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Seeking Andalusia itinerary recommendation

Seeking Andalusia itinerary recommendation

Old Feb 8th, 2017, 08:00 AM
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Seeking Andalusia itinerary recommendation

We are going to spend one week in Andalusia at the end of May. Please, advice good itinerary.
We are flying in and out of Madrid from US. Seville, Ronda, Granada on our wish list. What else possible to see in 7 days? What the best choice for base? In general, we prefer small compact towns. We will not have a car.
Thank you in advance
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Old Feb 8th, 2017, 09:12 AM
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Are you going to be in Spain for a full 7 days, or does that include travel time?

7 days isn't very long to be moving from city to city. Since you are flying in and out of Madrid, I would stick with Madrid as a base and take a couple of day trips that you can do easily by train or bus (Segovia, Avila, Toledo, Aranjuez, Córdoba, Cuenca, Sigüenza, Villadolid). Madrid itself will keep you busy if you are interested in history, the arts, culture and cuisine.

You could possibly fly to Granada for a couple of days, or spend two to three days in Sevilla, with a stop in Córdoba, but it would have to be fairly fast paced visit with not much time to relax and enjoy the experience.
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Old Feb 8th, 2017, 09:41 AM
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I gather you chose to fly in and out of Madrid for some reason, rather than Seville or Granada (or Malaga, which has a lot of flights)? At least one way should have been in Andalusia. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, check that out. I have gotten a flight from AMS or BRU to Seville (I think that was KLM but I might be forgetting).

IN any case, if your goal is just Andalusia, immediately go there by train (AVE), I guess (which is only 2.5 hrs). I haven't been to Ronda so am not clear on the logistics that would involve, but I believe a bus. But I think you could easily do Seville, Ronda and COrdoba in a week. I did Cordoba just as a day trip from Seville, but it is a stop on some trains between Madrid and Seville, or vice versa.

SO you could stay in Seville most of the time, then move to Cordoba for 2 nights, then move back to Madrid. Leaving from Madrid wastes a lot of your time as you probably can't go up there the day of your flight, so you have to leave the day before.

If you do want to go to Ronda, which wouldn't have been too bad if you were flying out of Malaga, the bus takes about 2-2.5 hrs just between Seville and Ronda. There is one in the morning that is only 2 hrs. That's kind of a lot for a day trip, but possible (2 hrs in morning, 2 back). There is a bus at 6 pm that gets back by 8 pm. The bus station is the PRado one in Seville. These are schedules http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/bus-timetables.htm

You say you won't have a car but want a base that is a small, compact town. I don't think this is possible. Seville is not a small town by my terms, but that is what I'd suggest as your base for train and bus options and location. Granada is too far to add in.

Is there really some reason you have to leave from Madrid?
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Old Feb 8th, 2017, 04:43 PM
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I agree with Robert -- 7 days is very little for Andalusia, which is, IMO, much better suited to a trip of about 10 days. So I think you will need to be very selective. For example, I would never include Ronda if it meant skipping Sevilla, Granada, or Cordoba. But it's your trip, your call.

Here's what I recommend: Get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, check their opening/closing times on the internet, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Then see how things fit together. And BTW, note that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

Good luck!
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Old Feb 9th, 2017, 02:22 AM
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In the last week of May you have the flamenco inspired Spring Fair in Córdoba, could be lots of fun and a good opportunity to get under the skin of things and experience the Andalucian food, wine, song, dance and fiesta culture. http://www.andalucia.com/festival/co...pring-fair.htm
http://english.turismodecordoba.org/...air-of-cordoba

Córdoba was once the most advanced city in Europe, and it's just 1h 40 mins from Madrid with the high speed AVE Train. 42 mins with the same train from Córdoba to Sevilla, and not that far to Granada either (bus). Córdoba is a fabulous city in itself and could easily be your base for a 7 days great taste of Andalucía. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/cordoba

