AmandaStephenson

Hi Everyone,

I have scoured the forums on this Spanish region but still find myself at a loss for how best to plan a 6 x Day itinerary in this area. I understand it is huge, so do not expect to see it all, and I don't want to be rushing the whole entire time so am calling on people for assistance and suggestions!

To give some background, we will be arriving into San Sebastian from France in mid September, then spending 2 x nights here. Then its onto Barcelona for 4 x more nights. I'm sure by this stage we will be ready to move south,and what we are after is suggestions of beautiful places to visit which are on the smaller side.

We are a couple in our early 30's. We love a good road trip so the plan is to hire a car and explore this region without being stuck in large places the whole time (not that Seville, Cordoba and Malaga don't sound amazing, because they do) But we get a little antsy stuck in larger places full of tourists and would prefer to find beautiful landscapes and get out off the beaten track a little. Also, this would be our 11th week in Europe and I think we may be more than done with cathedrals and museums (especially after Barcelona). We are happy to travel 4-5hrs each day in the car, stopping off at places as we go along.

We are open to visiting Granada, as this seems to be a good place to fly into from Barcelona and we can also hire a car from here.I wondered is it a large city or more on the smaller side? Whats it like in mid September in terms of tourists? My initial thought is from here we would head down to the coast from Granada, through this lower part of Spain, then head back inland and end up a few hours train ride away from Madrid on the 7th day.....

Any thoughts and suggestions appreciated! Thanks

nytraveler

The landscape of southern Spain can best be described as rough and rocky and somewhat arid - and very hot - rather than beautiful (this is where the spaghetti westerns were filmed as stand in to the climate similar to the american southwest). It an be very dramatic - but isn't the type of prettiness that you find in many places.

IMHO the most interesting part is the unique moorish heritage which is best found in the larger cities, although you can visit the white villages if you want.

We have done 2 road trips there - one 10 days and one 12 and still have a lot we want to see. And each time we included a coupe of days on the coast for cooler weather and a little relaxation. I think visiting the area and not seeing it's masterpieces (Seville and Cordoba as well as Granada) would be a major mistake.

AmandaStephenson

Thanks nytraveler. Ah I see, maybe this is why most of the most beautiful areas are in these towns? Have you been down to the Costa Del Sol? This looked beautiful from the pictures I've seen, but it's so hard to know without actually going there!

Where are the white villages? This does sound lovely!

With 6 x days for the area, do you recommend going to all 3 x cities (Seville, Cordoba and Granada) Or should I just see 1 or two.

Thank you for your insight

sparkchaser

It is a rushed itinerary but you can hit the major spots easily enough.

My advice:

Day 1: Fly/train from Barcelona to Granada.

Day 2: Granada. See the Alhambra. Avoid the gypsies. Go to the hammam either evening of Day 1 or evening of Day 2. http://granada.hammamalandalus.com/en

Day 3: Travel to Malaga.

Day 4: Malaga. There is a nice hammam here. http://www.elhammamspa.com/en/

Day 5: Malaga to Cordoba (make a quick stop in Antequera)

Day 6: Cordoba. See the Cathedral-Mosque and Roman goodies. There is also a good hammam here. http://cordoba.hammamalandalus.com/en

Day 7: Cordoba to Madrid

sparkchaser

All of those are chock-full of Moorish architecture.

Egbert

The cities are small and are the most interesting part about Andalucia. Seville and Granada are fantastic, almost magical places. Having a car in those places is a major hassle. I would rent a car upon leaving Granada and drive thru Malaga (spend a night there if you have time). From there I would drive to Ronda for a night. On your way there, and on the way out I would visit some of the small white villages like Grazalema, Bodega de las Setenil etc. When you get to Seville drop off the car and spend 3 nights there, walking around, getting lost and stopping often for tapas. You can also do an easy daytrip to Cordoba from there.

Bedar

You won't be going anywhere near where the spaghetti westerns were filmed which is in far eastern Andalucia. From Granada you could drive down to the coast by way of the Alpujarra, then down the coast to Malaga. From there go to Ronda and to Seville where you can drop the car. Take the train to Madrid and stop off in Cordoba. This part of Andalucia is scenic so don't get trapped in Sparky's hammans !

sparkchaser

Hammams are for the evenings to unwind!

Vonse

I was disappointed in the Costa del Sol. If you aren't really interested in what Granada and Seville offer, I'd skip Andalucia entirely and add that time to Basque Country.

AmandaStephenson

Thanks everyone. I really like the ideas Bedar and Egbert, on doing a road trip between Granada and Seville. This looks like a good mix of exploring the 2 x towns but also heading out to more rural areas.

