Month in Spain and then to Portugal for 2 weeks
Feb 10th, 2019, 03:24 PM
#21
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What are your interests? Architecture? Museums? Walking around Old Towns? Nature? Food and wine?
If you plan on making several day trips from Barcelona, I would stick to your original plan of 7 days for this city's attractions and day trips. Montserrat? Girona? Figueres (Dali Museum)? To name a few.
I'd' stick with 7 days in Lisbon, too.
Will you visit Jerez while in Seville? (sherry, Andalusian Equestrian School)
Depending on your interests, I would say you'd probably enjoy Malaga (if you could find the time for it). Its old town is charming.
If you plan on making several day trips from Barcelona, I would stick to your original plan of 7 days for this city's attractions and day trips. Montserrat? Girona? Figueres (Dali Museum)? To name a few.
I'd' stick with 7 days in Lisbon, too.
Will you visit Jerez while in Seville? (sherry, Andalusian Equestrian School)
Depending on your interests, I would say you'd probably enjoy Malaga (if you could find the time for it). Its old town is charming.
Jerez sherry and equestrian school is of interest as well. We could do a day trip from Seville or add it to our list of visits from our 3 nights in Ronda. I’m not sure if we will be able to fit in Malaga.
Feb 10th, 2019, 04:13 PM
#22
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Train from Seville's Santa Justa station to Jerez was easy. Takes about an hour more or less. You won't need to buy this ticket far in advance. I bought mine through Loco2, which I find easier to use than RENFE's website.
You might want to read Man in Seat 61's website:
https://www.seat61.com/international...rom-Madrid.htm
By contrast, I've found buying longer-distance train tickets on Comboios de Portugal easy.
I visited Ronda too many years ago and we drove there, so I have no personal experience with its public transportation, but according to this bus schedule the bus from Ronda to Jerez will take more than 2 hours.
TRANSPORTES GENERALES COMES
Rome2Rio is great for checking means of transportation and routes between destinations.
You might want to read Man in Seat 61's website:
https://www.seat61.com/international...rom-Madrid.htm
By contrast, I've found buying longer-distance train tickets on Comboios de Portugal easy.
I visited Ronda too many years ago and we drove there, so I have no personal experience with its public transportation, but according to this bus schedule the bus from Ronda to Jerez will take more than 2 hours.
TRANSPORTES GENERALES COMES
Rome2Rio is great for checking means of transportation and routes between destinations.
Last edited by Diamantina; Feb 10th, 2019 at 04:21 PM.
Feb 10th, 2019, 04:15 PM
#23
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Rome2Rio is great for checking means of transportation and routes between destinations.
Feb 10th, 2019, 04:16 PM
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If you like exploring different neighbourhoods in big cities, Madrid is the place to be:
from lesser known area near the river ( Madrid Rio) to elegant, upscale Salamanca,
from residential Ibiza east of park Retiro to central Gan Via and Sol,
from Austrias to bustling Las Letras, from Chamberi to upcoming Chueca..
The walking tour may cover some ,more central, areas, but there is much more to the city.
And, of course, the fabulous Prado, R. Sofia and other museums ..
Full disclosure...Madrid is one of my favorite cities ( visit every year)
from lesser known area near the river ( Madrid Rio) to elegant, upscale Salamanca,
from residential Ibiza east of park Retiro to central Gan Via and Sol,
from Austrias to bustling Las Letras, from Chamberi to upcoming Chueca..
The walking tour may cover some ,more central, areas, but there is much more to the city.
And, of course, the fabulous Prado, R. Sofia and other museums ..
Full disclosure...Madrid is one of my favorite cities ( visit every year)
Feb 10th, 2019, 04:46 PM
#25
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Not sure of your exact travel dates, but as you will be spending part of your time in Spain during April, you should be aware of the dates for Semana Santa:
https://www.seville-traveller.com/semana-santa-dates/
https://www.seville-traveller.com/semana-santa-dates/
Feb 11th, 2019, 07:31 AM
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Since you mentioned Malaga: If you want some nice coastal ambiance, I would also suggest spending 2 nights in Malaga if you can fit in the time. It's a wonderful city, much under-rated. The old city center is gorgeous with a marble pedestrian neighborhood. We loved walking uphill through the Alcazaba, with its lush greenery, flowers, patios, fountains, and spectacular views of the Mediterranean. We also walked up and through the ruins of the castle with more spectacular views. There are many small art musuems in Malaga; we visited the Picasso Museum. And we enjoyed walking along the seaside promenade and having drinks overlooking the harbor while watching the sunset.
Perhaps you could take a night from Ronda and a night from Granada or Cordoba to visit Malaga? I know it's additional packing/unpacking, but I think it's worth it. You could take the ALSA bus from Granada to Malaga; it's a 1.5 hour bus ride.
Perhaps you could take a night from Ronda and a night from Granada or Cordoba to visit Malaga? I know it's additional packing/unpacking, but I think it's worth it. You could take the ALSA bus from Granada to Malaga; it's a 1.5 hour bus ride.
Feb 11th, 2019, 09:55 AM
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Montserrat is an easy and great day trip from Barcelona - take suburban train to the cableway that whisks you up the mountain to the shrine - there are some easy walks in the area. Monks brew up a potent liqueur you can buy in shop/restaurant.
