Where to go in Spain for 1 week other than Madrid and Barcelona?

You might like to try Seville, with budget flights from/to Heathrow and Paris, lovely city, tons things to do/see.

If flying from Heathrow or Paris, you can fly into Bilbao for the week. Bilbao has remade itself as a major business and tourist destination and offers some of the best cuisine in the Basque country.

I second Seville and will also suggest Grenada. Both are smaller than Madrid/Barcelona, but have a lovely feel to them, and you could easily take a week and visit both. Flamenco and other traditional music performances are offered in both places.

You will not find shopping like in Barcelona or Madrid in other cities..Seville is most likely a good choice.
Unless you wish to take side trips, I would not spend a week in Bilbao.

If you go to Vueling or Ryan you will see where in Spain the carriers go.

I just watched a lovely Rick Steves video on Sevilla, that looks right up our alley, great suggestion! So, now I have to ask a silly question please forgive me...I'm a first time mom, and this is a little nerve wracking taking a little baby overseas, is Sevilla a safe place to tour around with a baby? Is there a good hospital close by? Pharmacies etc? How small of a town is this? I can't really tell from the video! I know I am being paranoid, but like I said this is our first child and while hubby and I enjoyed going to exciting fringe places before when it was just us, I'm trying to stay very mainstream with a baby! Am I being totally paranoid?

No doubt, the Basque Country!! Green, mountainous, with a distinctive old culture and language and traditions, beautiful landscape, history, void of tourist traps, unspoilt...

How is Valencia compared to Sevilla?

Sevilla has 700,000 inhabitants. So it's not exactly a small village in the middle of nowhere.
Climatewise, it's a good choice for spring (gets very hot in summer), while other destinations like the North are perfect (also) in summer. So if you want to see the "Moorish Spain", world-class sights like the Cathedral, and maybe an easy day trip to nearby Arcos de la Frontera, spring is the best time to go.

I cannot make a qualified comment on traveling with small children, but you will find the same "density" of pharmacies etc. in Sevilla as in Barcelona or Madrid. Pharmacies also carry "emergency" toiletry items and not only prescription drugs. So if you need some baby oil, you don't need to run all the way to a supermarket. Supermarkets tend to stay open late until at least 9pm.

Hello!

I am not sure you can compare other cities to Madrid and Barcelona considering that they are the two major cities in Spain however i suggest you give Sevilla a try. Lots of sunshine, culture, history & art all placed in one setting. You can also travel around Sevilla and visit Cordoba or Cadiz.

Another Option i would suggest is Valencia It’s not as big as Barcelona but more provincial and cozy.

Enjoy your trip!

Lifestyle Barcelona

In Spring.. Andalucia.

Sevilla is wonderful, just came back from my third visit in three years. The Spanish are known for being extremely fond of babies/children, so I wouldn't worry about that. Excellent health services. Seven hospitals in town.

But one thing if you go next spring, note that between 17th and 24th of April and 30th of April and 9th of May, the city is in big celebrations. Sevilla has got one of the world's most famous easter celebrations, and one week later starts the Feria de Abril (Spring fair). On both occations, the city would be turned upside down. Great emotion, party etc and perhaps the best time of year to go. You would be in for an experience for life, but be prepared.
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/easter/home.htm
http://www.spanishunlimited.com/spain/fiestas/feriadeabril.asp

This site is great on Sevilla:
http://www.exploreseville.com/

San Sebastián (pop 180 000) in the Basque region is another excellent option. The food capital of Spain, fascinating culture, Belle epoque architecture, some of the best city beaches in Europe etc. The article "A different kind of Spain" gives you an idea of my favourite city on the planet:
http://marshlands.blogstream.com/

75 mins by bus from Bilbao airport.

Giulia,

Just wanted to give you an apartment idea for Seville - ideally located in the center of the Santa Cruz neighborhood (a two minute walk to either the Cathedral or the Alcazar):

http://www.barriosantacruz.com/apartments/

I'd love to be there for the April fair or Holy Week, but I think April would be too hot for me, I was overly warm in Rome last year in December! Sadly I run very, very warm, around 55 degrees with clouds is my perfect weather! I'm not overweight, I just run really hot, call it hormones! I think Seville is going to be a good option for us. My plan is to fly from either Heathrow or Paris into Madrid and take the fast train to Seville. I heard it's about 2.5 hours, not too bad.

How far are day trips by train to Cadiz and Cordoba?

It would be cheaper and faster to just continue flying through to Seville - especially if you connect in Madrid. The extra costs (if any) for the extra leg is much less than new train tickets.

Cordoba and Cadiz are about equally distant from Seville.

However, Cordoba can be reached via the high speed AVE whereas Cadiz would require taking a slower (regular) train.

Seville to Cordoba via the high-speed AVE train - about 45 minutes one-way.

