Bpesta

We are planning a trip at the end of May for 10 days to Spain and are trying to figure out how to divide our time.

Right now, we have the following planned:

Madrid - 3 nights; planning to go to the Prado Museum for sure and to see some of the main sites (Royal Palace, etc.) and a day trip to Toledo

Train to Seville

Seville - 4 nights; plan to see Seville & Cordoba as well as a beach town, Costa de la Luz perhaps? (any suggestions are welcome)

Fly to Barcelona

Barcelona - 2 nights; plan to see La Sagrada Familia, Parq Guell, etc.

Does this sound right? Is 4 days too long in Seville? I've been to both Madrid & Barcelona previously, however, my husband has not so we'd like to see some of the main spots as well as some off the beaten path.

Looking for your recommendations & opinions. Flights in/out are locked in, so we can't change the order of the trip at this point.

Thanks in advance.

nytraveler

If you have 9 nights you actually don;t have 10 days. 10 days would be 11 nights. It sounds like you are counting the day yuo arrive and hte day you leave - as well as not accounting for the time to get from one place to another.

If it were me I would do just Seveille and Madrid - or Madrid and Barcelona. Otherwise to much travel versus time actually seein/doing.

MFNYC

2 nights is not enough for Barcelona. You can easily spend a week there. I can't speak for Seville because I haven't been. 3 fulls days in Madrid is adequate.

I'm assuming you fly into Madrid and out of Barcelona. Did you book the Seville/Barcelona flight as well?

With 9 nights, assuming your main flights are books, I'd spend 3 nights in Madrid and the remainder in Barcelona. There are also many days trips that can be taken from Barcelona.

Bpesta

You are correct, nytraveler. Was thinking the entire time gone. The number of nights indicated in each place equals 9 nights.

Bpesta

MFNYC - What day trips would you take from Barcelona? I haven't yet booked the Seville to Barcelona flight.

CathyM

This will be quite a fast paced trip. I understand you've been to Madrid and Barcelona before but trying to visit all of these places seems very rushed.

I don't think 4 nights in Sevilla is too long at all. In fact with 4 nights I think you'll realistically only have time for one daytrip.

It seems a shame to be in Andalucia for the first time and not visit Granada. Would consider skipping Barcelona (or Madrid) and doing Sevilla (4), Granada (2) and Madrid (3)? I'd be tempted to spend the entire trip in Andalucia since you have already visited Barcelona and Madrid. 9 nights would make a decent trip. With this time you could visit Sevilla (daytrip to Cordoba), Granada and add the white villages or Malaga.

Or just visit Barcelona and Madrid. 9 days is really good for 2 trips - one trip of Barcelona and Madrid and another focusing on Andalucia.

MFNYC

We visited Girona. Other ideas are here: http://gospain.about.com/od/barcelon...rcelonadts.htm

Print out Maribel guides for lots of valuable info http://maribelsguides.com/

sundriedpachino

Bpesta I would suggest researching Barcelona and Seville to find out which appeals to you more. They are quite different cities.

BigRuss

Fact is, you're basing this trip on what you've seen and done but not on what he's not seen. The result will be that he'll miss a lot while you avoid repeating previous experiences. There's no way 2 nights suffices for Barcelona, especially if you want to hit "off the beaten path" sites because he cannot even cover the surface of worthwhile popular sites in 1.5 days. There's no way 3 nights including a day trip to Toledo suffices for Madrid because that's just one day.

Reconfigure.

Bpesta

Thanks all for your assistance.

BigRuss - we are actually repeating several places I've already seen (Prado, LaSagrada Familia, Parc Guell, etc.), but I am fine with this as I want him to experience these awesome places.

Basically, am trying to decide if we should spend less time in Seville & add another day to Barcelona. Totally understand that there isn't enough time and we may miss some spots, but we really do want to go to all three (Seville, Madrid & Barcelona).

suec1

YES - add a night to Barcelona and stay 3 nights in Seville - I think it should be a pretty pleasant trip - its always nice to have more time but I think you have just enough to enjoy the 3 places you have chosen.

jerirl

Haven't been to Barcelona, but was in Spain a year ago and really enjoyed Seville. I don't think 4 nights is too much. Personally, I would rather take time away from Madrid than Seville. To me, Madrid, though it has lots of tourist attractions, seemed like a lot of modern cities and less uniquely Spanish than Seville.

I would also consider taking the fast train from Seville to Barcelona. The train in Spain is great. It runs on time and I think is a lot more relaxing than going to the airport, through security, waiting etc.

Of course, it would be nice to have more time in each city, but I think your trip is doable. I'm sure you'll have a great time whichever version you choose.

You can read my trip report here
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ain-part-1.cfm

CathyM

I'd actually recommend flying between Sevilla and Barcelona. The fast train is nearly 5.5 hours. Even with airport security and waiting times I'd prefer the 1 hour flight. There are often airfares available at a very low cost.

Personally I wouldn't take a day from Sevilla, especially if you have never visited. With just 3 nights you likely won't have time for any daytrips and Cordoba is a must. But I'm not a huge fan of either Madrid or Barcelona and biased towards Andalucia.

ashcanannie

Have you checked availability for the hotels you are considering? That may influence just how long you stay in a certain city.

kimhe

I would never consider taking any day off Sevilla for going to Barcelona (and I think Barcelona is great). http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm

Always updated on Sevilla: http://www.exploreseville.com/

mamcalice

As you see, you will get all kinds of conflicting input. So you have to take the trip you want. I, like CathyM love Seville nore than Madrid or Barcelona. My preference would be to spend 3 days in either Madrid or Barcelona and the remainder in Andalucia visiting both Seville and Granada. Having visited all of these places, I can't imagine returning to Spain without visiting the Alhambra but could easily skip Madrid now that I have seen it.

You see - to each his own. You have to do what you want. Not what we suggest.

virginiafish

Check out my trip report. I think 2 days, even if you have been there, in Barcelona is too short. I agree with less time in Madrid, but that is personal preference.

Egbert

You need 15 days at least.

Kwoo

I agree with Suec1. Even though you don't have a lot of time in each city, you and your husband will get a taste of each city. If your airline reservations are locked in, that means you can't delete Madrid or Barcelona. And since you have not been to Seville, I don't think you should delete Seville. If I repeat a destination, I like to see at least one new city/town in that destination. So Seville will be new for you. Of course, you could just fly into Madrid, & then take the train to Seville so you will have more time in Andalucia & can see the Alhambra.But that means your husband won't see Madrid.

BTW, I have only been to Barcelona, but one of my daughters has been to Andalucia & she said the Alhambra should not be missed. If it were my trip, I would do what Suec1 suggests. With only 3 nights in Barcelona, you won't have time for a day trip, but that is fine. You can always return!

Aramis

Listen to Egbert - don't go.


;-)