Cadiz during Carnival? Other suggestions...
 

Hi,
We are leaving for Spain next week and will have 5 nights/4 full days in Seville. We'd like to have an idea of a day trip that we could take with our teens if we end up having the time.

Cadiz was an idea but the carnival will be going on when we're there and it might be too crowded for our tastes; we'd rather avoid huge crowds on vacation if it can be avoided. Any feedback on being there for the carnival? If not for the carnival, I think Cadiz would be a great choice for us.

This is our first time in Spain and we'll be staying in Seville and Madrid. We're looking for a town that's interesting enough that we can spend a few hours walking around exploring the area, enjoying the culture and having a meal. We don't need "major" sights. Our kids aren't overly anxious to tour more cathedrals.

Also, would prefer train over bus from Seville.

Thank you in advance.

Buses are a common way to travel in Spain and work well.

BUt if you want train, I'd suggest Cordoba as the prime one, if you haven't been there. There are some historical buildings worth visiting, like the mezquita (which was a cathedral for some time of its history). But plenty else to see, also, like the Royal Stables
http://english.turismodecordoba.org/que-visitar.cfm
http://english.turismodecordoba.org/.../royal-stables

Of course they have carnival, there, also
http://english.turismodecordoba.org/...val-of-cordoba


I don't know where you can go by train close to Seville where carnival isn't going to occur -- Huelva isn't far by train, but it has one of the biggest carnival events in Andalucia. http://www.andalucia.com/festival/others.htm

You can go by train from Sevilla to Cádiz in under two hours. I wouldn't worry too much about Carnival in Cádiz. It's been going on for awhile and one of the big events, a quarter final, takes place this evening (www.carnavaldecadiz.com). They have been celebrating Carnival in Málaga the past week, but only in the late afternoons to around 11:00 pm, as most people have to get up to go to work the next day.

Sevilla, by the way, is an interesting city, where you can spend hours walking around.

Or you can take the train down to Jerez and possibly see the horse show at the Real Escuela Andaluza Del Arte Ecuestre. You'll need to purchase your tickets in advance (www.realescuela.org/en/).

There is also a horse show at The Royal Stables in Córdoba you might enjoy (www.cordobaecuestre.com).

Robert this has me thinking that we don't need to avoid Cadiz. I was envisioning it would be one big rowdy party, full of crowds, but maybe it's not (?).

Jerez and Cordoba are on our list as well.

There have been many threads on here with opinions on which towns are worth visiting. Does anyone have experience visiting Jerez, Cordoba or Cadiz with kids?

Thank you.

<a town that's interesting enough that we can spend a few hours walking around exploring the area, enjoying the culture and having a meal. We don't need "major" sights. Our kids aren't overly anxious to tour more cathedrals.>

I love Cordoba, but most daytrippers go here exactly for the Mosque-Cathedral (Mezquita): http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/mosque.htm

They mean busines with their carnival in Cádiz: http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/festi...arnival-cadiz/

Your best bet is perhaps to explore the very different districts of Sevilla itself. "The independent republic of Triana" on the other side of the city river Guadalquivir is beautiful, has got lots of Identity and character and deserves a "day-trip". Walk, soak up the atmosphere and have some great tapas: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/triana.htm
Viedo of a Triana tapas tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mFE9k0E-2Y
The place in the middle of the clip is Las Golondrinas: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...s-golondrinas/

Or go to the Alameda/Macarena district, a little north of the main tourist attractions. Especially Calle Feria is as bustling small town feel as it gets: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...macarena-spain
The Feria market: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGEkQ9KXxZM
And here you can visit the oldets tapas bar in town, El Rinconcillo from 1670. The Sevilla speciality Espinacos con garbanzos (very flavoursome spinach with chickpeas) is excellent here: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...l-rinconcillo/