Córdoba (city, Argentina)

Córdoba is the second largest city in Argentina, with about 1.4 million inhabitants, and is the capital of Cordoba province. It is known for its rich colonial heritage and its old university, now the second-largest of the country. You can’t miss the historical centre and the magnificent churches, the Cathedral and the Jesuitic quarter with the Montserrat School and the old University buildings. Also, Córdoba is home to the perhaps most popular Argentine Latin pop music genre, cuarteto.

The city, founded in 1573, is located in the heart of Central Argentina between the Pampas and Gran Chaco flatlands to the east and the Sierras de Córdoba hills to the west. It is surrounded by beautiful valleys, formed up by three main mountain groups, which are popular tourist destinations. You can perfectly combine a dive into urban life with a trip to the Sierras, as there is plenty of public transport.

The Cathedral and San Martín Square by night

Understand

Córdoba is known by many as La Docta because of its many universities and science institutes. Around 200,000 people study here, which makes the city's population one of the youngest and liveliest in South America. There is much cultural and night life, primarily in the downtown area (centro) and the neighborhoods of Güemes, Nueva Córdoba, Cerro de las Rosas and Alta Córdoba.

The colonial architecture of the city center now coexists with many modern buildings. Although the oldest buildings are found in the surroundings of the Plaza San Martín (microcentro), the most pleasant areas are now the Nueva Córdoba district south of the center and the area around the Cañada, a small colonial canal that crosses the city. These areas show a mix of well-designed modern buildings and beautiful old houses, often built in neo-colonial style. The old district Barrio Güemes, where many buildings are protected by municipal laws, is now particularly pleasant, with a 19th-century atmosphere rather similar to Buenos Aires' San Telmo district, but with more life on the streets. It is however, unfortunately for some and fortunately for others, heavily affected by gentrification.

The city district itself covers 529 square km (204 sq mi) and has 1.3 million inhabitants. Population growth of the city itself has slowed down in the past decades, and many people moved to suburbs and satellite towns outside this area. Those west of the city lie in the hills of the Sierras de Córdoba and are residential areas with some tourist attractions (see Go Next). North and east of the city, in the plains, there are poor suburbs with a slum-like appearance like Juárez Celman and Malvinas Argentinas.

Climate

Córdoba (city, Argentina)
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       122     31 18       100     30 17       110     28 16       52     25 12       19     22 9       11     19 6       13     19 6       9.7     21 7       34     23 9       66     26 13       97     28 15       137     30 17 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source: NOAA. See weather forecast at Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       4.8     88 65       3.9     86 63       4.3     82 60       2.1     77 54       0.7     72 49       0.4     65 42       0.5     65 42       0.4     70 44       1.3     74 48       2.6     79 55       3.8     83 59       5.4     87 63 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The climate in the city and surrounding areas is pleasant year round. Even in winter there are frequent warm, sunny days, although you must be prepared for cold nights and some chilly, cloudy periods, which never last more than a week or so. During the summer, the rainy season (November to March), it is hot and humid with frequent rain showers and thunderstorms at the afternoon. The rain causes some spot flooding due to an unsatisfactory drainage system. The best time to visit Córdoba is March to May and August to November, when it's not too hot nor too cool and there is little rain.

History

Córdoba was founded in 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. For the first two centuries of its history it was the largest and most important town in the region that today is Argentina, until in 1776 Buenos Aires was declared capital of the Virreinato del Río de la Plata. Córdoba's university was founded as early as 1613 by the Jesuits. The Catholic Church had much influence on social life until 1900, and Córdoba sometimes was called "the Rome of Argentina" being a stronghold for conservativism.

In the 1950s the city was industrialized by the Perón and Frondizi governments. In the following decades Córdoba transformed into Argentina's second technology hub behind Buenos Aires, leading above-all in motor industry (IKA - now Renault -, Volkswagen and Fiat), aviation (the famous Fábrica Militar de Aviones, Argentina's main aircraft producer, is located here) and, later, in high-tech sectors like software and electronics. Also, the second half of the 20th century was marked by explosive population growth due to migration from northern Argentina. In 1980, the metropolitan area, and in the 1991 census the city itself passed the million inhabitants.

Córdoba has played a major role in some of the revolutionary movements in 20th century Argentina. In 1918 a student revolution, the Reforma Universitaria, led to a modernization of what is now the National University, which until this time had been very conservative and elitist. This revolution spread to all cities of Argentina and most of Latin America, leading to more autonomy and openness in the regional educational institutions. In 1955, the conservative Revolución Libertadora led to the resignation of President Juan Perón. In 1969 and 1971, two left-wing riots known as Cordobazo and Viborazo were among the main reasons for the end of the military dictatorship which had governed Argentina since 1966. While in the 2001/02 crisis the city was fairly quiet, an infamous police riot in 2013 led to two nights of violence which spread to other regions of Argentina.

Beginning with the early 1970s, and more strongly after democratization took place in 1983, the formerly very conservative city began to open and evolve into a cosmopolitan regional metropolis. An unique urban popular culture characterized by comedy, theater and the cuarteto music began to appear. At the same time, Córdoba diversified its economy, evolving from a industrial-governmental provincial town to an important hub for commerce, culture, education and services.

Get in

It is very easy to reach Córdoba from other parts of Argentina because of its position in the country's geographical center.

By plane

The International Airport Ingeniero Taravella, also called Pajas Blancas is 10 km (6 mi) north of the city center. There are flights to several towns in Argentina, to Lima, Santiago de Chile, Panama City and some cities in Brazil, though now there are fewer flights than in the 90s because of the weaker Argentine Peso after the Argentine economic crisis of 2001/2002. If you come from overseas you may change in Buenos Aires, São Paulo or Santiago de Chile. Coming from the United States perhaps the best connection is via Panama City. If you fly through Buenos Aires you will likely need to transfer from Ezeiza airport to Aeroparque Jorge Newbery on your own with your luggage, and the shuttle bus service is relatively expensive, more than half the price of a taxi.

From the Córdoba airport there is a regular bus to city center (25, about 0.60 USD, be aware that drivers will often refuse to take passengers with too much luggage), a minibus service and taxis (about ARS 130-170). From the Taravella airport there are also direct buses stopping on the way between Córdoba's bus terminal and the attractive suburb of Río Ceballos, but this bus stop is a 5-minute walk away at the E-55 highway and is poorly marked, better ask a local for the exact location. Additionally, the major car rental agencies have offices at the airport.

