Summer in Córdoba is not subtle. It is very hot, it is long, and it changes the whole rhythm of the city. Here is what it was really like to live through it, and how people cope.
My experience
We lived in Córdoba through a summer. This page comes from that time.
The heat
The summer was very hot, regularly above 40°C. One day the outside-temperature display in a taxi showed 54°C. Readings like that in the sun on the street run higher than official air temperatures, but it shows how intense the heat can feel. We spent a lot of time indoors.
Life moves later
The funny part is how the city adapts. People in Córdoba come alive later, so they eat later and stay out later. We often played padel late at night, sometimes with a court time of half past eleven, and it could still be 35°C then. That is why our padel story includes a lot of midnight. It also explains the shade you see everywhere: awnings and shade sails stretched over streets, shaded patios and squares. Walking from shade to shade is how people get around in the heat.
Getting out of the heat
We took many trips to the coast and its seaside towns, and flew to other islands such as Ibiza and Gran Canaria. Mallorca would be another good choice. Domestic flights in Spain are relatively cheap, so it is easy to visit other places while you are here. Cádiz was one of our favourites.
Many Spaniards leave in summer too: some go to the coast around Huelva, where they have a house or stay with family. If you stay in Córdoba, a pool or air conditioning matters more than a few minutes’ walk: see our hotels with a pool.
If you are visiting
Plan outdoor sights for the morning, rest in the afternoon, and go out in the evening. Plenty of things work after dark: see things to do at night, or eat late at one of our favourite restaurants. See the best time to visit and the full weather guide with monthly averages.
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