to 14 pay €8 (€17 with ticket) and under-10s go free.
There are daily departures at 10:00, 12:30 (except Sundays) and 16:00, in Spanish, English and French. The meeting point is the door of the Palacio de Congresos, next to the benches. It is the most convenient option if you already have your ticket and only need the guide.
3. Free Tour Córdoba: fixed-price visits inside the Mosque
The same brand that runs the free tours also offers visits inside the Mezquita, which are not free precisely because they include ticket management.
Guided tour of the Mosque
The Free Tour Córdoba guided tour of the Mosque lasts about 90 minutes and leaves from the Puerta del Perdón Monday to Sunday at 10:00, 12:30 (except Sundays) and 17:00 (16:00 from November to February). The ticket is optional: you can add it to your booking with no commission. Its website lists it from €14.
Mosque and Jewish Quarter
If you want to combine the inside of the Mezquita with the Jewish Quarter, the Mosque and Jewish Quarter tour lasts about 2 hours 15 minutes, Tuesday to Sunday (Sundays mornings only), at 10:00 and 17:00 (16:00 from November to February). It is listed from €17 and adds the Synagogue, free for EU citizens and included in the price for everyone else.
Comparison table: free tour and guided tours of the Mosque
| Option | Duration | Meeting point | Goes inside the Mosque? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tour of the historic centre | 1.5-2 h | Plaza del Triunfo | No (passes the Courtyard of the Orange Trees) | Voluntary tip |
| Tour Mezquita de Córdoba | 1.5 h | Puerta del Perdón | Yes, tickets arranged | See booking calendar |
| Arte en Córdoba | 1.5 h | Palacio de Congresos | Yes, ticket optional | €17 (€32 with ticket) |
| Free Tour Córdoba (Mosque) | 90 min | Puerta del Perdón | Yes, ticket optional, no commission | From €14 |
| Free Tour Córdoba (Mosque and Jewish Quarter) | 2 h 15 min | Puerta del Perdón | Yes | From €17 |
Information published on each website, checked on 26/10/2026.
Tips for choosing between a free tour and a guided tour
Combine both if you have a full day
A very Cordoban way to plan your day is to join the historic centre free tour at 10:15 and book the guided tour of the Mezquita at 12:30 or in the afternoon. You arrive at the monument with the city’s context, and the guide can focus on the interior. For more ideas, see our comparison of the best guided tours of the Córdoba Mosque.
Season, times and tickets
From 1 November the Mosque’s afternoon tour moves to 16:00 and the night free tour starts at 18:30. On Sundays there is no 12:30 tour. Booking a visit with the ticket included is the easiest way to avoid the queues at the Mosque; if you prefer to buy it yourself, check the official opening times and prices of the Mosque first.
Frequently asked questions about the Córdoba Mosque free tour
Does the free tour go inside the Mosque of Córdoba?
No. The historic centre free tour passes the Mosque-Cathedral and its Courtyard of the Orange Trees, but it does not enter the prayer hall, because access to the interior requires a paid ticket. To see the forest of columns, the mihrab and the cathedral with explanations, you need a fixed-price guided tour with the ticket arranged for you.
How much do you pay on a free tour in Córdoba?
Booking the free tour costs nothing and, at the end, each participant gives the guide a voluntary tip based on how much they enjoyed the experience. There is no fixed amount. Guided tours inside the Mosque do have a price, because they include managing your ticket to the monument and a more specialised route.
Can I combine the free tour with a visit to the Mosque?
Yes, and it is the best plan if you have a whole day. The historic centre free tour leaves at 10:15 from Plaza del Triunfo, a few metres from the Puerta del Perdón, so you can link it with the 12:30 guided tour of the Mosque, except on Sundays, or leave the interior for the afternoon.
If you want to see the Mezquita from the inside, with a meeting point at the Puerta del Perdón and your tickets sorted, book your guided tour with Tour Mezquita de Córdoba and choose the time that fits best with your free tour.