By train

Until the 1980s Córdoba was an important railway center with many connections. Today, Trenes Argentinos has only one long-distance line left with passenger services, the railway from Buenos Aires, via Villa María and Rosario, two times a week. The train is very cheap in comparison to buses and has a pullman section and sleepers, but the journey is about 5 hours longer because of the deteriorated rails. Fortunately, in 2015 the worst part of the railroad was renovated. Also, in the holiday season you must reserve well in advance as the demand is high. Reservations are only possible at the train stations and you must show your passport or ID card when buying the tickets. There is also a local train from Villa María, three times a week.

The main train station, 🌍 Estación Mitre , is near the omnibus terminal, on Bv. Juan Domingo Perón 101. Another station in the neighborhood of Barrio Ferreyra (about 12 km south-east of the city centre). Another train station is 🌍 Alta Córdoba about 1 km north of the Suquía River in Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera street. From there, there are 2-3 local trains per day to Cosquín via La Calera and the San Roque dam (very beautiful journey, but slow).

By car

The city is connected with most larger towns by good asphalted routes. A motorway links Cordoba to Rosario and from there, to the Buenos Aires - Santa Fe motorway. Another motorway links Córdoba with Carlos Paz, another dual-carriageway goes to Alta Gracia. As of 2015, there are dual-carriageway highways being built to Santa Fe, Río Cuarto in the south of the province on the way to Patagonia, and Villa del Totoral on the way to Tucumán and the North-West.

By bus

Terminal 1 of the main bus station (TOC)

Terminal 2

Buses are now the most popular public transport. The main bus station, 🌍 Terminal de Ómnibus de Córdoba (TOC), is located in the east of the city center, between Boulevard Illía and Boulevard Perón streets (Direction: Boulevard Perón 380), near the Río Suquía and the Mitre train station. There are direct connections to all large cities, provincial capitals and main tourist destinations of Argentina, with the exception of Ushuaia (you will have to change in Río Gallegos) and Viedma (changes possible in Bahía Blanca and San Antonio Oeste). Very frequent buses to Buenos Aires (11 hours), Salta (12 hours) and Rosario (5.5 hour). Also, the local buses to the suburbs stop here.

The bus station has two separate terminal buildings, T1 or Terminal Vieja and T2 or Terminal Nueva, connected via a tunnel. It is the older building T1 where most of the long-distance buses arrive, and the newer T2 is dedicated mostly to local connections and some lines to Patagonia. Take into account that the whole station is about 700 m long, so it's good to arrive early if you don't know the gate from where your bus starts.

From the bus terminal, there are many possibilities to reach the main hotels and attractions, as it is only 500-800 m away from the microcentro.

• First, you can reach the microcentro area perfectly walking, for example taking the street of Boulevard Perón to the north and then Rosario de Santa Fe to the west which takes you to San Martín Square, the Cathedral and the pedestrian malls.
• Second, several local urban bus lines take you to the microcentro and other areas. There are three urban bus stops around the terminal (poorly marked): in Bv. Illia near T1 between Tránsito Cáceres de Allende and Paraná streets, and in Bv. Perón; where there are two stops, one at T1 and one at T2. Be aware that you need to buy a bus card first (see Get around section); you can do this in some of the kiosks at the terminals with the Red Bus sign.
• Third, there are two taxi stations in T1 and a smaller one in T2. In T2, the station where you can take a taxi to the city center is located at the main floor, the one that leads to the eastern neighborhoods is in the lower floor.

Another smaller bus station is at Mercado Sur, about 400 m south of Plaza San Martín in Bv. Illia street. Only local and regional buses, e.g. to Carlos Paz and Villa General Belgrano, stop here. There are some other minor short- and mid-distance bus stops marked with a red sign (Parada de Transporte Interurbano) but you will have to ask at the main terminal (or locals) which buses stop there as there are no indications.

Get around

By bus

Urban bus lines: Since the abolition of the tramway in the 1960s, public transport is limited to buses. They are cheap by international standards, but often very crowded. The lines are divided in corridors, each of them is associated with a color and a number: Rojo (Red, corridors 3 and 8), Naranja (Orange, corridors 1 and 6), Azul (Blue, corridors 2 and 7 (but buses are red and yellow, for now!), Amarillo (Yellow, corridors 4 and 5). The bus line number is a combination of the corridor number and the line's number, e.g. 40 or 51. A few lines have different routes, but this is much less an orientation problem than in Buenos Aires.

There are trolleybuses (A, B, and C) and two circular lines (500-501 and 600-601). Also, there are some neighborhood lines (barriales) which cost less than the regular fare.

Fares: The urban buses of Córdoba use exclusively the so-called Red Bus electronic ticket system. You need a bus card, which can be bought at official points of sale (green/blue posts) in the city center, at some kiosks (look for the Red Bus sign), at the omnibus terminal and at the airport. The old bus coins (cospeles) are not accepted anymore. Drivers will frequently refuse to accept pesos, but you can also ask other passengers if they'll lend you their card. Most buses will charge $8,25 as of early 2016. The buses of the lines 500-501 and 600-601, which go around in the outskirts rounding the city, will charge 15% more. If you combine two different lines from different colors with a no more than 60 minutes' wait, you will pay only about $1,80 for the second bus, and it's free to combine between different lines of the same corridor, if they go in the same direction (so normally you cannot return to your starting point without having to purchase another ticket). There are no weekly or monthly flat-fares.

There are also interurbanos which serve the suburbs of the city. They charge accordingly to the distance to the terminal, prices vary from about $15 to La Calera up to $40 to the peripheral suburbs of Villa Carlos Paz, Jesús María and Cosquín.

By taxi

Yellow taxis and green remises, similar to taxis but with a different fare system, are a comfortable way of getting around, with prices starting from around $25 for a 15-block ride. Under the rules, yellow taxis may be hailed for pick up on the street but green remises are dedicated to pickup up from a particular location after receiving a telephone request. But these rules are loose and you may often successfully hail a green remis on the street. Taxi drivers are very sensitive about their cars. When exiting please close the door slowly, and remember to try and keep your feet planted to the ground. Also, there are no seatbelts in most taxis. Generally speaking, taxis and remises are safe; but it may be even safer to call a taxi or remis by phone in some situations, e.g. when travelling to the airport.

By bicycle

Traffic in the downtown area has been getting increasingly messy, and the quickest way to move around this area (if you are healthy enough for it) is definitely by bike.

Córdoba has a fairly extensive cycleway network (Red de Ciclovías) built in the 1980s and 1990s. Unfortunately, the cycleways are poorly maintained and have large gaps, some of them also pass through run-down neighborhoods with a high crime rate and are not recommended for tourists. The most picturesque cycleway runs parallel to the Suquía River and is a good option to cross the city from east to west. Recently an inner city cycling infrastructure has been added, but it covers only a few main avenues in the Nueva Córdoba and Centro area, linking the University campus (Ciudad Universitaria) with the Patio Olmos, the bus terminal and the Government building (Centro Cìvico).

