Extra night in Sevilla or Day in Granada

Old Jul 19th, 2013, 09:43 AM
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Extra night in Sevilla or Day in Granada

Hi all,

I need advice! I think I know what most of you would say, but our schedule will now allow for either 2 nights (1 1/2 days) in Sevilla with an afternoon in Malaga and full day in Granada or 3 nights (2 1/2 days) in Sevilla and an afternoon in Malaga. I just tried to change tickets to return a day later to allow the 3 nights in Sevilla and full day in Granada, but change fees were outrageous! So, we are stuck with these options. I would really like an extra day in Sevilla, but if we do that we miss Granada entirely. I know some would say save Granada for another trip, but it may be years before we get back. So, it will have to be either whirlwind trip to Sevilla and Granada to see Alhambra and walk around Albaicin or no Granada at all. We already omitted Cordoba, which I hated, and so I am leaning toward trying to cram everything in, but wanted your advice.

Thanks in advance!!
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 10:11 AM
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Personally I'd opt for 2.5 days in Sevilla and skip Granada. There's only so much you can cram into one trip and 3 nights is already barely adequate for Sevilla as it is. Enjoy what you can see instead of just ticking off sights. At least that's my philosophy. I learned the hard way with a couple of early trips that were crazy fast-paced where I didn't have time to really absorb anything except running from sight to sight.
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 10:16 AM
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If you want the extra day in Sevilla, then do it. The Alhambra will still be there for years to come.
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 10:54 AM
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Thanks! Ok, I think we'll stick with our 3 nights in Sevilla, then. Appreciate your input!
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 03:56 PM
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FWIW, I'd go for the time in the Alhambra. No question.
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 03:57 PM
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BTW, I loved Sevilla, but OMG, the Alhambra!
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 05:37 PM
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If you can get tickets-I wouldn't miss the Alhambra. Yes Seville was a great city with the Alcazar but the Alhambra is wow-especially if you can get there early. It really is amazing and if you can squeeze in a visit, I would go for it.
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Old Jul 19th, 2013, 07:47 PM
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I love Sevilla, it is a great walking city but the Alhambra is one of those tourist attractions that has earned its reputation. Spectacular. And if you go Granada have a drink at the parador with an incredible view of the Generalife.
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 01:48 AM
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mmm - I'd say Granada every time, but there was a recent thread where many people were saying that they thought the Alcazar in Seville was the equivalent of the Alhambra.

I disagree with them but Seville is also a wonderful place and the Alcazar is very beautiful, and [when we went in September] less crowded than the Alhambra in November.
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 05:05 AM
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There is nothing that is the equivalent of the Alhambra. It is one of the most beautiful and amazing man-made sights I have seen anywhere in the world. Much as we love Seville, I would recommend not missing the Alhambra.
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 06:10 AM
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Sevilla is a lovely city. but if you have the time, visiting Grenada and seeing the Alhambra is worth it. You won't be disappointed.
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 06:31 AM
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N.B.

The Spanish towns are spelled Granada and Ronda.
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Old Jul 20th, 2013, 08:38 AM
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We just returned from a trip and did 3 nights Granada (two visits to the Alhambra, which, as others have said, is simply amazing), 2 nights Sevilla, and 2 nights Cordoba. It's quick, but doable.
If you can visit all three sites, you will see totally unique styles (Cordoba was built first using the mosques in Damascus and Jerusalem as references, the Alhambra was built in a distinct Nasrid style, and the Alaczar in Sevilla is a mixture of Islamic and Christian art and architecture.)
No matter what you decide, you will have a wonderful time.
Have a great trip!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 09:30 AM
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Wow! You guys are making this very hard on me! Do you think you can do Granada in one day. If we are driving from Jerez, do you think we can make it to Granada in time to see the Alhambra? We will be leaving Jerez on Friday morning, and we could leave early. But our flight is early Saturday morning, and so we are staying overnight in Malaga. Is this doable?
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 09:57 AM
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Hi Alonsy,

if you go to google maps and plot Jerez to Granada to Malaga, you'll see that it's about 260 kms from Jerez to Granada, taking about 3 hours, and a further 120 kms for Malaga taking another 90 mins.

so doable, if you leave early in the morning, and don't mind getting to Malaga quite late. you will need to buy tickets and if you ahve a choice, I'd pick a late morning entry to the Nasrid palaces so that you have a much time there as possible.

what time of year are we talking about, BTW?
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 12:21 PM
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Annhig, We will be there the second week in September. We would be in Granada on a Friday.

The alternative we are considering is to see the Thursday Equestrian show (starts at noon) in Jerez, and then when baby gets up from her nap, walk around a bit...may stop by a sherry bodega for a tasting, have a late lunch/heavy tapas, and then head on the Malaga Thursday night so we could leave from Malaga Friday morning to spend the day in Granada. That might work out better, but just don't want to rush too much.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 12:45 PM
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Ok, so if we arrive in Jerez sometime in the morning on Wednesday and leave late Thursday afternoon, do we have enough time to visit Cadiz and Jerez? We would like to enjoy Cadiz in the afternoon...walk around old town, walk along the beach, maybe take boat ride to Puerto Santa Maria---would like to eat a nice seafood dinner! Then on Thursday, we will have the Equestrian Show at noon. We would like to see one bodega and walk around old town. Do you think this is all doable with one night in Jerez? That would allow us to drive to Malaga Thursday night and return rental car, and then arrange a private driver to Granada for the day to see Alhambra, etc. Otherwise, we'll be driving Friday morning to Granada and then to Malaga fairly late. Thoughts?
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 02:21 PM
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sorry, alonsy, I've never been to Jerez, so i'm no use to you.

Generally my approach is to take things more slowly and all this rushing around in the heat of early September would not appeal to me.

if you're trying to fit Jerez in as well, I'd spend a nice morning in Jerez, have a good lunch in the heat of the day, then drive to Malaga, spend the night there and forget about Granada.

the fact that you are going to Jerez instead of cordoba and Granada suggests to me that the alhambra is not top of your wish list.

nothing wrong with that, but it indicates to me that it really isn't one of your priorities, because if it were, the [wild] horses in the equestrian show couldn't stop you going!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 05:07 PM
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> per annhig: "the fact that you are going to Jerez instead of cordoba and Granada suggests to me that the alhambra is not top of your wish list. ... nothing wrong with that, but it indicates to me that it really isn't one of your priorities, because if it were, the [wild] horses in the equestrian show couldn't stop you going!"

Well said, annhig!

FWIW: I thought my 4-hour day-time visit of the Alhambra too short -- I wanted at least 1/2 to 1 hour more. And IMO, the day-time visit cannot and does not eliminate the value of a 2nd visit during the evening. If you want to visit the Alhambra, you'll almost certainly need to reserve in advance.

I didn't visit either Cadiz or Jerez.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2013, 06:53 PM
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My husband's mother was from Jerez, and DH never got to visit with her before she passed away. So while the Alhambra is very much a priority (or I wouldn't be sweating these details quite as much), it isn't necessarily the "wild" horses keeping us.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions!
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