Barcelona and Andalusia itinerary
 

I have an unexpected dilemma - having a month off in March 2025 and a planned New Zealand itinerary, then my DH asked if we could ‘give Spain a go’ ….

So, my job is to present him with the 2 itinerary options and then we will flip a coin.

Having read so many excellent reports and suggestions, these are our constraints and preferences.

It’s long haul for us from Australia, and Singapore Airlines flies in to Barcelona, not Madrid (30 hours travel, so plan to stop for few days)
Not wanting internal flights, so looking at convenient train/ bus services.

Aware of crowds and festivals and heat - so thinking March 2025 would be cool, slightly less crowded, it’s not Easter, so maybe a good shoulder season option (given this is a beaten path itinerary)

Best flights for us have an arrival in Barcelona of 28 Feb in morning and a midday departure from Barcelona 24 March

It’s a shorter trip than I prefer, and I like at least one longer stay, so these are my thoughts..

5 N Barcelona
3N Ubeda (daytrip Baeza)
10N Seville (daytrip Jerez and daytrip Cadiz)
3N Granada
2N Cordoba (book day and night visit Mezquita - an afternoon and a full day in Cordoba)
1N return to Barcelona on high speed train for 1 N pre flight

We are not interested in art, or beaches in March, or Gaudi (but will include a few sites), elegant manor / palace museums, gardens, the Moorish, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Renaissance sites will be a priority, but limiting bases.

I like to visit food markets and quiet restaurants so busy tapas bars may not be my scene, we would book restaurants as we go.

Does this order of bases look good for transport ? (I’ve saved Maribel’s suggestions of bus vs train on certain routes)
Transport seems very efficient, just not sure about Barcelona to Ubeda - this part requires train to Cordoba then back tracking I think? How can I best time this?

Would accommodation in Seville between Museo and Alfalfa be reasonable? I prefer a bit quieter neighbourhood and this place has a description of 15-20 min walk to sites which is fine. We like walking, I hope it’s an attractive area and can walk to markets, river, station and sites, occasional taxi.
Is there a food market nearby?

Thanks for any thoughts / suggestions.

Forgive me if I'm simply not reading correctly, but this statement seems to start with things that do NOT interest you and to end with things that are a priority ... and I can't figure out where the transition from one to the other occurs. Sorry! Maybe you can clarify?

Oh sorry, yes, I did not do a good job there!

We are not interested in art, or beaches in March, or Gaudi (but will include a few sites).

Our priority will be elegant manor / palace museums, gardens, the Moorish, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Renaissance sites but will be limiting bases.

I would really like to have a longer stay in Seville so could add days there, if Ubeda is too awkward to include.

Barcelona does not have a shoulder season.

Thanks for clarifying!

Funny ... I was going to note that you could probably limit your time in Sevilla. ;-0 That said, Sevilla is glorious IMO and I'm sure you would enjoy a nice long stay there. I'm glad you're thinking of giving Granada 3 nights (consider day and night visits for the Alhambra) and Cordoba 2 nights. You might also consider some time in Malaga while in that part of Spain. I haven't been there, but not for lack of interest.

With your interests, I wonder if you've considered Salamanca. It would probably complicate your routing, but OMG, it's got some beautiful architecture, including Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance sites (among others), and there's a marvelous Art Nouveau / Art Deco museum.

Thanks!
I have cut and pasted so many trip reports and ideas for the various regions and Salamanca will definitely be a good fit for another, longer trip. I thought staying south would be a better weather option for March.

There are fast trains Barcelona to Cordoba, so that seemed convenient as we like Singapore Airlines.

But Barcelona is not the main draw, and I could look at Qatar flights into Madrid instead.

I am just a jumble of confused thoughts right now, I was ready for New Zealand!

I'm sure you'll come up with a good plan, Adelaidean -- you always do!

It will all work out…you have time.
Madrid is very well connected to Andalusia by fast trains….a better starting point for your itinerary than Barcelona.

Sounds great...lots of time in Sevilla and time for day trips...love that you are visiting Ubeda as I am thinking of time there when I return to Andalucia in March.

Adie, based on your most recent TR and your penchant for visiting less popular areas, I think Ubeda is a good choice.

