2 weeks in Spain
Sep 29th, 2014, 12:22 PM
#1
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2 weeks in Spain
Hi,
My husband and I are planning a 12-14 day break in Spain as part of a European holiday. We have never been to Europe before but have travelled a bit to other places. We are in our mid-late twenties and love food, architecture and walking around discovering new places. We are more city people and like to base ourselves in a large area and do day trips out of the city.
We’re trying to decide where in Spain we should go for our trip. It will be in May, and I was thinking either Barcelona/Valencia/Madrid or Barcelona/Madrid/Seville or Barcelona/Madrid/San Sebastian. Any other ideas or suggestions of which option would be better? We would most likely train or fly between cities, however could possibly hire a car.
Thanks
My husband and I are planning a 12-14 day break in Spain as part of a European holiday. We have never been to Europe before but have travelled a bit to other places. We are in our mid-late twenties and love food, architecture and walking around discovering new places. We are more city people and like to base ourselves in a large area and do day trips out of the city.
We’re trying to decide where in Spain we should go for our trip. It will be in May, and I was thinking either Barcelona/Valencia/Madrid or Barcelona/Madrid/Seville or Barcelona/Madrid/San Sebastian. Any other ideas or suggestions of which option would be better? We would most likely train or fly between cities, however could possibly hire a car.
Thanks
Sep 29th, 2014, 12:44 PM
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First of three places in two weeks is a wise use of time. Madrid's main attractions are there world class museums and access to nearby town.
Barcelona fits your likes perfectly as do Seville and and San Sebastian/Donostia and Sevilla.
San Sebastian has the best food in Spain and Belle Epoque architecture but can be easily seen in a day, day and 1/2.
Sevilla has wonderful food, is an outstanding walking city with its Mudéjar (Moorish) style architecture and one of the largest Gothic Cathedrals in the world.
Barcelona fits your likes perfectly as do Seville and and San Sebastian/Donostia and Sevilla.
San Sebastian has the best food in Spain and Belle Epoque architecture but can be easily seen in a day, day and 1/2.
Sevilla has wonderful food, is an outstanding walking city with its Mudéjar (Moorish) style architecture and one of the largest Gothic Cathedrals in the world.
Sep 29th, 2014, 09:28 PM
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With 12 to 14 days, you might want to be even more selective than you are currently proposing. My recommendation = get some good guidebooks (or visit your local library), identify your highest priorities, note their opening hours, then plot them on a calendar along with transportation times (including time to get from place to place, pack and unpack, check in and out, etc.) -- then see how it all fits together. Good luck!
Sep 30th, 2014, 07:24 PM
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Thanks so much for the replies, just had a look at Vueling and the prices are great. I'm thinking Barcelona via plane to Seville, then via train to Madrid will be the way to go. We will be flying to Amsterdam at the end for our flight home to New Zealand, and it is cheap and easy to get flights from Madrid so makes sense to go there last.
Sep 30th, 2014, 08:46 PM
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With your interest in architecture, of course, Barcelona for Gaudi, but also consider Granada to see the Alhambra. May is peak time for the gardens there, so walking would be lovely.
You can visit Toledo from Madrid, but if you can do it, do an over night there - very atmospheric and mysterious at night - totally memorable.
You can visit Toledo from Madrid, but if you can do it, do an over night there - very atmospheric and mysterious at night - totally memorable.
Oct 1st, 2014, 12:32 PM
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Yes, we would love to see the Alhambra, hopefully we could fit in a day trip from Seville. I am going to try to squeeze in some extra days - now just to convince my workplace to approve the extra leave!
Oct 1st, 2014, 01:02 PM
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7 nights in Barcelona, a train ride to Valencia for a 2-night stay, and a train ride to Madrid for 4-5 nights, incl. 1 day-trip to Toledo. One day in nearby Segovia would also be a great experience.
That's what we did last month.
That's what we did last month.
Oct 1st, 2014, 01:33 PM
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Granada and the Alhambra is long for a day trip from Seville, should plan an overnight there if you go.
Cordoba is a good day trip from Seville, or you could visit Cordoba on the way from Seville to Granada (or visa-versa).
See what kind of flights you could get from Barcelona to Granada. Then Granada to Seville.
