9 Days in Spain

Old Oct 20th, 2017, 11:50 AM
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9 Days in Spain

Hoping for some gentle feedback on whether our itinerary could use some tweaks. We have 9-10 days to spend in Spain, flying into Barcelona and flying out of Madrid. We plan to stay in Barcelona for 5 nights and we are particularly interested in Gaudi architecture and the cathedral and just enjoying the city. The rest of our trip is quick travel so as to get a taste of some highlights in Spain -- we are a couple in our 50s with energy for traveling and our 14 year old is joining us as well.

From Barcelona, we plan to take the train to Seville to spend two nights, one of which will be New Years Eve. It's the next few nights that I'm not sure about. We plan to take a quick trip by train to Granada to see the Alhambra. After spending one night in Granada and seeing the Alhambra the next day, we plan to move on to Madrid (our departure city) by train.. We will have two nights and 1 1/2 days before our plane takes off from Madrid. Madrid is not a big attraction for us and we aren't really huge museum goers. Not sure at this point what we would be doing in Madrid. We prefer small towns but seems way to rushed to try to get to another small town (and skipping sightseeing in Madrid altogether). I know the last few days sound stressful, but I think we're up to it. Still, I'd like some feedback or options for the last 4-5 days of our trip (after Seville). Thanks!
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 11:51 AM
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Actually, it's 4 nights in Barcelona.
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 12:08 PM
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Stay in Madrid last few days and take a day trip to wondrous Toledo- very close - if your are bored in Madrid which is much more than museums but yes a large busy city.

Now about trains - book trains ASAP at www.renfe.com or www.thetrainline.com (same fares as RENFE - Spanish Railways site but most say infinitely easier to get to work - anyway save often a lot compared to waiting until there. Check www.seat61.com for erudite help on doing that; for general info on trains also www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Consider first class for the long Bar-Sev ride - discounted tickets also in that class.

See current thread about Spain where it is suggested that buses are better right now Seville-Granada because trains are disrupted by track work to Granada and you have to change to bus for a portion -direct buses cheap and even quicker perhaps.

Granada-Madrid of course train.
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 03:45 PM
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Are you sure this itinerary gives you time to see and experience what you want, particularly with limited daylight hours and the chance that some things will be closed because of festivities and the possibility of jet lag? I strongly urge you to check your wish list against actual opening hours (even in summer, many things in Spain are closed for all of Mondays and all or part of Sundays too, and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

IME, a “quick” visit to the Alhambra is really not an option – it can take a full day, with a night before and after, to see it – more if you want to see any of Granada’s other treasures.

Cordoba is, IMO, not to be missed. Many people visit as a day trip from Sevilla; I was glad to spend 2 full days there.

I must admit that I prefer to minimize the amount of time spent traveling between locations so that I can actually see and experience the places I do choose to visit. YMMV. And FWIW, some of my young colleagues tell me they have no interest in travel because it just means sitting on planes or trains, and they’ve already spent at least a few hours, sometimes even a day or two!, in “every city in Europe” – or so they say.

You could easily spend more time in Barcelona, maybe with a day trip to Girona or Montserrat or Tarragona, or more time in Sevilla, or any number of other options.

Good luck!
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 04:31 PM
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Thank you for your responses and for the specifics about the train work on our proposed route and also the helpful links, which I'll check out.

We may take out Granada and add a night to Seville considering the train issues and just feeling too rushed.Taking out Granada is getting me to wondering: Maybe a day trip from Seville or an overnight in Cordoba? The white cities are intriguing to me, as is Ronda but not sure if they are off the beaten path. I'm open to other towns suggested above as well, just don't know much about them.

Here is a possible itinerary:

12/27 arrive Barcelona
12/28 overnight Barcelona
12/29 overnight Barcelona
12/30 overnight Barcelona
12/31 overnight Seville
1/1 overnight Seville
1/2 overnight Seville? overnight in Cordoba? (with day trip to Cordoba or overnight in Cordoba instead?)
1/3 overnight Madrid
1/4 overnight Madrid (with day trip to Toledo possibly?? otherwise just stay in Madrid and get a feel for it)
1/5 fly home in the evening from Madrid

What is the best way to get from Madrid to Toledo and from Seville to Cordoba? Would we have to rent a car? I'm willing to, but I do prefer trains.
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 05:05 PM
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Ronda is certainly NOT off the beaten track, nor are most of the white towns. The ones in the Alpujarras aren't heavily touristed, but I must admit that I would NOT want to travel into the Sierra Nevada in winter unnecessarily.

Many people visit Cordoba and Toledo as day trips. I'm glad I had 2 full days in each.

Madrid to Toledo: Train (or bus).
Sevilla to Cordoba: Train.
If this information is not covered in your guidebooks, consult rome2rio.com, but be sure to follow the links it provides as rome2rio itself is not sensitive to seasonal variation in transportation options.

