cos8mati

After reading more blogs and guidebooks we are beginning to rethink our itinerary. We are traveling to Spain in mid-October. Madrid 1 night, Córdoba 2 nights, Seville 4 nights, Ronda 3 nights, Granada 2 nights and back to Madrid for 4 nights.

Should we forego the Hill towns completely? If so, what would we add? In what part of our trip? Or add more days to the other cities listed above?

We don't want to spend all our time traveling from place to place but would rather have a chance to enjoy where we are. Not looking for a packed schedule.

Nelson

We are slow travelers, spent 2 nights in Ronda and thought that was fine. But we spent 4 nights in Toledo and thought that was not quite enough.

So my $0.02 is to transfer most or all of those Ronda nights to Toledo. If you happen to be there for the National Day holiday (October 12) it will be crowded but they light up the cathedral and Alcazar at night around that weekend, a beautiful sight.

MmePerdu

The change I might make is to go a bit more off the beaten path between the big cities to a less touristed town. I haven't spent a great deal of time in the area but did make my base for a week at a friend's house in Iznájar, near Antequera, between Granada & Seville. It's a great small town on a hill above a lake, easy to get to. We visited Antequera, somewhat larger, and that might also suit. I find there can be benefits to heading for places we've never heard of. I'd never heard of it and loved it.

Nelson

I would take MmePerdu's advice instead of mine, that sounds excellent.

kja

I enjoyed ONE night in Ronda and left earlier than I had planned, so I was there less than 24 hours. I enjoyed Ronda, but had seen and done everything I wanted to do by then.

I did not visit any of the other white towns, so can’t speak to them.

I was glad to give Granada 3 nights. I thought Toledo easily with 2 or 3 nights (I had more than 48 hours there, and could easily have used more). I wanted at least 4 days for Madrid itself. And I travel HARD!!!

But really, it depends on what YOU want to see and exdperience….

maitaitom

Personally, I'd drop the White towns, which I did not find overly interesting, and substitute it with Toledo, a town we all loved.

cos8mati

Thank you all. For some reason this itrip has been a bit difficult to plan. Time is lost traveling from one area to another but that's all part of the adventure.

My friend is heading home November 1st; I'll be heading home 11/4 so that gives me 3 full days in Madrid. I am definitely planning to go to Toledo. Even though I would prefer to spend minimum of 2 nights in Toledo, I'm thinking a day trip would make more sense.

We will be in Madrid one day upon arrival in Spain before we head to Córdoba, our first stop in Andalusia. Luckily we don't suffer from jet lag but by the time we get to the hotel in Madrid, check in and freshen up, we'll only have part of the day to explore. That's why I'm thinking a day trip to Toledo and two days in Madrid. Does that make sense? Suggestions are most welcome.

kja

It really depends on what you want to see and do!

If you think you might return to Spain, then you might want to consider skimping on Madrid, since it is easier to reach than Toledo. I’ve realized that if I can return to a region, the LAST thing that I am likely to want to do is spend my time revisiting places to finally see the things I skipped the first time. In fact, I might end up not returning specifically because it would mean spending time retracing a path from place to place! But that's just me....

Have you identified what YOU want to see and do in Toledo and Madrid, laid them out on a calendar, made sure the things you want to visit are open when you would be able to be there?

I trust you realize that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

IMDonehere

I never understood the charm of seeing multiple white villages and do not know how that started.

As noted three nights in Ronda is far too many, worthwhile but not for that long.

Toledo, also as noted, is a wonderful town. Madrid has world class museums and we like to visit a museum one day and then do something else and then visit another museum. Other towns accessible by AVE from Madrid in include Segovia and Cuenca.