Córdoba's streets pulse with life day and night, as vibrant contemporary culture merges with historic Spanish-era architecture. The city is home to Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, one of the oldest universities in Latin America, and the 17th-century Manzana Jesuítica (Jesuit Block), a World Heritage-listed complex filled with elegant colonial buildings. Bars and restaurants come alive as dusk falls, and the sound of cuarteto, Córdoba's traditional dance music, floats daily through the city's expansive green spaces. There's also plenty to explore beyond the city, from the countryside's rolling hills and valleys to San Roque lake and dramatic mountain peaks.
Just like the city itself, Córdoba hostels are vibrant and welcoming, with plenty of social spaces to mingle in. You can stay at an award-winning hostel with a terrace bar under the stars, a beautifully designed boutique hostel where the swimming pool comes complete with a DJ booth, or a Córdoba hostel full of colourful murals. Most hostels in Córdoba have a BBQ so that visitors can enjoy Argentinian asado (grilled meat), and many also have extras such as a cinema room. Other common features include free breakfast and security lockers.
The city centre is split into several different districts. Bohemian Güemes is known for its live music and laid-back bar and restaurant scene, as well as 19th-century buildings. If you're looking to party a little harder, head to Nueva Córdoba, where art galleries and boutiques are scattered among some of the city's liveliest nightclubs. Scores of bars play pulsing electronic music until well after midnight. In the daytime, leafy Sarmiento Park is a popular hangout spot for students from nearby Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.
Many visitors come to Córdoba to see its beautiful Spanish colonial buildings. Most of these are in the city centre, in the area surrounding the lively Plaza San Martín, and top attractions include Manzana Jesuítica, built by Spanish Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century. Córdoba is also home to art galleries such as the Evita Fine Arts Museum, where a stunning collection of art is set in a Louis XIV-style palace. Head north of the city for a touch of wilderness in the Reserva Natural Urbana San Martín nature reserve.
Córdoba's main airport is Pajas Blancas, located 9km from the city centre, and buses run regularly between the two. Trains run daily between Buenos Aires and Córdoba, and from the latter you can catch a direct bus to almost all major cities in Argentina. Transport options within Córdoba include public buses, taxis and bike hire.
