kdd

All,

i have a limited amount of time in Seville and hence i am having to choose 2 day trips out if the below liated 3. Which ones should it be?

Granada
White vilkages abd Ronda
Caduz abd Jerez

Please help!

kja

Granada is, IMO, not a good day-trip from Sevilla; IMO, it warrants a two night stay to allow adequate time for the Alhambra.

Ronda might be a decent choice and can be reached by car (in a time span that I would consider manageable) or by public transportation (in a time span that I would find painful for a day trip; YMMV). It is, IME, much more enjoyable after sunset and after daytrippers leave. JMO.

Of course, Sevilla itself has a wealth of worthy sites, so I'm not sure why you are so committed to leaving it.

And I'm surprised that Cordoba isn't on your list. Its Mezquita is a gem well deserving of its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cordoba is ridiculously close to Sevilla, and IMO, easily merits two full days and nights -- even though many people visit it as a day trip from Sevilla.

In the absence of information about how much time you have in Sevilla, or what other places in Spain your trip includes, whether you plan to rent a car, when you plan to visit (etc.) it is VERY hard to answer your question, but I hope my response helps!

I suspect that a good guidebook would help you choose....

Robert2016

And just how long are you going to be in Sevilla?

kdd

Hi,

I will have 2 full days in Seville. I must look up Córdoba now! So drop Granada and go to Córdoba instead? Jerez and Cadiz also sound interesting, but a difficult choice has to be made.

kja

2 days is not much for Sevilla. Cordoba is a gem. Granada is also a gem, but it takes time to reach and -- as I noted above -- really requires 2 nights at a minimum and more if you want to see anything more than the Alhambra -- and there is MUCH more to see in Granada, IMO!

Personally, I would think Cordoba a MUCH greater priority than either Jerez or Cadiz -- but then I skipped both of the later, so I might not fully appreciate their merits. I can say that the Mezquita of Cordoba is, IMO, one of the most impressive man-made structures in the world, and I've been fortunate enough to see quite a few!

YMMV.

MyriamC

Córdoba, no doubt.

Loacker

Cordoba is an easy day trip from Sevilla.
You can see the Mezquita and be back in Sevilla by the afternoon.

I disagree with Kja about Cordoba deserving more than 1 day, though. The highlight there is the Mezquita. The town itself, outside the tiny historic center, is an eyesore.

MyriamC

Disagree with Loacker!
There's a lot more to see in Córdoba than just the Mezquita. The Judería, Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (especially the gardens), Puente Romano (at night), Palacio Museo de Viana (house + patios), ...
All is much smaller than in Granada or Sevilla, but well worth seeing. We spent two full days and weren't bored at all.

Loacker

MyriamC, all those places you mentioned are within the historical center, just steps away from the Mezquitq and can be seen in 2-3 hours.


The rest of Cordoba is ugly.

suec1

I go for Cordoba - very easy day trip from Seville and the Mesquite is amazing. Granada - IMO a bit far and I think if you go to the Alcazar in Seville, it is a very good example of the moorish architecture you will find in the Alhambra.

For you other day trip - the white villages and Ronda. I assume you mean Cadiz as your other option - I really didn't find much there unless you are looking to be by the sea. How are you doing the white villages and Ronda? it's nice to drive but parking can be a royal PIA.

maitaitom

With only two days in Sevilla, I agree with Loacker. Early train to Cordoba. See the Mezquita (a true wonder) and a couple of nearby sights and head back to Sevilla.

Christina

I gather this means 2 days for Seville and 2 days for some other place? I also would just do one day trip in that time frame and would choose Cordoba as number one choice. Other things to see may be in the general historical center, but there is certainly more to see than the Mezquita, as first stated. I enjoyed the Alcazar there, for example.

