Granada or Seville
 

My boyfriend and I will be flying into Spain after spending a week in Paris (late June). We plan on spending a couple days somewhere before we rent a car and drive to Malaga. If you had your choice between the 2 (or something else within a few hours of driving to Malaga), which would you choose? We aren't that concerned about nightlife - mostly nice scenery and sights.
Thanks for your help!

If I have to choose only one ...Granada :) And I also think it fits much better on your two days idea, Seville is a much bigger city. Granada has the greatest Spanish highlight, the Alhambra.

Second Kenderina on Granada - hands down. No other place like the Alhambra and the scenery is beautiful.

Granada- for sure!!! La Alhambra was one of the most incredible places I've visited.

I agree that The Alhambra is "one of a kind" but in some ways the Alcazar in Seville has much the same architecture and interior decoration.

NO, I did NOT say they are equal but certainly similar.

I think you might find more to see and do overall in Seville (which is not my most favorite place in Spain by a long shot) including the cathedral, etc.

Don't think you'll go wrong with either place.

Notice that everyone above me has talked about the Alhambra and said little, if anything about Granada itself.

That tell you anything?

I found Sevilla enchanting. It's a big city but I found it just lovely and didn't have a big city feel to me at all. The gardens by the palace, the open boulevards, the twisting, cobbled streets and rooftop terraces with 1 mini round table on top, all made it seem magical. You can easily get lost in the narrow streets some of which the sun shines on only for 2 hours in a day. The people seemed especially warm compared to my experience in Granada where they were pointed and brusque.

The Alhambra is quite a sight there is no denying that but the city of Granada, to my taste was dirty and not very welcoming. People stared and were not very pleasant when I went into town in Granada. Also, the Alhambra is basically all there is to Granada (well, at least that is all I felt like seeing after the luke warm reception) while Sevilla had more things to experience and do. The Alhambra is also on a hill and removed from the town in a way so it takes effort to venture into the city of Granada.

I just returned from both cities. I preferred Sevilla, but also really liked Granada - and not just the Alhambra. I'm probably in the minority, but I enjoyed the Alcazar in Sevilla as much as the Alhambra. Don't get me wrong, the Alhambra is magnificent - but the gardens at least, in the Sevilla Alcazar were more enjoyable to me. I was there in March though, and very little was in bloom at the Alhambra gardens, while those in SEvilla were more lush. Anyway, the city of Sevilla is definitly more beautiful - architecturally, in terms of parks and squares, the cathedral, etc. The Barrio Santa Cruz is more pleasing visually than the Albacin in Granada (though the view of the Alhambra from it can't be beat). But the city of Granada had a certain quality that was quite interesting.

Short answer - can't go wrong with either one.

I agree with most of what others have said, including that you can't go wrong with either! But while I agree that there is more to see in Sevilla, I found much to enjoy in Granada - not just the Alhambra (which I loved).

We enjoyed the Alhambra and Grenada and would go again.

But Seville was such an exciting city! So much to see and do and still feels like a small charming town. You can get lost along the winding streets at a tapas bar or go to the Alcazar for a taste of what the Alhambra offers. The energy was exciting.

Loved loved Seville!

Dukey, the Alcazar moorish decorations were done by Alhambra craftsmen especially hired by Seville's king Pedro I. Everything was supposed to be richer and more elaborate than those in Alhambra.

Both cities are worth a visit, but as far as your're going to stay in Malaga, Granada is closer than Seville. And maybe, Seville is hotter.

We are just back from Andalucia. We loved loved loved Sevilla and really disliked the city of Granada. Grafity and garbage all over. Anyway the Alhambra was amazing!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but those who say there was graffiti and garbage all over Granada most likely only saw a small area. I admit that there was a lot of that in the Calle Elvira area, but that is only one small part of Granada. Other than that area, any garbage or graffiti was pretty minor, and is evident in most cities to some extent.

I am in the process of writing my trip report, what I've done so far is at
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34977031

Also, look at these photos, which will show that there is plenty of Granada which is very clean and nice.
www.pbase.com/annforcier The Granada photos are the last third of the first gallery.

Read, IBERIA! Get Michener's slant on Spain.

Seville

My vote is for Seville. There is no Alhambra but there is plenty of great examples of Moorish Art/building. Also Seville is larger with lots more interesting museums and shopping.

Definitely Seville. While the Alhambra is quite special, it is, in my experience, the only reason to visit Grenada. Seville, on the other hand is a charming, vital, colorful city and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.