First time in Spain
 

Hello! I'm planning on visiting Spain for the first time this April and would greatly appreciate help with logistics! We are 3 friends traveling together and are interested in sights, flamenco, arts/culture, and food. Might land in BCN then head to Madrid or save Barcelona for another trip. Here is the plan:
*3 travelers
*14 days total including travel to and from LAX
*3 nights Madrid
*3 nights Barcelona
*6 nights Sevilla
*1 more night in Madrid before departure back to LAX

Do you plan to visit Granada? IMO, it doesn't work well as a day trip from Sevilla; instead, it's best with a least one night -- and better, 2 or 3 because there's a lot to see there. Cordoba is much more easily visited from Sevilla, although again, I personally prefer to give it at least a night or two. Whether / how you plan to visit these places will affect how you plan the rest of your time.

If possible, you might consider flying into Sevilla and out of Madrid (or Barcelona ... read on) or vice versa. Once you consider the costs in time and money of backtracking, open-jaw flights are not necessarily more expensive than round-trips. Search using the "multi-city" option.

Whether your plans for Madrid and Barcelona make sense depend on what you want to see and do. I found 4 very full days barely sufficient for Madrid, but then, I gloried in the chance to visit its art (and other) museums. I spent 6 very full days in Barcelona, plus time for places normally visited from there as day trips. There's a LOT to see in Barcelona!

I hope that helps.

Thank you, Kia! It does help a lot! Was planning on Granada and Cordoba as day trips but now considering 1 night at each. Now looking at:
*14 days total including travel to and from LAX
*4 nights Madrid
*1 night Cordoba (flexible with Sevilla)
*1 night Granada (flexible with Sevilla)
*7 nights Sevilla
*leave from Sevilla back to LAX instead of taking train back to Madrid and staying 1 more night in Madrid

You'll have jet lag upon arriving in Madrid, so you might consider switching one night from Sevilla to Madrid to make sure you have the time you want there.

Book the Alhambra, Mezquita, and Alcazar of Seville using ONLY the official web-sites and do it sooner rather than later. If the Alhambra is open in the evening when you'll be there, consider both day and night visits.

Enjoy!

I would pull a night from Sevilla and give it to Granada to give you time to see Granada at a more leisurely pace. Ideally, I would do the same in Cordoba as well.

It seems like a lot of nights in Seville vs Madrid. I would do:
*5 nights Madrid (with a daytrip to Toledo or Segovia)
*1 night Cordoba
*2 nights Granada
*5 nights Sevilla

Hi there ! I am in agreement with so much here from everyone. A lot depends on your specifics too; I think Revulgo's suggestion may be a good fit.
So are you flying direct from LAX and do you generally experience jet lag? Many have tips for that too. 🙂

Whoops one more question to help Goya 🙂 Revelgo I assume you recommend train throughout for that itin?
We are in Spain RIGHT NOW and will get to a trip report in Feb upon return. BUT the train part you guys shared has been super helpful.

Also as far as daytrips to Segovia or Toledo is there one tour you recommend?

Segovia and Toledo can each be easily visited from Madrid without a tour. FWIW, I think Segovia is worth an overnight and Toledo with 2 nights. JMO.

thank you! Will book those through official sites only!

Great tip, will book through official sites. Thank you!

Good to know! Thank you!

I highly recommend Casa de la Memoria flamenco show in Sevilla https://casadelamemoria.es/en/

TravelTherese posted a great recent trip report with photos you might find helpful at: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...eport-1726544/
Our trip report from Barcelona 2018 is at: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...eason-1660907/

Agree with Revulgo.
Probably, best to focus on what is of most interest to you in each place.

Amsdon, querida,

Do we get a peek at your trip plan?????

Like Kay2, I recommend the Casa de la Memoria flamenco show in Seville. We were in the south of Spain in April and really enjoyed the nighttime tour of the Nasrid Palace. We had a guided tour of the Alhambra the following morning with Margarita Ortiz de Landazuri who brought everything to life. In Cordoba we visited the Mezquita during the day and, in addition, attended the Soul of Cordoba which is a nighttime light and sound display at the Mezquita. If time allows, I recommend doing both.

You don't have to return to Madrid just to catch a flight. If you are in Seville, just catch a flight from Seville.

Heads up, shelemm: See post # 3.

seat61.com may be some help

Goyatravels , where do you three stand at this point on the itinerary? Did you eliminate Barbelona?

Scrunchita, We are in Cadiz! Leave tomorrow for Sevilla. The trip has been great, albiet slow slow travel because of my doggone knee. 😕.

The trip report will take some time. For the first ever we are truly relaxing ( But naturally feeling guilty and worried about the California fires. Our little place is not too far from all the actions but we are safe over there.
I will share the itinerary to below. Here's a little secret
😉😉😉😉 Goyatravels is a good friend. I'm thrilled that she is going to Spain!! 💃💃💃💃

Scrunchita querida our trip is 47 days
We left Dec 23 arrived Dec 24 in Madrid
Madrid Catalonia
Granada ( by train)
Jerez by rented car
Cadiz by taxi
Next.......
Sevilla ( private driver planned almost same as Taxi. We will see)
Salamanca ( transport TBD) Anniversary yay
2 Pueblos in Zamora plus Zamora city, Carbajales
& Cerezal de Aliste
Leon
Burgos
Madrid round 2 🤪
Home to So Calufornia Feb 7

I will try to get a start on notes soon. As you know I tend to be verbose 🤣. But the trip has been wonderful and very different than I imagined.

Goyatravels Sorry to hijack....
Fodorites lets help my buddy make it wonderful.

QUESTION TO HELP GOYA;
Can you rank you favorite DAY TRIPS from Madrid for her? In order of preference ? ONE THROUGH 3 ?