Córdoba to Seville and Seville to Córdoba: train, bus, car

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

The short answer: fastest, cheapest, easiest

Córdoba to Seville takes about 45 minutes by high-speed train, from Córdoba Central to Sevilla Santa Justa. For most people we think it is the best option, and it works the same way in the other direction.

• Fastest: the high-speed train, about 40 to 55 minutes depending on the service.
• Cheapest: book early. Ouigo advertises fares from €9, and Renfe says buying ahead gives the lowest prices. The bus is not always cheaper.
• Easiest with a car trip planned: drive the A-4, about 140 km. Carmona and Écija are on the way.
• Bus: about 1 h 45 on Alsa, with more than 7 services a day, but slower than the train.

Comparison table

Step by step

By train

1. Choose a service. Renfe runs AVE and Avant trains on this line, and Ouigo (French low-cost) and iryo also sell tickets between the two cities. Journey times are about 40 minutes on the fastest trains and up to about 55 minutes on others, so look at the arrival time, not just the label.
2. Go to Córdoba Central station (or Sevilla Santa Justa if you are leaving Seville).
3. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. Bags are scanned before boarding on high-speed services.
4. In Seville, Santa Justa is 25 to 30 minutes’ walk from the cathedral, or a short taxi ride. See getting around Seville. In Córdoba the old town and the Mezquita are about 20 to 25 minutes on foot from the station.

Compare operators and times on Omio, or on the Renfe, Ouigo and iryo websites.

Regional trains

Slower Media Distancia services have also served this line, with a longer journey (about 1 h 20) and a different fare. Check the Renfe timetable: the fastest trains are not always the only ones, and a regional train can suit you if the times fit.

By bus

Alsa runs more than 7 buses a day, about 1 h 45, so the bus is slower than the train. In Seville it leaves from Plaza de Armas, Prado de San Sebastián or the airport. In Córdoba it arrives at the bus station by the train station, at Plaza Tres Culturas. Alsa’s first bus from Seville leaves in the morning and its last in the late evening, and it lists no night services. Search on Omio or the Alsa website.

By car

The drive is about 140 km on the A-4, around 1 h 30 without stops. We think there is a good case for stopping on the way:

• Carmona, a whitewashed hill town with a Roman necropolis, is on the A-4, close to Seville. See our Carmona guide.
• Écija, the “city of towers”, is on the same road.

If you only need to get from one city to the other, we’d take the train: it is simpler and avoids parking in two historic centres. For hire cars in Seville, see car hire in Seville and DiscoverCars. Do not drive into Seville’s historic centre.

Which option should I choose?

• Two cities, no car: we’d take the high-speed train.
• Cheapest on the day: compare the train and bus on the same search. Book trains early.
• Driving on to Granada or Málaga: hire a car and use the A-4, with a stop at Carmona.
• Luggage: both stations are central enough that a taxi works, and trains are easier than buses with big cases.

Tickets: how to get the cheapest fare

• We’d search all operators for the same date. Renfe, Ouigo and iryo price each train separately, and the cheapest fare is often on a train that is only a few minutes slower.
• Book early. Renfe says early booking gives the lowest prices, and Ouigo advertises fares from €9. Fares rise as trains fill, so weekends, holidays and the spring festivals cost more.
• Check what the fare includes. Low-cost fares usually charge extra for seat choice, flexibility and larger bags, so read the luggage rules of the operator before you pay.
• Same-day travel is fine. With many trains a day you rarely need to plan the hour, only the fare.

Both directions

Seville to Córdoba works in reverse: trains leave from Santa Justa for Córdoba Central, and Alsa buses leave Plaza de Armas for the Córdoba bus station. The time is about the same.

Doing it as a day trip: it is easy by high-speed train, with time for a full day in Córdoba. See our Córdoba day trip from Seville for the plan and Mezquita tickets, and our Córdoba guide for where to stay if you would rather sleep over. Going on to Granada? See Seville to Granada.

FAQ