We need to be in Lisbon for a 3 day conference in september.
Please help with suggestions to my itinerary:
Day 1-travel
Day 2-Arrive in Madrid for 2 nights/or Arrive in Seville?
Day 4-Drive or train to Costa del Sol (honeymooned in Marbella back in '74)-2 nights?
Day 6-Drive/train/or fly to Lisbon
Day 7-9-conference/sight seeing
Day 10-Travel home
My questions are:
Should we do just Madrid and Seville?
Should we do just Saville and Costa del Sol?
Best way of traveling between Spanish cities and then Lisbon?
Thanks-I'm stumped!

I think you need more than 2 nights in Madrid, and would benefit from more than 2 nights in Seville also. Maybe just one of those, with some side trips, since you only have a few days?

This trip would, IMO, be unpleasantly rushed, but it all depends on YOUR preferences.

The area will be VERY hot – take that into consideration. Check:
https://www.wunderground.com

With only 10 days, have you considered visiting Lisbon and other highlights of Portugal?

For transportation options, consult rome2rio.com – but be sure to double check everything, as it is not sensitive to seasonal variation.

And consider getting a good guidebook or two – the cost will be nugatory in comparison to your trip, you might find that there are places you would enjoy seeing that aren’t now on your radar, and you’ll almost certainly learn things that you don’t even know to ask.

Good luck!

<Day 4-Drive or train to Costa del Sol (honeymooned in Marbella back in '74)-2 nights?>

Perhaps go to wonderful Málaga city by the Med and stay in newly reopned Gran Hotel Miramar right on the Malagueta beach, perhaps now the finest hotel in Spain. 25% opening discount: http://www.granhotelmiramarmalaga.co...-hotel-malaga/

3000 year old Málaga is tons of historic sights right in the city center, the major museum city in Andalucía, a brilliant both traditional and cutting edge food scene, great tapas bars and cafés, excellent theaters and culture scene, and genuine laid-back Andalucian atmosphere. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga

And then fly to Lisboa from Málaga, this is the major airport in the South of Spain with flights to more than 60 countries: http://www.aena.es/en/malaga-airport/index.html

While I understand your desire to visit the Costa del Sol, I think you'll be somewhat disappointed with all the changes there. Nevertheless, this trip is an opportunity to see it again. I would go into Madrid and spend a couple of days there. Then take the high speed train to Malaga and the bus to Marbella. After a couple of days you should take a flight from Malaga to Lisbon. Have fun and try to stay cool.

Thank you!!
Think we will skip Marbella and visit Madrid and Seville!

I would stick just to Portugal. For 10 days you can visit the north or the south. And return to Spain some other time.

How much non-business time are you allocating to Lisbon? The city and area are easily worth at least three FULL days/four nights and preferably more. I never found combining conferences with sightseeing to work, I needed additional days aside from the conference.

The best way from Spain to Lisbon is either the night train from Madrid (see seat61.com for info) or flying.

Thank you! We are actually babysitting for my grandson while my daughter is at the conference. So we plan to sightsee as much as we can with a one year old!!

Take the high-speed AVE trains to Seville or wherever -go up to nearly 200 mph - faster obviously than driving. Then fly or bus to Lisbon-trains take all day. For lots on trains check www.renfe.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.seat61.com and www.ricksteves.com.