ivant2

I want to go on a 3 week vacation to either Spain or France... I am interested in architecture, nice scenery museums. I have ideas for Spain (I.e Madrid, Granada, Toledo, Segovia, Cordoba etc..). Not sure about France (Lyon? Loire valley?). Already been to Paris.

I don't drive. Is public transit as developed in France as it is in Spain?

Any recommendations or thoughts?

mamcalice

Having been to both, I would return to France again and again. Spain is quite nice but not the draw (for me)that France is. I don't think you can go wrong either way. Be sure to add Seville to your list of ideas - our favorite city in Spain.

The public transit in France is better than in Spain. If that is a consideration, choose France. What about Provence, the Mediterranean coast, the Dordogne, Normandy? All more interesting and beautiful than the Loire (IMO).

ivant2

Sorry totally forgot seville. This was meant to be mentioned.

Can you suggest specific cities for those areas you mentioned (Provence, the Mediterranean coast, the Dordogne)? Do you recommend spending more time in one area over the other...?

Mimar

Well, the Dordogne, Provence, and Normandy are better seen by car. However, the French Riviera has a lot of what you're looking for and very good public transportation. Base in Nice and travel along the Cote d'Azur by train or bus.

I'm planning a trip to Spain myself and it looks like the public transportation between the cities you mention is pretty good. And it sounds like you're more interested in Spain.

annhig

April would be an ideal time to visit Andalucia, and in 3 weeks you could see quite a few places like Jerez and Malaga as well as the standard tourist hot spots.

There is a good bus and train network so you ought to be able to get around by public transport if that's what you want.

One word of caution - pick where you are going to spend Holy Week very carefully. it might be a good idea to avoid Seville which gets very crowded and where the prices go up a lot at that time.

Christina

I like both Spain and France a lot, one isn't better than the other for me. So I think either would do, it's just up to you as to which you most want. The places you mentioned in Spain (I was just in Sevilla and Malaga, and visited Granada from there) sound a lot more interesting to me than a trip to the Loire valley and Lyon. I like Lyon, but just as an add-on to the main itinerary. Of course you could flesh out that idea, I guess, for France. I think April would be better for Spain, especially if you are interested in seeing it, as the seasons can affect your trip there more (eg, you won't want to go in summer, if that's your available time some year).

Both Spain and France have excellent public transporation systems. Spain has more nice buses to go to local towns/cities, whereas in France, you mainly go by train.

nytraveler

Agree that April is a great time for Andalusia - will be summer like (80s then - when midsummer if often hot as hell - temps can go up to 120). So I would take the chance to go then.

While France can be hot in midsummer it's not nearly as hot as Andalusia and it's realistic to go there anytime from April through Oct and get pleasant weather.

ivant2

Oh I am not necessarily set on Lyon and Loire valley... I just don't really have an idea about the cities in France. It sounds like Spain might offer beetter transportation to smaller towns without a car? I will be leaving the second week of April.

yorkshire

They are both rather large countries, so it is difficult to comment on overall public transport. I can say based on two visits that Andalucia is exceedingly well connected by bus and train.

annhig

ivant - I think that the point that some of us are making is that April is such a good time to visit Andalucia that it would be top of our list.

kimhe

Andalucia in April is as good as it gets. Spring blossom is here, but the heat and the crowds (in cities such as Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada) are generally some weeks away. http://www.andalucia.org/en/andalusia-spring/

Andalucia is Phoenician, Roman, Jewish, Christian, Moslem and Gitano history and culture all around and very much hand in hand with modern life. Fabulous old cities such as three thousand year old Cadiz and Malaga (the oldets existing in Europe) as well as the more famous cities Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada. Loads of small villages, and in general a beautiful and often dramatic landscape. Could be an adventure for a lifetime once you start scratching the surface.
http://www.andalucia.org/en/discover-us/

Some obvious highlights
Alhambra in Granada: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada.htm
The Mezquita in Cordoba: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/s...rdoba-mezquita
The Real Alcazar in Sevilla: http://www.alcazarsevilla.org/?p=129

The video "Córdoba, life and spirit" suggests a nice Córdoba (and very Andalucian) state of mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

ivant2

Thanks for the comments. Sounds like Andalucia would be great in April. I'm considering booking a round trip flight from Ottawa to Madrid for $750 (Canadian). Seems like a good deal...

kja

Three weeks in Andalusia in April? Sounds to me like a dream come true!

If you do book through Madrid, I'm sure you will be tempted to add a lot of things in/around Madrid, and there is a lot there that is, indeed, well worth seeing IMO. But as you are apparently discovering, to get to Andalusia generally means flying into/out of an airport some distance away. SO, you might want to think about using all the time you want in Andalusia, even if it means "shortchanging" Madrid or places near it, because it will almost certainly be easier for you to return to Madrid than to return to Andalusia.

BTW, you won't need a rental car for most of what you might want to see.

And FWIW, I found The Rough Guide the best of the half-dozen or so guidebooks I used when planning my time in the area.

Enjoy!

anyegr

Andalusia is wonderful. Lots of beautiful old buildings, culture, history etc.

The people I met didn't speak much English, but they did their best to help anyway. I never felt physically threatened, even when walking back to the hotel late at night.

The trains and buses were all nice and clean. You can get really good discounts if you book early, but those tickets are non-refundable.

The Alhambra was big enough to take half a day. It would have taken longer if I hadn't fled from the nasty insects in the Generalife gardens.

The Mezquita is really different from all the other churches and cathedrals. It's the one that stuck in my memory when all the other ones became a blur of woman-with-baby and man-on-a-cross. Sorry, but I'm not very religious.

Unfortunately, I went in June and it was too hot. April sounds like it would be perfect. I wish I could get vacation in April, but I can't.

Can't comment on France since I've only really been to Paris (with a couple of short daytrips).

MyriamC

Andalucía! April is the perfect month to tour southern Spain.
We did Málaga, Granada, Córdoba, Sevilla, Cádiz and Jerez de la Frontera this June. We also saw some smaller villages along the road. One of the advantages of traveling by car!