My husband and I are flying in and out of Madrid for a 13 day trip. After 3 days in Madrid, we need help deciding where to go.
I don't want to travel every day. So far I am considering:
Sevilla-2 (or Carmona and drive in?)
Cadiz-2(or Sanlucar? Conil? where in Cadiz?)
Tangier???
Ronda-1
Osuna-1
Cordoba-1

I want to stay in quaint villages as well as 2 cities, but which ones? Is Cordoba essential? Is Granada essential? There's just not enough time!

Hope someone out there can help.

It is very difficult to suggest an itinerary but if you like I could give you some advice but of course it depends of what you like. Seville is the third city of Spain and I believe you should stay in Seville at least 3 days, there is no such thing as driving from Carmona. Carmona is a nice little town, the Parador is very nice, as other hotels, good to stay there a day. Cordoba has the jewel of the MEzquita, and merits one full day minimum, Granada should be visited at least in two days, because the Alhambra will take a full day and the rest of the city is charming and merits another day, Osuna has less to offer on the whole, although you can spend a day there , I haven't been lately in the other cities, ROnda from my point of view has been highly over rated, but a full day should be a minimum once you go all the way there.
I found Paradores a good option in Carmona, ROnda, Granada ( really worth it because of the location) in Cordoba look for one of the hotels facing the MEzquita like the Conquistador or the Maimonides and in Osuna the Hotel Marques de
la Gomera is very nice. Good luck.

What I meant regarding Carmona and Seville is that I believe that it will not be a good idea to stay in Carmona and plan to do some daily visits to Seville, it is not that Seville is totally different from other cities in Spain,it is just that it is unique and charming, a very Spanish place, and it will be worth it, to give yourself a chance to discover the essence of this city. I believe that you need time to see the obvious sights like the Alcazares and the Cathedral but also to wander along its streets, along the Gualdaquivir and inside Santa Cruz. Or stroll in the evenings along calle Sierpes with the locals.

Thank you so much, Graziella. That is exactly the information (and reassurance) I needed-that these cities are essential. I still hope someone will suggest one or two smaller villages that I should include. And if Cadiz is wonderful or not.
We both have masters degrees in art, but we also want some romantic, beautiful villages to enjoy after studying art in the cities. (We are newly married!) I would almost be relieved if someone who knows Spain would just tell me. " Madrid, Sevilla,Cordoba, and Granada are enough - forget trying to do more!"
We honeymooned in Italy and had a perfect trip-4 days in Rome to really study the art, then 4 days in Capri and Amalfi enjoying each other and the sun. I would like to duplicate this contrast, if possible.

Between Madrid and Seville, I found Guadalupe fascinating .
The Franciscan monastery where pilgrims have come since the XIV Century to worship the black Virgin of Guadalupe is superb and the whole little medieval town is a jewel.
From Guadalupe coming towards Seville, both Caceres and Trujillo are more than fascinating places to visit. I would prefer go there a hundred times more than visiting Ronda for instance....
The Parador in Guadalupe located in an old hospital is a fascinating experience, regarding Caceres and nearby Trujillo there is a Parador in each city, in Trujillo there is the excellent buy of Hotel Victoria.
This a charming hotel for little money.
Are you going to drive....? because I feel that most likely you would have to drive from Madrid, to Guadalupe and from there to Caceres ( or Trujillo) then Seville.
Osuna is very nice but choosing between Osuna and
Guadalupe, and Caceres (Trujillo) I would choose he later option. Buena suerte.

Go to Granada!..in fact...do not miss it! Find Jerez..taste Sherry and love the town. Ronda is worth a day trip only. Cadiz is not far from Jerez...an easy train trip and very fun and funky. I'll be going to Conil in April...so I can't wait to find out how wonderful it is...I just love Andulsia...anywhere will be wonderful!

Definetly Guadalupe, Trujillo and Caceres would meet your highest expectations, I do not have a road map in front of my eyes and I am not sure in which order is better to visit them trying in essence to go from Madrid to Seville. I would recomemd to use as much as possible the fast Autovias. There is a good www, called www.guiacampsa.com, which gives you the best routes.
If you feel you are short of time, then leave Guadalupe for a next time, and drive from Madrid to Trujillo and Caceres and then you can include
Merida. Founded by the Romans, no other place in Spain can offer more in the way of Roman surviving monuments.There is also an excellent Museo de Arte Romano, beautifully done.
From Merida to Seville it is not far, we have driven this distance some years ago. The road I remember has heavy trafic.
There is a Parador in Merida. If you plan to stay in several paradores check in their website www.parador.es, because there are many offers, like coupons, or they also have something call a Pasaporte when you stay several nights in a row in paradores, most times you can get a 30%, 35% off.
You must check carefully all the conditions.
( days of the week etc)

Forget Tangier! It would waste one or two of your precious few days. If you want, you could substitute Granada

"where in Cadiz?" I like el Puerto de Santa Maria: stay at the Hotel Santa Maria (3*) catch the ferry across the parking lot in front to Cadiz itself. El Monasterio de San Miguel (5*) is more centrally located and legendary.

I believe I have to choose between Extremadura and Andalucia. Choose either Cacares/Merida, or Cadiz/ Pueblos Blancos, then on to Granada. So,
my dilemma is:
Madrid-Merida-Seville-Granada-Madrid?
or
Madrid-Seville-Cadiz-Granada-Madrid?
And is it OK to skip Cordoba and Toledo?

You know I was thinking of your trip. We recently returned f rom Spain and if you wish I can suggest a real good option. I think is what you are looking for I should have thought of it earlier. my e mail is [email protected].I would not skip Cordoba. Toledo I would leave it for another trip.

Three days in Madrid? If it is your first visit that is a short stay. If you are arrival in Madrid, you could have jet lag that could be 1/2 day in Madrid. Also if you are in Madrid on a Monday you will find many museums closed.

You can do plenty of day trips from Madrid that are easy to get to like Toledo, Sogovia, Escorial are popular day trips from Madrid.

Granada is essential if you want to visit the Alhambra and I strongly recommend to visit it at night. The day and night visits are completely different experience.

Bill