How should we divide our days in Andalucia Mar/Apr '14
 

I'm trying to get an idea of how many days I should plan for our first trip to southern Spain. Usually we like to travel to Europe in May but in 2014 we will be traveling the last of March and finish before mid April. I'd like to plan for 21-24 nights in Spain for this trip. We will fly in an out of Madrid from the east coast of the US.

From the research I've done so far I would like to include Toledo, Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada traveling by train after our arrival to Madrid and then renting a car to explore the Pueblos Blancos with possibly a day trip to the Costa del Sol as I don't expect this time period will be good beach weather.

I'm not sure how many days for each of the cities so I can use the remainder for our exploration by car. I think I'd like to end the trip with 3 nights in Madrid which would allow about 21 nights for Toledo and Andalucia.

Which order of visiting would make for the better travel flow?

Thanks for any recommendations/suggestions that will help me plan my trip. I don't know why but even though this will be our third trip to Spain, Spain always seems to be more complicated to plan for me ;;) Deborah

I'd start by perusing the posts and trip reports here--it is a VERY popular area with fodorites and there are many excellent posts that will answer your question.

Yes, I have done some of that already but then I find locations I'm not interested in will get tossed into the plans and the information becomes less relevant for my initial trip planning. Thanks, Deborah

I don't really see how that is the case, but in any event, three days per city is a good rule of thumb, but it really depends on the balance of the overall plan. Because while many people recommend Cordoba as a day trip or one night, you may want to have more or less time. I always start by making a list:
3 Cordoba
3+ Sevilla
3 Granada
Driving tour through the region
5 days Madrid, with day trips to Toledo

We spent 3 days along the Costa del Sol - not swimming, just exploring; 3 days in Granada; 5 days in Sevilla, including some day trips to the Pueblos Blancos; 2 days in Cordoba. Since you are arriving in Madrid, spend some time there and in Toledo before moving south. We found our time in Andalucia to be just about right.

yorkshire, I appreciate you taking the time to post your suggestions. I also try to avoid stays of less than 3 nights and that's why I'm trying to work the number of days per city.

My husband did not "take" to Madrid on our first trip so I thought to limit our time there and zip off to Toledo as soon as we arrive in Spain. Thanks again.

mamacalice, Do you think it's possible to be based in one central location and visit both the Pueblo Blancos and spend some daytime visiting the Costa del Sol? If so, can you suggest a location base? Thank you, Deborah

Fly into Madrid then Toledo, I'd then hire a car drive down seeing some of Castilla-La Mancha and the Quixote windmills, a night in Jaen, then Granada across to Pueblos Blancos or a day or two on the Costa del Sol then Pueblos Blancos. Small slow roads mean you'll spend a lot of time in the car if you try to do the coast from inland.

Onto Seville, Carmona, Cordoba and back to Madrid.

So much to see and do and so many choices to make is difficult.

Granada 2-3 nights
Malaga 2 nights
Seville via Ronda 5 nights
Cordoba 2-3 nights

Thanks for the suggestions. I do realize now that it's not practical to try to base in one location to visit both the coast and the hill towns

Egbert, I'm going to use your recommendations for the number of 3 days in Granada, Cordoba as well as the 5 for Seville. I'm sure I'll be reluctant to leave each of those cities as there will be so many sights we won't have time to visit. Thanks, Deborah

Madrid - train to Cordoba. 3 nights. train to Sevilla. 4 nights. Rent car. Relocate somewhere 'close enough' to the Pueblos Blancos but probably not coastal for ease of access. 4 nights with daytrips to explore. Drive Granada. 3 or 4 nights with daytrips. Use the rest of your nights meandering north to Madrid. Jaen. Ubeda. Almagro. Toledo.

Ian