1st Time Spain - North or South?
 

Hi everyone! Forgive this long question. My husband and I will be traveling to Spain over the winter holidays for 7 days. We both want to go to Madrid, but he wants Barcelona and I Seville. Can anyone recommend a trip in either direction that gives ample time to see the two main cities as well as smaller ones in between? We don't mind driving long hours to "see all there is", not much into museums, enjoy good food and beautiful sights. Please let me know how many days in each place you feel is best. Also, where should we spend New Years Eve? Thanks for the help!

Between both Madrid and Seville and Madrid and Barcelona there aren't any terrific towns. You'll be there for only seven days so spend 3 in Madrid area and 2 in Seville. From Seville drive to Cordoba and then on to Granada and back to Madrid. Barcelona will be cold, and there aren't any towns of major interest around there. New Year's Eve consists of downing a grape at each gong of the clock. Choose small grapes (of course, they are the most expensive). If Times Sq. is your thing, go to the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Otherwise, any good hotel anywhere should have a party.

We are going over the holidays as well and struggled with the same question--north or south since one week is too short to do both well. The deciding factor was weather--it matters to both of us. We like the warmer climes better so Sevilla won out. We will do Barcelona and the area around during the warmer months some other time. In fact, we are hardly going to spend much time in Madrid (supposed to be really cold then) either but are just going to high tail it to the South. Perhaps the cold doesn't bother you--in which case it might just have to be the coin toss.

Lady
Madrid and Barcelona are very good destinations but the drive in winter between them has a very limited interest. For this option plane or train should be best way to go.
If you go for the south move, I think you can stay for a couple of days in Madrid, and then drive to Toledo-Cordoba-Granada-Seville, and back from seville to Madrid by car,fast train or plane.
In 7 days is tight but possible.
On this south route you can make quick stops in places like, Ubeda, Baeza, Ecija, Carmona,Antequera,Osuna.
The more time you spend on the road the less for Madrid and Seville.

Thanks for the advice! Car, you mentioned many places en route to Seville, are they all worth stopping in or just interesting if time allows? Do you recommend seeing them all in one day or cutting the drive to Seville in half, but seeing these towns? thanks again!!

Lady
Day 1 Madrid
Day 2 Madrid
Day 3 Early start to be in Toledo(1 hour drive from Madrid) 10am, take a walking tour by yourselves or organized,
this will give a general view of the main sites, Don't miss the Cathedral and Church of Santo Tome ,(Greco paintings).
Late afternoon drive to Cordoba,4 hours
Day 4 Cordoba, Mesquita and drive to Granada 2 hours, If you make it for lunch or just after lunch you can visit the Alhambra, or otherwise stay overnight and visit it the next morning.
Day 5 Granada-seville 3 hours drive.
Day 6 Seville.
Day 7 Seville. Back to Madrid? If this is the case try to drop your car and take the AVE train 2.5 hours.
The other small stops I mentioned in my previous post use them as stop possibilities if time allows.
This is a rush-rush trip and is also related to your day 1 and day 7. I counted them as full useful days for the local trip.

Thanks again - that itinerary sounds possible. My husband and I are "fast travelers". Any thoughts on if New Years is better in Madrid or Seville?

Lady
I have never expirience new year's in Seville, so cannot tell you which one is better. In both cities the best option will be to join a party at the hotel you are staying.