GPS map, routes by area and the 64 contest patios on your phone
Download the Mayo Cordobés app and visit the 64 patios of the 2026 Contest (UNESCO World Heritage) with a live GPS map: filter by area (San Basilio, Santa Marina, Judería…), check opening hours 11–14h & 18–22h, mark visited patios and plan your route. Works offline, no signup, no ads. Free for iPhone and Android.
The Mayo Cordobés 2026 app gathers the Crosses, Patios, Rejas y Balcones and Feria of Córdoba in a single application. Free, no signup, no ads, for iPhone and Android.
I always visit the same crosses and thanks to the map I discovered several nearby that I'd never been to. Highly recommended app.
Essential for enjoying the April-May festivals in Córdoba. So convenient to have all the festivals in one app.
Very useful indeed. Very well organised app with super quick access to festival maps.
The Córdoba Patios Contest and Festival 2026 runs from 4 to 17 May 2026. Over 14 days, 64 private patios in the historic centre of Córdoba open their doors to the public completely free to compete in the municipal contest. Entry is free between 11:00 and 14:00 and between 18:00 and 22:00. The Patios of Córdoba were declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in December 2012.
The Córdoba Patios Contest 2026 takes place from Monday 4 to Sunday 17 May 2026, for two weeks. Official visiting hours are 11:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 22:00, every day. Entry to all 64 contest patios is free and requires no booking.
The most iconic area, next to the Alcázar of the Christian Kings and the Royal Stables. 12 patios concentrated within a short walk.
Patios in the heart of the historic centre, a few steps from the Mosque-Cathedral.
Working-class neighbourhood north of the old town, with some of the most iconic patios of the contest.
Traditional communal-house patios with a more local atmosphere.
Traditional area with communal patios along narrow streets.
Start at the Alcázar of the Christian Kings, walk down San Basilio and cover the 12 patios of the area in one go. This area has the longest queues, so arriving at 11:00 is essential. Finish with lunch in Plaza de la Corredera or in the Jewish Quarter.
From Plaza de Colón, visit Marroquíes 6, Zarco 13 and 15, Ocaña, Santa Marta. Walk down to San Lorenzo: Pastora 2 (2025 Modern winner), Plaza San Rafael 7 and the San Juan de Palomares. Tapas at Plaza de San Lorenzo.
Start with Tinte 9 (2025 Traditional winner), Siete Revueltas 1, La Palma 3, Aceite 8. Cross into the Jewish Quarter: Judíos 6, Maese Luis, Badanas 13, Julio Romero de Torres 15. Finish at the Mosque-Cathedral.
Ideal when it's hot: Viana Palace (12 interior patios), Orive Palace, Archaeological Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Casa Árabe. All non-contest patios.
Córdoba-Central (AVE) station is 20–25 minutes on foot from the Alcázar / San Basilio. From the city centre (Plaza de las Tendillas), it's 10–15 minutes to the start of the patio route. By car, the historic centre is restricted (ACIRE): use the La Victoria, Vial Norte / Avenida de América or Zoco car parks. By bus, Aucorsa lines 3, 4, 12 and 14 reach the centre.
Yes, entry to all 64 patios of the 2026 Contest is completely free. Unlike other monuments in the city, the residents open their private homes to the public without charging for entry. There is no need to book or buy tickets in advance. However, as it is a voluntary effort by the owners, some patios have a small "peto" (collection box) at the entrance for those who wish to leave a voluntary donation to help with the maintenance of the flowers and plants.
The first Córdoba Patios Contest was organised by the City Council in 1921. The Córdoban patio tradition has Roman roots (atrium-impluvium), Andalusi (al-wust) and Baroque influences. The patio is a space for neighbourly coexistence, natural cooling and botanical display, with geraniums, ivy geraniums (gitanillas), carnations, busy Lizzies, columns, wells, fountains and hanging pots. In 2012, UNESCO declared the Córdoba Patios Festival Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
No. They are visited on a first-come, first-served basis. Contest patios are free and need no booking.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday see less traffic. The busiest days are Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday during the two-week contest.
Many patios have entrance steps and narrow hallways. The Mayo Cordobés app indicates which patios are accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Some yes: Viana Palace, Casa Árabe, Orive Palace and the museum patios are open almost year-round. The 50+ private contest patios only open during Mayo Cordobés.