Our family has twelve days over Christmas for our holiday vacation. We are all flying into Malaga and the renting a car to spend in Seville,Granada and Malaga with stops in Ronda and possibly Gibraltar.
My questions to your seasoned folks for this area-if we add more time to Seville or Granada,are we going to be upset that we didn't do the drive to Cordoba?
Should we go for a stop in Gibraltar on the way or just forget it? I have heard some pros and cons but it is one of those places that my adult kids have always wanted to see.
We are leaving on Sunday so any tips or help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks-

I can't say anything about Gibraltar, but Cordoba has the wonderful Mezquita, which is really a stunning sight. I have been there a couple of times and I think it's unlike any building I've ever seen before.

Cordoba IME is one of the nicest of many nice cities in Andalusia area - I did a day trip there from Seville and that was great - stop for a few hours at least if to see none other than the famous former Mosque turned into stunning cathedral.

You plate is very full - Gibraltar was a novelty and it is one place that I am very happy I went - but many people diss it - but climb around the rockon footpaths and see the tail-less monkeys - the only monkeys on the European continent not in zoos - beware though they can be aggressive - don't try to feed them!

I stayed overnight in Gibraltar but a a half day or so would be fine - not sure if you can always drive into Gibraltar due to the long-going dispute between Spain and the UK over who owns the Rock - I went by bus and buses had to stop at the border and we all had to walk across the airport runway to get to the Rock.

To me a real neat site - something different but not a whole lot there besides the Rock and British pubs and feeling.

Yes, you should definitely visit Cordoba, one of the highlights of Spain. In descending order of interest, go for Cordoba, Malaga, and then Gib.

Thanks everyone-had planned on 3 nights on arrival in Malaga (with the possibility of cutting off a night for Gibraltar or Ronda, 4 nights in Seville,one night in Cordoba,two nights in Granada,and then back to Malaga for two nights on the 24th and 25th of December before leaving on the 26th.
Its our last family vacation before my daughter gets married next summer so want to plan it right?

We liked Cordoba very much and I can recommend the Palacio del Bailio which had the most amazing Roman spa.

http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2012/...html?q=cordoba

IMHO Gibraltar is a complete waste of time - a big rock with a lot of nasty monkies that like to bite and steal things form tourists. The atmosphere is very British, not Spanish, and getting back into Spain can take hours depending on the relations between the two countries at that point.

And while Ronda is cute - neither comes anywhere close to Cordoba - which in it's heyday was the most advanced city in europe. Unique and gorgeous.

You do not have to stay overnight in Córdoba, but do not skip it. You could cut a day from Malaga. You could do a day trip from Seville or stop for several hours on the way to Granada if you are going from Seville to Granada or on the way from Granada to Seville.

Gibraltar is not worth it to me, especially compared with Córdoba, and considering how much time it takes to get there. There are so many, IMHO, more interesting places in Spain you could visit.

I agree - don't miss the Mezquita.

I thought Cordoba worth 2 very full days. NO reason to drive there -- take the train!

FWIW, I consider the Mezquita one of the highlights of the world, not just Spain.

I felt no obligation to visit Gibraltar.

Thinking with time and distance to scrap Gibraltar and keep our overnight in Cordoba. Thanks!
Anyone have any must sees or eats they can recommend in either Malaga,Seville,Cordoba or Granada?

Have you looked at the Michelin Green Guide -- or any other decent guide to the area? ANY of those should let you make decisions that work for YOUR interests.

Another vote for staying in Cordoba for a night if you can swing it.
I had 2 days & a night, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Like many places which have a big complement of day trippers, Cordoba has quite a different feel at night.

I also liked Granada very much. Stayed a week & would go back to both places in a heart beat.

Cordoba is nice, and I don't know how many here have spent the Christmas season in Spain, but Malaga is one of the best places to be for the night of the 5th of January, Three Kings Day.

And yes, Gibraltar is a complete waste of time... anytime of the year.