Seville to Cadiz via the slower, regular trains - about 2 hours one-way.

If I had a week I would visit the Sevilla/Corboba/Granada triangle. Sevilla has air connections to both London (LHR) and Paris Orly, Granada - Orly only.

I kind of liked the idea of taking the train from Madrid because of all the stuff we'll be hauling with us, ie stroller, car seat, baby, etc. The idea of going in and out of security with all that stuff sounds terrible. ALso thought about staying in Madrid for a few days. I'll definitely check into flying all the way through, thanks for the tip!

Absolutely Sevilla. Rent a place right near the Corte Ingles. ( I love their supermarket!). Anytime you get the chance to go to a Spanish town during one of their festivals you must go. You will never forget the experience. Nothing in the world compares to Sevilla, not even Valencia. April will not be too hot. Now if you were going in July or Aug I would say San Sebastian.

The idea of going in and out of security with all that stuff sounds terrible.

No, not pleasant - but is it worse than having to haul it all to Central Madrid and putting it on a train?

Exactly bardo--you have to go through security at the train station also.

My vote would be San Sebastian. Very manageable, walkable, super clean, and the best dining I know of anywhere.

Re Sevilla and the apartment links noted above: Several years ago, during Semana Santa, I rented an apartment on Plaza Invalidades above a restaurant [Restaurante Santa Cruz if I recall}. It was a great ocation and perfect for Semana Santa. l

There's security at the train station? Weird I just asked someone if there was and they said no, that was the only reason I thought it sounded easier. Might have to look into the plane option again.

Security at the train stations also (after the Madrid train bombings 11M 2004), but normally it would be very efficient and with no need for long waits.

I would say Sevilla and Granada

Have fun !

is Sevilla a safe place to tour around with a baby? Is there a good hospital close by? Pharmacies etc?

Nobody has chldren in Seville so there are no facilites

Ahhh Alihutch, thank you for confirming my suspicion that there are indeed no children in Seville

San Sebastian is an excellent choice to visit IMO.

LOTS of children in Seville - and some very nice neighbourhood playgrounds that we came across when we were there in september. [though with a 4 month old, that may be of less interest to you than the numerous bars and restaurants where children and babies were readily accepted].

Also, it's relatively flat with nice wide pavements in most places.

it's a lovely place - you should have fun.

I was in Andalucia in late April this year - started in Granada, then Sevilla, with a day trip to Cordoba over the span of a week. We were in Sevilla on the last day of the Feria, so be prepared to pay a premium during those dates for your room. It was also very unseasonably warm (hovering near 100 degrees) when we were there so that was an adjustment we had to make. Otherwise, the trip was fantastic and we saw children out and about in every city at all times of the day.

I would strongly suggest you go and visit the beautiful region of Galicia. This region will provide you with an authentic Spainish experience, unlike the commercial expereince you often get in the major cities of Spain.

Whilst in Galicia, you must visit the capital of the region, Santiago. Santiago is split into 2 parts, the old and new town. The new town has a vinrant nightlife, and many great shops. The old town is truely historic, with the remarkable catherdral, when in the old town you really do feel like you have been transpored back in time, with the narrow streets and mystic sentiment which surrounds the old town.

As well as the history and vibrancy of old town Santiago, the nearby town of A Coruna is also a delightful place to visit. A coruna is a costal town, and has a beautiful beach, which is perfect for relaxing on in the summer. If you want, you can also go and see a football match at the nearby Deporivo La Coruna stadium.

Galicia provides you with a sense of the real Spain, and is full of culture, I could not recomend this place highly enough

Galicia is unique and beautiful but I wouldn't visit unless you can go in late spring - unless you don't mind potentially cold weather. I visited there once in early April. The first couple of days were mid-60's but the remainder of week was quite cold (35 degree farenheit high) with a bitter wind.

or one of the canary islands.. you can probably get a fabulous deal on a flat and flight out of london.

Hello,

I spent a week in Seville last March with my 1 1/2 year old, and I can attest that it is a wonderful place for a trip with a small person. Everyone was extremely baby-friendly and welcoming. We had a wonderful time.

I second the recommendations to take day trips to Cordoba and Cadiz. The train rides were very pleasant, and the towns themselves are perfect for spending a day touring around.

We rented an apartment through Seville5, which worked out wonderfully. Their website is really helpful in determining which places would work best for your family needs (place to keep a stroller, elevator, etc).

There are a couple of things that were more challenging with a baby. The first is that smoking is allowed in almost all restaurants. We liked to sit outside when we could, but there were times we were in pretty heavy smoke, so if that's an issue for you be forewarned. The other thing we found is that there are very few changing tables in restrooms, so we had to improvise on the grass and whatever spot we could find outdoors.

I hope the whole family has a great trip, wherever you decide to go.