Cordoba is Argentina's second largest city, with a population of around 1.4 million. It is in the heart of the renowned Pampas and makes a great base for exploration. Surrounded by beautiful plains and mountains, it is also famed for its colonial city center.
Cordoba has 200,000 students, which contributes to a young and lively atmosphere with plenty of bars and clubs.
Cordoba has a historic city center with many remaining colonial buildings, the oldest of which are in the Plaza San Martín area.
The city hosts a wide variety of museums, from the religious exhibits of the Museo Eclesiástico Déan Funes to the local crafts of the Museo Iberoamericano de Artesanías. There are also plenty of art galleries, such as the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Chateau Carreras.
Parque Sarmiento is a favorite with locals and has an artificial lake, flower garden, and zoo. The Isla de los Patos on the Río Suquía is also a popular retreat for families.
Cordoba is famous for its theater - there are more than 50 in the city. The Teatro del Libertador San Martín is perhaps the grandest, and features regular operas and classical music.
Casa de Salta on Caseros is a good choice for northern Argentinian food and Rancho Grande on Avenida Rafael Núñez is an excellent 'Parrilla' meat restaurant. Expect to pay around for dinner ARS$150 in a budget restaurant and ARS$300 in a more upscale eatery.
Cordoba is pleasant all year round, with warm and sunny days even in winter. The city is more humid in the rainy season, which runs from November to March.
Cordoba is served by Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport, which has good domestic connections and international flights from cities across South America, Central America, and Spain. A taxi to the downtown area will cost around ARS$95 and the bus will cost ARS$18.
Cordoba is connected to Buenos Aires by rail. A single fare is from A$50.
The city has good road connections from other Argentinian centers. There is a motorway link to Rosario, which then joins the Santa Fe highway to Buenos Aires. There are also good links from Carlos Paz.
Buses are far more frequent and faster than the train service but they are more expensive. A single fare from Buenos Aires will cost around ARS$750.
Link Cordoba Hostel on Jujuy has good basic dorm accommodation. The NH Panorama on Marcelo T. de Alvear offers comfort in a central location.
Nueva Cordoba - this is a young and vibrant area next to downtown. It is known for its nightclubs, bars, and restaurants and is close to the National University of Cordoba.
Güemes - this is a Bohemian neighborhood alongside the canal. It is known for its weekend craft fair and wide variety of restaurants.
Cerro de las Rosas - this is another favorite with foodies, with great restaurants along Avenida Rafael Núñez and Luis de Tejeda.
Buses are the sole method of public transportation in the city. You will need to buy a bus card and the average trip costs ARS$8.25.
Taxis are very common in the city and cost ARS$25 to hail and then ARS$40 per mile.
Driving in Cordoba can be frustrating due to traffic volumes, especially in the downtown area. Car rental is from around ARS$300 per day.
Nueva Cordoba is the main shopping area, with lots of department stores and malls. Paseo de las Artes is a good place for local crafts and foods.
A quart of milk in Cordoba will cost ARS$20 and a loaf of bread is ARS$30.