No need to rent a car.

I would find your itinerary unpleasantly rushed; YMMV.
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Old Oct 20th, 2017, 06:19 PM
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You might want to consider flying from Barcelona to Seville, as it might actually be cheaper! We flew from Barcelona to Seville on Vueling in June and our ticket was only $64/ea, and included 1 piece of checked luggage. Flight was about 1 hr.

However you decide to travel between these cities, suggest you purchase your tickets sooner rather than later, due to the time of year you're traveling.
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Old Oct 21st, 2017, 04:56 AM
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Too bad there seem to be no more overnight trains Barcelona to Seville. Flying if cheap makes sense -but if take direct 8:30am train from Barcelona it is just 5.5 hours - all told not much longer than flying considering getting to airport and back and costs could be as cheap if booking really early.
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Old Oct 21st, 2017, 05:42 AM
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My opinion...

Take day trip to Toledo!

Couple ideas for Madrid
1. the Prado museum is free for all Monday to Saturday from 6 pm to 8 pm - it is well worth a visit and going in free takes the pressure off how much time you spend inside
2. Retiro Park Is another beautiful place to see
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Old Oct 21st, 2017, 05:56 AM
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We just came back from Andalucia where we took the Seville to Barcelona train; very comfortable. 5.5 hours. It was better than taking the plane for us.

I loved the Alhambra in Granada. So much that we are going back with my parents next year. I don't think I would have the heart to cut it out of your itinerary.

Everyone has different interests. We enjoyed Andalucia much more than Barcelona. The Moorish architecture, the flamenco, the dramatic landscape... The train ride from Granada to Ronda (first part is the bus) was just breathing at sunset.
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Old Oct 21st, 2017, 12:40 PM
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We just came back from Andalucia where we took the Seville to Barcelona train; very comfortable. 5.5 hours. It was better than taking the plane for us.>

A bit longer than air but not that much always - planes can be late more than AVE trains and trains are more comfy IMO -especially if doing first class.

And you see the Spain in between the two cities and not just airports and tarmacs - but the scenery in Spain's interior is rather ho-hum.
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Old Oct 21st, 2017, 08:56 PM
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Granada is worth at least 2 nights. The Alhambra could take most of the day and there's a lot to see in the city itself. I spent a few days in Seville but I was so burned out by that point that I didn't make it out to Cordoba which I totally regret! I should have just rallied.

I wrote a trip blog post about my solo travels in Spain (San Sebastian, Barcelona, Granada, and Seville):
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2014/...-in-spain.html

Hope it helps. Enjoy trip planning!
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Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 07:31 AM
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Yes Cordoba was sweet - much more compact than Seville and an ungoldy number of historic churches and monaseries in addition to the great cathedral (and warren of old whitewashed lanes around it!)

Don't neglect Cordoba.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 11:33 AM
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Try to get to Granada and Cordoba even if you have to clip days from BCN.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 12:08 PM
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even if you have to clip days from BCN.>

may want to anyway because of dicey political situation where noone is sure what will happen - Catalonia 'national' strikes?

In December I'd dwell on much warmer Andalusia than Barcelona or Madrid except coming and going maybe. Joy of Barcelona to me is strolling and sitting at cafes - not always fun in winter.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2017, 08:30 PM
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Wow, thank you for the wealth of opinions! I didn't realize Barcelona to Seville is that long a train ride. Was thinking 4 hours, but 6.5 IS an entire day. Any suggestions for where to stop en route if we leave Barcelona early?

I'm afraid to cut out much for Barcelona BUT you're correct in pointing out that there is strife there. Maybe we'll cut it short by a day or two and move on to the south earlier than planned...
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Old Oct 23rd, 2017, 04:33 PM
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Wow, thank you for the wealth of opinions! I didn't realize Barcelona to Seville is that long a train ride. Was thinking 4 hours, but 6.5 IS an entire day. Any suggestions for where to stop en route if we leave Barcelona early?

I'm afraid to cut out much for Barcelona BUT you're correct in pointing out that there is strife there. Maybe we'll cut it short by a day or two and move on to the south earlier than planned...
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Old Oct 23rd, 2017, 04:33 PM
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Or stay in the north and do day trips from Madrid....
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Old Oct 23rd, 2017, 05:57 PM
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Saying in/around Madrid makes much more sense to me than your original plan to include Sevilla. Madrid itself can easily take 4 full days just for highlights. Many people visit Toledo as a day trip; I was glad to have 2 full days there. Segovia and Avila are easy day trips. Salamanca really deserves at least 2 full days, but it easily accessible from Madrid.

if you haven't already done so, I recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library) and plot your wish list on a calendar. Check the opening hours of places that interest you on the internet -- 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. Plot the things you want to see on a calendar and then see how things fit together.

Good luck!
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Old Oct 24th, 2017, 06:13 AM
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Ah but weather in Seville area so much nicer in winter?
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