Hello to all!!! I'm new to this forum and so far I've found lots of useful information. I have an overload of info after reading a lot of the posts so I might need any help designing a trip to Spain of approximately 15 days.

I was thinking:
1- Barcelona
2- Madrid (with sidetrip to Toledo)
3- Sevilla (daytrip to Cordoba)

I would like to include San sebastian and possibly arrive/depart from Barcelona. This will be my first trip to Spain. Please any input will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance!!!

Could it be possible to include The Pyrenees??
Also, we are planning on going late February or early March.

Thanks again

what time of year and what transportation are you planning on using?

Sorry just read your second posting...so ignore the question about time of year.

On the 20th of January San Sebastián celebrates its patron saint in the 24 hours spectacular and noisy Tamborrada drum festival (from midnight to midnight). Could be a fun and crazy introduction to the culinary capital of Spain, if not all of Europe. http://www.eitb.com/news/life/detail...al-tamborrada/

Here you'll get a feel of the atmosphere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhncDjXMeQ4

Vueling flies from Barcelona to Bilbao in one hour for some 30-50€ (vueling.com). Direct bus from Bilbao airport to San Sebastián in 75 mins (pesa.net).

About the transportation - Any transportation that would allow me to see most part effectively. So train, bus and even car rental.

Thanks kimhe!

February and March would not be a good time for a beach town like SS or driving in the Pyrenees.
Madrid can also be cold .
If you can arrange for open jaw:

Barcelona - 4 nights
fly Vueling to Granada - 2 nights
bus to Seville - 3 nights
AVE to Madrid with( day ) stop in Cordoba
Madrid - 4 nights

You will be hard pressed to see Madrid, Sevilla & Barcelona in 2 weeks. I definately wouldn't try to add anything else. Is there a reason why you are not visiting Granada? I'm assuming you've overlooked Granada and highly recommend 2 nights in this city. Personally I'd take just 2 areas (Madrid, Barcelona or Andalucia) and skip one for a more relaxed pace. But if this is perhaps your first and only trip to Spain I'd probably do something like this for 15 days:

Madrid: 4-5 nights; daytrip to Toledo (and Segovia if 5 nights); take AVE to Sevilla w/a daytrip along the way in Cordoba

Sevilla: 3-4 nights; bus or train to Granada; if 4 nights daytrip to Jerez, Cadiz, Arcos, Carmona, etc...

Granada: 2 nights; fly to Barcelona

Barcelona: 4-5 nights; daytrip to Girona or Montserrat (if 5 nights)

You could do this in reverse also. I'd fly open jaw so you can fly into Madrid and out of Barcelona (or vice-versa). This way you don't have to back-track and it's often not any more expensive.

Cathy is right. Even that is too much traveling within a trip for me as I would skip Barcelona. You definitely don't have time for San Sebastian. You would need a month to visit all of the places you want to go to.

Thanks everyone for all the responses!!

San Sebastian will be out of the question since now I know that time will be tight for all those places.

I'm rearranging my travel schedule after reading all the comments and suggestions.

1-Now, we are considering a cruise for 12 days (round trip port, Barcelona). I can arrive 1 day ahead to Barcelona, take the cruise the next day and when i get back, I should be able to spend 3 days in Barcelona with a daytrip to Monserrat.

2-Next stop: Madrid with daytrip to Toledo

3- Then last stop could be Sevilla (include Granada?)

After the 12 day cruise trip , I'm planning to stay 9 additional days. Can this be possible?

Any suggestion that I should add or avoid?
How easy is to travel in the AVE from BCN to Madrid with the luggage or should i take the plane instead?

Sorry for so many questions and I really appreciate all the help.

Thanks again!
Sumiko

AVE Train is great, better than the plane, more comfortable, less stressfull although a bit more expensove, worth it. Just enough time for 3 days in Madrid, 3 in Seville and 2 in Granada, fly, bus or slow train back to Madrid. Don't worry about anywhere else it's a great itinerary , keep it simple and enjoy your time in Spain.

Egbert, thanks so much for your quick reply
Now I feel more comfortable!!! Time to start looking for hotels and polish all my trip details.

9 days for Barcelona (w/daytrip to Montserrat), Madrid (w/daytrip to Toledo), Sevilla & Granada? (I wouldn't attempt Granada as a daytrip from Sevilla - it's 3 hours one way so 6 hours travel time not including the time you'll need to get to the train or bus station.

I wouldn't attempt this - you were on a pretty tight schedule with 15 days.

Cathy, so 2 nights in Granada? I can discard one of the daytrips.

The land portion (after getting back from the cruise)will start in Barcelona to Madrid.

Personally I would recommend 2 nights in Granada. Either way you don't have time in 9 days for Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla & Granada. Without daytrips (which would be a shame to miss Toledo when you're in Madrid or Cordoba when you're in Sevillla) you really need 3 nights for Madrid & Sevilla, 2 for Granada and 4 for Barcelona. That's 12 nights bare minimum (which means slightly rushed).

Cathy has a good point...9 days is a short time to cover 4 cities ( each time you move takes half a day).
You might wish to consider:
Madrid and Barcelona ( with day trips : Toledo, Segovia, Girona etc,) .
or Madrid, Granada, Seville
or Barcelona , Seville , Granada
Do you have to fly back from Barcelona or is it open jaw?

Danon - I don't have to fly back from Barcelona. I can stretch it to 10 days.

Cathy - Thanks again. Let me work again with the schedule logistic so I can have your input if you don't mind.

-I will arriving to BCN - March 5th (early morning)
-Cruise departs March 6th at 7pm
-Cruise arrives on March 18th early morning
-I will have until March 27th to see the other parts of Spain

Thanks again!

Should I skip Sevilla or Granada?
I'm trying to fit everything but I won't be able to do it.

Hard choice...
Before the cruise you have about 24 hours in Barcelona:
most hotels won't let you check in before the afternoon
so you will have some time to walk around ( or hop on the tourist bus) - depending on how jet lag affects you....
Barcelona is a wonderful city - I would recommend at least 3 days after your cruise.
We flew Vueling to Granada ( from Barcelona)..if you arrive in the afternoon, see Alhambra at night and again during the day...so, 2 nights in Granada.
If you wish to spend a bit more time in Madrid, take side trips to Toledo or Segovia and see Prado (and other museums)
you might wish to skip Seville this time.
There are trains or cheap flights from Granada to Madrid.
Or, you can fly to Seville from Barcelona, stay 3 nights, stop in Cordoba on the way to Madrid ( on AVE) and stay
in Madrid the rest of the time.

It all depends on your "tolerance" for moving from place to place and stile of travel i.e. spending more time seeing more in one place or shorter time in more destinations.

p.s.
A number of posters think Alhambra is the
most impressive place in Spain .
There is more to see in Granada than just Alhambra.
I have not been to Seville and Cordoba in years ( I am reluctant to compare)...we are going there is April during La Semana Santa.
Spain is addictive!