CathyM

Personally I would budget 3 full days in Sevilla. If you do Cordoba as a daytrip en route from Madrid to Sevilla I'd definately budget 4 nights in Sevilla as this will be 3 days. If you decide to visit cordoba as a daytrip en route from Granada to Madrid then you could probably get away with 3 nights in Sevilla if you take an early morning train from Madrid. Just my opinion.

Taltul

Don't underestimate jet lag. Spending the time in Madrid will give you time to get oriented, organized and let's you get your energy back. Then you can get the most out of your Seville - Granada leg of the trip.
By the way, there are other side trips from Madrid if you run out of places to visit while you're there. Segovia is a wonderful day trip and there is also El Escorial (which is closer to Madrid). So spending several days in Madrid at the beginning would help you get the most out of your trip.

Robert2533

As already mentioned, jet lag can take its toll if you don't use the first day to adjust to the changes. The biggest change will be adjusting to the different dining hours. Lunch is usually taken after 1:30 and dinner, especially during the heat of summer, is not taken until late at night. You'd be early dining at 10:00. We usually do lunch at 2:30 and tapas in the evening. Dinner is a rarity during the summer months unless it's closer to midnight and we're out with friends.

You can do a tapas tour in Madrid. Andres of Walks of Spain (walksofspain.com) comes highly recommended for the first time visitor, as does Hernan of Madrid Museum Tours (www.madridmuseumtours.com). Both offer their own vision of tapas touring in Madrid.

Or you can download a copy of Maribel's Guide to Dining in Madrid and set out on your own (www.maribelsguides.com).

I hope you have a healthy budget when it comes to staying at the Parador de Granada. I just checked and the only room available for the beginning of July, and unless you were lucky enough to grab a standard room yesterday, is a Junior suite, which is going for 632€/night, without breakfast. There appears to be no availability after the 4th. Rooms open up again on the 26th.

This Parador misses having its 5th star simply because there is no elevator service to the Suite on the top floor. It's one of the most expensive in the system and very popular.

jag1jag1

The Walks of Spain looks interesting. Lots of recommendations for various companies; many of them seem to be very well reviewed.

We will stay in Madrid for the first 4 nights. Should we be making train/seat reservations for all of the trains in advance?

Egbert

Yes if you want the discount. Did anyone mention how unvelievably hot it's going to be? Makes sure hotels have ac.

jag1jag1

Yes, I know that it will be really hot...I pretty much need to travel in the summer. So, it's either in July or not at all to Spain.

jag1jag1

I will purchase the Granada/Madrid and probably Seville Granada trains in advance. But for the more frequent ones--Madrid/Seville, daytrips Madrid/Toledo and Seville/Cordoba--is there a chance they will sell out if I wait to buy them until I'm in Spain? It would be nice to have some flexibility in the schedule once we are there.

CathyM

You might have trouble getting on the exact train you want without advance purchaseso it would mean waiting around an hour or so for the next train.

And for some legs, like Madrid to Sevilla, advance purchase means highly discounted promo plus fares (up to 70% !). What you could do is buy the tickets in advance at the promo fare (not as discounted as the non-refundable/non-changeable promo plus fares) and if you need to change then incur the 20% penalty and any price change in the ticket. This would guarantee you a seat on the train you initially want to take at a reduced rate but if you change your mind and want flexibility have the ability to amend the ticket.

Egbert

You should be able to get on any trains unless it is during a holiday or fair.

jag1jag1

Would it be a crazy idea to rent a car as we are leaving Seville and drive through the hills towns to Granada all in one day (dropping off the car in Granada when we arrive)? We still are interested in seeing some of the smaller towns.