need help with Spain itinerary
 

I'm planning a trip to Spain in October for my family of four (kids ages 8 &11). Below is our basic itinerary:

Days 1-4 - Madrid, with side trips to Toledo & Segovia
Days 5 & 6 - Sevilla
Day 7 - ?
Days 8 & 9 - Granada


Any suggestions on where to go/sleep on Day 7? I've been considering a night in Ronda or Nerja, or maybe just staying in Sevilla one more night after a day trip somewhere. We plan to rent a car to drive to Granada, so off the beaten path is a possibility for us. Thanks!

Not off the beaten track but the mosque in Cordoba is one of the most beautiful architectural sights in Europe -- and perhaps the entire world. It's easily reached as a day trip from Sevilla.

Yes, Cordoba. It would be a perfect fit, as it's on the way from Seville to Granada.

Just to clarify my earlier post ~

I wouldn't do Cordoba as a daytrip from Seville, since it's on the way to Granada and there's no need to backtrack.

I'd leave Seville, spend day 7 in Cordoba, spend the night in Cordoba, then leave for Granada the next day. Travel will be easy by train.

Actually Cordoba is not on the direct route from Sevilla to Granada - it would take about 1.5 hours additional time to go from Sevilla to Cordoba, then Cordoba to Granada. Still not a bad choice though.

For day 7 I'd consider these 3 basic choices:

1) additional day in Sevilla (which could be spent on a daytrip to Cordoba)

2) white village visit by car on way from Sevilla - spend night in Ronda (or another pueblos blancos)

3) Cordoba

I agree that the mosque in Cordoba is incredible to visit. I can remember being absolutely stunned the first time I visited. I had spent a week in Central Spain then visited Cordoba as a daytrip. The contrast in the architecture between the areas was amazing.

With 2 kids in tow your best bet however may be to add a day to Sevilla - I'd stay at least 3 days for your first visit and it would be easier not to have to pack and unpack. In Madrid you have 4 days but the first is generally a recovery day, then you'll be using 2 days for your daytrips to Segovia and Toledo so that's really only 1 full day in Madrid. With just 2 days in Granada I'd probably add the day 7 in Sevilla particularly with the family - I think it will be less tiring.

You can always visit Cordoba as a daytrip either from Sevilla or on the way from Madrid to Sevilla (store your luggage in the bus station just across the street from the train station in Cordoba). Or course, then you'd forego the white villages but that's a choice you'll have to make. If you spent the additional night in Sevilla you wouldn't even need a car - bus service is frequent, quick and economical.

We were just in that area of Spain last year with our 2 girls, ages 5 and 11 (then). We travel yearly to Europe and always try to include some beach time and other kid-friendly excursions for them. It's a great way for them to experience the culture in a fun, laid-back way.

When we were there last year (for 2 weeks), we based ourselves in Nerja for 1 week, so the beach was right there. Kids LOVED it! And while some might argue that there are too many tourists along the Costa del Sol, we met plenty of Spaniards (only Spaniards, come to think about it, other than the landlord of the beautiful little apartment (Casa Charlotte) that we rented! He was German but had been living in Nerja for about 15 years.)

We also went to (don't laugh) Isla Magica in Seville. Totally corny (it's an amusement park maybe 15 minutes outside the city center), but our kids had a blast. Again, we met only Spaniards... so while it certainly didn't have the majestic beauty of the Alhambra or the many other gorgeous sites in Espana, it was a break in the typical sightseeing action geared towards the kids.

CathyM~

I'm confused about your comment re: the extra 1.5 hours in that train trip.

According to Renfe, the trip from Seville to Granada is 3 hours.

Seville to Cordoba is 45 minutes.

Cordoba to Granada is 2.5 hours.

So, by visiting Cordoba en route to Granada, you'll only spend an extra 15 minutes on the train. (I didn't say it was on a direct line, in case of any further confusion. Lots of folks have commented here that they stop in Cordoba for the day on their way to Granada, that's what I was referring to.)

Anyway, please enlighten me, if I've missed something. I'm in the process of plotting out my own trip to Andalucia and your reports have been really helpful to me! Thank you!

The times I posted are for driving. The poster said they were picking up a car in Sevilla and driving to Granada. According to michelin the driving time from Sevilla to Granada is 2 hr 45 minutes versus 4 hr 15 minutes Sevilla/Cordoba/Granada.

You bring up another alternative though - instead of visiting Corodoba as a daytrip from Madrid to Sevilla it could be done as a daytrip from Sevilla to Granada. It would cut into Granada time with only 2 nights so I'd prefer the Madrid/Sevilla daytrip approach.

If the poster desides to go from Sevilla to Cordoba, spend the night and then go to Granada a car wouldn't really be needed for this option either.

Ah yes, I missed the driving comment. Thanks.

I vote for spending the extra night in Sevilla.

Me too - 3 nights in Seville

for NanBug:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ember-2007.cfm

Thanks, Bardo, I had your report bookmarked already, it's been very helpful! I can't wait to go, the trip can't come soon enough...