Cordoba or Granada?
 

in may, my wife and i are spending a month wandering spain and portugal. we tend to stay in the countryside and take day trips into cities. the more that i research i feel that we will miss evenings in a large city. now we have 4 nights booked in a villa in Antequera and take day trips from there. thinking of canceling one of the nights and spending a night in either Cordoba or Granada. recommendations? also considering doing the same in western Andalucia to have a night in Seville.

thanks

I loved them both. If you absolutely can't fit them both in I suppose I would have to opt for Granada, just because seeing Ferdinand and Isabella folded into thos tiny coffins was an image that remained with me for a long time. But so did the history and structure of the mosque in Cordoba. You have a month and can't do both?

the one that we don't spend a night in, will be a day trip.

You don't really want to drive in Granada if you don't have to.

I would spend the night in Granada, but must say, some of our favorite evenings were in smaller towns, sitting out in plazas with local families enjoying Summer evenings. We especially liked small coastal towns.

that's what we tend to do but would like to find some good tapas bars and perhaps some flamenco. a night visit to alhambra perhaps

I for one liked Cordoba more as a city than Granada - bit more compact and to me more interesting sights than Granada which does however have two stellar sights - the cathedral and Alhambra- latter sounds especially neat at night - was there only there for a day - took night train out at night.

But both are nice.

For tapas in Granada, check out: http://www.pinterest.com/sanfermines...as-in-granada/

IMHO Seville, Granada and Cordoba are all must sees. If you have a month surely you can take time from some less important places. I don't see you whole itinerary - but I would happily take time from Madrid to see these 3 wonders.

The night tour of the Alhambra remains the most extraordinary experience of a tourist attraction Iand history I have ever experienced in Europe -- and I've been around a lot in Europe, seeing a lot of tourist attractions. So I would spend the night there. The mosque at Cordoba is a masterpiece and can be easily seen in a day trip.

I also will always remember a night visit to Alhambra .
Agree with PP.

To be able to see Granada's Alhambra in both daylight and (for the Nasrid Palace) in the evening as well is one of the great joys of my travels to date -- and I've been very fortunate to have traveled reasonably extensively. To do both really requires 2 nights in Granada, IME -- arrive the night before, visit the Alhambra (including the Nasrid Palace) during the day, then return in the evening for JUST the Nasrid Palace.

Of Spain's other extraordinary riches, Cordoba's Mezquita is the other that reaches my list of top travel experiences ANY where. I found more than enough to keep me happily busy in Cordoba for 2 full days, but you can visit the Mesquita as a day trip.

If I had to choose spending time overnight in just one of these cities -- and I am SO very glad that I didn't face that choice! -- it would by Granada. And I would, as noted, make it TWO nights. JMO.

Hi Toledodd!

I second the idea of an overnight in Granada. And I suggest you read the beautiful report on Granada , and other cities from Maitaitom! Believe me, a great report.

as i look into the logistics on staying in granada and having a day & night visit to the alhambra, the costs are adding up - parking for 2 days (needed for 1 night lodging) would be over 30 euro, entrance fees would be about 24 euro each and about 100+ euro for a room. i know that this is one of the highlights of spain but it may be a budget breaker. this is only 1 of 4+ trips that we are taking this year (Palm Springs/Mexico for 3 weeks, toronto film festival, Hilton Head (2 weeks) and several visits to kids in nyc. travelled independently last year - a month in southeast asia and another month in sicily. i have a master's degree in history and taught american and world studies for 35 years but tour buses and large crowds (3 million visitors to alhambra last year) make me want to run to the closest village with 10,000 people or less and hide under the bed. i know that i will get some "interesting" responses to this. thank you so much for all of the great help and may still bite the bullet and do it.

also the day that we have available to granada is monday and there is no night visit that day.

Given what you say, I suggest you go to Cordoba.

Be sure to visit Roman Cordoba a few hundred meters north of the Mezquita, in the area between Plaza de las Tendillas and Plaza de la Corredera. Genuine and affordable tabernas on every corner. Have had some excellent late nights in terraces on Plaza de las Tendillas, the absolute best atmosphere and crowded with groups of friends and families as late as 3am in the weekends. http://www.fmschmitt.com/travels/spa...Tendillas.html
http://www.artencordoba.com/English/...as-Square.html

Outside the Mezquita area, Cordoba is much less touristy than Granada and even Sevilla, and you can easily get a laid-back Andalucian feel for life here. I have visited in relation to magnificent theater performances, ended up in never to forget flamenco nights, had some of the best no fuss meals ever and met brilliant people. Perhaps the best description would be to say that Córdoba - outside the absolute most beaten track - is a place where Andalucía just tend to happen.

This will get you in the Cordba mood, "Cordoba - vida y genio" (life and spirit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EfUPX7g71A

<would like to find some good tapas bars and perhaps some flamenco>

In Antequera, go to Pena Flamenca Luis Perdiguero in the Plaza de Toros. Take a look here for tapas in Antequera: http://andaluciacoastandcountry.com/antequera/

For flamenco in Cordoba, go to intimate Arte y Sabores: https://www.facebook.com/tablaoarteysabores/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html
Or see updated program for all kind of genuine flamenco performances in small clubs or grand theaters in Cordoba here: http://www.guiaflama.com/flamenco-en-cordoba/

thanks you so much for the information. the article about tapas in antequera was enlightening. perhaps there will be some great things happening in the small towns and villages where are spending most of our time.

Let's see, you are equating major sites in Spain with Palm Springs, a Toronto film festival, Hilton Head, and visits with your kids ? You need to go back to school ! and to drop the villa in Antequera which has a population of 46K. BTW, the Alhambra won't have 3 million visitors the day you visit, hahaha ! Since you're so strapped for cash, I'd suggest that you visit all three major cities as day trips and take the bus - no parking fees. The day visit to the Alhambra is the mandatory one. And, if you get to Cordoba early enough, the Mezquita is free. In another thread you mentioned the Guggenheim. That is a drive-by; no need to go in. Kimhe mentioned tapas and flamenco joints in Antequera, so no need to go to a bigger city for those.

bedar, your response is about what i was expecting. many fodor responders are known for their rude responses, i've seen thread about this. glad that you have the time to stalk me on the forum so you can make more remarks. when you travel 25-30 weeks a year you have to watch your expenses unless you are lucky enough to be wealthy. we have traveled most of the world for the last 45 years and have enjoyed the adventures. yes i would equate visiting family and attending renown film festivals with standing in line with 1000s to get a 30 minute visit in a historical site. our best experiences have been in small towns like in turkey along the black sea near the georgian border. i can read all i want about the alhambra and see wonderful photos (when the place is empty, not with crowds) but spending time with people in remote mountain villages around the world, bartering in fish markets in cambodia, sharing tea with a family in their hut sri lanka are experiences that are what travel is about. there are many types of travel and getting out of tour buses and being surrounded by mobs is not our cup of tea. see, you can disagree with some one without being rude - it was so hard to avoid some remarks of my own.

Who said you should take a tour bus ?? I was saying you should take PUBLIC buses from Antequera to Granada, to Cordoba, and to Seville. Look at the Alsa site for their schedules. Sorry, didn't mean to be rude. Just trying to be somewhat funny and to give you tips on how to save money - using the bus, only visiting the Alhambra during the day, getting free admission to the Mezquita. Think you'll be disappointed in Antequera because it's a city, but live and learn. Our village has <600 people. Sometimes it's fun and other times boring, but we've been there so long that it's too be expected. Have fun in Spain.