Emma's Travel Recommendations


During the semester, PRESHCO offers many wonderful excursions and I highly recommend all of them! They are a great way to explore and learn about other parts of Spain as well as get to know other students in the program. However, if you are looking to do some additional traveling through an organized program during the semester of summer, below are two programs I traveled with. Both of them are very affordable as far as traveling goes: 
  •  Erasmus Córdoba- Erasmus is a program for European students to study in different European countries. Signing up for a trip with Erasmus Córdoba allows you to meet students from other countries and have fun while saving a lot of money. Below are the trips I went on with Erasmus:
    • 24 Hour Trip to Valencia 
      • I went to see Las Fallas, in March with some friends from PRESHCO. During the celebration, dozens of large sculptures made of wood and paper maché are lit on fire. 
      • While I am glad I experienced Las Fallas, there are some safety issues. Watch where you walk, as people often throw firecrackers on the ground without warning those around them. I would not recommend Las Fallas to people who do not like large crowds and/or are sensitive to loud noises. 
      • I did the 24 hour trip, which was very tiring. It meant leaving Córdoba at 5 am, arriving in Valencia at noon, leaving Valencia at midnight, and arriving in Córdoba at 7 am. I would suggest spending the night in Valencia if that option is available. 
    • Day Trip to Torcal de Antequerra, Málaga 
      • This is a national park with beautiful layers of stone 
      • I would recommend this excursion to people who enjoy hiking


    • Weekend Trip to Cádiz 
      • This weekend trip took place in June and it was my favorite Erasmus trip. We stayed at the Summer Hostel, which had great character and I liked it a lot. 
      • A tour of the city was included and below are some photos:

      • We got to go to a different beach each day:

      • My favorite was Bolonia Beach which is the photo in the middle (Fun fact: I have two blog posts about my experience there, Anecdotes from Cadiz Parts 2 and 3). In my opinion, Cádiz has the best beaches in Spain, and many people in Spain would agree! 
    • Day Trip to Marbella, Málaga 
      • It is fun to go to the beach and walk around Marbella to look at all the resorts and shops
      • While the trip was affordable, Marbella as a city is expensive. Expect to spend more on food and drink than you normally would. 
  •  We Love Spain- this is a program for young adults who are studying or interning abroad in Spain. The trips generally do not depart from Córdoba, so you will probably have to travel to Sevilla or Málaga first. I did a weekend trip in July to Gibraltar and Morocco. All of the other students there were from the United States. We had a great time together and quickly became friends. I still talk to some of the students I met on the trip. Below are the things we did in each country: 
    • Gibraltar: 
      • Guided tour of the city


      • Las Cuevas de San Miguel 
    • Morocco:
      • Camel Rides on the Beach 
      • Blue City: Mountain Town of Chefchauen
        • Make sure to try the traditional Moroccan mint tea!  
        
      • Dinner in a Palace 

      • Tour of Tetuan
        • I recommend buying some dates, they are delicious! 



If you are looking to explore other areas of Spain on your own time, below is a list of places that I traveled to during the summer and would recommend:
  • Madrid
    • How I got there:
      • Train from Córdoba to Madrid Puerta de Atocha 
    • What I did:
      • Rick Steeves Audio Tour. You can download the free app on your phone. the instructions are very specific and I think Rick Steeves did a nice job explaining each place I visited while not overwhelming me with information. The tour begins at the Carlos III statue in Puerta del Sol which is where I am in the picture below. 
      • La Mallorquina Bakery: this is on the Rick Steeves Audio Tour and I highly recommend it. They have the BEST Neapolitans!                                                         
      • Parque de El Retiro
      • Sorolla Museum 
      • Real Jardín Botánico
  • Almería
    • How I got there:
      • Bus from Córdoba to Almería. The bus ride is long (about 5 hours), but it is so worth it in my opinion!
    • What I did: 
      • Los Refugios: a bomb shelter during the Spanish Civil War 
                                                           
      • Playa, Cabo de Gata: I brought stale bread with me to feed the fish! 

      • Alcazaba de Almería
  • Caminito del Rey, Málaga: this is a hiking trail built in gorges with beautiful views. However, it may not be the best fit for people who are afraid of heights. I would recommend a guided tour. 
    • How to get there:
      • Take a train or bus from Córdoba to Málaga  
      • Take the train from the Málaga María Zambrano Train Station to El Chorro. Right by the train stop in El Chorro there are a couple of restaurants as well as a bus that will take you to Caminito del Rey. 
                                 
  • Ronda 
    • How I got there: 
      • Train from Córdoba to Ronda 
    • What I did:
      • El Puente Nuevo: there is a trail where you can hike down into the valley. As you hike, you will be able to look at the famous bridge from many different perspectives and angles. Below are a few of the ones I captured. Be careful when hiking because there are a lot of steep drops without any ropes or fences. 
      • Mirador de Ronda: the views are breathtaking. Also, sometimes you will find the We Love Ronda Market here which features many talented artisans
      • El Puente Viejo
      • Baños Arabes: the ones in Ronda are the best preserved Arabian baths in Spain!
      • Plaza de Toros


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