Madrid at the end is perfect.
You might also look at flying into Seville; seeing Seville, Cordoba, Granada, fly to Barcelona, fast train to Madrid (only a couple of hours, city center to city center). That might actually save the most travel time.
The reverse could be; Barcelona, fly to Granada, stop in Cordoba, then Seville, train to Madrid.
Three or four whole days is plenty for Barcelona, IMHO. I would give up a day or two there to spend a night each in Granada and Toledo.
With two weeks, you will have to choose between North and South. In May, I would go South because that is the most perfect time for that area - not too hot yet - and there is a great variety of things to experience from walled medieval cities to world class museums to fantastic architecture and beautiful gardens.
Cordoba is a good day trip from Seville, or you could visit Cordoba on the way from Seville to Granada (or visa-versa).
See what kind of flights you could get from Barcelona to Granada. Then Granada to Seville.
Madrid at the end is perfect.
You might also look at flying into Seville; seeing Seville, Cordoba, Granada, fly to Barcelona, fast train to Madrid (only a couple of hours, city center to city center). That might actually save the most travel time.
The reverse could be; Barcelona, fly to Granada, stop in Cordoba, then Seville, train to Madrid.
Three or four whole days is plenty for Barcelona, IMHO. I would give up a day or two there to spend a night each in Granada and Toledo.
With two weeks, you will have to choose between North and South. In May, I would go South because that is the most perfect time for that area - not too hot yet - and there is a great variety of things to experience from walled medieval cities to world class museums to fantastic architecture and beautiful gardens.
Oct 4th, 2014, 12:14 PM
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In May, for a first trip to Spain I would visit Sevilla, w/ a daytrip to Cordoba, Granada and Madrid. I would plan on a different trip sometime to Barcelona and San Sebastian (during the summer). If you absolutely have to go to Barcelona this time you could do Barcelona, Seville and Granada but Barcelona is really far and you will waste a valuable day traveling each way from Barcelona to Andalucia and back. With 14 days you could combine all four cities reasonably.
Oct 4th, 2014, 12:26 PM
#14
another approach would be to fly from Barcelona to Malaga, [2 nights] hire a car and drive to Granada [two nights] then to Cordoba [one night], Seville [3 nights] then train to Madrid.
that leaves 3 nights for Barcelona and 3 for Madrid which is probably not enough to see either of them comfortably, though you could still see quite a lot in that time.
drop Barcelona, and it becomes a rather less hectic trip. Alternatively, "borrow" some nights from another part of the trip. Where else are you planning to visit?
that leaves 3 nights for Barcelona and 3 for Madrid which is probably not enough to see either of them comfortably, though you could still see quite a lot in that time.
drop Barcelona, and it becomes a rather less hectic trip. Alternatively, "borrow" some nights from another part of the trip. Where else are you planning to visit?
Oct 5th, 2014, 05:22 AM
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<I'm thinking Barcelona via plane to Seville, then via train to Madrid will be the way to go.>
There you've got it, an excellent plan for a 12 day trip. Will allow you to see and enjoy three of the finest cities in Spain, all VERY different.
May is serious festival time in Andalucia and Madrid, primarily local events that that give you the chance to experience the food, wine, music, song, dance and fiesta culture.
Madrid, San Isidro: http://www.spain.info/no/reportajes/...en_madrid.html
Andalucia in May: http://www.andalucia.com/festival/monthlyguide-may.htm
What kind of restaurants are you looking for? Excellent restaurants in all categories in Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla. But if food is a really major thing, then go to San Sebastian, the culinary capital of Spain, if not all of Europe.
There you've got it, an excellent plan for a 12 day trip. Will allow you to see and enjoy three of the finest cities in Spain, all VERY different.
May is serious festival time in Andalucia and Madrid, primarily local events that that give you the chance to experience the food, wine, music, song, dance and fiesta culture.
Madrid, San Isidro: http://www.spain.info/no/reportajes/...en_madrid.html
Andalucia in May: http://www.andalucia.com/festival/monthlyguide-may.htm
What kind of restaurants are you looking for? Excellent restaurants in all categories in Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla. But if food is a really major thing, then go to San Sebastian, the culinary capital of Spain, if not all of Europe.
