sophie75

Hey everyone. This is what my friend and I planned thus far

Land in Barcelona. Spend 4 nights
Train to Madrid 3 nights
Train to Seville. 5 nights. From there we plan to take day trips to Toledo, Granada and corbora
Plane to Paris. 3 days
Them back home.



What do you think

kja

It depends on your interests! That would be WAY too rushed for my tastes; YMMV.

Toledo is close to Madrid, not Sevilla.

Granada is not an easy day trip from Sevilla.

I would urge you to consult a good guidebook or two.

sophie75

We could cut some day trips. There is a tour that starts at Seville and takes us to alahendra. 13 hours

nytraveler

You do Toledo from Madrid - not Seville. (You really need a good map of Spain - as well as a detailed street map of the cities you will be staying in).

You are giving very short shrift to Andalusia and should allow overnights in Granada and Cordoba.

If it were me I would drop Paris (much as I love it) to be able to spend enough time in Andalusia to actually see something of this unique and fascinating part of europe.

MichGuy

You picked some good spots but I'd say your itinerary has some problems. We spent about 17 days in Spain last year and this is what I would do with your itinerary, not knowing how you'll get around. (We had a car.)

Barcelona - 3 days was plenty for us. The museums aren't that good. You're there for the architecture, the atmosphere and the food. Good metro system for getting around.

Madrid - 2 days would be good. Great walking city and the on-off bus tour is helpful. The train station is near the Prado art museum so you can save time if you get a hotel in that area. Liked the National Palace.

Toledo - Day trip this out of Madrid or stop there if you're driving to Seville. No, it's not close to Seville and Madrid to Seville is a long drive.

Seville - 2 days. Loved it. Best city on the trip: Flamenco and the Cathedral. We stayed north of the old town, near the river, and took a bus to the old town (~1 euro). If you're on the train I think the station is within walking distance of the old town and you could stay in that area.

Granada - 1 full day. It will take you half a day just to go through the Alhambra. Even with a car it would be a very hard day trip to Granada out of Seville.

We didn't go to Cordoba, Malaga or Gibraltar.

So, I've knocked a couple of days off your itinerary, depending on how you get around. You're going to have to add some travel time back in. I think you could take a train from Seville to Granada and then Granada back to Barcelona, but I'm not sure.

Another comment was spot on - time to get a guide book.

And Paris? You will weep if you leave after just three days.

sophie75

Thanks mich. we're taking the AVE train all around

kimhe

Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla will give you taste of three fantastic and very! different Spanish cities. Toledo is an east day-trip from Madrid, and Córdoba (with the Mezquita) is only 42 mins from Sevilla with the high-speed AVE train.

These videos indicate the vibe in your cities and should put you in the Spain mood!

Fun Barcelona: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ymBYJEC9XU
Majestic Madrid with the fabulous museums, parks and nightlife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap2uFK0qDLQ
Sevilla, tapas and local atmosphere in Triana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mFE9k0E-2Y&t=77s
Córdoba, it doesn't get more Andalucía than this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk&t=346s

Robert2016

As already pointed out, with only two weeks, I'd save Paris for a furture adventure. It needs far more time the a mere 3 days (not including your travel time). I'd add one day to Barcelona (for day trips) and two days to Madrid, so you can areally enjoy it and take a couple of easy day trips (Toledo, Salamanca or Segovia).

PalenQ

Thanks mich. we're taking the AVE train all around>

You can save tons of money by booking (in stone) your AVE trains in advance - ASAP they come on www.renfe.com as those tickets can sell out early as they are sold in limited numbers.

For full flexibility to chose which trains to take once there investigate the Spain Railpass.

Good sources on Spanish trains (where the pain used to be on the train but not no more as these are some of the fastest nicest trains in Europe now)-check www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com- esoteric advice on discounted train tickets.

maitaitom

My two cents...

add one day to Madrid and do your day-trip to Toledo from there.

Drop one day from Seville and day trip to Alcazar in Cordoba.

We loved Granada, but a day trip gives it short shrift, although the Alhambra would make it worth your while.

Have fun.

Here's our trip report to all those places last year (in words and photos)

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/spain-2015/</B>

Coolmover

Madrid i found a good based and as I had been years before did a full day to Toledo returning late to Madrid
Nights in Madrid tapas hopping good fun

A train and over night Salamaca with the joy of a day in this town reccomended

Return with half day in Avila to see those superb walls

Madrid also good for a day in Segovia (a previous trip for me)

Good base Madrid and if the Prado on ur list book in advance

kja

You are getting a lot of advice without any information about your interests or preferences. Ultimately, only you can decide -- and for that, you would need to consult some guidebooks.

FWIW, I would never day-trip from Sevilla to Cordoba for its Alcazar, even though I enjoyed it. I would, however, make a point of visiting Cordoba's Mezquita, which is, along with Granada's Alhambra, among the world's most magnificent sites, IMO, and I was glad to spend 2 full days in Cordoba.

Coolmover

Was in Cordoba and whilst the Patio Festival was on which is a lovely time to be there

kja

The OP has begun a new thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-615251-2.cfm

sophie75

Thank you everyone...great advice!!!