jpaniri

Trip in mid Oct. 4 adults flying in and out of Barcelona (9 nights with last 4 days in Barcelona). We plan to drive to Toledo immediately after arriving in Barcelona and one person wants to see Seville. Does this even make sense? Seems we'd be spending too many hours on the road. Looking for guidance and suggested waypoints. Or even a different itinerary, sticking to one region.
Barcelona >Toledo > ?? > Barcelona
Barcelona > ?? Seville + ?? > Barcelona

KarenWoo

It does not make sense. Too much driving and wasting time. You should pick one region to visit.

You could visit Barcelona and Costa Brava, which we did in 2010. We had 9 or 10 nights for this trip.

Or you could visit Barcelona and then take the train to Madrid and visit Madrid and Toledo. But this would make the most sense if you fly into Barcelona and out of Madrid. This is called an open jaw ticket or multi-city ticket.

Have you made your airline reservations? If you have, then I suggest Barcelona and Costa Brava.

Hope this helps.

PalenQ

Yes take trains Barcelona-Madrid - nearly 200 mph and either rent car or take train to Toledo -take three times as long to drive- and cheaper by train -why drive?

Either stay in Barcelona area or take trains to Madrid and Seville as driving there would take all your time -check www.renfe.com for rail schedules and fares - and www.set61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com for lots on trains.

But yes on limited time either drive around one place like Barcelona-Costa Brava area or take trains for farther removed areas.

danon

Are you planing on five days in Toledo?
It is a very small town
Seville is a much more interesting place.

StCirq

Five days in Toledo is waaay to much, IMO.

And if you're arriving in Barcelona after an overnight transatlantic flight please don't hit the road driving for anything but a short trip. You're putting yourself and others on the road at risk.

Take trains if you want to go long distances.

Bedar

When you arrive in Barcelona, fly right out to Seville. Hunker down with jet lag, see the city, and take a day trip by train to Cordoba. Fly back to BCN and see the Gaudi stuff there. Do not bother driving to Toledo. V, V boring road. Think Vueling, and others, fly to Seville.

PalenQ

If yous want to see Spain take train to Madrid for few days - do day trip to Toledo - train to Seville for few days and fly back to Barcelona - or really Bedar's way is better -fly to Seville straight away and train back to Madrid and to Barcelona - or just do Madrid/Toledo/Barcelona - makes most sense or of course rent car in Barcelona and putz around there.

Toledo is IMO extraordinaire!

kja

IMO, no, your idea doesn’t make mch sense – too much time in transit and skipping too many gems. BUT my opinion doesn’t really matter – what matters is what you and your travel companions prefer.

Some thoughts:

First, as others are saying, do NOT drive to Toledo – take public transportation if that’s where you decide to go. StCirq is completely on target in her comment about driving with jet lag.

There is a great deal to see in and around Barcelona – are you sure you will find 4 days sufficient for your interests? Just for comparison, I wanted 5 full days for Barcelona + a day for Montserrat + several days for Girona and the Costa Brava + I didn’t have time to make it to Tarragona.

If going to Toledo, you might want time for Madrid, Segovia, maybe Salamanca – and from my perspective, that could easily take 9 or 10 days. BTW, although many people visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid, I was glad I spent 2 very full days there – and could have enjoyed more!

If going to Sevilla, you might want to consider Cordoba and Granada and maybe Ronda or Malaga – and that circuit can easily take 10 or 12 days, IMO. Again, many people spend just part of a day in Cordoba, but I’m glad I had 2 full days there.

If you don’t already have one, please consult a good guide book or two. In comparison to the cost of your trip, the cost of a guidebook will be nominal, and you will have a wealth of information at your fingertips.

jpaniri

Thanks everyone for the validation! While it's not unusual for us to land somewhere, drive and then work our way back with stops of our choice, I could see that the selected locations were just too distanced. We have a great airline price so that's why we must fly in and out of Barcelona. My choice Barcelona, Costa Brava, Montserrat (see the Rick Steve's show with that itinerary). I appreciate the recommendations !!!

PalenQ

Loved Montserrat - easy to go by suburban train and then cableways to top - there were long lines to see the famed Black Madonna icon that made this place such a religious pilgrimage mecca - but be sure to see it! And the monks brew up a potent liqueur you can buy on premises.

Anyway no need to drive there - if want to save a day of car rental do Montserrat before driving the Costa Brava.

Also I loved the Dali Museum in Figueras - soemthing different and like Dali stuff Daliesque:

https://www.google.com/search?q=dali...w=1745&bih=885

PalenQ

Or even a different itinerary, sticking to one region.>

France is not far even and just over the border such neat seaside gems as Collioure:

https://www.google.com/search?q=coll...w=1745&bih=863

Just in case you want a bit of Spain - Oops Catanlonia and France!

kja

If you choose Barcelona, Montserrat, and the Costa Brava, you might want to check my trip report. I visited all of them near the end of a long trip; the report is searchable.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-catalunya.cfm