My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon in Spain for the end of June. We're in our 30's and much more of the cultural, historical, sight-seeing, food and wine types than we are beach-goers. We like cities, beautiful countrysides, and quaint towns. We're flying into Barcelona and have 14 days (13 nights) before our flight out of Madrid.
I think we have the first part of our trip in Barcelona and Madrid squared away, but we could use some help planning our time in Andalucia. We'd like to see Seville, Cordoba, and Grenada. How many days in each? In what order? What's the best way to travel between them (train, car, bus)? Are there other romantic places along the way that are worth a stop (This will be our honeymoon after all!)?
Here's what we're thinking so far:
Day 1 - Arrive in the AM in Barcelona
Day 2 - Barcelona
Day 3 - Barcelona
Day 4 - Train to Madrid
Day 5 - Madrid
Day 6 - Madrid
Day 7 - Train to Toledo
Day 8 - Train to Seville
Day 9 - Seville
Day 10 - Cordoba
Day 11 - Granada
Day 12 - Granada
Day 13 - Train back to Madrid in the afternoon or evening
Day 14 - 11:30 AM flight out of Madrid
What do you think?
5 nights in Andalucia
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Your plan looks fine, a bit more travelling than Im used too. I just wanted to say you can squeeze in more vacation time if you fly out of Granada early morning on Day 14 to Madrid. This way you could even get an extra day somewhere, or fit in Rhonda.
Personally I think one night in Granada is enough. The Alhambra is one of Europe's greatest sites but I don't find i want to stay in Granada once I have been to the Alhambra. You could get a second night in the wonderful city of Cordoba and take the tourist bus to Medina Azahara on the morning of your full day there. Google it and you will find it fits your enthusiasms perfectly.
Another way to do it would be:
fly Vueling ( cheap) from Barcelona to Granada
(This way you don't have to backtrack)
day 1-4 Barcelona
Granada 1-2 nights
Seville 2-3 nights
Cordoba one day( on the way to Madrid)
Madrid ( Toledo)
Agree with danon, makes more sense to fly to Granada from BCN (I think there is also an overnight train) and save Madrid for last. Plus, from Toledo you have to backtrack to Madrid to get he train to Sevilla. Though I don't have the abiding love of Sevilla everyone else seems to have, I do think only 2 nights would be too few there. You can also see Cordoba on the way to Madrid to eliminate a one-night stay (which can be a huge time sink).
3 nights BCN
2 nights Granada
3 nights Sevilla
1 night Cordoba
3-4 nights Madrid
OR, you could go to Ronda in between Granada and Sevilla--a most romantic place!
"Though I don't have the abiding love of Sevilla everyone else seems to have "
Glad to hear it - I feel the same way.
Seville is a place to see, but I have no desire to go back. ( been to Barcelona five times, Madrid 3 times)
Ronda is easier to visit if one is driving.
haha, there are two of us. I had a fine time there, just not blown away like expected.
re Ronda: I think they could take train from Granada and bus to Sevilla, giving them time to enjoy a sunset over the tajo, a day to explore (there is an amazing hike reachable by public transport), plus time to see the city. Touch to choose from all the amazing places in Andalucia though.
Sevilla is not a place to see it is a place to absorb and enjoy, it has soul which is rare in most world cities.
"Sevilla is not a place to see it is a place to absorb and enjoy, it has soul which is rare in most world cities."
Well, a lot of cities - from Berlin to Dubrovik- are places to absorb not just see ( if one had the time!)
What makes a city one "with a soul" is in the eye of the beholder.
For a honeymoon, I would've paused at Sevilla, the undisputable queen of Southern Spain. Maybe a night out at Casa Anselma ("Fall in love in Sevilla" and "Love broke for using it too murh", one of my favourites, from 6 mins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw1atBQq_u0
Hi are you thinking of visiting any of the smaller white villages?
The more I learn about Ronda, the more I think I would like to get there somehow, possibly spending a night in the parador there. Our problem is trying to squeeze it all in to our 5 days. Do you think its possible to see Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, and Ronda? How would you do it? If not, what would you cut out?
Everything is possible if you don't mind moving.
Seville is the place to spend At least two days, others :a day and night (?)
train travel from Seville to Cordoba takes 45minutes
Trains from Cordoba to Madrid run from 7AM to 10PM.