Pam09

We are planning 4 weeks in Spain, flying into Madrid on Christmas Day. We've never been to the Andalucia area. We usually like to spend 5 days in the large city, and then roam. All suggestions would be welcome. We are open to driving, or just taking public transportation. We are late 50s, 60s, travel frequently, hike, enjoy local food and culture. How would you structure this trip???

PalenQ

Seville is the main tourist city and a wonderful old-world type atmosphere - base there and do easy day trips to Jerez-la-Frontera (sherry House tours and watch practice sessions of the Andalusia Horse Achool (name?) - the huge horses doing routines.

Gibraltar - train to Algeciras then bus to the border and walk across the runway to Gibraltar - good for a half day or so.

Cadiz - nice seaside town.

Then move on to:

Ronda - not much for more than one spectacular day in this old town divided by a deep gorge

Cordoba - may want to stay a few days there but an easy day trip from Seville - wondrous cathedral and old town center

en route to Ronda from Seville you go thru the famous white perched villages - buses do the route frequently

Ronda has train service to relocate to Granada - visit famous Alhambra - soend two days there

head to Malaga and the Costa del Sol for some days

take AVE back to Madrid or fly home from Malaga.

If going by trains these sites will give you loads of great info: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. If traveling enough by train check out the Spain railpass - especially if coming from Madrid and going back there - www.renfe.com is the official Spanish Railways site - can get discounted tickets Madrid to Seville and back to Madrid but the site is very fickle for many to get to work.

Buses are a viable option in Andalucia as they run more direct routes often than trains that have to go around mountains.

kimhe

Five days in Madrid and then on to Andalucía sounds like a good plan. But I would seriously consider going to wonderful San Sebastián up in the North - the culinary capital of Spain - for the annual and totally over the top Tamborrada festival January 19-20: http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com...tamborrada.php

Here is the city choir Orfeón Donostiarra leading the crowds on the main square in San Sebastián's Old town singing on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of one of the city's most famous gastronomic societies (Gaztelubide) during the Tamborrada in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhncDjXMeQ4

About San Sebastián, European Capital of Culture 2016: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/tr...anted=all&_r=0
http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/en/

danon

So much time in Andalusia is not easy to fill especially in the winter
same goes for rainy SS.
Perhaps you could visit several
spots around Madrid ( if you have not already ) like Toledo, Segovia etc.
Even a few days in beautiful Valencia - only 1.40 min.from Madrid.

Sassafrass

That is a lot of time in that part of Spain in winter, unless you want to get into the mountains for skiing or winter hiking.
Personally, I would skip Gibraltar and make sure to visit Toledo, Segovia, etc.
You could, however, since you have so much time, spend a week or so in Morocco.
I would also take the fast train and spend four days in Barcelona.
Are you renting a car?
You might consider the Algarve in Southern Portugal for a few days. Check the weather first.

Pam09

Thank you everyone for your ideas! We've been to Barcelona and San Sebastion! During the same time of year and what a wonderful trip that was!! I appreciate your other suggestions. We are comfortable renting a car, so sounds like that is what we should do, except for the time in Madrid.

kja

I love that you are giving such a nice chunk of time to the area, especially since days will be short! Public transportation is so good in these areas that I would encourage you to consider relying on it for most of your trip. With a month, you can spend time in and around Madrid (including, depending on your interests, Toledo, Segovia, Avila, and perhaps Cuenca or Salamanca) and time in Andalucia (Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, etc.) A good guide book or two should give you lots of information to help you decide how to allocate your time. (And while lots of people on this board have opinions, only you can decide what suits your particular interests!) As you plan, pay particular attention to Mondays (when many things are closed), siestas (which can be a great time to travel if you aren't committed to big lunches), and sunrise/sunset times. Enjoy!