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10 Days in Spain - Fine tuning itinerary
Hi all,
My husband and I will be traveling to Spain for 10 days this Summer. I know there are a lot of itineraries listed on this page and they have been very helpful in narrowing down our options. We are hoping for some suggestions for fine tuning our itinerary. We are interested in food, wine, beautiful scenery and historic sights. Of course will throw in a few art museums as well. Our trip is as follows: Day 1: Full day in Madrid (arrive 8am) Day 2-4 train to Seville -> 2 nights Seville Day 4 Rent a car: Seville -> Cordoba -> night arrival in Granada Day 5 - 6 Alhambra Day 6/Night 6 - mini road trip to Nerja and Malaga (reason for renting the car in Seville) Day 7 - Morning flight to Barcelona from Malaga Day 7 - 9 Barcelona (if we added the extra day/night here, maybe we could do a half day trip to Montserrat, Figueres or Costa Brava) Day 9 Afternoon train to Madrid Day 10 Fly home to US We are struggling a little with the Day 6/Night 6 and not totally agreeing on best option. Our plans sort of changed when we realized the Caminito Del Rey is sold out during the few days we could do the hike. So instead, we decided we both wanted to visit at least one of the white villages and see some of the coast but I'm wondering if we should spend an extra day in Barcelona and fly there from Granada. We know we are trying to do a lot in a short amount of time and are fine with just a couple of days in each city but I also don't want to feel like I'm sprinting through Spain. Does anyone have any suggestions for our itinerary or how or if you would tweak it! Cheers! |
You are sprinting through Spain, but if it is fine with you..no problem Just keep in mind you are in some places where temp. is often close to 100 degrees (some stores and restaurants close in the afternoon.) Several posters say they can move from hotel in one city to hotel in another in no time at all, other have found that changing locals “ eats “ some of your day.. t |
Sounds like a sprint to me, too, and one run in brutal heat. Good luck!
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That's a 100-yard dash by my standards!
I won't pick the whole thing apart because it's making my head spin, but just for starters, you don't have a "full day in Madrid" upon arrival. You won't be up and running until mid-day at best, and you'll likely be dealing with jet lag. The same sort of pattern repeats itself throughout your itinerary, but if that's how you enjoy traveling, go for it. |
Thanks for the input. From your responses, seems like staying the extra day in Barcelona is best. This itinerary other than the day I was speaking of seems to be a pretty general 10 day itinerary. And sadly, I guess anyway you look at it, with only 10 days it will feel like a Sprint. 😅 2 nights seville 2 nights Granada 3 nights Barcelona 2 Madrid (we have to fly in and out of there) Thanks! |
You can still fix this sprint, see as much or more, and have a more relaxed time. The way you layed things out the first time, you counted days twice, appearing to have much more time in places than you do. Two nights give you one day and perhaps part of a day, depending on travel times. For example, you listed days 2-4 as Seville. Well, No! You arrive about mid day on day 2 and day 4 is entirely used up going to Córdoba and on to Granada, so you have 1 day in Seville. Any sight seeing on day one is on a jet lagged arrival day in intense heat. Here is what I would do. Absolutely forget Malaga and Nerja! Do a day trip from Madrid to Toledo instead. Forget renting a car! Wastes time getting and returning the car, parking and dealing with having luggage in the car in Córdoba and Nerja. If you do get a car, be sure to know exactly where you will park in Córdoba and Granada and Nerja. Do not leave luggage in car. I also like the coast, but you have to skip something. If you fell you must include the coast, then skip Córdoba. Reasonable, I think, and what I would do in Summer. Day 1, arrive Madrid, go straight to Seville by train, afternoon/evening walk, dinner in Seville. Day 2, Seville Day 3, Day trip to Córdoba, sleep Seville Day 4, Travel to Granada, afternoon and night, Granada Day 5, Granada morning, late afternoon or evening flight to Barcelona Days 6 & 7, Barcelona Day 8, Travel to Madrid, afternoon Madrid Day 9, Madrid or day trip to Toledo. Day 10, depart Madrid That gives you Seville, 3 nts. Granada, 1 nt. Barcelona, 3 nts. Madrid 2 nts. If you must do a white village and Córdoba, and give only 1 night to Madrid, do this. Day 1, arrive and go straight to Seville. Day 2, Seville, Day 3, Córdoba day trip. Day 4. Rent car and go to white village and on to Granada, staying 2 nts in Granada. Day 5, Granada. Day 6, Travel to Barcelona, 1/2 day Barcelona Days 7 & 8, Barcelona Day 9, Travel to Madrid Day 10, depart Madrid Seville, 3 nts. Granada, 2 nts, Barcelona 3 nts Madrid, 1 nt. Good luck with your decisions. We have been to Spain once in September, once in April, and twice in July and enjoyed it even in the heat. |
book trains early for possible discounts - Renfe or www.loco2.com - www.seat61.com has sage tips on doing that - general info trains www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com.
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You have totally short changed Madrid but maybe you plan another trip there in the future? This itinerary is a blur, too much, too fast, not allowing for any substance or understanding of any place visited. You don’t have enough time in Barcelona to take day trips. If you had time, I would recommend Figures to visit the Dali Museum. I would never visit beautiful Andalusia in the heat of summer. |
some people are not bothered by hot weather ...I was in Andalusia and Madrid in August the first visit ..hot like hell ,, but I was young..lol. Not anymore! As everyone knows moving around involves time ,, not only checking in and out of hotels, but getting to train stations.or airport . etc A poster suggested leaving Madrid right away and coming back at the end since you have to fly from there home... Good idea..From Madrid you can ,right away ,take a train or fly to Granada, Seville or Barcelona...spend whatever you wish there, ..Vueling has cheap flights from Barcelona to Granada ...(and Seville, ) when finished, train to Madrid for final couple of days. With a tight schedule you would do well to research transportation carefully. |
Personally, I'd skip Barcelona and concentrate on the south (or vice versa). Flying mid-holiday is a million miles from relaxing and that would allow you more time to enjoy the other places on your itinerary. And I agree that if you can avoid staying in Madrid twice, I would.
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Thanks so much everyone! We toyed with the idea of heading straight to Seville and that is a MUCH better plan. Thank you Sassafrass for the new and improved itinerary suggestions!! I also thought we should skip Barcelona this trip but it’s really the top priority for my husband so we are adding it in. Thanks again everyone! I already feel more confident about the trip! |
We too had a car in Granada and Cordoba (although I think the daytrip idea above is a better idea and gives you 3 nights in one place versus lots of forward motion).
Anyway - this hotel in Granada has convenient parking and is right across from Alhambra. You can walk to town or there's a frequent jitney bus (most walk down and bus up!) http://www.hotelguadalupe.es/ And we stayed here in Cordoba - very convenient location and also with parking https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/mae...9ed04cf993f241 |
IMO, a car will not help with this sprint -- Spain has high speed trains and comfortable buses, and public transportation will give the travelers some of the only down time this itinerary will allow.
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