debracole

My husband & I want to take about 10 - 12 days in the fall to visit Spain. Is this a good time? If so, which regions or cities would be best at that time? Is it best to rent a car? Any help would be appreciated. Can't wait to start planning.

CathyM

What part of Spain do you plan to visit? Whether it's a good time or not (weather wise) and best to rent a car all depends on where you plan to visit.

chillout

Why wouldn't it be? it actually sounds like a great time to visit Spain to escape the summer crowds and the scourging heat. If you're going from the US then Andalusia is the obvious choice along with one of the big cities, perhaps Madrid or Barcelona. Unless you're looking for a sunny beach escape like most UK visitors to Spain.

CathyM

chillout-
What I was getting at is more information would be a good idea. Is this the OP's first trip to Spain? If so, then Sept/Oct would be a great time to visit Andalucia. OR do they want ot visit another part of Spain? For example, if they wanted to visit Northern Spain the end of October it could be a little chilly and wet. Spain is very large and diverse so it's difficult to simply answer the question when it is very general.

danon

We visited twice that time of the year:
late Sept-early Oct (Santander and Barcelona)
and 6 -20 Oct. ( Barcelona, Granada, Madrid)
the weather was very nice with a bit of rain in Santander and (one night) in Barcelona.

Aduchamp1

We have visited Spain during that time as well. And the above advice is accurate. Actually our preferred times are May and September before and after the summer herds.

debracole

Thank you for the responses. It will be our first visit to Spain. We will be coming from the US. We have heard that we should visit Seville & Granada. We would like to see one of the major cities (Madrid or Barcelona). We are open to any suggestions. I guess I am asking for help with an itinerary for a first trip. At this point all we know is that we want to go to Spain for about 12 days during the last week of September and the first week of October.

CathyM

I'd budget at least 4 days for Sevilla with a daytrip to Cordoba. Then 2 days in Granada. You'd have 4-6 days for Madrid or Barcelona - they are very different cities and the choice really depends on your interests. You could also consider flying open jaw and entering or returning home via Malaga. You could stay 1-2 days in Malaga. I wouldn't suggest this if you only have 10 days and want to visit Madrid/Barcelona & Sevilla & Granada. But with 2 additional days it would work.

Weather should be very good in late Sept/early Oct in all these areas. Not hot but still nice and warm with little rain.

debracole

CathyM,

Thank you for your replies. I will read about those places and try to work it out. Thanks again.

Lifeman

If you are flying from the US, it depends which cities you can fly into from your local airport. Assuming that you have a good choice, then fly into Malaga. You can visit Seville and Granada from a base on the Costa del Sol and I would recommend a car whilst you're there.

If you're OK with driving you can drive up to Barcelona, but a train will whisk you there a lot more easily. You don't want a car in Barcelona.

You can't see all of Spain in 10/12 days, so settle for two contrasting areas and leave the rest for your next trip(s).
How about a week in the South and then the rest in Barcelona?

chillout

I second Cathy's suggestions. Madrid is only a two an a half train ride away from Seville and Cordoba, has a more convenient location. I would visit the capital city Madrid on the first trip and skip Barcelona, and do day trips from there to Toledo and Salamanca.

Cathy, my question was only directed at the OP for his question on whether that was a good time to visit because I think Spain can be visited year round. The south has average January temps of 15C/60F.

kimhe

Late September/early October is a perfect time of year to go, especially to Andalucía/the south. This time of year would have average temps of 25-30C/75-85F.

Great info on Sevilla: http://www.exploreseville.com/

Well informed suggestions about one of the finest tapas scenes in Spain. My favourites would be in the San Lorenzo and Arenal areas: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/

The oldest restaurant/tapas bar in the country (from 1670) deserves a visit: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...l-rinconcillo/

And maybe wind down in the Arab bath-house Aire de Sevilla in the middle of the famous Santa Cruz district. A friend of mine went five times in a week...: http://www.airedesevilla.com/

CathyM

The south may be 60 degrees f in January. But I've visited Galicia in March when it was windy, damp and 32 degrees f - not very good for sightseeing. I guess my point is that Spain is a very geographically (and culturally) diverse country with climate varying substantially in all seasons.

Kwoo

Just to reiterate that October is a great time to visit Spain. We were in Barcelona last October & the weather was perfect. Some people were swimming in the Mediterranean. We went to Barcelona & Costa Brava. Temps were 60's & 70's, mostly sunny, with very little rain.

I haven't been to Andalucia yet, but since it is very hot during the summer months, it does make sense for you to go there this trip since you'll be there when it is cooler in October.

Alec

I always go to Andalucia in September or October. Usually warm and sunny, tops around 80 to 90F (25-30C), maybe a thunder storm once in a while (more likely in end-October).

HappyTrvlr

We were in Andalucia and Madrid in late October, early November and the weather was very nice, comfortable.

HappyTrvlr

We are flying BA.There was a chance to book flights as American Airlines but the price was much higher.