12 days holidays to spend in Spain..any good suggestions?
 

Hi
My husband and me are planning to visit Spain in the coming Easter and we roughly have 12 days (full) to spend there. Which cities/towns should we visit? Been told that Seville and Granada are very charming that we shouldn't miss. But besides these two places, any other good recommendations? Or is there anyone who would like to plan an itinerary for us? Many thanks in advance.

I highly recommend Andalucia. Seville is wonderful and, although we were there in September, I understand Semana Santa is the most festive time. We missed Cordoba but with 12 days, you should try to fit it in. The hill towns (pueblos blancos) to the southeast of Seville are gorgeous, nestled in the mountains - some of them overlooking the Mediterranean. I especially recommend Grazalema, Arcos, Ronda and a small town where we spent a couple of days, Gaucin. The view from Gaucin of the sea and the mountains of Africa beyond is breathtaking. Granada is a must-see, especially for the Alhambra. Nothing I had read or heard prepared me for the beauty and serenity of the Alhambra. It is pure pleasure for the senses.

What do you like to do? Do you like cities or small towns? What are your interests? Do you like to move around a lot or stay put?

I did a two week trip that included Madrid with day trips to Segovia and Toledo, Cordoba, Sevilla, Ronda, Granada, and Barcelona. It was fabulous and I loved it all, but not everyone would like that itinerary.

Give us more details, and we can help you better.

Karen

Hi Karen

We definitely love to visit all those places that you mentioned. But we won't do Barcelona and Madrid this time. We will focus on Andalucia as we love small towns more. Would you suggest us to use 1 or 2 of those places as a base and then visit the rest? As we know that Seville is the most expensive place, should we stay somewhere else? Please suggest. Besides, are all those towns easily accessible by bus or should we hire a car? Any good restaurant (not pricey) in Seville and Granada? And do you know how long it takes by train from Lisboa in Portugal to Seville as we will fly to Lisboa first before heading to Andalucia. Other fodorors who have recommendations and suggestions about our itinerary are also very welcome.
Thanks a lot!!

We were in Seville a few weeks ago and especially liked these restaurants -
The best (and inexpensive) tapas we had on our trip was at the Bar Estrella. No English menus nor English speaking waiters.
Hosteria del Laurel restaurant- we had very good paella here..
El 3 de Or - paella again and the best of our trip - highly recommend.
Robles Tapas was another good tapas restaurant near Cathedral square Downtown- Blanco Cerillo on Calle Jose Velilla (off Calle Tetuan), a unpretentious place for very good tapas especially the marinated (in vinegar), deep fried sardines.
Bar Patanchon - excellent tapas and we had her recommendation Maribel's recommendation of deep fried camembert with raspberry sauce?mmmm!

Any helpful suggestions from other fodorers out there?

i would plan some of my trip around touring the parador castle hotels.. if you do not want to sleep at them, then atleast stop for a coffee and enjoy the castle, palace, or scenery.
they tend to be in small towns and are charming. a nice break in your drive.
spain is a very visual country.

with twelve days you have plenty of tme to go off the beaten path on some secondary roads on way south. however, easter is a difficult time to get reservations anywhere special.

www.parador.es

The Balearic Islands are beautiful, just warming up at that time. We alwayws avoided Majorca, and spent many happy weeks on Menorca. We always anchored in the port of Mahon, not much sightseeing per se, but fabulous scenery and great waterskiing!

The week before Easter Sunday, Semana Santa, in Sevilla is one of the truly spectacular events anywhere in the world. If you are religious, it is terribly moving. If you are not religious it is equallymoving as you see the dedication and faith of those who are. Plan at least two days in Sevilla during the week and swallow the cost. - it is truly worth it. y other recs would be Granada, Ronda, Grazelema, and a quick ruh through Cordoba to see the Mezquita. Assuming you you will fly into Madrid: Immediately upon arrival, take a cab to Atocha Station, catch the AVE to Cordoba. Get off in Cordoba, stash your bags in the lockers at the station. Take a cab to the Mesquita for a couple of hours. Then back to the station and take the AVE to Sevilla [45 min]. Stay in Sevilla for two - three day, then rent a car at Sawnt Justa station and druve east thru El Bosque, Zahara de las Sierras, Grazelema, Ronda and on to Granada.