Recommend to spend a night in Cordoba. Go to "Roman Cordoba" just north of the mezquita around central Plaza de las Tendillas and Plaza la Corredera for local atmosphere and affordable tabernas on almost every corner. "Cordoba- life and spirit" will convince you ;-): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

<any must sees or eats they can recommend in either Malaga,Seville,Cordoba or Granada?>

One of both in all:

Malaga:
Fabulous steaks and lamb in excellent and local atmosphere El Botijo, a five min and 7€ taxi drive from the heart of town: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

The Civil War victims memorial in the San Rafael cemetery: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news...f_Franco.shtml

Sevilla:
Cutting edge tapas in Eslava: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/2008/02/eslava/

Real deal flamenco in Casa de la Memoria, popular with tourists but only top of the shelf artists perform here: http://www.casadelamemoria.es/

Cordoba:
Local and traditional food in famous Taberna Salinas from 1879: http://www.tabernasalinas.com/

The 11th Century Palace city Madinat al-Zahra just outside of town: http://www.andalucia.com/magazine/en...d4/madinat.htm

Granada:
The huge Cathedral down in the city center was built for the so called Reyes Católicos/Catholic kings (Isabel and Fernando) after they took Granada and Alhambra from the last emir of Moorish Spain in 1492 and ordered the expulsion from Spain of all Muslims and Jews. The taking of Alhambra and the subsequent construction of the Cathedral are two parts of this same dramatic story. http://www.lovegranada.com/monuments/cathedral/

Isabel and Fernando are buried in the adjoining Capilla Real/Royal Chapel together with their daughter Juana la Loca (the mad), her husband Felipe el Hermoso (the handsome) and their infant son. Few monarchs have had such impact on world history as Isabel (especially she) and Fernando. The Cathedral leaves no doubt that they meant business!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_I_of_Castile
Capilla Real: http://granadamap.com/capillareal.htm

<i>> Anyone have any must sees or eats they can recommend </i>

In Cordoba, we enjoyed dining at Taberna Salinas, already mentioned by kimhe. Others we liked:

Casa Rubio, right next to The Almodóvar Gate.
Restaurante Amaltea near the Roman Bridge.
La Bicicelta, a few blocks from Amaltea, a fun funky local joint, specializing in healthy organic items.

At night we saw a fantastic flamenco performance at Artes & Sabores. Standing ovation for the performers our night, highly recommended.
http://www.flamencotickets.com/arte-...res-de-cordoba

Another night the Equestrian Show at the Royal Stables was worthwhile, dress warmly in December I guess:
http://www.reservasturismodecordoba....ublicacion/527

A couple photos of those shows are here:
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/co...f4c4#h6b60f4c4
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/co...f4c4#h66e62dbd

In Granada we loved our dinner at Restaurant Aben Humeya, with a classic view of the Alhambra.

Well I for one am very glad to have gone to Gibraltar even though there are no great cathedrals or palaces just a very very unique place - all the cities are great but in some ways similar - spice up the trip with an unforgettable visit to the Rock. there are indeed hassles however getting there and back by car- I think you'll have to walk in - I had to and there were virtually no waits at customs, etc.

https://www.google.com/search?q=gibr...w=1745&bih=868

Malaga and the renting a car to spend in Seville,Granada and Malaga with stops in Ronda and possibly Gibraltar.>

Malaga to Granada - one night -IME Granada though like all cities in this area is fascinating it does not have the surfeit of things to see as Cordoba and Seville do - if the awesome Alhambra were not here Granada would be way down on my list.

Drive to Ronda - one night - a small city with its main site the stunning physical setting - gorgeous with its gorge.

Drive via the iconic white hill villages - very famous - to Seville-

3 days

Drive via Jerez de la Frontera - 1 night - see the famous Andalusian horses practice in the horse arena and tour at least one famous sherry house ('sherry' being a corruption of the word Jerez after the British took over the sherry trade).

Drive to Gibraltar - half day visit and drive back to Malaga to explore it and its area.

The iconic perched white villages of Andalusia - some of the best lie on the road between Ronda and Seville:

https://www.google.com/search?q=perc...HWEABEgQsAQIHg

Cordoba is well worth it. The mesquita is incomparable. It blew me away.