Due to bicycle theft, it's a good idea to park the bicycle at a guarded carpark, particularly in the city center. By law, all public parking garages (playa de estacionamiento) must accept bicycles, but some will refuse to do so or charge you the same price as for a motorcycle. Maipú Parking in Av. Maipú is a good option with a low price in the city centre. If you want to go shopping with your bike outside the central district, be aware that only large supermarkets and shopping malls offer (relatively) safe bicycle parking facilities.

There is no public bike-rental system in the city, although there are plans to establish one. There are only a few bicycle rental agencies in Córdoba, two of them are Córdoba Rent a Bike in San Martín 5 and Baluch Backpacker's Hostel in San Martín 338.

See

The original administration building of the university, part of the world heritage site

There are many colonial buildings in the city center, most of them built by the Jesuits in 17th and 18th centuries. The Manzana de los Jesuitas, declared a UNESCO world heritage site, is a whole block of such buildings, between 27 de Abril, Obispo Trejo, Caseros and Av. Vélez Sársfield.

Churches

• Cathedral, Independencia / 27 de Abril, built between the 16 and late 18th centuries in Latin American baroque style with interesting interior partly built by Native American craftsmen.
• Capilla doméstica, in the "Manzana de los Jesuitas". Not permanently open, it is necessary to ask for permission to visit it. The most beautiful of them all.
• Iglesia Sagrado Corazón (also called Iglesia de los Capuchinos), Obispo Oro / Buenos Aires, Nueva Córdoba, a very attractive church in neo-Gothic style, well worth visiting.
• Iglesia de Santa Catalina de Siena, Plaza Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera
• Monasterio de Santa Teresa, Obispo Trejo / 27 de Abril, an interesting pink Baroque building near the Cathedral, which hosts the Museum of Religious Art.
• Iglesia de San Francisco, Entre Ríos / Buenos Aires
• Compañía de Jesús, Manzana de los Jesuitas, oldest church of Argentina (1671)
• Iglesia María Auxiliadora, Av Colón / Rodríguez Peña (on Plaza Colón), beautiful neo-Gothic church in Barrio Alberdi

Other buildings

• Palacio Ferreyra, Av. Yrigoyen / Derqui
• Palacio Municipal, Av. Alvear and Caseros, a large modern building but a bit run-down
• Cabildo, Plaza San Martín, colonial style, with a museum
• Palacio de Justicia, Av. Figueroa Alcorta, large building in neo-classical style
• Ex Rectorado de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - Obispo Trejo / Caseros, very fine colonial building with a museum and a beautiful patio.
• Colegio de Montserrat, Obispo Trejo / Duarte Quirós. School of the Jesuits.
• Banco de la Provincia de Córdoba, San Jerónimo / Buenos Aires, neo-classic style.
• Monument of San Martín, Plaza San Martín
• Monument to Vélez Sársfield, Plaza Vélez Sarsfield (Av. V. Sarsfield / Av. H. Yrigoyen)
• Monument to Myriam Stefford, in the outskirts, on RP5 (Av. Armada Argentina), near the toll station of Los Cedros, a huge obelisk
• Faro, A lighthouse 1000 km from the sea, near Plaza España

Museums

There are many museums housing all kinds of things.

Arts:

• Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes Emilio E. Caraffa, at Plaza España, focuses on contemporary art. It is spacious and pleasant.
• Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes Dr. Genaro Pérez, Av. General Paz 33, somewhat more "underground" than the Caraffa, interesting.
• Museo Ecclesiástico Déan Funes, Plaza San Martín in the Oratorio O. Mercadillo, religious art
• Museo de Arte Religioso Juan de Tejeda, Independencia 122, best museum for religious art in Argentina
• Museo del Teatro y la Música Cristóbal de Aguilar, Velez Sarsfield 317, inside of the Teatro El Libertador
• Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Chateau Carreras, Parque San Martín, Av. Ramón C. Carcano. A little 19th century castle with a beautiful patio in the west of the city, which exhibits modern art.
• Art Galleries in the Paseo de las Artes, Belgrano/La Cañada/Pasaje Revol
• Museo Iberoamericano de Artesanías, Belgrano / A. Rodríguez, folk art of Latin American Indians and typical "latinoamericanism" pieces
• Museo Cultural General Paz, Pringles/Catamarca, Bo. Gral. Paz (sometimes closed)

Science:

• Museo Paleontológico de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Velez Sarsfield 249, where there is the fossile of the greatest pre-historic spider of the world.
• Museo de la Anatomía Dr. Pedro Ara, Chubut 149.
• Museo de Ciencias Naturales Dr. Bartolomé Mitre, Av. Lugones and Paraná.
• Museo de Mineralogía Alfredo Stelzner, Av. Velez Sársfield 299
• Museo de Zoología, Av. Velez Sarsfield 299, 2nd level
• Museo Nacional de Meteorología Dr. Benjamin Gould, San Luis 801. Best museum for meteorology in Argentina.
• Museo de Antropología de la UNC, H. Irigoyen 174.

Technology:

• Museo del Automóvil, in the industrial complex CIADEA, Bo. Santa Isabel.
• Museo de la Industria, Parque General Paz, Bo. General Paz, many cars and motorbikes of local production, and an interesting rotating house (casa giratoria).
• Museo para Niños Barrilete, Av. Costanera, La Vieja Usina. A museum for kids.

Historic Museums:

• Museo Histórico Marqués de Sobremonte, Rosario de Santa Fe 218, shows the history of city and of Argentina.
• Museo Histórico de la Universidad, Obispo Trejo 242, at the "Ex Rectorado" (now Facultad de Derecho), will show the university's history.
• Museo Colonial Hispanoamericano, Entre Ríos 24.
• Museo Obispo Salguero, Obispo Salguero 84, Art and historic documents.
• Museo Obispo Fray José Antonio de San Alberto, Manzana de los Jesuitas, religious items
• Museo Numismático del Banco Nación, opposite San Martín square, Banco de la Nación, coin collections
• Museo Banco de Provincia de Córdoba, opposite San Martín square

Varied exhibitions:

• Museo de la Ciudad, Cabildo, Plaza San Martín, varied exhibitions, often very interesting
• Centro José Malanca, Entre Ríos 40
• Centro Obispo Mercadillo, Rosario de Santa Fe 39