We stopped there for a few nights on the way to Cazorla, which we visited due to ancestral family connection reasons. This was our only visit to the region, 2015, so my info is dated and not extensive. But we enjoyed Ubeda, except for driving a rental car in town, which was true of elsewhere.

Ade, I might suggest considering a visit to Arcos de la Frontera. Agree with your prioritizing Seville.
We're off to Barcelona for the first this fall and like yourselves, are not particularly interested in Gaudi.
You could instead check out the Musical Palace, maybe also daytrips to Cadaques or Sitges?
And basing in say, Gracia, would give you access to Libertat market, which as Maribel and others have pointed out is far less crowded with selfie-stix.
Good luck!
I am done. the roaming Ade

Thanks all, it’s always interesting to read suggestions and I appreciate it.

zebec, Arcos duly noted.
My son also recommended Gracia, Barcelona as ‘my’ sort of neighbourhood.
I have that palace in my notes, and I look forward to your photos later in the year.

Nelson, Cazorla looks charming! I definitely won’t be driving. We argue plenty enough, lol.

danon, I can see why you keep returning.

ekscrunchy, I’ve followed your incredible culinary journeys and I’m looking forward to the food.

Spain has so many enticing sites, I know I can’t go wrong. I do want to keep the travel smooth and uncomplicated, so that will affect my choices.
I’m okay with following the beaten path and revisiting other regions once I get a sense of what I like.

I suspect Spain will become like Switzerland, the more I Google, the more I add to future trips.

Barcelona consider
 

Barcelona--
La Sagrada Familia interior architecture and colors amazing. Gets very crowded.
Palau de la Musica Catalana interior beautiful. We caught a concert there.

I can easily see that happening!

Just one comment at this point: I think you've mentioned google searches and trip reports, but I don't think you've mentioned guidebooks. Obviously, you've had some wonderful travels that show how you have benefitted from the extensive research you do. That said, trip reports and google searches are, IME, not the best resources for the kinds of off-the-beaten track places you prefer. You can, of course, find some of them that way, but only in a rather haphazard way. IME, the more comprehensive guidebooks -- the Rough Guide, the Michelins, the Moon Guides -- often cover things that almost never show up in trip reports or google searches. That might seem counter-intuitive: How could something in a guidebook be less well known than things described elsewhere? I think its because most guidebooks provide only limited information and -- even if they consult a comprehensive source -- most people focus on the key sights and experiences. And it seems that fewer and fewer people consult guidebooks, so we're facing an echo-chamber effect that draws attention to the few reports that do mention whatever less recognized options are being described, while leaving the other sights even further from people's radar. Just my guess.

FWIW, I know that I've found many off-the-beaten trail treasures by consulting guidebooks. In many of those cases, I found information about them online only after extensive searches. They were NOT rising anywhere near the top of google or other searches.

Again, your research for Switzerland certainly served you well. Maybe, as you spread your travel horizons to Spain, you might find some beneftis to spreading your research options, too.

Just a thought!

Thanks… a fun dilemma, I love trip planning!

zebec, Sitges looks a fabulous daytrip, and very convenient, definitely putting that on my list.

kay, thanks, both on my to do list

kja yes, good point, a visit to my library is upcoming.

I would like to share my own itinerary with the same days *:
6N Barcelona (daytrips to Girona and and/or Tarragona recommended)
AVE (direct high speed to Madrid about 2,5-3h)
2N Madrid
AVE (direct to Cordoba about 3h)
4N Cordoba (daytrips to Ubeda & Baeza). Also, 2N Córdoba + 2N Úbeda if you want to stat there).
AVE (direct to Granada about 2h)
3N Granada
AVE (via Córdoba to Sevilla)
6N Seville (daytrip Jerez and daytrip Cadiz)
AVE (direct Toledo)
2N Toledo
1N AVE (via Madrid to Barcelona)

* In my opinion:

- + 1 day more in BCN for daytrips and jet lag recovering…

- Madrid is not a must, but a 2 days visit is recommended

- 10 days in Seville (8 + daytrips) are excessive.




1N return to Barcelona on high speed train for 1 N pre flight

jordicalafellpuy5904,
Are you saying that there is a DIRECT AVE from
Sevilla to Toledo?

