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Crosses & Patios.

Sun 2 – Wed 5 May 20274 days8–16 peopleNo driving · hosted
Dates & booking →Day by day
Dates2–5 May 2027
Duration4 days
Fly intoGranada (GRX)
Group8–16 people
StayHostel or hotel twin

The trip

Two of Andalusia's prettiest fiestas, one after the other. Granada's Día de la Cruz, with flower-covered crosses in every plaza and the Alhambra above, then the fast train to Córdoba for the Patios festival, when private flower-filled courtyards open to the public, and the Mezquita.

Granada → Córdoba

The festival

Key dates.

Confirmed 2027 dates from both councils.

Mon 3 MayDía de la Cruz, GranadaFlower crosses in plazas, with bars and music. Best in the Albaicín and Realejo.
3 – 16 MayFestival de los Patios, CórdobaPrivate flower-filled courtyards open for free. UNESCO-listed.
28 Apr – 2 MayCruces de Mayo, CórdobaEnds the day we arrive in Granada.

Start to finish

Day by day.

Timings are a guide; your host adjusts on the day for the festival, the weather and the group.

01Sunday 2 May

Arrive Granada & tapas

Day 1

  • Afternoon · Land at GRX — Minibus or bus to the hotel.
  • Evening · Tapas the Granada way — A free tapa with every drink. Bodegas Castañeda, Los Diamantes.
  • Night · Mirador de San Nicolás — The Alhambra lit up at night.
02Monday 3 May

Alhambra & Día de la Cruz

Day 2

  • Morning · The Alhambra — Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife. Book group tickets months ahead.
  • Lunch · Realejo — Tapas around Campo del Príncipe, where the crosses are.
  • Afternoon · Cross hunting — Plaza Larga, Paseo de los Tristes and the Albaicín's lanes.
  • Dinner · Albaicín — Habas con jamón, tortilla del Sacromonte. Piononos from Casa Ysla.
03Tuesday 4 May

Train to Córdoba & the Patios

Day 3

  • Morning · Train to Córdoba — About 1 hour 30 minutes. Walk or minibus to the hotel.
  • Lunch · Bodegas Campos — Since 1908: salmorejo, rabo de toro, Montilla-Moriles.
  • Afternoon · Patios trail — Official map. San Basilio, Santa Marina, San Lorenzo.
  • Evening · Taberna Salinas — Flamenquín and berenjenas con miel. Roman bridge at night.
04Wednesday 5 May

The Mezquita & home

Day 4

  • Early · Mezquita-Catedral — Go at opening time, before the crowds.
  • Morning · Judería & Alcázar — The old Jewish quarter and the Alcázar gardens.
  • Lunch · Last patios — A few more patios and a final salmorejo.
  • Afternoon · Train & fly home — AVE to Seville or Málaga airport.

Base camp

Where we stay.

Without bikes we stay central and walk everywhere. Two options on every trip, both booked through Fora at cost:

Option 1 · Hostel (best value): Granada has lots of central hostels near Plaza Nueva and the Albaicín. In Córdoba, hostels near the Judería and San Basilio.

Option 2 · Hotel, twin rooms shared by 2: In Granada, the centre or the Realejo. In Córdoba, inside the old town near the Mezquita.

Airport: fly into Granada (GRX). The airport bus takes about 40 minutes, or book a private minibus. For 8–16 people, a private 16-seat minibus from the airport is usually cheaper per head than taxis and keeps the group together. Granada to Córdoba by train takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Fly home from Seville (45 minutes by AVE) or Málaga (1 hour).

The details

What's included.

Included

  • Your host with the group 24/7 from start to finish, all their own costs included
  • Your choice of hostel (private group rooms) or hotel twin rooms, booked at cost through Fora
  • Airport transfers and the private minibus legs in the itinerary
  • Festival planning, timings and the best spots to watch
  • Restaurant reservations and the tickets listed in the itinerary, at cost

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals and drinks
  • Optional extras and personal spending
  • Travel insurance

The table

Eat your way across Andalusia.

Eat & drink

  • Tapas gratis — Granada bars: A free tapa with every drink.
  • Habas con jamón — Albaicín, Granada: Broad beans with ham.
  • Tortilla del Sacromonte — Granada: Omelette with brains and offal. Brave.
  • Piononos — Casa Ysla: Small syrup-soaked cakes from Santa Fe.
  • Salmorejo — Bodegas Campos, Córdoba: Cold tomato cream with egg and ham.
  • Flamenquín — Taberna Salinas: Rolled ham and pork, breaded and fried.
  • Berenjenas con miel — Córdoba taverns: Fried aubergine with cane honey.
  • Montilla-Moriles — Córdoba: The local sherry-style wine.

Good to know

  • Book Alhambra tickets as soon as they open: they sell out.
  • Patios: check the official map. Some close at midday.
  • Book the train early for group fares.
  • Wear good shoes: Albaicín is steep cobbles.

2027 departure

Save your spot.

One departure, built around the festival. Runs with a minimum of 8 people, maximum 16. Everything booked at cost through Fora; your host fee is shown as its own line on your quote.

Departure2–5 May 20278–16 people · min 8 to runRequest a spot →

From €770 per person in a hostel group room, or from €875 in a hotel twin room shared by 2. Based on 8 people; bigger groups pay a little less. Flights not included. Asking is free and doesn't commit you to anything.

Your host fee: €85 per person per day

One simple line on your quote (4 days × €85). It covers a dedicated host who's with the group 24/7 from start to finish, all the planning and bookings (beds, tables, tickets and transfers at cost through Fora, no mark-up), and all of the host's own expenses: their room, meals, travel and tickets. You never pay extra for your host.

Photo: Córdoba Spain - Fiesta De Los Patios De Córdoba - 2015 (18378583269).jpg by Julia Kostecka, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.