Parks and squares

• Parque Sarmiento, Nueva Córdoba, the most popular park of the city, with a zoo, a flower garden and an artificial lake
• Parque Las Heras, Bv. Las Heras / Av. Gral. Paz, a small park north of the Suquía river
• Parque de la Vida, at the La Cañada river, south-western Córdoba, a large, pleasant park with interesting scenery
• Parque General Paz, small park near the Río Suquía, near the interesting Industry Museum
• Parque San Martín, Av. Ramón C. Cárcano, at the Río Suquía, 10 km. west of the city center. Córdoba's largest park with a ferial complex, a soccer stadium and a nature reserve which protects the original Espinal woodlands covering most of Córdoba province before the 20th century.
• Parque de las Naciones and Parque Autóctono, Av. Sagrada Familia, Barrio Cerro de las Rosas, two small parks with a hill and good views of the city
• Jardín Botánico, near Río Suquía 8 km (5 mi) west of the center.
• Isla de los Patos, Av. Costanera / Hualfín (Bo. Alberdi), an island in the Río Suquía with a little park, ideal for families. Pretty crowded on weekends, when a small Peruvian market with some Andean food is hold here.
• Plaza San Martín, San Martín / Rosario de Santa Fe, the heart of the city, surrounded by historic buildings
• Paseo de Sobremonte, La Cañada / 27 de Abril, an old, very pleasant square of 1785
• Plaza de la Intendencia, Av. Marcelo T. de Alvear between Caseros and Duarte Quirós, a nice public square between the city hall and the main courthouse
• Plaza España, Chacabuco / Av. Yrigoyen, modern square in a rationalistic design.
• Plaza Colón, Av. Colón / Mariano Moreno, Barrio Alberdi, green, beautiful square
• Paseo de las Artes, Belgrano / Fructuoso Rivera, Barrio Güemes, square with well-known art and crafts market and old-style buildings
• Paseo del Buen Pastor, a remodeled old prison with a green square, now the center of Nueva Córdoba area

Other

• Córdoba Observatory, in Barrio Observatorio. In the late 19th century, this was one of the world's most important astronomic observatories.

In the outskirts of the city, there is the Observatorio Bosque Alegre, 25 km (15 mi) south-west of the city, now the main telescope. Nearby is Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera, Ruta C-45, Falda del Cañete, 15 km (9 mi) south-west. Argentina's main space center, with a museum.

Do

Córdoba has a lot of cultural life, except in summer when the scene moves to Carlos Paz and other hillside resorts. But it's a good center for sports, too.

Cultural life

There are over 50 theaters and culture centers and some "arte bars", where you can see theater, art exhibitions and different music acts. Every 2 years there is the Festival de Teatro del Mercosur, Argentina's most important theater festival, with many groups of South America.

Most important theaters include:

• Teatro del Libertador, Av. Vélez Sársfield / Duarte Quirós, the biggest and most traditional, in Italian opera-house style, featuring opera and classical music, but also more modern pieces.
• Teatro Real, San Jerónimo 66, facing Plaza San Martín, the second traditional theater, with a wide variety of shows, including opera, music, and humor.
• Teatro Comedia, Rivadavia 254 (was heavily damaged by a fire, now closed)
• Espacio Cirulaxia, Pasaje Pérez 12
• documentA / Escénicas, Lima street
• Teatro María Castaña, Tucumán street
• Teatro La Cochera, Fructuoso Rivera 541
• Teatro Pacífico, Dean Funes 266
• Teatro Maipú, Maipú 350
• Studio Theater, Rosario de Santa Fe and Maipú, a theater and discothèque
• Teatro Córdoba, 27 de Abril / Belgrano (with cinema exhibitions)

Modern theater is also shown in Cineclub Municipal Hugo del Carril.

Multiplex cinemas are in the shopping centers of Patio Olmos, Nuevo Centro and Córdoba Shopping, but there are some traditional cinemas in the city center like Gran Rex in General Paz and Colón and Cinerama, Colón between Tucumán and Sucre.

There are also cineclubes, cinemas, with some of them being very active cultural centers.

• Cineclub Municipal Hugo del Carril , Bv. San Juan and Obispo Trejo,
• Teatro Córdoba Cine para ver , 27 de Abril / Belgrano
• Facultad de Lenguas of the University, the
• Centro Cultural España Córdoba (see below)
• Sociedad Británica (British Society).

Some "arte bars" show movies, too.

In the many cultural centers there are not only a wide variety of shows and exhibitions, but you can also assist at many courses:

• Ciudad de las Artes, Av. Ricchieri (Parque Sarmiento; Bo. Villa Revol), a new cultural complex with many institutes
• Paseo de las Artes (see above)
• Pabellón Argentina, the cultural center of the University
• Centro Cultural España Córdoba, Caseros / Independencia, shows of modern music, theater, cinema and multimedia arts, and literature
• Goethe-Institut, Plaza España (Nueva Córdoba), German culture center
• Casa Grote (Padre Grote, Bo. General Bustos), "underground" culture center, with exhibitions, music and theater.
• 990 Arte Club (Bv. Los Andes y Las Heras)

There are also cultural activities at the CPCs (municipal district centers).

Sports

There are many sport clubs where you can do a wide variety of sports, being the most popular association football, basketball, and field hockey. The clubs will mostly charge a monthly fee. There are also paid soccer fields (mostly of reduced size for 5 or 7 players per team), and you can do inline skating, mountain-bike and play soccer in an informal way in the parks, like the Parque Sarmiento, and the many plazas in the barrios outside the city centre.

The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba offers courses in a variety of sports, including climbing and sailing. Secretaría de Educación Física, Av. Valparaíso S/N.

Association football (soccer) is the most popular sport, like in most of Argentina. The best-known soccer teams of Córdoba are Belgrano, Talleres and Instituto. Belgrano plays in First Division, Instituto in Second Division (B Nacional) and Talleres in third division. Córdoba has also a very good basketball team, Atenas, which holds the record of championships in Argentina and is known as one of the best outside the USA.

Stadiums:

• Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Av. R.C. Cárcano, Parque San Martín. Known also as "Olympic" stadium (although there never were olympic games in Argentina). It doesn't belong to a specific club, so all important football matches and many other sports and entertainment events are held here. With a capacity of 55.000 spectators (all-seater) it's one of the largest stadiums in Argentina.
• Estadio Presidente Perón, Jujuy / Quevedo, Bo. Alta Córdoba, Instituto's stadium, is the second largest. Capacity: 30.000.
• Estadio Gigante de Alberdi (official name: Julio César Villalba, Belgrano's stadium), Arturo Orgaz / La Rioja, near Av. Colón in the Alberdi neighborhood, is the third largest with 28.000 spectators.
• Estadio Boutique (Talleres), Av. Riccheri 3200 / Av. Talleres, Bo. Jardín, Capacity: 16.500.
• Orfeo Superdomo, Av. Rodríguez del Busto and Cardeñosa, the largest indoor stadium of Argentina with a capacity of about 12.000.
• Polideportivo Carlos Cerutti, another large indoor stadium, where Atenas' basketball team plays regularly. Pinzón 1950.