And perhaps consider 3000 year old Málaga city by the Med, just 50 mins from Córdoba with the AVE train. Málaga is "the province's city of culture with its so-called 'mile of art' being compared to Madrid, and its dynamism and fine dining to Barcelona." My favourite in the region after much traveling here the past 15 years: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga
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Old Feb 9th, 2017, 05:41 AM
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Thank you Robert , Christina, Kja and kimhe. Unfortunately, I made mistake and bought tickets to Madrid instead Malaga or Granada and I have been in Madrid area before. Because of this I will have 5.5 days in Andalusia out of 7 in Spain. Does it make sense on 1st day to be in Madrid, the next day to leave early in the morning to Seville and spend 2 days there, on a 4th day take bus to Ronda and 4 pm train from there to Granada, spend night, 5th day and next night in Granada and 6th day again spend in Seville, and on last, 7th day on a way to Madrid make half day stop in Cordoba? Or better to cut Ronda and Cordoba and split time between Seville and Granada: Madrid –Seville-Granada- Madrid.
My flight to Miami departs at 12.00 o’clock. Is it too risky to take 6.55 am flight from Seville or Malaga to Madrid on last day (Iberia Express)?
Kimhe, I will consider Cordoba and Malaga now. It is our short substitute for spring break and we want it to be easy trip. And it looks not easy now, so my I might rethink original plan.
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Old Feb 9th, 2017, 08:52 AM
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Is Antequera will be good base? Or it is 1. sleepy at night and 2. you have to have car to travel to other places from over there?
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Old Feb 9th, 2017, 02:58 PM
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Can you book a flight to Granada within a few hours of your arrival in Madrid? You’re already at the airport, no need to grab your things and hustle into town to the train station and all that.

But even by train, that would make it

DAY 1 arr. Madrid connect to Granada, sleep in Granada.

DAY 2 Alhambra (book online as soon as you can, possibly also for the evening visit), sleep in Granada.

DAY 3 Bus to Cordoba, late in the day if first you need to see more of Granada, early if you are ready to move on. Sleep in Cordoba.

Day 4 Explore Cordoba, late train to Seville to arrive around 9PM, in time for checking into hotel and going out to dinner by 10PM. Sleep in Seville.

DAY 5 Seville.

DAY 6 optional gallivant by rental car, Jerez, Arcos de la Frontera, Ronda (park at www.mastein.es), over the Cordilleras range (scenic drive via Teba to Estepa), back to Seville.

DAY 7 fly to Madrid and home.

If the connections on DAY 7 don’t work out, skip the program of DAY 6.
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Old Feb 9th, 2017, 04:22 PM
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As already noted, I, personally, would never skip Cordoba and include Ronda -- Cordoba is a gem of the world; Ronda is nice.

IMO, michelbuebeli has given you a possible itinerary, but I'd skip the rental car and white villages in favor of more tim in Sevilla. But maybe you can decide that when you are there.
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Old Feb 10th, 2017, 04:45 AM
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<Is Antequera will be good base? Or it is 1. sleepy at night and 2. you have to have car to travel to other places from over there?>

Antequera could be a good base in the middle between Córdoba and Málaga city and on the AVE train line between the two (you have to take a bus to/from the Antequera train station into town), as genuinely Andalucía as it gets. But Córdoba and Málaga are equally good bases if you don't want to spend much time exploring Antequera, it's only 50 mins between Córdoba and Málaga with the AVE train. Córdoba is 40 mins from Sevilla (train) and Málaga is 90 mins from Granada (bus).

But take a closer look at wonderful Antequera, the so called heart or crossroads of Andalucía: http://wild-about-travel.com/2011/07...ing-antequera/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/antequera
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 01:57 AM
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Thank you all very much, I am looking forward to my short trip!
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 04:35 AM
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The problem with Granada is it isn't on the high-speed train route, so it's going to take up a lot of your already short trip to get there and back from Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, or anywhere else on your list. If you have your heart set on seeing one of the white villages and are willing to leave Granada for another time, I would suggest the following since you say you have seen Madrid before:

Day 1: Hop on first train from Madrid to Seville on arrival.

Day 2-3: See the sights around Seville: Alcazar, Cathedral, Plaza de Espana, Casa de Pilatos, etc. Maybe take in one of the 1-hour flamenco shows one night like Casa de la Guitarra.