Thanks Vonse, I know we have lovely beaches in Australia, so this was just a fleeting thought!

AmandaStephenson

Here is my updated Itenerary: (Feel free to suggest more of less time in places or if there is a better way to order things, I'm all ears! Thanks again for all of your suggestions)

San Sebastian = 2 nights

San Sebastian---- Barcelona via train:Arriving just after lunch, Spend 4 x nights here

Flight from Barcelona---- Granada in the morning= 2 x nights in Granada (visiting the amazing Alhambra also of course on the second day. I will book tickets early)

Pick up a car, head out towards Antequera, Ronda & Grazalema. Stay somewhere in either Ronda or Grazalema. (Any suggestions which one is preferred)

Then the next day head from this region through Arcos De La Fontera to Seville then stay 2 x nights here.

The next day train to Cordoba and spend the night here.

Then take the train to Madrid for our flight home on the following day.

We are not interested in Madrid just because we don't have the time to spend here. We will just have the single night here, and explore Madrid on the next trip.

Do I need any more tweaks to the plan? Thanks again

kimhe

Lots of varied and beautiful landscapes in Andalucía, full of contrasts.

I suggest you drive down from Granada to the Med through the scenic A 4050 road known as the Moor's Sigh. The name of the road comes from the legenedary sigh of Boabdil, the last emir of Granada, when he at the mountain pass known as Puerto del Suspiro del Moro (The Moor's sigh pass), in 1492 for a last time had a look back upon the city now lost to the so called Catholic Monarchs. His mother shall then have said: "You cry like a woman over a city you couldn't defend as a man". Images from the road:
http://www.holavalencia.net/2010/02/...and-almunecar/

The Axarquía region, between Granada and Málaga city is as beautiful as it gets, and lots of small towns and villages both along the coast, inland and into the mountains:
http://www.rusticblue.com/andalucia_...a_axarquia.php

And I strongly recommend Antequera, the so called heart or crossroads of Andalucía, a short drive inland from Málaga city. As genuinely Andalucía as it gets, and outside the tourist track. http://wild-about-travel.com/2011/07...ing-antequera/
http://andaluciacoastandcountry.com/antequera-spain/

And you should know that the greatest flamenco festival in the world goes on in Sevilla Sept 8-Oct 2. The finest flamenco artists on stages in theaters all around town every night for more than three weeks. And a night at the Bienal could easily be a highlight of your trip: http://www.labienal.com/en/

kimhe

Semms like your plan is very compatible with what I suggested as you wrote your last entry ;-)

Álora and Ardales are two excellent and off the path white villages close to Antequera.
Álora: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81lora
Ardales: http://www.andalucia.com/province/ma...dales/home.htm

Ronda is beautiful, but it will be packed with tourists during daytime. If you go here, I suggest you stay the night and experience the town after all the day-trippers have left.

AmandaStephenson

Great suggestioons Kimhe! Thank you very much. I will plan my trip around these "Must See" places on our roadtrip!

I am really getting excited now, I can't wait to really experience Spain!

Egbert

Just about perfect although San Sebastian and Seville deserve more time. If you want to be where there is a little bit going on at night stay in Ronda. Not much going on in Grazalema.

AmandaStephenson

Thanks Egbert, If only I had more time It's always the way with travelling. I guess I'll have to get a snapshot of these places then hopefully return one day soon and spend some serious time in both Seville and San Sebastian

AmandaStephenson

One other question now that you have mentioned the flamenco festival (I just realised this was on as well!) Will I need to book accommodation prior to going, or should we be ok just rocking up? We would be in Seville Sunday Sept 25th- Mon Sept 26th.

Thanks again for your driving suggestions, we can see some coast that way and also some villages inland. Ardales looks so beautiful

nytraveler

Beaches in Oz will be at least as good as Costa del Sol. We had much more time in the midst of a 3 week trip so we did a couple of days in Puerto Banus - a quite upscale area to the west of Marbella - just for the resort/pool/ beach/casino - and heading into Marbella for a couple of good dinners.

AmandaStephenson

Thanks nytraveler. If only we had more time. Thanks though!

kimhe

You should book the tickets for the Bienal as soon as possible, the good seats are starting to sell out.

On Sunday 25th, close to legendary Antonio Canales dances in the old world Lope de Vega theater: http://www.labienal.com/en/trianero/
Canales in the last Bienal in 2014, comes in after some 2 mins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytfetdYVBHU

The day after, on Monday 26, fabulous Isabel Bayón dances in the huge Maestranza theater: http://www.labienal.com/en/dju-dju/
Bayón: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmvrROkuNlM

Also four more concerts on these days, but these two are the ones I would recommend first.