Swimming

Although some locals do so, it is not recommended to swim in the polluted Río Suquía, except for the extreme north-west of the city. Houses in the northwest of the city are guaranteed to have swimming pools, all the way to Unquillo.

If you don't want to make a trip to the outskirts, you can swim in the many piscinas (swimming pools) in the city itself, and even in the city center, but most of them are rather poor, and you will have to pass a medical examination. The largest public swimming pool is the Pileta Municipal in Sarmiento Park, but is only open between late December and early March and often very crowded.

You can swim at the following spots in the surroundings:

• La Calera, 18 km (11 mi) north-west from the center, where the Suquía is clean and there are many pleasant spots, with rocks and little cascades, like Diquecito and Casa Bamba.
• Río Ceballos, a very attractive suburb, 30 km (18 mi) north-west from the center in the hills, can be reached by a very good highway. There is the La Quebrada artificial lake, with a dam, and in the surroundings there are many little rivers and cascades.
• Anizacate, Los Aromos, La Bolsa and La Serranita near Alta Gracia, 30 km (18 mi) south-west, with river beaches and much tranquility.
• Villa Carlos Paz, at River San Antonio. The more central beaches like Fantasio are very crowded in summer, and the Lake San Roque has only small beaches and is pretty polluted. So better go to the beaches south of the central area like Playas de Oro and nearby beaches at Mayu Sumaj and Icho Cruz. At Cuesta Blanca 10 km (6 mi) south of Carlos Paz, there is an isolated, very attractive beach after a 40-min walk, the Playa de los Hippies.

There are many buses (every 20-30 min) to all mentioned spots.

Events

Events like congresses, conventions, big concerts and exhibitions are hold at the following centers:

• Predio Feriar, Av. Ramón Cárcano, Parque San Martín. Large events and congresses, some festivals.
• Orfeo Superdomo, Rodriguez del Busto / Cordillera (Bo. Villa Cabrera), music and sports events including boxing
• Pajas Blancas Center, M. P. de Cabrera 7500, concerts and congresses
• Forja, Bo. Talleres Este (5 km {3 mi} east of center), often concerts, but also congresses
• Plaza de la Música, Av. Costanera R. Mestre (Bo. Alberdi), frequent music and theater events.
• Sala de las Américas, Av. H. de la Torre (Ciudad Universitaria), many concerts and theater events.
• Centro Cultural Gral. Paz, Catamarca / Pringles, an old warehouse, many rock concerts and theater events
• Teatro Griego, Parque Sarmiento, beautifully located outdoor amphitheater, but actually little use.

Some events also take place in the soccer stadiums mentioned above.

Some important and interesting yearly events are the Feria Internacional de Artesanías (arts and crafts fair) in autumn and the Book fair in September. Since 2005, Córdoba hosts Sexpoerótica, the most important adult convention of Argentina and now one of the largest of Latin America, with more than 70.000 visitors in 2014, in autumn.

The Noche de los Museos is an irregular event (2-3 times per year) when you can visit many museums of the city without having to pay, until 1 or 2 am.

LGBT travelers

Córdoba has the reputation of being a conservative city, but the LGBT presence and tolerance towards them has increased greatly over recent decades. The first dedicated gay club of Argentina, Piaf, has been opened here in the 1980s, and there are now strong organizations lobbying for LGBT issues. There are also some travel agencies specialized in LGBT visitors. If you are in trouble or simply need information about the gay scene in Córdoba, there is a phone service for LGBT tourists (0800-268-0532) operated by the local web portal Lugares Gay CBA, a good source of information about the local options.

Although local LGBT people tend to be less extroverted than in Buenos Aires, as a LGBT visitor you can show your affections openly, at least in the cosmopolitan central districts (Centro, Nueva Córdoba, the eastern parts of Güemes and Alberdi, and General Paz). In the poorer neighborhoods and the outskirts of the city, however, you should be more careful (including the western part of Güemes quarter around Zen club), as there have been incidents of discrimination against LGBT people and tolerance generally is lower.

Learn

There are many public and private universities, which are open to foreigners for studies and research. The largest is the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, with 120.000 students, particularly good in technology, medicine and architecture.

Many organizations will give you a Spanish course, the cheapest are the ones of the local university, but they are at least for a year. Intensive courses from private institutions can be very expensive, up to US$ 1000 for three weeks, though lower cost options do exist.

Work

Córdoba has now a comparatively low unemployment rate (9%), but wages are considerably lower than in Buenos Aires (but also the prices).

With English and Spanish knowledge you can work in many sectors, like gastronomy, tourism, or telemarketing (best chance for a part-time job).

The city actually has a fast-growing software industry and there is a lack of qualified personnel. So if you are a software engineer you have good chances of finding a relatively well paid job in Córdoba.

If you want to work, you should get your work permit in your home country, although it's also possible to get it in the local Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (migration office), at Caseros / Ayacucho, if you come from a country with a visa-free agreement with Argentina.

Buy

Córdoba is a good shopping city, and you can buy near all kind of things at reasonable prices. The most active zone is the Peatonal pedestrian mall around San Martín Square and the nearby Mercado Norte and Mercado Sur areas, with cheaper prices. In the Nueva Córdoba and Güemes quarters, but also in some central galleries, there are shops and boutiques with locally designed clothing.

Local arts and crafts are sold at the Paseo de las Artes (Saturday and Sunday after 5PM), where you also can buy some local food like salamis, honey, and alfajores (a local sweet with dulce de leche) in the very pleasant Güemes district (see above). The area is now the most popular shopping area at weekends.

There is also a smaller arts and crafts market at Plaza San Martín, and some others at other city squares. In summer some craftsmen move to the Sierras, where there is an attractive market at the dam Dique San Roque 10 km (6 mi) north of Carlos Paz, 15 km (9 mi) west of La Calera and 25 km (15 mi) from Córdoba itself, via route E-55.

There are many galleries and some modern shopping malls. The most well-known are Patio Olmos and Garden Shopping (central district), Dinosaurio Mall and Córdoba Shopping (northwest), and the Nuevo Centro Shopping (west) where there is also the Sheraton Hotel. They are popular with middle-class Argentines, but the offer is limited to large franchises. Note that electronic items like televisions, cameras and computers usually have higher prices than in Europe and the US; cellular phones from established brands tend to be most expensive.

An interesting experience is to visit the flea market in Villa El Libertador neighborhood (about 8 km south-west of the city center) on Sunday mornings, the center of the Bolivian community, where you can find also cheap Andean food.

Eat

Gastronomy hubs are the city center (particularly General Paz, Illia and Colón avenues), the Cerro de las Rosas area (large restaurants, relatively high prices, often pleasant outdoor bars), Güemes (Belgrano and Alvear streets, with a mix of mid-range and upscale restaurants and bars), General Paz (with some of the most renowned restaurants) and Nueva Córdoba (mostly fast food). In the main avenues of the outskirts you will find some good places to eat, too.

