LoriBehr

My husband and I (28 years old), will likely be flying into Barcelona, traveling to Seville, then flying out of Madrid to go back home to Chicago. We were wondering what kind of day trips we can take to visit the Alhambra Palace from Seville that would take us back to Seville. What are some good companies that do that in which we can possibly skip the line to get into the Alhambra?

Christina

I took a day trip there, but from Malaga, it's only a couple hours from there, or less. But they do have them from Seville, I imagine just a few more hours on the bus. Mine was 10 hrs and many from Seville are 12 hours (ie, 7 am to 7 pm). I think the drive is about 2:45 hrss from Seville. We didn't leave until at least 9 am, as I recall, so that was kind of a waste. But we first spent a little time in Granada and were free for lunch there (I had tapas, lots of good places), then went to the Alhambra and gardens all afternoon. It was good, I really liked the tour.

I just checked www.viator.com and used them, they have various choices. Prices are very reasonable. I don't remember the name of my company, unfortunately, but they were good enough. And it does help you avoid lines. I don't think you can easily go there on your own in that time frame, anyway, due to the distance. YOu can't get there by train from Seville easily.

BigRuss

No fast train from Seville to Granada = LONG day trip. Be prepared.

kja

I think it is REALLY hard to visit the Alhambra satisfactorily as a day trip. IMO -- and it is just that -- the Alhambra really warrants a full day (as in 2 nights), if not more! The palaces and gardens easily take a half day to visit even if one does not linger AT ALL; if one wants to linger in the tiniest bit, it can easily take a day. And seeing the Nasrid Palace in the evening was, for me, one of the absolute highlights of ALL of my trip highlights -- and I've been fortunate enough to have some pretty amazing travels! Now that a separate visit to the Generalife is also possible during the evening, at least during some times of the year, I would happily spend a second evening at the Alhambra.

I'm sure you CAN find a way to go as a day trip. All I'm suggesting is that you give some thought to whether it makes SENSE to do it -- especially because you will have to give up that time in Barcelona or Seville or Madrid, each of which holds a wealth of worthy sights and experiences.

Good luck!

Sassafrass

Not knowing your complete itinerary, these recommendations are kind of off the cuff. You may already be doing them.

I love Granada, but are you going to Cordoba to see the great mosque, the largest in the Western world? It is less than an hour by train from Seville and a wonderful day trip, and you get a sense of Moorish culture.

When you are in Madrid, are you going to Toledo? It is less than 30 minutes by train and a truly amazing place. With the glorious Toledo Cathedral, yes, it is very different from the Alhambra, but equally worth seeing. Given the proximity of Toledo to Madrid, and the long trip from Seville to Granada, I would go to Toledo.

Not that you would not get something put of it, but IMHO, a day trip would not be the best experience. You are young though, so that might make a difference.

alvamo

Seville - Granada for a day trip is a waste of time, you need a full day to enjoy Granada: Alhambra, Generalife, Alcazaba, Royal Chapel, Cathedral, Albaizin, Caves..so many emotions to feel that if you spend 6-7 hours you won´t enjoy it at all..

And then Cordoba is easier for a day trip from Seville.

kimhe

Yes Cordoba, once the most advanced city in the Westerm world and now best known for the extraordinary Mezquita, is only 40 mins from Sevilla with the high speed AVE Train. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/mosque.htm

A very special city with lots more to offer than the Mezquita, such as the Alcazar, the Jewish quarter, the garden city Madinat al-Zahra, the Roman ruins etc. etc. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/top-ten.htm

This gives you an idea of the special Cordoba "vida y genio" (life and spirit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

Bedar

You can make a day trip to Cordoba from Seville, but I wouldn't try one to Granada. Instead, leave Seville, go to Granada, and then from there travel to Madrid.

Christina

I agree Cordoba makes a lot more sense from Seville and I enjoyed it as much as Granda. However, I totally disagree that a day trip to Granada ia a waste of time. I did it and enjoyed it and have zero regrets. I would not want to have changed my entire itinerary just to spend more time at that one particular tourist site (the Alhambra). And it is totally false to claim that you won't enjoy it at all if you "only" spend 6-7 hours at it. I did and I'm a real person, so that is just a personal opinion of what one person wants, not a fact.

I would not change an entire itinerary to move to Granada and stay there one night or more just because of wanting to see the Alhambra, something else would have to be left out. And I don't think it is that easy to get from Granada to Madrid, anyway, there is no direct train and it takes 4-6 hours with a transfer.

Now I didn't go to Granada when I was in Seville because it did take a lot of time so I waited until some other trip when I was going to be in Malaga. I still only did a day trip, though, and given the hours are just later from Seville, it looks like about the same trip, just less time in transit. I can't think of any tourist site in the world where I have wanted to spend days at the same site, though, I'll admit.

Sassafrass

Not saying outright not to do it, but travel times are considerably different.
It is 90 minutes from Malaga to Granada, so 3 hours RT.
It is a bit over 3 hours from Seville to Granada, so a little over 6 hours RT.

3 versus 6 is a huge difference in travel for a day trip.

It is a little under 3 hours from Madrid to Seville and a little over 4 hours from Granada to Madrid.

With those travel times, it would make great sense to spend a night in Granada and return to Madrid from there. Returning to Seville, then to Madrid would take nearly 6 hours. Going straight to Madrid from Granada would take only 4 hours. Plus, you would be traveling only 3 hours the day you went to Granada, rather than 6.

You would not be rearranging your whole itinerary if you made Granada the day efore your return to Madrid.

Sassafrass

Oops. The day "before" your return to Madrid.