Hi - I’d like to get some feedback on the following itinerary for Dec & Jan. The only things set in stone are the airline tickets to/from Madrid and the Alhambra (already have tix).

Thanks in advance.

12/26 - Depart JFK 730pm

12/27 - Arrive Madrid 915am - Plaza Mayor, Mercado San Miguel (lunch), Rietro Park

12/28 - Madrid - Prado Museum, Royal Palace

Madrid - Air BnB - 2 nts

12/29 - Train to Tolodo (early)

Toledo - Hotel - 1 nt

12/30 - Train to Granada

12/31 - Granada - the Alhambra - tickets purchased

New Year’s Eve dinner & fireworks

Granada - 2 nts

1/1 - Granada - Explore Alabacin neighborhood then Train to Seville, stop in Córdoba?

1/2 - Seville

1/3 - Seville - Day trip to white villages or Cordoba ??

1/4 - Seville

Seville - Air BnB - 4 nts

1/5 - Train to Madrid (early) - Royal Collection

Madrid - Hotel - 1 nt (airport or city center?)

1/6 - Depart Madrid, arrive JFK depart 1045am arrive 1255pm

*Boyfriend really wants to do an overnight in Toledo rather than a daytrip from Madrid.

*Would love restaurant recommendations- particularly in Granada for NYE, but nothing too fancy.

I'm sure you'll get lots of responses but one thing I would skip is Mercado San Miguel.
If it were me, and I imagine I'm a lot older than you and I've also been to Madrid quite a few times, I would see the Plaza Mayor and then head east, walk through the park, (it's Retiro) and have lunch at one of the cool eating places in the Retiro area, which is east off the Park itself. There have been many posts here about eating in Madrid, and quite a few on eating in that area.

What day of the week will you be arriving? I hope not Sunday!!!

Where is your AirB&B?

I bet you would love the very cool restaurant SALA DESPIECE; it's not in that area but you could go for lunch or dinner either day. You need to book in advance and you can do this online.

https://english.saladedespiece.com/


Here are some photos I took of that restaurant when I was in Madrid last spring; there a lot of food chatter here as well, including my dinner TABERNA LAREDO which IS in the Retiro district and open for lunch, I believe.

https://tabernalaredo.com/?lang=en


https://www.hungryonion.org/t/four-dinners-in-madrid-march-2023/34149/11



Also, I would NOT take time away from Sevilla to visit a "white village" Both Sevilla and Cordoba and not villages but they are both white and to me, FAR more interesting than the famous villages for someone like yourself who has VERY little time to cover what you are planning.

Next time, do not go in and out of one main city---you could have flown home from Seville via Madrid. At least that's what I always do..... Live and learn!

I prefer spending at least one night in Toledo as well. That is what we did and it made the visit so much more enjoyable. I don’t know how crowded Toledo will be in December but generally it is very, very crowded with day trippers from Madrid. At night Toledo is very enjoyable when the city is illuminated and when the day trippers have left. It’s not just the amount of tourists during the day; it’s the large tourist buses clogging Plaza Zocodover.

I would also spend a night in Cordoba if possible. The Mezquita is amazing but there is also the Alcazar gardens, exploring the juderia, Palacio de Viana, the Roman Bridge, and more. If you don’t have time for an overnight in Cordoba, then it might make sense to visit Cordoba on January 5 on your way to Madrid.

I would not omit Cordoba in order to see the white villages. Cordoba is a much more important historical and cultural city.