Budget

• Choripán stands, very tasty sandwiches with argentinian sausage (chorizo), most stands are inside Parque Sarmiento and near the Suquía river
• Juanito, Av. Pueyrredón near Obispo Trejo, Mexican food, often crowded at weekends
• Mega Döner, Ituzaingó near Rondeau and Av. Vélez Sársfield near Caseros, Döner Kebap in various flavors
• Ugi's Pizza, Bv. Illía / Ituzaingó, cheap pizzas (a clone of the Buenos Aires original)

Mid-range

• Casa China, Av. Rafael Núñez near the Mujer Urbana roundabout, Chinese and Argentine food
• Potrerillo, Bv. Las Heras / Av. Tillard, Mexican food, after 3AM it converts into a (mainstream) discothèque
• Casa de Salta, Caseros / Independencia, northern Argentina food
• Al-Malek, Lima 865, Arabic food, pleasant, good food, has moved from Nueva Córdoba to General Paz neighborhood
• Plaza Austria, Costanera, German food and local beer, at the Río Suquía
• Las Tinajas, Bv. San Juan, another at Av. Colón, a huge All-You-Can-Eat with Argentine and Chinese food
• Equilibrate, Vélez Sársfield 29, vegetarian restaurant and delivery

Splurge

• Rita (four restaurants, in Nueva Córdoba, Villa Cabrera, Alta Córdoba and Carlos Paz), modern and stylish resto-bar with electronic music or live bands, and a wide variety of ethnic food.
• Il Gatto, Av. Gral Paz and Av. Colón, Italian food
• Guccio, Av. H. Yrigoyen 71, international specialties
• Rancho Grande, Av. Rafael Nuñez, typical Argentine "Parrilla", meat.
• 🌍 San Honorato, 25 de Mayo 1208, ☎ [phone]. Pringles esquina 25 de Mayo. Closed on Mondays, open for lunch & dinner. Built inside an old bakery, San Honorato is not only delicious food; it is an experience in itself. After ordering, you will be asked to proceed to the vine cellar, where the owner and his son welcome you with a glass of wine and some bites while your food is cooking. $50 - $100. (updated Feb 2019)

Drink

Cordoba has a vibrant nightlife although it dies of somewhat during the university holidays over Christmas and doesn't get going again until March-ish. There are places to cater for all tastes from dingy bars to live shows to the latest and greatest music. The main events can be seen at the Vos web site owned by the La Voz del Interior newspaper and in the newspaper itself, that carries an event guide every Thursday. If you like electronic music, the web portal Cosmobeat will guide you to the main events in city and surroundings. The gothic scene is under-represented, there are only irregular parties.

Most clubs close at 5am, and since 2005 there is a local law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages between 5am and 9am. The once-vibrant afterhour scene has died somewhat since this law came into force. Also don't expect too much night life between Sunday and Tuesday, when only a few clubs are open (Monday night has the least events).

In the following three districts there is the most active night life:

• Nueva Córdoba, home of many students from other Argentine towns, with many bars and pubs and some mainstream clubs
• Güemes, particularly in the Belgrano street, the Marcelo T. de Alvear avenue ("La Cañada" area) and the surroundings, with many pleasant bars and some few larger clubs. Some good clubs are also in the Roca avenue west of Cañada.
• Ex Abasto, the former red-light district near River Suquía, many rock and cuarteto clubs and some greater discothèques, wide variety of music between mainstream and underground. The surrounding area is relatively unsafe, so keep at the main streets, which at weekends are full of young people.
• Chateau Carreras, near Parque San Martín, the most "chic" area, expensive clubs, most of electronic music and international pop, but also some cuarteto parties.

There are also some expensive clubs in the Cerro de las Rosas district. In Alta Córdoba and nearby General Bustos districts there are some arte bars with live music. In the suburbs of Villa Allende, Saldán and La Calera there are some popular clubs too. In summer there is a very active night life in Villa Carlos Paz, private minibuses will take you to the biggest clubs from Plaza Vélez Sarsfield at 1AM if you pay the entrance fare in advance.

The authentic urban music of Córdoba is the lively, fast Cuarteto dance music. It was invented in the 1940s by Cuarteto Leo group but has changed greatly in the 1980s and 1990s, including Central American (merengue) and pop influences. Bands of this genre play live several times a week, in the so-called bailes, at sport centers, halls and great discothèques. Most of the visitors of these bailes are from the lower social classes. If you want to visit a baile, particularly that of the most popular singer La Mona Jiménez, it's best to take a local with you. There is sometimes fighting between local gangs, but male visitors generally only get in trouble if they speak to someone's girlfriend. For women there are no special dangers, because Argentine men are generally very polite to them, but don't feel disturbed if many guys want to speak to you ...

The order of the following list is from cheap to expensive:

• Bar de Don Mario, San Martín / Rondeau (Nueva Córdoba), a little, cheap rock bar in Nueva Córdoba, frequented by students
• La Rústica, Zona Ex Abasto near Av. Tillard, cheap bar with local punk rock and heavy metal, no live music, but sometimes strip dancers, frequented by students and "rollingas" (rock fans)
• Pétalos de Sol, Av. Marcelo T. de Alvear near Bv. San Juan, one of the most popular and typical student rock / reggae bars in the city center, open every day except Monday.
• Clarke´s Irish Bar, Independencia 229, Centro, authentic Irish bar, Irish owned with real cans of Guinness imported from Dublin
• Paris Bar, student club in Nueva Córdoba, with club floor and live music
• Los Infernales de Güemes, Belgrano 631, each table got a chance to sing or play for the whole bar's pleasure!
• X bar, wide range of cocktails and a wide range of prices too, good music and great vibe, Av Marcelo T. de Alvear 362
• Santa Lupita, Mexican style bar, good vibe, music, and one of the best cocktail bars in the city. Belgrano 891.
• Dada Mini, cool bar with a great menu, often there are live performances. Achaval Rodriguez 250.
• 990 Arte Club, Bv. Los Andes, alternative club with live music, at the Abasto, rock, reggae and sometimes theater. One of the centres of Córdoba's "hippie" culture.
• Maldito Lunes, Dámaso Larrañaga 83, Nueva Córdoba. gay-friendly bar/pub in Nueva Córdoba with shows, one of the few good places for Monday nights 
• Jamaica, Montevideo / Figueroa Alcorta (centre), bar with rock and reggae music
• Eiffel Resto Bar, Barrio Nueva Córdoba, Transito Cáceres 518, Drink, Pizzas and "Lomitos" A beef sandwich (delicious!)
• Beep Pub, Sucre near Av. Colón, gay afterhours bar with shows
• Casa Babylon, Bv. Las Heras 34 (Ex Abasto). alternative club with live music of local and national bands of all musical genres. Sometimes electronic music events. 
• La Barra Boliche, Lima / Alvear (Centro), big mainstream club with three floors (pop / cuarteto / electronic)
• Palm Beach, Bv. Las Heras (Ex Abasto), Cuarteto and rock club, only open if there is a live band
• Refugio Guernica, Av. Tillard, rock club, frequent local and national live bands.
• Zen, Av. Fuerza Aérea near Cañada, big gay-lesbian disco with two floors, now very much the "in" place
• Dublin, Bv. Chacabuco Ecke San Lorenzo, Irish Pub with some traditional Irish food and beer
• Johnny B. Good, Rafael Nuñez, another at Yrigoyen, expensive after-office and cocktail bar with live rock and electronic music
• Cocina de Culturas, Av. Julio A. Roca, Barrio Bella Vista. Large bar and cultural center with live music, mostly folklore and Latin American music. 
• But Mitre. Marcelo T. de Alvear (Güemes), big, expensive club with very "chic" visitors 
• Carreras, Av. del Piamonte S/N (Zona Chateau), techno-house club with expensive drinks
• El Colono, Av. del Piamonte S/N (Zona Chateau), cuarteto and mainstream music
• Piaf, Barrio San Martin, one of the best-known gay club in Córdoba (now relocated)

