I have two itineraries going - one with 4 nights in Barcelona and 2 in Seville and the other vice versa with 4 nights in Seville and 2 in Barcelona. I do prefer smaller towns and from Seville I plan to daytrip to Cordoba and Jerez but I want to have enough time in Barcelona as well. Any opinions?

How are you traveling to Seville and from where? By car? AVE? You could possibly stop over there on the way to/from Seville.

IMO it all depends on what interests you the most. Small(er than Barcelona) or not, it could end up seeming even smaller if your main interests are the architecture and the two biggest (at least IMO) attractions the cathedral and the Alcazar with a possible wander through the Barrio Santa Cruz.

Not knowing your interests I would hesitate to offer suggestions but having been to both I would opt for more time in Barcelona but that is because I find much more of interest there and in the surrounds than I found in Seville.

Others may differ which is to be expected.

I would pick Barcelona, there are a few more shops and the accomodations in Barcelona are less sketchy than Seville. Don't misunderstand, Seville is great and beautiful, but Barcelona has a lot more to see im my opinion. But, like Dukey said it depends on your interests. I hope you have fun on your trip.

Barcelona is wonderful but it has never fit with the rest of Spain. Spend all of your time in Andalusia or Catalonia but not both.

based on your desire to also see cordoba and jerez.. i think that is impossible to do with only 2 days in sevilla.

i also think that is a lovely trip in itself.

but you could squeeze in two days in barcelona.. but hardly two other stops besides sevilla in two days total.

there is no way to see it all .. so after your research, just do the best you can. all your listed destinations are nice.

i, personally, find the south more "unique", folkloric, and it does allow you to see more in a shorter time due to its smaller sized towns... but for those who love big cities and mega shopping,more modern architecture, and lots and lots of options.. barcelona certainly has it all.

but since it is more spread out, it does take longer to visit.. so keep that in mind.

is 3/3 not good for some reason?

I love Seville, but I REALLY love Barcelona. You could spend a week there and not come close to seeing and doing all that you'd want to.
But our interests seem to differ. Small towns don't do a thing for me - Granada isn't exactly a small town and I was bored to death after a couple of days.
As someone mentioned, Barcelona is as much a European city as it is a Spanish one. But side trips to places like Pamplona, Girona or even Valencia are easy from Barca.

Well I also love big cities like New York, Rome, Amsterdam and Paris but I also love smaller towns like Montepulciano, Venice and Beilstein.
Here's my itineraries -
No 1 - fly to Barcelona then fly on to Seville the same day for 4 nights with daytrips to Jerez and Cordoba
-then rent car in Seville and drive through the white villages staying in Arcos de la Frontera one night
-then drive the next day to Nerja via Ronda for a week with daytrips from Nerja to Granada and possibly Morocco or Gibralter
-then return to Seville to fly to Barcelona and stay 3 nights with 2 full days and 1 half day in Barcelona with no daytrips possible
-then return home OR
No 2 - fly to Barcelona and stay 4 nights with daytrip to Pamplona or ?
-then fly to Seville but continue on to Arcos de la Frontera for 1 night
- then continue from Arcos to Nerja and stay one week
-return to Seville and stay 2 nights with 1 full day and 2 half days with no daytrips to Cordoba or Jerez possible
-return to Barcelona for 1 night then return home

I like staying in one place for a length of time. I only have 2 weeks and I don't want to hotel hop. And Nerja seems a good base to relax and do daytrips. We can either fly into Barcelona or Seville but cannot do open jaws. What do you think?

Anyone?

I like # 1---Andalusia is the best of Spain to me. I like the Nerja idea, but I would forget Gibraltar & Morocco.

Thanks Bob and thanks to everyone else too for the great feedback.

wonderful info,I will save this post for my trip planned in May,thank you.

you have TONS of time i wasn´t aware of.

have fun. sounds like a great trip.. whichever way you finally do it.

Thanks lincasanova! I've become a slow traveller over time not because of age or health but more because of preference.

My wife and I spent 5 nights in Barcelona, 3 nights in Seville, and 3 nights in Madrid for our trip to Spain this past March. As much as we loved Seville and to a lesser extent, Madrid, we absolutely loved Barcelona. We could have spent another 5 nights there easily without becoming bored.

Well I'm back to leaning towards Barcelona for 4 nights then moving on to Andalusia for the rest of the time. I have heard so many wonderful things about Barcelona that I think 2 nights only would not be enough time to enjoy it. Thanks stevefrat!