Montilla Holidays: Bodegas, Basilica and Córdoba Day Trips
Province of Córdoba · Andalusia · Spain · 23,031 residents
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Basilica of St. John of Avila
Castle of Montilla.jpg/500px-Capitel_visigodo_Montilla_(8501401136).jpg)
Museo Histórico Local de Montilla
Bodegas Alvear
Bodegas Pérez BarqueroMontilla is an inland town of around 23,000 people in the Province of Córdoba, sitting at 382 metres above sea level in the Andalusian countryside. What sets it apart is how much lies within a short stroll: the Basilica of St. John of Avila, the Castle of Montilla, the Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli and a cluster of bodegas, several less than half a mile from the centre. There is no coastline here. The draw is culture and food, with spring and early autumn the most comfortable seasons. Granada, Málaga and Seville airports all have direct flights from the United Kingdom and are each well under two hours away by car, and the city of Córdoba is 22 miles up the road.
Why go
- The Basilica of St. John of Avila and the Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli sit within a short walk.
- Bodegas Alvear, Cruz Conde and Gracia are all about 0.4 miles from the town centre.
- Granada airport, with direct UK flights, is roughly 78 minutes' drive away.
Top sights in Montilla
Churches, Palaces and Town Bodegas
Start with the Basilica of St. John of Avila, the best-known sight in town and only about 0.2 miles from the centre. The Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli is around 0.3 miles away, the Casa del Arcipreste, another historic building, roughly 0.4 miles, and the Castle of Montilla about 0.4 miles. The Museo Histórico Local de Montilla, around a quarter of a mile from the centre, is a sensible stop with children as well as adults.
The other half of Montilla's appeal is its bodegas. Bodegas Alvear, Bodegas Cruz Conde and Bodegas Gracia are all around 0.4 miles out, Bodegas Navarro about 0.7 miles and Bodegas Pérez Barquero roughly 0.75 miles. A little further are Bodegas Navisa at 1.1 miles, Bodegas Robles at 2.1 miles and Bodega y Viñedos Lagar de la Salud at 2.8 miles. Bodegas Cobos, around a quarter of a mile away, is a former winery building.
Tours and tickets for Montilla and the surrounding area can be booked directly on this page.
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1basilica- 2castle
- 3museum
Museo Histórico Local de Montilla
In the centre · Photo
- 4winery
Bodegas Alvear
In the centre · Photo
- 5winery
Bodegas Pérez Barquero
1 mile from the centre · Photo
6palace
7wineryBodegas Cruz Conde
In the centre · Photo
8wineryBodegas Gracia
In the centre · Photo
10palace
11wineryBodegas Navarro
1 mile from the centre · Photo
Bodegas Robles
winery · 2 miles from the centre
Bodega y Viñedos Lagar de la Salud
winery · 3 miles from the centre
Tours & tickets in Montilla
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Montilla can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Montilla
Staying in a Compact Inland Town
Montilla is inland and fairly small, so there is no beachfront to weigh up against an old quarter. Most of what you will want to see, from the basilica and the palaces to the castle and the main bodegas, falls within about half a mile of the centre, which makes a central base the practical choice if you would rather walk than drive.
With a population of around 23,000, evenings are likely to be calmer than in the big Andalusian cities; for a livelier night out, Córdoba is 22 miles away. Live hotel prices for Montilla are shown on this page.
Hire a car
The easiest way to reach Montilla and the villages around it is a hire car from Málaga (AGP), about 1 h 30 min away.
Best time to visit Montilla
When to Visit Montilla
- 15°CJan46 mm
- 17°CFeb70 mm
- 20°CMar109 mm
- 25°CApr11 mm
- 27°CMay34 mm
- 31°CJun41 mm
- 37°CJul0 mm
- 37°CAug6 mm
- 29°CSept24 mm
- 25°COct94 mm
- 19°CNov33 mm
- 15°CDec38 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
April, May, June and September offer the most pleasant conditions. April is especially dry, with around 11 mm of rain over three days and highs of about 25°C, while May reaches 27°C and June 31°C. September eases back to around 29°C after the summer peak.
