Base city to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, Granada?
#1
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Base city to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, Granada?
In October we plan to fly in to Madrid, spend a few days, and then hopefully take the train south to see Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, and Granada.
If we choose to do day bus excursions from one base city, which would you recommend?
Marbella?
We then (hopefully) plan to take a train to Barcelona.
Suggestions would be helpful
Thank you
If we choose to do day bus excursions from one base city, which would you recommend?
Marbella?
We then (hopefully) plan to take a train to Barcelona.
Suggestions would be helpful
Thank you
#2
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I wouldn't advise usingone base city for all of these places.
Personally I'd spend 4 nights in Sevilla and I'd stop en route from Madrid in Cordoba. Then I'd spend 2 nights in Granada. I wouldn't spend any time in Gibraltar unless you've already visiting many cities in Andalucia that are more worthwhile IMHO.
Personally I'd spend 4 nights in Sevilla and I'd stop en route from Madrid in Cordoba. Then I'd spend 2 nights in Granada. I wouldn't spend any time in Gibraltar unless you've already visiting many cities in Andalucia that are more worthwhile IMHO.
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You really need to spend some time with a map and a few pins. A single base city is not practical given the amount of territory you want to cover. What is your total on ground time? Makes a big difference.
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Here is our itinerary for our upcoming trip to Spain.
Fly into Barcelona and stay 4 nights
Train to Cordoba & stay 2 nights.
Train to Grenada & stay 3 nights
Pick up car & drive to Ronda & stay 2 nights & explore the countryside
Drive to Cadiz, return the car & stay 1 night
Train to Madrid & stay 1 night (were there for 4 nights last year), and fly home the next morning.
Stu Dudley
Fly into Barcelona and stay 4 nights
Train to Cordoba & stay 2 nights.
Train to Grenada & stay 3 nights
Pick up car & drive to Ronda & stay 2 nights & explore the countryside
Drive to Cadiz, return the car & stay 1 night
Train to Madrid & stay 1 night (were there for 4 nights last year), and fly home the next morning.
Stu Dudley
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Unless you have visited Sevilla before you are missing out on the gem of all these cities.
If you haven't visited Sevilla before I'd drop a day in Granada, drop the overnights in Cordoba and Cadiz and spend 4 nights in Sevilla. Visit Cordoba as a daytrip from Sevilla and fly from Barcelona to Sevilla.
Alternatively skip the overnights in Ronda and Cadiz and visit Cadiz as a daytrip from Sevilla. Go from Barcelona to Granada (fly) to Sevilla, Cordoba and then Madrid.
If you've visited Sevilla in the past (and for some reason don't want to return) then I'd fly from Barcelona to Granada, spend 2 nights in Granada, stick with the plans to rent a car and visit Ronda, then go to Cadiz for 2 nights (drop the car in Cadiz), train from Cadiz to Cordoba and then Madrid.
If you haven't visited Sevilla before I'd drop a day in Granada, drop the overnights in Cordoba and Cadiz and spend 4 nights in Sevilla. Visit Cordoba as a daytrip from Sevilla and fly from Barcelona to Sevilla.
Alternatively skip the overnights in Ronda and Cadiz and visit Cadiz as a daytrip from Sevilla. Go from Barcelona to Granada (fly) to Sevilla, Cordoba and then Madrid.
If you've visited Sevilla in the past (and for some reason don't want to return) then I'd fly from Barcelona to Granada, spend 2 nights in Granada, stick with the plans to rent a car and visit Ronda, then go to Cadiz for 2 nights (drop the car in Cadiz), train from Cadiz to Cordoba and then Madrid.
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>>Unless you have visited Sevilla before you are missing out on the gem of all these cities<<
Oops - forgot about it when I posted;
Pick up car & drive to Ronda & stay 2 nights & explore the countryside
Drive to Cadiz, return the car & stay 1 night
Train to Sevilla and stay 3 nights
Train to Madrid & stay 1 night (were there for 4 nights last year), and fly home the next morning.
Stu Dudley
Oops - forgot about it when I posted;
Pick up car & drive to Ronda & stay 2 nights & explore the countryside
Drive to Cadiz, return the car & stay 1 night
Train to Sevilla and stay 3 nights
Train to Madrid & stay 1 night (were there for 4 nights last year), and fly home the next morning.
Stu Dudley
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OK - now it makes more sense
I'd still consider tweaking by taking a day from Granada and adding to Cadiz. I not only personally hate 1-nighters but I love Cadiz, one of my top 3 cities in Spain. 2 days is adequate for Granada IMHO.
I'd still consider tweaking by taking a day from Granada and adding to Cadiz. I not only personally hate 1-nighters but I love Cadiz, one of my top 3 cities in Spain. 2 days is adequate for Granada IMHO.
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Stu - I love your itinerary! My only very minor question would be whether it might make sense to shift a night from Granada to Sevilla, but your 3 - 3 plan could easily be best, depending on when you plan to arrive and depart from each. Enjoy!
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>> 2 days is adequate for Granada IMHO.<<
Actually, on day 3 in Grenada we plan to pick up the car & spend the day visiting Baeza and Ubeda.
Cadiz.
We wake up in Ronda, and then perhaps do a lazy drive to Cadiz - visiting the countryside along the way. Then we return the car in Cadiz, visit, & stay overnight. Our train to Sevilla leaves at 11:35 the next morning. Should we high-tail it from Ronda to Cadiz & therefore spend 3/4 or more of a day in Cadiz and less time in the countryside around Ronda (we'll be in Ronda for 2 nights)???
We spend at least 2 months in Europe every year, & have visited France for around 3 years total, and about 6 months in Italy. We love the countryside in both countries. Last year for our fall trip, we spent 3 weeks in Spain visiting Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca, Avila, and Segovia. All these cities exceeded our expectations. However, we were underwhelmed with the countryside around Madrid, Salamanaca, Avila, and Segovia - compared to what we've seen in France & Italy. Some guide books I've read said Andalusia is more scenic.
We leave in 3 weeks and all our flights, trains, hotels, cars, etc are already reserved. So I guess the only question is whether we spend a half-day in the countryside around Ronda, or in Cadiz.
Stu Dudley
Actually, on day 3 in Grenada we plan to pick up the car & spend the day visiting Baeza and Ubeda.
Cadiz.
We wake up in Ronda, and then perhaps do a lazy drive to Cadiz - visiting the countryside along the way. Then we return the car in Cadiz, visit, & stay overnight. Our train to Sevilla leaves at 11:35 the next morning. Should we high-tail it from Ronda to Cadiz & therefore spend 3/4 or more of a day in Cadiz and less time in the countryside around Ronda (we'll be in Ronda for 2 nights)???
We spend at least 2 months in Europe every year, & have visited France for around 3 years total, and about 6 months in Italy. We love the countryside in both countries. Last year for our fall trip, we spent 3 weeks in Spain visiting Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca, Avila, and Segovia. All these cities exceeded our expectations. However, we were underwhelmed with the countryside around Madrid, Salamanaca, Avila, and Segovia - compared to what we've seen in France & Italy. Some guide books I've read said Andalusia is more scenic.
We leave in 3 weeks and all our flights, trains, hotels, cars, etc are already reserved. So I guess the only question is whether we spend a half-day in the countryside around Ronda, or in Cadiz.
Stu Dudley
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