Momddtravel2

Hey all,

I am traveling to Spain with my 17 year old daughter in May. We will be spending 5 nights in Seville - we are interested in doing a few day trips from there - I am not sure if I want to rent a car for the day or not (thinking I might have to). Open to suggestions on trips from Seville - would love to see Ronda - it appears to be two hours away (about) Is it an easy drive?

Also wondering if Cadiz would be a good beach town to go and spend the day for a little R &R ?

We are open to suggestions!

snorkelluvn

cordoba is an easy day trip, especially if you take the fast train. The Mezquita, castle and just strolling around was interesting and fun. Cordoba has such a rich history!!! Then walk in the place where history happened. Ronda is absolutely fabulous, my favorite place in Andalucía. Because connections aren't as direct and regular there, it is a slower destination to get to. I would stay one night there in the old town. More cool history here. (Read Hemmingway's "For Whom the Bell tolls.") The old town is full of twisting streets, gorges and bridges from the various periods of occupation back to Roman times. We explored around and found charming plazas and cafes. This was the "ahhh, relax" part of our trip because it was so charming. Stay a night if you can.

Fra_Diavolo

The ruins of the Roman city Italica are a thirty minute bus ride out of town.

kimhe

Great beaches in Cádiz city and the Cádiz region, but I wouldn't call 3000 year old Gadir a beach town ;-)
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cadiz.htm

Cádiz beaches: http://www.whatcadiz.com/cadiz-beach.html
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...atalonia-ibiza

Cádiz, fabulous light and a cradle of flamenco culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33JUrGwZQLY

danon

For a short (local) bus trip(1/2 hour) Italica is certainly worth while.

Robert2533

A beach day in Cádiz would be nice, but it would make for a long day trip by train. Jerez, Arcos de la Fronteria and Córdoba are easy day trips, Córdoba by train, Jerez by train or bus, Arcos by bus from Sevilla or Jerez.

Ronda is worth a visit. It's two hours by car, while the bus takes 2-1/2 hours.
http://samar.es/horarios/autobuses/S.../Ronda/994/996

Christina

I did Cordoba by train and Jerez de Frontera by bus, both easy. I think I mentioned that on your other thread, though, and you wanted to go to Jerez. Maybe I'm forgetting who that was.

Momddtravel2

thank you Christina! I am not sure either :-? It is all a bit of a blur...


Roberta, Danon & Kim, Fra & snorkle - thank you too! The ruins sound very interesting!

Our trip has changed (as things can) and my husband is not joining us due to work so I'm not sure I am going to feel like renting car/driving...

PalenQ

Buses also go between Seville and Ronda and stop in some of the famous perched white villages en route - no need for a car but a long day trip - 4-5 hours of transit but worth it IMO - Ronda is not huge and 4-5 hours there would be sweet.

I took a train to Jerez de la Frontera, which gave its name to Sherry - sherry being a British corruption of 'Jerez' when Brits dominated the sherry industry - sherry becoming a favorite of little old British ladies - I enjoyed touring the sherry houses, right in town, and seeing the practice sessions of the famous Andalusian horses - huge horses prancing around a ring you can watch - otherwise Jerez is an ordinary city so if not into the horse show or sherry look elsewhere.

Cordoba would be my first choice - so many neat old churches including the former Arab mosque converted eons ago into a Christian cathedral - lavish inside and out.

kimhe

Yes, Córdoba of course, just 50 minutes with the high speed AVE train. Once the most advanced city in Europe. "The city that changed the world": http://www.theguardian.com/spanish-t...-changed-world

kja

As others have already told you, Cordoba is easy to reach as a day trip from Sevilla. The only problem, IMO, is that Cordoba deserves two full days. Just something to consider.

Ronda takes about 3 hours each way by bus, if I recall correctly, and would take less than that by car -- maybe 2 hours each way? So yes, Ronda would be a possible day trip, particularly if you have a car.

Momddtravel2

sounds like Cordoba and a bus ride to Ronda with the stops that PalenQ has shared would be two great days!

sartoric

In Cordoba the Patio Festival is on from 5 -18 May.
Many locals enter the competition for the most beautiful patio or courtyard garden, so the streets and lanes are worth a wander.
Google Cordoba Patio Festival for best areas to visit.

Enjoy Spain

kimhe

Córdoba in May is something special: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/festivals.htm

About the patio festival 2014: http://www.spain-holiday.com/Cordoba...-de-los-patios

Open air or theater concerts/flamenco performances almost every night during the festival. Music, food, wine and festive spirit in the streets. The program for this year will soon be uploaded here: http://english.turismodecordoba.org/...de-cordoba.cfm

Momddtravel2

I have a question re: trains - is there a large difference in the economy to premier class in the renfe trains? DD is looking at a school in Alicante for a semester and we may go and check it out one day when we are in Madrid - it is a 2.5 hour train ride each way...

Robert2533

Where would you be traveling from?

On a 2-1/2 hour train ride, I would opt for Preferente Class. The seating arrangement is more comfortable, with or without a meal. If possible, go for Tourist Plus, with will put you in a Preferente Class coach.

Momddtravel2

sorry - Madrid to Alicante. Thanks for the tip Robert!