selahwill

There will 3 of us traveling for 13 days middle of June. We fly into malaga . We do know our first two nights,will be in Ronda but what other areas are must see. We like the small gems,you miss if mainly hitting large cities. We do not wish to see museums and 100 churches but experience the people and cultures. We do wish to cross the portugal border and see a few days of portugal. We fly out of Madrid. Everyone has,said cormona, and cordoba are incredible. We have decided to skip,Granada as everything just cannot be done. Places to,stay are also requested. It doesn't have to be absolute best but we like our comforts and,not just cookie cutter hotels.

Bedar

Granada, Cordoba, and Seville are the trinity for Andalucia. Ronda is a very secondary place. I'd eliminate it. You don't have a great deal of time; make the most of it !

selahwill

What about smaller gems , villages or areas outside big cities.

CathyM

I agree with Bedar - you need to think about how to spend your limited time. I wouldn't give up time in Sevilla, Cordoba or Granada for a "smaller gem". Even though these are larger cities they are magnificant and there's a reason why everyone loves them so much. You could base yourself in Sevilla for a week and spend time visiting smaller cities.

Do you plan on renting a car? Do you also want to visit Madrid or is just an exit point? Frankly I'd skip Portugal given your time constraints and focus on places that make more sense logistically.

I assume heat is not an issue for you - it will be very hot in Andalucia in mid-June.

Robert2533

Churches in Spain and Portugal are an important part of the people and culture. And despite what Bedar says, Ronda is not a secondary destination and should be included in any visit to that part of Andalucia.

Hopefully you have come up with a budget if you like your comforts when it comes to hotels.

How are you planning on getting about? Public transportation or rental car?

thursdaysd

Much as I love Portugal you don't have time for both Spain and Portugal. I enjoyed Ronda, but with a mere 13 days I might skip it. It would be a big mistake to skip Granada, as for me the Alhambra is the one do not miss sight in Spain. Since you are flying out of Madrid, I would also add at least a night in Toledo, especially if you will be there for the Corpus Christi celebration (not sure what the date is this year). Although I don't care much for Barcelona as a whole, Gaudi's architecture is my second must-see for Spain.

I traveled in Spain by train (see seat61.com and renfe.com).

alsacekid

Please, skip Cordoba and do Granada. Missing the Alhambra is a no go. One of the most beautiful sights in Europe, one to spend hours and hours. Walking the Albaicin, the moorish district and if you like food, getting free tapas when ordering a glass of wine or beer. Cordoba has the Mezquita, which is nice, but not that stunning compared to the Alhambra.
(If you decide to see the Alhambra, make sure you reserve a ticket some days before online, or be at the ticket booth at 8am to catch some of the last minute tickets reserved.

If you go to the Algarve, Portugal, stop in Tavira and then go to the Western Algarve like Aljezur. Pure nature, local life and great beaches. Place to stay in Aljezur, the Amazigh Design Hostel www.amazighostel.com is a great choice. More info etc. on good places to stay and more is www.algarvissimo.com

nytraveler

Seeing Andalusia and parts of Portugal and Madrid are just too much - esp in the heat of summer (expect 100 degrees except at the shore).

We have been twice - once for 10 days and once 12 (just for Andalusia) and still have a lot we want to see.

Esp in that weather - less is more - and you will want hotels with great AC and a good pool for the afternoon.

kimhe

No better way to experience the culture than to see the spectacular flamenco dancer Rocío Molina in wonderful and old world Gran Teatro de Falla in seaside and genuine Cádiz on June 13th. Three thousand years old Cádiz (the Phoenician Gadir) has also got some of the finest beaches in the country.

Rocío Molina from Málaga is the youngest flamenco dancer to win the Premio Nacional de Danza, the most prestigious dance award in Spain. At 28 she's making history:

"one of the finest soloists in the world today", New York Times 2009

"Molina has genius: irresistible, all-consuming, all-powerful", Financial Times 2011

"as if she were sharing the stage with the ghosts of all the dancers whose art she has absorbed – and reinvented", The Telegraph 2013

Online tickets: http://www.entradas.com/entradas/eve...0&identidad=1#

I saw this performance (Afectos) at the premiere in Barcelona last October and will never forget.

She also dances in Málaga on June 22. The performance takes place at 10pm in the intimate patio of the Málaga Carmen Thyssen Museum. Could also be an extraordinary event. She will perform this "Experimentos" along the Seine in Paris and in a New York disco later this year.

Part of a large flamenco theme in the museum in June: http://www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org/en/actividad/76
Online tickets: http://entradas.carmenthyssenmalaga.org/museos.aspx

You have to see Molina live to experience the magic of her movements and immensely various expressions, but here's a clip to give you an idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRLSLYvbn1c

selahwill

Thank you all for your advice, my daughter has already spent a week in Madrid so that's why we have not included it. Can you name maybe some smaller towns to stay in the day trip to Seville or other areas?