Amsdon

there isn’t .Change in Madrid.

Ade, each of the following Barna (authentic abbreviation used by locals it seems) titles had something of value to offer when we did recent research:

Like a Local
Moon
Eyewitness
Frommers
Fodors
Michelin
Rough Guide
Rick Steves
***Lonely Planet had 3 guidebooks, two of which were published in the same year: Experience Barcelona and Barcelona (reg. guidebook)?? Their third was a marvelous kids book titled 'Barcelona City Trails' - very interesting even for grownups!

Does Blue Guide 'do a Barcelona'?
I am done. the pages

I used all of those guidebooks, too, and found the Rick Steves one virtually useless. JMO.

No, sorry. It's via Madrid.

Thanks all.

Have 3 guidebooks as a start and have been playing around with schedules.

Barcelona days will likely increase (and I anticipate it will be a future landing point for a northern Spain and Madrid trip one day, so not including Madrid and surrounds this time)

Looks like Seville to Granada (train or bus), Granada to Ubeda (by bus), Ubeda to Cordoba then fast train Cordoba to Barcelona - this routing offers 2.5 hour- 5 hour travel times, without awkward changes.

I may be able to add a few days and may stop in Zaragoza after Barcelona - a different region,
interesting history and architecture, good daytrips.

DH will review my thoughts and decide….Spain or NZ ….

Much better! Personally, I think deferring Madrid and thereabouts for another trip makes sense. And if you think you might visit northern Spain one day, you might consider waiting to visit Zaragoza. There's MORE than enough to keep you busy with what you've chosen so far, and if you want to add something, you could add more of Catalunya or more of Andalusia -- each has a lot to offer. If you really want to add something, maybe Valencia?

I visited Zaragoza on a day trip from Madrid….could have stayed longer. It is in Aragon,
half way between Barcelona and Madrid
Valencia is a lovely city on the sea , very different than Barcelona.
Spain is such a diverse country, so many choices.

Ade, I just checked our vaunted Reference Library's holdings for a 'Baedekers Barcelona'.
Some of their Baedekers date from the 1870s (Syria/Palestine & Northern Germany).
But apparently Baedekers last published a Barcelona edition back in 1992.
I am done. the boox

Agree. Many choices, ….too many!

Valencia is very enticing. Las Fallas looks like a busy festival in March, and I wonder if visiting about 10 days prior might mean a lot of construction. I was in Montreux in June and the jazz festival prep made parts of it unwalkable.

Update to plans- husband chose New Zealand as our next holiday.

But thank you all for your helpful input, Spain will be on the agenda, just another time.

Thanks for letting us know!
Enjoy NZ. :)

@zebec ... nah, I wouldn't use "barna", it's only used by ridiculously posh people (and posh wannabes). The majority of us locals refer to the city as "Barcelona", and sometimes, in written form, you might also see BCN. Note also that it's pronounced "bar-sah-loh-nah", no "z" sounds here please as we don't have this sound in Catalan -the local language. Also, for reasons related to Catalan pronunciation in our area, we pronounce the "e" in Barcelona as if it were an "a". Stick to the pronunciation I mentioned and you'll see the appreciation from true Barcelonans.

And for those not knowing, please do NOT refer to the city as "Barça", as this is ONLY the nickname of the main football team: FC Barcelona :)) Not "Barca" either... that means "small boat" in Catalan, but it certainly does not refer to the modern name of the city of Barcelona.

We Catalans aren't obsessed with "shortening names" as many Anglos do. In fact, a typical misconception by many visitors when visiting Barcelona, especially from English-speaking countries, is to refer to Sagrada Família as "sagrada". That baffles many locals, as "sagrada" means nothing, it only translates as "sacred", and we have several sites in the city with this name: sacred this, sacred that.... My advice is always to write/refer to the complete names, as written, no shortening. This will achieve two objectives: (1) locals will know what the heck you are referring to, and (2) you'll be able to find the information you seek when searching online.

Gracie Enric: We don't want to come across as posh or even posh-ish!
Bahr-sa-LOW-nah. Got it.
God's Sense of Humor: Air Canada is threatening a strike.
(shakes head)
I am done. the perfect storm