Sleep

Most hotels are in the centre, with many cheap ones near the bus terminal. If you want to stay in a little bit more quiet environment, you can take a local bus and sleep in one of the pleasant resorts nearby (Note that in January and February the city itself will be quieter than the resort suburbs!).

Budget

• Hostel The One, ☎ [phone]. Free wifi, kitchen BBQ, DVDs, balcony. 
• Baluch Backpackers, ☎ [phone]. Free wifi, kitchen available for self use, dvd library and roof top deck. 
• Mediterranea Hostel Cordoba, ☎ [phone]. Obispo Trejo 1119. Close to bus station. It has a pool. Dorm from USD11. If you want more info, send an email to [e-mail] 
• Che Salguero Hostel, Obispo Salguero 724, Nueva Cordoba, ☎ [phone]. Decorated by local artists, and young knowledgeable staff. Plans cultural activities, Argentinean dinners, Spanish lessons, excursions and nightlife activities. 
• Kailash Hotel Boutique, San Martin 1750, San Marcos Sierras, ☎ +03549 496078. It offers Hindu-inspired rooms, all of which have a mountain view, a king-size bed, down-feather pillows, and Ayurvedic breakfast. Some of its amenities are swimming pool, solarium with a wooden deck, Wi-Fi access, and a stargazing deck. While staying here you can visit some tourist spots like Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, The San Marcos River Gorge, and Arturo Illia Dam. Best rates on official website start at USD 46.00. 
• Link Cordoba Hostel. Jujuy 267. All rooms are modern and spacious. with fans, good lighting, and separate shower and bath facilities. The kitchen is fully equipped and there is a TV room, bar, terrace and chill out space with barbecue amenities. Dorms from AR$45 [[e-mail]] 
• Hotel Victoria, 25 de Mayo Ecke Chacabuco. Old traditional hotel, has recently improved greatly, now not anymore the cheapest of the city
• Tango Hostel. Fructuoso Rivera 70 (Bo. Nueva Córdoba), English spoken, international guests. Small hostel (19 beds) in Nueva Cordoba. Dorm 11 US$. 
• Cordoba Backpackers. Deán Funes 285 an HI Hostel 3 Blocks from the plaza. Dorm 23 pesos for members(members/nonmembers) 
• Hostel Jóven Casa Reggae. Tablada 414. A lively, not too expensive hostel not far from the city centre. Dorm AR$40. Free wifi, Breakfast. 
• Locomotion Pop Hostel, Montevideo 225 (Bo. Güemes)
• Córdoba Hostel, Ituzaingó 1070 (Bo. Nva. Córdoba)
• Hostel Aldea, Calle Santa Rosa 447 Situated close to the city center. Opened just a year and a half ago, the facilities include kitchen, bar, pool table, table tennis, table football and free internet. Dorms 30 pesos, Singles and Doubles also available. [e-mail]

Mid-range

• Hotel Automóvil Club, Av. Sabattini 459, you will be charged less if you are member of ACA and partner clubs
• Hotel El Virrey, Bv. Mitre 227
• Felipe Segundo Hotel, San Jerónimo 279
• NH Panorama, Marcelo T. de Alvear (La Cañada),251. X5000KGE Cordoba, ☎ [phone]. This traditional hotel is located in the heart of the city, just a stone’s throw away from many of the top attractions. The hotel offers 140 rooms, gym, massage services, meeting rooms and a swimming pool. From 127.06USD. 

Splurge

• 🌍 Sheraton Córdoba Hotel, Duarte Quiros 1300, ☎ [phone]. The best in Córdoba, sometimes congresses, good views of the city. Next to the Córdoba Shopping complex. (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 Interplaza Hotel, San Jerónimo 137, ☎ [phone]. The most centrally-located of all (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 Holiday Inn Córdoba, Fray Luis Beltran Y Cardenosa, 5008, ☎ [phone]. (updated May 2017)
• 🌍 Hotel de la Cañada, Av. Marcelo T. de Alvear 580, ☎ [phone]. (updated May 2017)

Connect

Telephone characteristic of Córdoba is 0351, except for the Argüello area in the North-West, of which it is 03543.

Most hotels, hostels, cafés and restaurants have now free wi-fi access, in the Nueva Córdoba area there is a public Wi-fi service (very slow). Internet cafés still exist, although much less than in the past decades, and charge between 5 and 10 pesos the hour.

The official web site of Córdoba is Cordoba.gov.ar , a good internet portal with the best event information is Vos, run by the most popular local newspaper La Voz del Interior.

Stay safe

The city is considered safer than Buenos Aires and Rosario, but it's not free of crime. Beware of pick pocketing on the local buses, above all when they are crowded (as they normally are). The avenidas of the Centro and Nueva Córdoba areas are normally safe around the clock, except the area near the Río Suquía from Monday to Thursday (at weekends there is much night-life there and it's safer). There are some dangerous districts and suburbs, but they have no tourist attractions, they often are situated near the outer ring-road (Avenida Circunvalación).

There are no special health risks, apart from homeless dogs in the suburbs that ocasionally bite, and some spider and scorpion species which can be dangerous for small children and elderly people. In some areas, particularly in the South-East and in the eastern Río Suquía area water and air are polluted, which is a great danger for the people who live there, but this districts are normally outside of tourist's itineraries.

