sasha_g

Hi,
In midst of planning my holiday in Spain in late December. Been asking a lot of inane questions - since this is my first trip to Spain & appreciate all the help from experienced fodorites.

Plan is to make Madrid, Barcelona & Seville as base cities & move around (by public transport). Since I have only 10 days, I guess I can only do one day trip from each of these 3 cities. If so, what are the best options.

After doing some reading up, this is how I stand right now.

Segovia as a day trip from Madrid.
Ronda as a day trip from Seville.
Tarragona as a day trip from Barcelona.

Any other suggestions that I might look into? Are these the best day trips - provided I have so little time.

Also, for Segovia & Tarragona, there are regional trains from Madrid & Barcelona, respectively. However, am not getting anything in the Renfe site for Seville-Ronda connection. Read up on the net that there are 2-3 bus services everyday connecting these two places. Is that true? Is Ronda doable as a day trip from Seville?

Thanks.

Suelynne

We did a day trip to Segovia from Madrid in 2002. Despite being Good Friday and the city and train being packed with Spaniards going to Segovia for the processions, it was very doable, and we didn't feel we needed more time there.

We went to Ronda by train from Granada, and also had plenty of time. We left Granada early and returned early afternoon, so I imagine it would be even easier from Seville.

I spent a few days in Tarragona years ago, but can't see any reason why that wouldn't work from Barcelona.

isabel

With only 10 days for those three cities I don't think you have time for any day trips. Especially for Barcelona and Seville I wouldn't do any. From Madrid Segovia is very easy, and it is definitely worthwhile, one of my favorite cities in Spain. But Toledo is even easier and faster and also wonderful. Everyplace is wonderful, but you can only do so much and I really think you'll enjoy yourself more if you slow down a little.

When I first started traveling to Europe I got a lot of advice like I'm giving you, and once I started taking it my trips were much more enjoyable.

JulieVikmanis

What Isabel said. Barcelona will easily reward 4 days of your time with no day trips and I'd guess you'll have 3 at the most. If you must day trip, consider Sitges, Montserrat, cava country or even a flight (45 min each way) to Mallorca. Those are some of things we're looking at for our trip there in late December, but we've got 9 days in Barcelona alone. Enjoy.

Viajero2

I agree w/Isabel; you have selected three cities each of which would take more than a week to explore properly. Do not forget to factor in limited daylight, reduced public transport hours, and weather for any sightseeing involving public transportation. That said, if you want to get away for a day, Segovia is not a bad trip from Madrid, even though for a first timer to Spain, I actually believe Toledo is a better day trip. Take the bus or even better a guided tour that would include Avila. Leave the logistics to the experts.

Ronda from Seville is a ride; not about time, but the route is a bit scary. I would only go up during the winter on a fair weather day and there are few and far between of those in December for mountain towns. Once you ride up to Ronda from Seville, you will know why you should NOT ride back after dusk. I would shoot for Arcos de la Frontera and Vejer de la Frontera as a contingency plan.

Tarragona's Roman ruins are worth an exploration. That said, Tarragona's sites are outdoor sites and you have to walk around quite a bit. Get the 9 Euros ticket which would allow you the explore the mansions down the road from the amphitheater.

Dress appropiately; like I always say--- There is no cold weather, only bad clothing.

zeppole

I strongly disagree that you should simply stay in Sevilla and not make an effort to see the mosque in Cordoba, unless ou tell me you are not interested in architecture or Moorish Spain at all. I enjoy Sevilla, but find its attractions limited in number.

Also, to my own surprise, I really didn't enjoy being in Barcelona for four days once I got there, and I wish I had done more research into possibile day trips before going.

On a return trip to Catalonia, I very much enjoyed visiting Girona

http://www.ajuntament.gi/turisme/eng/activitats.php

and I liked Vic so much, I went twice for its architecture and its amazing musueum of Catalona art

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic

I've never been to Tarragona so I can't compare, but one excursion near Barcelona that I didn't enjoy was the trip to Montserrat, and in late September, imagine I would have enjoyed it even less since perhaps the best feature is walks on the mountain paths to see the views, and it can be very windy there.

I enjoy being in Madrid and visiting its museums especially, but I also enjoyed my daytrip to Toledo.

zeppole

ooops! I meant to write "late December," when Montserrat might be too cold to enjoy.

In general, I think the advice not to count on doing day trips from major cities in a short time is good. But I'll add the advice to know the options for easy day trips you might enjoy. It might come in handy.