Trying to figure out 2 places to use as bases as we tour Andalucia. We will probably have 3 days in the Cordoba area and 2 days around Granada before we head back to madrid. Would you suggest that we use Cordoba as a base and do a day trip to Sevilla and then other spots or is it better to use Sevilla as a base? Sevilla sounds beautiful but also seems tough to navigate (we will have a car). Same question for Granada. Should we stay in somewhere like Ronda and do Granada as a day trip or vice versa? We are going in December and any input is much appreciated!! Thanks

I just returned from Spain last week. When I was planning my trip I was going to do a day trip to Granada but changed it at the last minute to stay overnight. I'm really glad I did. Granada is a nice town and after long afternoon/early evening at the Alhambra it was nice to go back into town, have a great dinner and relax. I had a car and found navigating Granada a little confusing, but not too bad. There was no parking near my hotel so I found a parking garage (10 euro/night) and hailed a cab. Also, I visited Ronda as a long day trip from Malaga along with Grazalema, Gaucin and Casares - all very beautiful... Enjoy your trip to Spain and I hope the weather cooperates in December!

John

I'm the guy who is always talking about spending the night places to really absorb it. But to be perfectly honest, I don't think there is anything special about Ronda at night, and yes, I've done it. I haven't spend a night in Granada, but I somehow think it might be very nice. And although driving in and out of Seville isn't terribly easy -- and you won't need a car while there, I sure hope you spend a least a couple of days there, it is wonderful. Frankly I'd rather spend a couple of nights in Seville and do Cordoba as a day trip, rather than the other way around. I loved Seville at night, much more than Cordoba.

I agree with Patrick about Seville at night--it's really magical--and you should go to the flamenco show at Los Gallos--it's really worth it. Maybe you could return the car in Seville and take the train back to Madrid?

Thank you for all the input. Sevilla it definitely is. Will check about car/ tain options as well--that is a good idea. Thanks!

Ronda is definitely dead at night. everything closes at 11pm. It is very beautiful during the day. Seville is worth at least 2 days. My personal opinion as well stated in these forums is that Granada is the most over rated city and the Alhambra the most over rated site in the world!!! Skip Marbella as well.

Thanks amrdia. Sevilla is definitely where we are going to stay couple nights. About Granada--I would be interested to know why you think it is so overrated because I have heard that elsewhere as well. Would you all recommend that we stay someplace like Jaen and use that as a base to do just a day trip to Granada instead of staying in Granada itself? We will be there next month so it will be cold I guess. If not Jaen, where else could we stay do explore the area around Granada/ Jaen etc?

mary80
regarding your last post I think you are getting somehow confused, Granada might be overrated, but definetively you should not drop it and "use Jaen as a base" the best places to stay in for a week trip are Seville, Cordoba and Granada. You can do a day trip to Cordoba from Seville or stop in your way back to Madrid.Car or train.
While in Seville just drop your car in a
good parking and forget it during your stay, Ask your hotel for the best and closest one around.

Seville is wonderful and staying there is a great choice. Regarding Granada, the sights are amazing and I would not miss them.

We stayed about 1 hour west of Granada and had planned to make Granada a day trip. We could not see all we wanted in one day so we ended up driving back the next day.

I have stayed in all cities listed. Seville and Granada are overnight stay cities. Cordoba and Ronda are interesting and would be good day trips, but have only one or two major sites to see if time is limited. If you have the time stay over in all four.
I think Granada and the Alhambra are not be missed and worth 2 days. Seville is worth 3-4 days at least. You could also go to Cordoba, Ronda, Jerez or Arcos from Seville. Jaen could be a daytrip from Granada.
The Alhambra is a must see of Europe - absolutely unique. Granada also has the cathedral where Isabel and Ferdinand were buried and a lively street life with shopping, nice restaurants, and a nice atmosphere. Seville is much larger and has many museums and a great street life. In either town, I would stay somewhere where I could park my car for the hotel stay and use the bus system to get around.

Thank you everyone for all the input. I was getting quite confused but all the input really helped. Sevilla and Granada it is.