Granada is too far from Seville for a day trip unless this was on your bucket list and you were never going to be there again. Then, I could see doing that long travel to see it. I didn't even go there until I'd been to Spain a couple times, but I'm not as gaga over it as some people on Fodors, it's just one more interesting historical Moorish site to me, worth part of a day.

I wouldn't go to Jerez unless you really were into that riding school.

After Cordoba, I'd put Malaga. YOu can actually get to Malaga from Seville in only 2 hrs, which is about my limit for day trips. There is an AVANT train from 8-10 am, for example. I don't know how you plan to get to Ronda, I haven't been there so maybe if you don't want a city. It takes longer to get there by train than to Malaga, actually, because you have to transfer at Cordoba.

Loacker

Actually, if you have two days to spare I would vote for Granada first.
The Mezquita is special, but the Alhambra is even more awe-inspiring with its gardens and gorgeous setting against the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Not to mention that Granada is a more beautiful city as a whole. Lots of tapas bars and a beautifully-preserved old Moorish district.

kimhe

Another crystal clear vote for Córdoba, 45 mins from Sevilla and the most advanced city in Europe around 1000 AD. Much more to the city than the spectacular Mezquita, the Alcázar, the Judería, the Madinat al-Zahra etc. See this, and you're sold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

As kja says, Córdoba deserves much more than a day trip, but you will of course get a taste of it in a few hours visit. Be sure to have lunch or dinner in one of the many traditional and local atmosphere tabernas just North of the Mezquita area, in Roman Córdoba around the main Plaza de las Tendillas and unique Plaza de la Corredera: http://english.turismodecordoba.org/...las-tendillas2
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/c.../484234/360732

Madinat al-Zahra is, by the way, often overlooked: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/c.../484214/360732

HappyTrvlr

With only two days you really need to stay put in Sevilla.

Bedar

Agree with Loacker. I'd choose Granada. Or, start out very early and go to Cordoba to see the Mezquita, then carry on to Granada for the Alhambra. The two must-sees of Andalucia.

Loacker

I like Bedar's plan. It's a bit rushed but feasible.

Get up early and head straight to Cordoba, tour the Mezquita, Juderia, and Alcazar's gardens. By 2pm you should be done. Have lunch then take the train to Granada.

Check into your Granada hotel, then spend the evening touring Albayzin. Climb the Mirador de St Nicolas to see the Alhmabra lit at night. Have dinner in one of the restaurants overlooking the castle.

Spend the next day touring he Alhambra castle.

PalenQ

Cordoba! I saw many sights in a day trip from Seville -yes nice if you had more time but with just a day it's still #1 on your new list.

All those places can easily be done by train or bus - buying ticketsin advance for certain trains can yield sweeet discounts -check www.renfe.com for booking your own and see what the savings would be - discounted tickets are train-specific and cannot be refunded nor changed I believe - you can always buy full-fare tickets on regional trains. For lots of info on Spanish trains check www.seat61.com (great advice on getting the beguiling www.renfe.com to actually work for Americans at least); www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

I did Cadiz and Jerez the same day - Jerez is a dud except and a big exception for its Sherry (a British corruptions of the word Jerez) tours - really liked the one I took right in town and practice sessions of the world-famous Andalusian Horses in the local arena most days.

Cadiz is nice town but not nearly IMO remarkable as Cordoba.

Loacker

I wonder if those picking Cordoba over Granada, have actually been to Granada.
Granada blows Cordoba out of the water.

With two extra days, the choice is easy: Granada. Or do both Cordoba+Granada as suggested above.

suec1

I have been to Seville, Cordoba, and Granada - I think all of them twice. Granada is going to be a time consuming day trip. Cordoba has the Mezquita - which I think is pretty unique. It is super easy to get from Seville to Cordoba as a day trip. And as I often post, I think if you see the Alcazar in Seville, it is also a great example of moorish architecture and quite similar to the Alhambra. The gardens are more extensive at the Alhambra and the views from and of, more dramatic. But I really don't think you need to include both on a limited itinerary.