Dee_Dee

My flight is booked! I depart from the US for Madrid Saturday, May 24th and return June 10th (16 nights in Spain). My focus of this trip is Andalusia as I have never been to the south of Spain. I plan to immediately take the high speed train to Seville. My current plan is as follows:
Seville - 5 nights
Cordoba - 3 nights
Granada - 3 nights
Malaga - 3 nights
Madrid - 1 night
This itinerary leaves me with one "extra" night. I need your help deciding where to spend it. I enjoy a lot of wondering, taking photographs and breaks at sidewalk cafes. I do enjoy museums but not all day nor every day. I can go into museum overload! I enjoy beautiful architecture, historic homes, gardens, lovely vistas, churches, quaint neighborhoods. I am very excited to experience the Moorish history, architecture and gardens. I am not a beach person so I'm inclined not to add another night to Malaga. So.... where to spend another night? Maybe a day trip to a interesting town using one of the above cities as a base? Any suggestions? BTW, I will not be renting a car so any day trip would require public transportation.

Any and all assistance is appreciated!

amer_can

Segovia from Madrid, a day trip .. MAD deserves more than 1 night however. You will find lots to see/do/enjoy there but Segovia is awesome also..

Bedar

You didn't say if you'd spent time in Madrid on another trip. If not, that's where I'd tack on the extra day.

CathyM

There's numerous possibilities. One idea would be to cut a day in Cordoba, Granada or Malaga and spend 2 nights in Cadiz. You could easily spend 3 nights in Cadiz. It's a beautiful city and also good to use as a base for someone using public transportation. You could also consider visiting Ronda for a couple of nights between Sevilla and Granada.

You seem to like a slower approach to travel spending 3 nights each in Cordoba, Granada and Malaga. I've done the same and not been bored but I like to explore nooks and crannies in addition to main sites. If so you could dd another day to Sevilla in order to spend more time in a base city and do more Daytrips.

I'd start the trip in Cordoba then head to Sevilla, Granada, Malaga and end in Madrid. You'll find bus to be the option for Granada to Malaga versus train. Definately do a daytrip to Antequera from Malaga.

kja

You might consider Ronda (one night is enough IMHO) or perhaps a trip into Las Alpujarras for the Poquiera Gorge.

Dee_Dee

Thank you for the feedback!

I do not want to spend an additional night in Madrid as my plan is to return to Spain in the not too distant future and "do" Madrid and Barcelona for 2 weeks. I'd prefer to give each city more than a cursory overview. This trip is really just for Andalusia.

Hmmmm..... Cadiz. That hadn't been on my radar. I'd prefer not to add yet another stop, another transit day and another hotel. But, would Cadiz be preferable to Malaga? I've read good things about Malaga but if Cadiz is more historic, picturesque, I'd consider changing.

That's my thought about spending a night in Rhonda as well. Just don't want one more hotel. But, if doable as a day trip from one of my cities, that may be an idea. Anyone have any thoughts on it as a day trip?

I am a slower traveler (age will do that!) and do like to poke into nooks and crannies too.

CathyM - what is your rationale for starting the trip in Cordoba rather than Seville? Distance from Madrid? Or do you think it's just a better starting point for the region? Transportation links? And yes, I've read that buses are often preferable to trains and am planning on using them too. Thanks for the heads up from Granada to Malaga. Antequera is definitely on my list!

yorkshire

It's a marginally shorter train trip to Cordoba without backtracking, so I started my similar trip with Cordoba. I prefer slower travel as well, but I also prefer public transportation--and sometimes one day will just suffice (I will choose a onenighter over a day trip most days).
Ronda is preferable as an overnight because it has stellar sunsets over the gorge and you don't have to share the town with all of the other day trippers. It makes a lot of sense geographically and transport-wise.
I am intrigued by Antequera, but does anyone know if the Torcal de Antequera is reachable by public transport? That would be my main reason for going there.
I loved Malaga for indefinable reasons, but one night was plenty. Cadiz is fascinating, and although I did not fall in love (making it difficult to recommend over Malaga), I think it needs more than one night to absorb it. You could add a day to Sevilla and explore Cadiz in a long day trip via train.
So many options! I'd choose a small town or village for something really different if you are not convinced on Ronda.
enjoy!

kimhe

Córdoba is on the high speed AVE train line from Madrid to Sevilla. Ih 40 mins from Madrid to Córdoba and an additional 50 minutes to Sevilla.

