Feedback on my Spain itinerary
 

We will be visiting Spain in early October for a biking trip. We are flying into Malaga, renting a car and driving to Montejaque (near Ronda) where we will rent a villa for 8 days in order to have a home base to bike the Andalusian countryside (non-guided tour). We will take day trips to different hill towns and the coast on non-biking days. Then we are planning to travel to other parts of the country. I'd like some feedback on our plans:

Oct 7-15: Fly into Malaga, drive to villa in Montejaque
Oct. 15: Drive to Grenada early AM (one night stay)
Oct. 16: Drive to Cordoba (one night stay)
Oct. 17: Drive to Seville, drop car at rail station, stay 2 nights
Oct. 19: Fly to Barcelona, stay 3 nights, fly home on Oct. 22

We will concentrate on the southern part of the country while we're at the villa. It looked like too long of a drive to do Grenada or Cordoba from the villa so that's why we're driving to each city on our way to Seville. My worry is that we're not going to have enough time in Cordoba.

Honestly I don't think you're going to have enough time in Grenada, Cordoba, Sevilla or Barcelona!

You currently only have 7 nights after the 8 night stay in Montejaque. Would you consider cutting your time back a couple of nights in Montejaque so you have 9 nights after this trip to visit Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada and Barcelona? If so then I'd split by Granada - 1 night (although I loathe 1-nighters), 4 nights Sevilla w/daytrip to Cordoba, 4 nights Barcelona. (Personally i'd probably cut the Montejaque stay by 3 nights so I could have 2 nights in Granada and avoid the 1-nighter).

Or if you haven't booked your flights try to fly home with a connecting flight from Sevilla/Granada/Malaga and save Barcelona for another trip. Then with 7 nights I'd spend 5 in Sevilla (w/a daytrip to Cordoba plus one other location) and 2 in Granada OR 3 nights Sevilla, 2 Cordoba and 2 Granada.

The front part of your trip is ultra slow then it's the polar opposite for your Granada/Cordoba/Sevilla/Barcelona portion.

I agree that you aren't allowing very much time for these locations and it would be nice if you can figure out a way to add some time to them. You might want to consider skipping Barcelona on this trip so you can add a night each to Grenada, Cordoba, and Seville.

> Drive to Grenada early AM (one night stay)

Be sure to reserve your time at the Alhambra in advance, and consider visiting during both the day and the evening.

> My worry is that we're not going to have enough time in Cordoba.

I was glad I had nearly 2 full days there, but many people just spend a few hours as a day trip from Seville. It depends on what you want to see and experience.

The good news is that you'll see some amazing places no matter what you decide!

If you are driving to Grenada, then it will be a long trip. Grenada is in the Grenadines, in Caribbean. Granada is a little closer and doable.

As already noted, I'd cut Barcelona altogether on this trip and fly back home from Sevilla. Barcelona and the surrounding area needs more than three nights.

No comments from me on an inappropriate amount of time to visit other people's favourite places :-) No place "needs" any more time than you want to give it.

Logistically speaking you would be better served by going to Seville from Montjaque, then moving on to Cordoba and then Granada. There are flights from Granada to Barcelona.

You may want to do your 1 nighters before Seville, as you have laid out - I just thought I would point out that there is no backtracking and a shorter overall distance involved in traveling from West to East.

I think your itinerary looks ok in terms of nights. I agree it may make sense to visit Seville from MOntejacque then head east. That way you could drive through the beautiful parks in the area.

We spent one night in Cordoba - glad we didn't do it as a day trip as you get to go to the Mezquita before all the tour busses arrive from Seville - but I think two nights would be too much for us.

You could add one night in Granada if you wanted and enjoy a hammam, full day tour of ALhambra and wander the Arab quarter another day. ***Make sure you figure out your ALhambra tickets early - reserve way ahead or find a hotel that can get you tickets.

Seville was our favourite place to wander about but two nights there was ample.

HOpe you find good bike trails. Are you road or mountain biking? ROad biking is great mountain biking is still a work in progress from what we experienced...

Thanks for all the replies. I know it seems like a long time to be in Montejacque but the main reason for the trip is the biking. We are road bikers and have done this same type of trip in Tuscany. Stayed at a villa and biked most days, interspersed with touring small towns.

I will be sure and reserve Alhambra tickets ahead of time - that's all we want to see and then spend the night and leave early in the morning. Will have to see what the flights are like from Granada but Barcelona flight is booked already so can't be changed. We found a 29 euro flight on Vueling from Seville to Barcelona so will get there quickly at least!

Robert2533 - Still have "Grenada" on the brain. Have been looking at small cruises from there. Time to shift focus!

To me it seems you won't even have a day in Granada. It took me about 5 hours to tour the whole complex. There's much more to see in Granada so if it were me I'd add another day to walk around the "Arab" district-touristy but fun-see the cathedral or at least enjoy some of the restaurants that serve free tapas with purchase of a drink.

She won't have a day and that is her plan and she is fine with it.

Another option would be to add a day to Granada, taking it from your time in Barcelona because it is easier to get to Barcelona, and so more likely that you will see it again. Just a thought!