Jacqui_H

I am planning a trip to Spain and Portugal in late April - May as part of a longer European trip of 2 - 3 months. I am a solo female, late 30s, and have travelled on my own before in Canada and USA (I am from New Zealand).

I have an itinerary planned but would welcome suggestions on the order of places and time spent in each place, plus anywhere else you would suggest I should visit. I have been trying to work around avoiding Cordoba on a Monday, and Granada on a Monday and Tuesday when it looks like the Alhambra is not open in the evenings.

April 22 arrive Madrid 7 nights
May 1 train to Seville 4 nights
May 5 train to Granada 3 nights
May 8 train to Cordoba 2 nights
May10 train to Barcelona 8 nights
May 18 fly to Lisbon 6 nights

From Lisbon I will fly to Paris. From Madrid and Barcelona I plan on doing some day trips, as well as from Lisbon, but I wonder if I should take a couple of days from Madrid and Barcelona and see some more of Portugal - but where?

I am yet to book hotels and would welcome suggestions, my budget is about 150 euros per night, and would also be interested in apartment recommendations.

Thanks

ribeirasacra

Madrid
Lisbon
Seville
Cordoba
Granada
Barcelona
Paris
IMHO this is a more logical order.

kimhe

You'll be in Cordoba during the annual patio fetival. Colourful patios, food, wine, music, song, dance, concerts etc. etc. from May 4-17. Book accomodation as soon as possible. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/patios.htm

We had a great stay in modern Cordoba Centro a couple of years ago, some 300 meters from the Mezquita and just off heart of the city Plaza de las Tendillas: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/cordoba-centro.es.html

Sevilla:
Been perfectly happy in Corregidor in recent years. Local feel and 15 mins walk to the Cathedral and the Santa Cruz district: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/h10-corregidor.no.html
The area: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...macarena-spain

Barcelona:
Banys Orientals in medieval and vibrant El Born: http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com/
The area: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...s/el-born.html

Madrid:
Apartments in the heart of the city: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/dfla...nto-sl.no.html
The area: http://www.barrioletras.com/
http://www.gomadrid.com/sights/plaza-santa-ana.html
The best live jazz and flamenco venues in town are on your doorstep. Only top of the shelf artists, and changing artists all the time.
Casa Patas: http://www.casapatas.com/
Cardamomo: http://cardamomo.es/
Cafe Central: http://www.cafecentralmadrid.com/
Populart: http://www.populart.es/

bilboburgler

The balance for me is if you want appartments you may need 7 days, but since this is low season you should be able to reduce that to say 5 days. I'd take a day or two off Bacelona and Madrid and give it to Lisbon or Porto

Ribeira's sequence is more logical

Jacqui_H

Thanks for your ideas. The patio festival looks great, and I will look at your hotel recommendations.

Would you suggest flying between Lisbon and Seville, or taking the bus?

kja

You might want to visit Toledo from Madrid, or even spend a night or two there.

ribeirasacra

Most do fly, I suppose it comes down to coast/time balance.

debinthepeg

On the comment about apartments above - if you are interested in renting apartments rather than hotels, I easily found apartments in Barcelona, Cordoba, Madrid and Seville for 3-5 night rentals in October - very few had a requirement to rent for 1 whole week. I have seen that in some beach destinations but not these cities