Day 4: Custom day trip with www.notjustatourist.com combining either Cadiz-Arcos de la Frontera or Jerez-Arcos. Arcos is the closest white village, it is perched on a cliff and has some quite stunning views. We chose Cadiz over Jerez because we had kids with us so the sherry tasting in Jerez wouldn't really work for us, but I think either would be good options for a grown-ups only party.

Day 5: Train to Cordoba, see the Mezquita.

Day 6: See other sights in Cordoba like the Alcazar or the Jewish quarter. Either train to Madrid late day 6 if you have an early flight or on Day 7 if you have a later flight.

Also, we found that the value you get in Seville restaurants to be excellent. We ate at some of the top places like Petit Comite and conTenedor for around 25 euros a person including wine (mid-range price bottles, not house!). The following is a great resource for restaurants in Seville and some other cities in Andalusia as well: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/

Have fun!
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 07:21 AM
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Thank you mikedallas23. We are going to take 12 pm flight on Saturday from Madrid to Granada, walk around 1st evening, next morning going to visit Alhambra, Monday morning we likely ride bus (3 hrs...) to Cordoba, spend night there, Tuesday morning we are going to leave for Seville, spend 4 nights there and on Saturday morning (7 am) we are going to fly back to Madrid in order to depart at 12 pm from Madrid to Miami. Is it doable? I already have tickets to Granada and from Seville. I am thinking to rent car in Seville for a day or to and visit Ronda and Jerez or other white pueblos. I will use you recommendations for restaurants. Personally I prefer wines from classic grape varietals, something like wines from Northern California or Washington state, but , well, we will try something new.
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 08:39 AM
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Hi Alex, I think its doable, definitely fast-paced with lots of time in transit but everyone has their own preference on how fast they want to go on vacation. If you drive yourself on the Jerez day keep in mind that Seville/Jerez/Arcos is 1.5 hours less driving total than Seville/Jerez/Ronda according to Google.
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Old Feb 21st, 2017, 03:35 PM
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You aren't leaving Sevilla for Madrid until the day of your flight? Probably OK, but not a chance I would like to take! What happens if anything goes wrong?
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Old Feb 23rd, 2017, 06:23 AM
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kja,"You aren't leaving Sevilla for Madrid until the day of your flight?" - yes, I already have tickets. May it is another mistake. I like AVE trains, but from reading reviews I see now that flying inside Spain is different story.
mikedallas23, I might do Seville/Jerez/Arcos instead of Ronda, thanks.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2017, 06:45 AM
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kja, "You aren't leaving Sevilla for Madrid until the day of your flight?", thanks for warning - yes, I already have tickets. May be it is an another mistake. I like AVE trains, but from reading reviews I see now that flying inside Spain is different story.
mikedallas23, I might do Seville/Jerez/Arcos instead of Ronda, thanks.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2017, 06:47 AM
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>

And it's a noon flight, for which you need to get to the airport by 10 AM? Taking a big chance there. What if you get a flat tire? What if you encounter a road construction delay? If you miss your flight, you'll have to find another flight and buy new tickets at the last minute price.

For long flights like this one, I make a practice of being in my departure city the night before.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2017, 07:16 AM
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kja, "You aren't leaving Sevilla for Madrid until the day of your flight?", thanks for warning - yes, I already have tickets. May be it is an another mistake. I like AVE trains, but from reading reviews I see now that flying inside Spain is different story.
mikedallas23, I might do Seville/Jerez/Arcos instead of Ronda, thanks.
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Old Feb 23rd, 2017, 06:39 PM
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If you already have a ticket to go from Sevilla to Madrid on the day of your flight out of Madrid, then basically, the money you spent for it is already gone. You can let the fact that you have that ticket dictate you choice at this point, in which case you would be falling for the "sunk cost fallacy" (google it). Instead, it would be best to weigh out the options you NOW face: The costs you would face if you reach Madrid too late for your flight, the costs for getting there a day earlier, etc.
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