CathyM

First of all I'd spend 2 nights in Granada and at least 4 in Sevilla. With 4 nights in Sevilla you could do a daytrip to Cordoba. With more time in Sevilla there are all kinds of daytrip opportunities: the sherry triangle cities (Jerez, El Puerto, Sanlucar), Arcos, Osuna, Carmona, Ecija, Cadiz, etc... Given the heat this time of year it may be nice to spend 2-3 nights in Cadiz. If you don't have a car it's great to use as a base to visit several other cities by public tranport - the sherry triangle cities, Arcos, Vejer, Medina Sidonia, etc....Malaga would also be a place where you could base and do a daytrip to Granada vs overnight if heat is an issue.

selahwill

We do have a car rented for the trip. Our friend had told us cordoba was wonderful and better than Seville .....do you agree, we were thinking of staying in cormona so we could day trip. Also my sister is very interested in the horse shows in Jerez so they will go there. I had read something about a special holiday in June were they have celebration does anyone know about this?

jgg

I know we're in the minority but we preferred Cordoba and Granada to Seville - just our opinion. Loved Cordoba - we spent two nights there. The food was incredible, loved some of the Cordoban specialties and I found the Mezquita quite beautiful. We did 2 nights Granada, 2 nights Cordoba and 4 nights in Seville before heading to St Remy-de-Provence for 6 nights. Here is a link to my trip report along with pictures that you may find helpful.
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...ope/andalucia/

kimhe

Córdoba, once the most advanced city in the western world, is a wonderful city, but so for sure are also Sevilla and Granada. In all of them it's important to go outside the most beaten tourist tracks to experience the more local atmosphere, food, wine etc.

Córdoba has got a lot more to offer than the obvious tourist atractions such as the Mezquita, the Alcazar etc. Go a little North of the major tourist atractions to find "Roman" Córdoba with excellent and affordable tabernas on every corner and a much more local atmosphere in the area between central Plaza de las Tendillas and almost Plaza Mayor-like Plaza de la Corredera. Had excellent meals in some of these places in July 2011. At night, the two of us used to pay some 30-35€ included a bottle of wine and a couple of brandys. Taberna Salinas is one of the more famous, recommended by the Michelin guide: http://www.tabernasalinas.com/

I loved Taberna El Gallo in C/Mária Cristina, 6, two minutes from Plaza de las Tendillas, and next door to the Roman temple ruins. Great wines - try the dry Amargoso - and excellent tapas. In one word: Genuine!
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html
http://cordobapedia.wikanda.es/wiki/Taberna_El_Gallo

On June 22, Córdoba celebrate the Noche Blanca del Flamenco (Flamenco White Night). The greatest artists with concerts (most of them for free) all over town until sunrise accompanied by local food and wine. Most of the concerts are held in the beautiful squares Plaza de las Tendillas and Plaza de la Corredera.
http://www.spain.info/en/vive/evento..._flamenco.html
http://www.turismodecordoba.org/index2.cfm?codigo=0593

Dance genius Eva Yerbabuena in the Noche Blanca free opening concert 2011 in Plaza de las Tendillas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAm4z2EJjQU

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Every night from June 21 to July 12 Granada celebrates the 62nd edition of the huge Granada International Music and Dance festival. Spectacular concerts from classical to flamenco, both music and dance. The festival goes on in some 20 theaters, churches and outdoor scenes around town. Also outdoor concerts up at Alhambra.

This year includes The French National Orchestra, The Marseille National Ballett, The Spanish National Orchestra, The Granada City Orchestra, The National Dance Company, The La Scala Milan Philarmonic Orchestra and absolutely fabulous flamenco artists such as José Mercé, Israel Galván and Paco de Lucía.

I would very much recommend to attend a concert up at Patio de los Arrayanes in the Alhambra (music/song) or in the Generalife gardens (dance). Could be a spectacular experience.
http://www.granadafestival.org/festi...e_granada/?L=1

Video presentation of this years festival: http://vimeo.com/channels/205794

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Along all the Andalusian coast, people celebrate La Noche de San Juan on June 24th, the longest night of the year, with food, drink and fire along the beaches all through the night. Could be a magical experience:
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/sanjuan.htm

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For a more local event, take a look at the cherry festival in the village Alfarnate just North of Málaga, and almost in the middle of the Málaga, Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada rectangle. Free food and drinks and festivities long into the night.
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/festivaldecereza.htm

As you see, all night long is a key-word when it comes to summer festivals in Andalucía. So are also local food and wine. But the Spanish know very well how to celebrate, and you very rarely see drunk people, just good old and extremely joyful and charming Spansish fiesta that include all family and all ages.

CathyM

Personally I love Sevilla and prefer it to Cordoba. But I also love Cordoba. It can be done as a daytrip but if you have a couple of days it's a great place to overnight. I wouldn't suggest staying in Carmona and using as a base to daytrip to Sevilla. I would also only have a car for the part of your trip when you will use it. A car will be a burden in cities with difficulty maneuvering in city centers and high parking costs. Given your trip is less than a month away you'll needto finalize the itinerary and book hotels soon

MyriamC

I am a big fan of Córdoba and I would definitely NOT skip it.
For 'smaller gems', drive (part of) the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos and make sure to spend some time in Arcos de la Frontera. For instance, Ronda, Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra, Algodonales, Vilamartín, Bornos, ARCOS DE LA FRONTERA, El Bosque, Ubrique, and back to Ronda. Total roundtrip is around 200 km.
http://www.andalusia-web.com/route_1.htm

bilboburgler

Well S C and G are the big three. Then there is

Malaga (a real spanish town not a tourist town, fine church, shops, fortress, Picasso Museum)
Cadiz (stand where the murderers set off in 1492 etc) a fine little walled city
Jerez, think horse riding and Sherry (you have to taste sherry in Spain at 15% with Tapas and then see where it is all made)

Then in the Algarve (which is a very big golf course) there are a few real towns.
Tavira is based around a Roman Bridge, has salt pans and cobbled streets
Faro, a trad port and small centre
Sagres see where the Europeans trained up enough navigators to be able to find the new world