July and August are the hottest months, with daytime highs of about 37°C, lows of 22°C and almost no rain. The wettest spells are March, with roughly 109 mm, and October, with around 94 mm across 12 rain days. Winter is mild by day at about 15°C in December and January, but nights drop to around 6°C. Being inland, Montilla has no sea temperature to consider.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°C | 6°C | 46 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 17°C | 6°C | 70 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 20°C | 9°C | 109 mm | 9 h |
| Apr | 25°C | 12°C | 11 mm | 12 h |
| May | 27°C | 14°C | 34 mm | 12 h |
| Jun | 31°C | 18°C | 41 mm | 13 h |
| Jul | 37°C | 22°C | 0 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 37°C | 22°C | 6 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 29°C | 18°C | 24 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 25°C | 15°C | 94 mm | 8 h |
| Nov | 19°C | 10°C | 33 mm | 8 h |
| Dec | 15°C | 6°C | 38 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flying and Driving from the UK
Three airports with direct flights from the United Kingdom serve Montilla. Granada is the closest, about 55 miles away and around 1 hour 20 minutes by car. Málaga is roughly 63 miles away, around 1 hour 30 minutes' drive, and Seville about 70 miles, around 1 hour 40 minutes. Car hire from any of the three is the simplest way to arrive.
If you prefer to drive from home, the journey from Calais takes roughly 22 hours 40 minutes of driving time, so plan for overnight stops. The nearest ferry ports, Málaga at about 62 miles and Motril at about 86 miles, run sailings to Morocco rather than the UK: Málaga to Melilla, and Motril to Melilla, Nador, Tangier Med and Al Hoceima.
By air
- Málaga (AGP)63 miles, about 1 h 30 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Seville (SVQ)70 miles, about 1 h 39 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Granada (GRX)55 miles, about 1 h 18 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 22 h 42 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Málaga (62 miles), Motril (86 miles).
Montilla is good for
Around Montilla
Day Trips from Montilla
Córdoba, the provincial capital with more than 325,000 residents, is the obvious outing at about 22 miles. Closer still, Lucena is around 15 miles away and La Carlota about 17 miles.
For smaller places, Zuheros, a village of fewer than 900 people, is around 18 miles off, and Luque about 20 miles. Villarrubia lies roughly 23 miles away, Écija around 25 miles and Almodóvar del Río about 26 miles, all comfortable return trips by hire car in a day.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Tips Before You Go
Summer heat is serious here. With highs of around 37°C in July and August and no sea breeze inland, plan sightseeing and bodega visits for the morning and evening, and keep the middle of the day for rest.
At 382 metres, winter nights can be colder than you might expect from southern Spain, falling to about 6°C, so pack a warm layer between December and February. If you visit in March or October, the two wettest months, bring a waterproof.
The town itself is easily walkable, but a hire car is the practical way to reach the airports and the surrounding towns such as Córdoba and Zuheros.
Questions people ask
Which airport is closest to Montilla?
Granada is the nearest, roughly 55 miles away and about 1 hour 20 minutes by car, with direct flights from the United Kingdom. Málaga, around 1 hour 30 minutes away, and Seville, about 1 hour 40 minutes away, also have direct UK flights.
Is Montilla near the beach?
No. Montilla is an inland town at 382 metres above sea level in the Province of Córdoba. The nearest coastal port listed is Málaga, about 62 miles away, so this is a destination for culture, food and countryside rather than a beach holiday.
What is the best month to visit Montilla?
April, May, June and September are the most pleasant. April is the driest of these, with about 11 mm of rain and highs near 25°C. July and August reach around 37°C, which many British travellers will find too hot for sightseeing.
Can you visit bodegas in Montilla?
The town has a cluster of bodegas close to the centre, including Bodegas Alvear, Cruz Conde and Gracia at about 0.4 miles, and Pérez Barquero at around 0.75 miles. Tours and tickets in the area can be booked on this page.
How far is Montilla from Córdoba?
Córdoba is about 22 miles from Montilla, making it an easy day trip by car. Other nearby options include Lucena at around 15 miles, Zuheros at about 18 miles and Écija at roughly 25 miles.
Can I drive to Montilla from the UK?
Yes, though it is a long journey. The drive from Calais takes roughly 22 hours 40 minutes of driving time, so most travellers break it into several days. Flying into Granada, Málaga or Seville and hiring a car is far quicker.