JannaG

I will be landing in Madrid and departing from Barcelona in June. I have 9 nights on the ground, which isn't much. Could I ask for recommendations on the following?

1. How many nights in Madrid?
2. How many nights in Barcelona?
3. Which other place would you recommend that I visit between Madrid and Barcelona? Would it be a day trip or overnight stays? Cordoba? Seville? Segovia? I'm open to suggestions.

This is my first time in Spain and my first Europe trip in many years. Would love some updates and recommendations or suggested itineraries or any comments.

Thank you and cheers.

traveller1959

9 nights means 8 full days minus half a day for travelling between Madrid and Barcelona (train takes around 3:30).

IMO, there is more to see and to do in Madrid (Royal Palace, several first-rank museums, cityscape) AND there are more options for interesting daytrips from Madrid, so I would spend 5 days in Madrid and 3 days in Barcelona.

Options for daytrips from Madrid:

- The train to Sevilla takes 2:30, from Sevilla to Cordoba 0:42, and from Cordoba back to Madrid 1:44. So, an option would be a daytrip from Madrid to Sevilla, then to Cordoba and then back to Madrid. It is doable and would not be overly exhausting but if this seems too much for you, go only to Cordoba. IMO, Cordoba's cathedral is more attractive anyway, and Cordoba's Old Town is generally more authentic than Sevilla's which has become victim of mass tourism. This daytrip would give you an excellent introduction to Andalusia and it's special blend of Moorish, Christian and Jewish heritage.

- Alternatively, you could do a daytrip to Toledo (0:33 by train) which gives you a similar experience, yet on a smaller scale.

- A different experience would be a daytrip to magnificent El Escorial which takes a 0:35 train ride from Madrid-Chamartin (or a bus tour). You can combine El Escorial with the historical city Avila, which is 0:47 by train from El Escorial (and 1:29 from Madrid).

JannaG

Thank you for your suggestions.

I'm really leaning towards Cordoba. What do you think of going from Madrid to Cordoba and staying a night at Cordoba before proceeding to Barcelona? Could stop over at Seville prior to Cordoba perhaps.

Could I also know where to pre-purchase train tickets online or if purchasing in Madrid itself a couple of days in advance is good enough?

Again, thanks for responding.

traveller1959

The direct train from Cordoba to Barcelona is not faster than the connection via Madrid (both around 4:40). So, travelwise, there is no need to stay overnight in Cordoba. The con is that you have to take your baggage to Cordoba and that you have one more hotel check-out and check-in. The pro is that you have two hours more for your Sevilla-Cordoba daytrip.

If you book your tickets online in advance, you can get cheaper "promo" fares (without changes and cancellations).
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html

JannaG

Thank you, traveller1959. Very helpful!

Would you btw have hotel recommendations for Madrid and/or Barcelona? Or perhaps good locations to stay at for a first-timer? My budget is modest - a double/twin room for USD150 or thereabouts.

traveller1959

Use tripadvisor in combination with the booking machines.

KodakMoment

<I> IMO, Cordoba's cathedral is more attractive anyway, and Cordoba's Old Town is generally more authentic than Sevilla's </I>

I'm sorry but you couldn't be more wrong. I loved the Mezquita in Cordoba, but Sevilla's cathedral is a sight to behold.
And in terms of old towns, you can't beat the narrow streets of Barrio Santa Cruz. There's a lot more to see in Seville, such as the Real Alcazar, Plaza di Espana and the adjacent Maria Luisa Park, Basilica di Macarena, Hospital De Los Venerables...
I think Seville deserves a trip on its own but it can be done as a daytrip as traveller suggested.

But to answer the OP, with only 9 nights, I would spend 4 in Madrid (+ daytrip to Toledo) and 4 in Barcelona.

In Barcelona I have found apartments to be much more affordable than hotels.
Check Habitatapartments.com or AirBnB. I stayed in a very nice apartment in the Gothic Quarter for $87/night.

In Madrid, you won't have a problem finding a nice hotel on your budget. The room I had booked was at $42/night. (A basic but very clean ensuite, in a centrally located hotel)

traveller1959

I introduced my sentence with "IMO". I always thought, an opinion cannot be right or wrong.

Anyway, the Mezquita of Cordoba is absolutely unique among the cathedrals in Europe because it was built around a mosque. Nowhere else have the religions been so close together as there.

If you have to choose between Sevilla and Cordoba, I recommend rather Cordoba.

I recommended that OP visits just the main attractions of Sevilla in the morning and those of Cordoba in the afternoon, but that he/she will be fine if he/she visits Cordoba only, because it is closer to Madrid.

KodakMoment

Yes, but rest assured that you're in the minority. I think you're the only person who would recommend Cordoba over Sevilla.
Cordoba is a one-trick pony.

maitaitom

Toledo...it was our favorite town in Spain (although we loved virtually everywhere we ventured). It's only a half hour train trip from Madrid. You can visit as a daytrip or an overnight.

Leave Sevilla and Cordoba for another trip in my opinion.

maitaitom

Janna, Here is my trip report with photos from May/June of last year. We started in Barcelona and ended in Madrid...you can also read about Sevilla, Cordoba and Toledo (not to mention Granada). After reading it, I think you can make up your own mind on what city you'd like to visit. By the way, there is NO wrong answer. Have a wonderful journey!

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/spain-2015/</B>

kja

IMO, no one can answer these questions for you because people really differ in what holds their interests. For comparison, I thought 4 days just barely enough for Madrid, not counting any day trips; 5 days for Barcelona, again not counting day trips, 2 full days / 2 nights for Cordoba, 3 for Sevilla, 2 for Toledo, etc.

Personally, I would hold off on both Cordoba and Sevilla until you can include Granada and give it 10 days or so. JMO.

I strongly recommend that you get some good guidebooks (or spend some time with a few in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, check their opening/closing times on the internet, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add some time on either side (for getting to/from your lodging, checking in/out, packing/unpacking, getting oriented, etc.). Only then can you see how things would work out given YOUR interests.

BTW, note that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break.

Good luck!

Robert2533

>I always thought, an opinion cannot be right or wrong< Ah yes, but now you're dealing with KM...

JannaG

Thank you for all your replies, everyone. I agree the decision is mine and frankly I am not the type who would squeeze in everything just for the sake of seeing as many things as possible. I would be even good with JUST Madrid and Barcelona, ambling around and people watching on some days.

Usually, I am not a big fan of day trips -- the thought that I have to make my way back (no matter how doable the distance) to the original city -- makes me feel rushed and unsettled. Like I'm only touching base to see and do all I could, instead of really making a visit to a new location. Not sure I make sense.

Still, I thought it would be a waste if I don't see more of Spain while there, hence my quick post to get me started before I research more and decide.


Maitaitom - thanks for the link to your trip report. I'll check it out very soon.

Thanks all. If anyone has any other input, feel free to pipe in.

tarfan24

For information on trains in Europe, check out www.seat61.com. It has all kinds of information about train travel in Europe. I tried booking tickets via renfe.com but was unable to - kept rejecting my US CC and my bank said it was not even getting to them to approve or decline. Ended up booking via loco2.com as recommended on seat61.