There are many hospitals. Two of the best of the private ones are the Hospital Privado in the south-west of the city, and the Sanatorio Allende in Nueva Córdoba (Obispo Oro and Buenos Aires) and the Cerro de las Rosas. If you don't have medical security, you will be attended at the public hospitals, above all the Hospital de Urgencias for emergencies in the city centre, at no cost, but if you can you should donate some money because there is sometimes lack of medicines and other elements. South-east of the new bus terminal there is a public hospital hub (the Polo Sanitario) where you normally will find specialists for every disease or health problem.

Cope

Tourist information at airport, bus terminal, and in the Cabildo building. Some other provinces, like Tierra del Fuego, Salta and La Rioja have tourist information offices in the city, they are called "casas de provincia".

Local newspapers are La Voz del Interior, the best, cheaper ones are La Mañana de Córdoba, Día a Día and Reporte 15. Information about the economy can be found in Comercio y Justicia.

Local magazines include Orillas (politics), Aquí (general information), Ocio Urbano (culture and events), Las Rosas (scene/boulevard magazine of the Cerro de las Rosas, expensive and poor), and Punto a Punto (economy).

Consulates

• Bolivia, Figueroa Cáceres No 368, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. M–F 08:30–16:30. 

Go next

The Sierras de Córdoba, the hill district west of the city, is the second most popular tourist destination of Argentina after the Atlantic Coast. The nearest resorts are only 20 km (12 mi) of the Circunvalación ring road. The Sierras have a vegetation similar to the Gran Chaco area, with dense bushland and some small woods. There are many little canyons and several reservoirs and rivers with pleasant swimming.

Punilla Valley

The Punilla valley is situated about 25 km west of Córdoba. In the valley you will find mountainous rocky villages like Bialet Massé and Villa Giardino with picturesque sights, small rivulets, small waterfalls and rivers, environmentally-friendly people and pure air. There are also some larger towns which can get very crowded in summer holidays in January and February. There are many hotels, hostels, cottages and camping sites. The way to the valley is sinuous and it is surrounded by Sierras Chicas and Sierras Grandes with their naturally beautiful landscapes, which are very attractive for tourists.

• Villa Carlos Paz, about 30 km west of Córdoba near the San Roque dam, is the most popular and crowded tourist resort of the valley and the whole Sierras region, but has few real attractions aside from the scenery and nightlife. The 60.000-inhabitant town is very crowded in January and February and at some weekends, but quiet the rest of the year.
• Other larger towns in the Punilla Valley are Cosquín, which hosts many musical festivals, La Falda, La Cumbre and Capilla del Monte, where you can ascend to Cerro Uritorco, a hill with great views of the valley.
• Cabalango Near Carlos Paz, only 18 km away, there is a place undiscovered by tourists, but known by a lot of people. This place is Cabalango, a beautiful place which is perfect for families. There are some families who live there, and others who go there only on holidays. It has a wide river with clean sand and quiet beaches and very clear water. But, when it’s raining a lot up the mountains, two or three men riding horses advise the people who are enjoying the water, that they must go out quickly water will increase in a few minutes. The river runs to carry away and all it finds on its way.

Calamuchita valley

The Calamuchita Valley is located south-west of Córdoba. There, you find the attractive German-styled town of Villa General Belgrano and nearby Santa Rosa de Calamuchita with a good river beach. Other towns are Los Reartes and Yacanto near the Champaquí mountain, the highest of the Sierras.

• Villa General Belgrano is a small town with about 7.795 inhabitants. Its first inhabitants were Germans. They made the city a tourist place in Argentina with a German tradition. In October, celebrating the National Beer festival, the city receives thousands of tourists to taste its special beer. Villa General Belgrano is one of the main tourist towns of the Valley.
• From Villa General Belgrano, there is a road (and buses) to a beautiful village called La Cumbrecita. In this place you can see the Champaqui hill, the highest in Córdoba province (2.790 m). This village is an ecosystem with crystalline streams, natural cascades and numerous gastronomic offers.

Traslasierra valley

The Traslasierra Valley is 120 km / 74 mi west of the city. On the way to the valley, you can visit the highland plains and the deep gorges of the Quebrada del Condorito national park, located near the Altas Cumbres road between Carlos Paz and Mina Clavero. It has few services, but a very pleasant scenery, with superb views of the whole surroundings of Córdoba and condor watching.

The town of Mina Clavero is the Traslasierra valley's most important important tourist center. It will engage the visitor in a wonderful experience. It is located in the middle of the vast valley. Surrounded by mountains, it will offer a spectacular view of its natural landscape. The abundant flora contrasts with the arid stony mountains, providing an extraordinary panoramic view. Mina Clavero offers river beaches and entertainment areas that you can enjoy after a walk. The favourable climate and fresh air will be a temptation to leave the pollution and traffic of the big city. It has gastronomic areas, a diversity of entertainment areas, such as the bingo and discoteques, which give it a particular style.

Other, less touristy towns in Traslasierra are Nono, Villa Cura Brochero and the larger town of Villa Dolores near the limit to San Luis Province.

Other destinations

• Jesús María 50 km on the way north, is an attractive little town. There you can visit a Jesuit Museum inside an baroque estancia. The picturesque and green suburb of Colonia Caroya is known for its local food.
• The Sierras Chicas district begins in Villa Allende, a pleasant suburb with 30.000 inhabitants located inmediately north-west of Córdoba. Other large towns of this part of the metro area are Río Ceballos, Unquillo and La Calera. In Río Ceballos, you can swim in the La Quebrada lake and trek to a little waterfall, the Cascada de los Hornillos. Unquillo is famous for being home of many artists.
• Alta Gracia, 30 km south-west, on the road to Calamuchita valley. The 50.000-inhabitant town hosts a baroque Jesuit estancia, located very beautifully near an artificial lake, and a Che Guevara museum. Nearby there are pleasant little towns like Anizacate and La Serranita with river beaches.
• The more southerly resorts of the Sierras like La Cruz, Achiras or Río de los Sauces (particularly pleasant, with good trekking) are less crowded in the holiday season than the most popular valleys.
• About 250 km (155 mi) NE is the huge Mar Chiquita salt lake, with an extension of about 6000 km² (2,300 sq mi) the second largest lake of South America. The only beach resort at its shoreline, Miramar, is far less crowded than most of the Sierras towns, and there is an interesting bird-life. It was one of Argentina's most popular health resorts in the 1950s and 1960s, but still suffers an inundation from 1975 when the lake destroyed the coastal boulevard and the old town centre, but now has been re-modeled and is getting more popular again.

Córdoba is a good stopping point if you go from Buenos Aires to the Andean Northwest with its beautiful tourist attractions. Salta is 13 hours north by bus.