The week long flamenco inspired spring festival Feria de Córdoba starts May 24. The festival dates from the 13th century. Could be an excellent introduction to local culture, food, wine and fiesta. Some 100 open access tents/casetas where people gather to eat, drink and dance and lots of open air concerts etc. Book your hotel way in advance. http://www.andalucia.com/festival/co...pring-fair.htm

Córdoba is a wonderful city, much more than the famous Mezquita and close by tourist attractions that most day-trippers end up with. Once the most advanced city in Europe: http://www.theguardian.com/spanish-t...-changed-world

I very much recommend to go only some 300 meters north of the Mezquita to visit Roman Córdoba around central Plaza de las Tendillas and Plaza de la Corredera. More local atmosphere up here and affordable and traditional tabernas on every corner. 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 love 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

When in Córdoba, you could also visit the ruins of the 10th century palace city Madinat al-Zahra just outside town. Build to picture paradise on earth in the 10th century and destroyed in a civil war only a few decades later. http://www.andalucia.com/magazine/en...d4/madinat.htm

kimhe

Cádiz and Málaga both have a very rich history, three thousand years old Phoenician Gadir and Malaka.

Much smaller Cádiz is known for the fabulous light, some of the best beaches in the country, the seafood and as a cradle of flamenco culture. The liberal and short lived 1812 constitution (La Pepa) was created here.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...ral-guide.html

Video presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33JUrGwZQLY
Sara Baras from Cádiz is one of the most famous flamenco dancers in the world, and here she dances her tribute to the 1812 constitution La Pepa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Q8bhL2gQ4

Málaga is genuine and laid-back Andalucian atmosphere, great museums, sights, tapas bars, cafés, culture and nightlife. More of a big city, but with lots of picturesque and local feel areas. Within 300 meters in the city centre you'll find the 8-11 century Moorish Alcazaba, the newly excavated Roman theater, the huge 16th century "one-armed" cathedral, Picassos birth place, the Picasso museum and the new Carmen Thyssen museum.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...el?INTCMP=SRCH

pgriffin

You could day trip from Seville to Arcos De La Frontera, one of the best known (and consequently most touristed) "white towns" of Andalucia.

Cadiz is also a great option, esp as it should be nice beach weather when you are there. Aside from beaches, there is great seafood there and it has a real atmospheric feel around the old town.

You trip is almost entirely focused around cities, which is fine as they are nice places and you don't have access to a car. Nonetheless, I would definitely try and visit some of the white towns (by bus) as, some would say, they are the heart and soul of Andalucia.

On Malaga, three nights is plenty there and the beaches aren't up to much either.

CathyM

I'm sorry I didn't understand your question correctly - I thought you wanted to add another location for a day.

If you don't want to add any base cities and are saving Madrid for another trip then I'd add the extra day to Sevilla. I'm a slower traveler and 3 nights in Granada and Cordoba were plenty for me. 3 nights in Malaga is also good and should give you time for a daytrip to Antequera. Personally I prefer Cadiz to Malaga but it's all a matter of individual tastes.

Sevilla really deserves 3 days to itself especially if you like to explore and visit in depth - I could spend a week in Sevilla without leaving. But with 6 nights you should be able to do 2-3 daytrips. Sevilla not only has alot of options for daytrips but public transportation is also good. My favorite daytrip possibilities - Cadiz, Jerez, Sanlucar, Arcos, Ronda, Osuna, Carmona, Ecija.

Dee_Dee

Thanks again for your feedback. I appreciate all points of view. I'm now leaning toward adding a night to Sevilla. Looks as though I'd better make up my mind quickly and start booking hotels. I think I'll stick with Malaga. I'd like to see the newly excavated Roman theatre. I've never met a ruin I didn't like. LOL.