Feb 11th, 2019, 03:31 PM
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Since you mentioned Malaga: If you want some nice coastal ambiance, I would also suggest spending 2 nights in Malaga if you can fit in the time. It's a wonderful city, much under-rated. The old city center is gorgeous with a marble pedestrian neighborhood. We loved walking uphill through the Alcazaba, with its lush greenery, flowers, patios, fountains, and spectacular views of the Mediterranean. We also walked up and through the ruins of the castle with more spectacular views. There are many small art musuems in Malaga; we visited the Picasso Museum. And we enjoyed walking along the seaside promenade and having drinks overlooking the harbor while watching the sunset.
Perhaps you could take a night from Ronda and a night from Granada or Cordoba to visit Malaga? I know it's additional packing/unpacking, but I think it's worth it. You could take the ALSA bus from Granada to Malaga; it's a 1.5 hour bus ride.
Perhaps you could take a night from Ronda and a night from Granada or Cordoba to visit Malaga? I know it's additional packing/unpacking, but I think it's worth it. You could take the ALSA bus from Granada to Malaga; it's a 1.5 hour bus ride.
Feb 16th, 2019, 07:50 AM
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I'll add my voice to the recommendation of Salamanca over Málaga. Yes, Málaga is lovely city. It has a unique Andalusian charm and is worth a visit. Enough so that we actually spent a month-long holiday there last year and loved it. I found Málaga to be very well balanced in its offerings between modern Spanish living and Old Spanish charm. Ohhhh, but Salamanca! It just seeps history.
Having said all this, I would (personally) not include Malaga or Salamanca on a ‘main attraction’ trip to Spain, specially because you will have visited by then the quintessential Andalusian cities and will be heading towards the Queen of Them All, Sevilla. During long trips we like to break-up the cities with interludes into the countryside. We also LOVE road-tripping in Spain and don't mind packing up every night so a lot of people would not be interested in what I will suggest.
Now I'm going to contradict myself and offer a going-off-the-beaten path alternative: Maybe, and only since you are already willing to drive (important caveat) in the mountains, your trip 'mix' might benefit by adding some of the smaller towns/villages of the Sierra Nevada instead of another city. There is some amazing scenery in the area and authentic Spanish flair in the villages.
Maybe pick-up a car in Cordoba and drive yourself through the countryside until you get to Ubeda/Baeza/Jaen before heading to Granada. Once there you could find a cheap(ish) long term parking and forget about it for the days you will be visiting the city and then proceed to Ronda and Sevilla.
In 2016 we used the Bus Service between Sevilla and Faro without problems. We have found all buses in Spain to be efficient, punctual, comfortable, and immaculately clean. And often the schedule is much more convenient than trains. Just something to keep in mind.
This is my TR from our 2015 trip to glorious Salamanca: https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/3-nights-in-salamanca-1048736/In case you want to read yourself to sleep, these are some of our other TR's from Spain, you can click on my name for some of the Portugal TRs (which I never got around to finishing).
In 2018 I spent a solo week in Madrid:https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/not-much-to-do-in-madrid-a-weeklong-solo-visit-1655287/
In 2017 we spent a few days in lovely Sevilla:https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/splashing-through-sevilla-a-week-of-wandering-and-wading-1112197/Our 2013 adventure including 5 days in Barcelona and a LOT of road tripping: https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/from-barcelona-to-valencia-and-the-not-quite-beaten-path-in-between-953095/
Having said all this, I would (personally) not include Malaga or Salamanca on a ‘main attraction’ trip to Spain, specially because you will have visited by then the quintessential Andalusian cities and will be heading towards the Queen of Them All, Sevilla. During long trips we like to break-up the cities with interludes into the countryside. We also LOVE road-tripping in Spain and don't mind packing up every night so a lot of people would not be interested in what I will suggest.
Now I'm going to contradict myself and offer a going-off-the-beaten path alternative: Maybe, and only since you are already willing to drive (important caveat) in the mountains, your trip 'mix' might benefit by adding some of the smaller towns/villages of the Sierra Nevada instead of another city. There is some amazing scenery in the area and authentic Spanish flair in the villages.
Maybe pick-up a car in Cordoba and drive yourself through the countryside until you get to Ubeda/Baeza/Jaen before heading to Granada. Once there you could find a cheap(ish) long term parking and forget about it for the days you will be visiting the city and then proceed to Ronda and Sevilla.
In 2016 we used the Bus Service between Sevilla and Faro without problems. We have found all buses in Spain to be efficient, punctual, comfortable, and immaculately clean. And often the schedule is much more convenient than trains. Just something to keep in mind.
This is my TR from our 2015 trip to glorious Salamanca: https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/3-nights-in-salamanca-1048736/In case you want to read yourself to sleep, these are some of our other TR's from Spain, you can click on my name for some of the Portugal TRs (which I never got around to finishing).
In 2018 I spent a solo week in Madrid:https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/not-much-to-do-in-madrid-a-weeklong-solo-visit-1655287/
In 2017 we spent a few days in lovely Sevilla:https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/splashing-through-sevilla-a-week-of-wandering-and-wading-1112197/Our 2013 adventure including 5 days in Barcelona and a LOT of road tripping: https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/from-barcelona-to-valencia-and-the-not-quite-beaten-path-in-between-953095/
