KateH123

Hello,
We're trying to book our trip to Andalucia Spain and we're soooo lost! All we have so far is a flight to and from Madrid (we'll be there about 8 full days). Do you have any suggestions for where to go? Did you go to Gibraltar? Is it worth it? (My sister is studying abroad in Granada which is why we'll spend at least 3 nights there, because that is the main reason we're going to Spain at all - to see her.)

We definitely want to go to Seville, we're pretty sure we'll go there first for 2 nights. After that we'll probably rent a car in Seville and drive towards Granada, but stop along the way. This is where we're lost - should we drive along the coast, see Gibraltar, etc. Should we drive inland and see the white towns, Ronda, etc? My husband would like to golf once and we love the beach, which is why we're thinking of doing the coast, but I don't want to go all the way to Spain and just sit at a hotel pool and miss the "real" Spain!

Also, any suggestions while we're in Granada (other than the Alhambra which we'll definitely do). Should we keep our car in Granada? What types of day trips can you do from there?

Any advice would be appreciated!!!!!!!!

PS: any names of nice hotels, restaurants, etc. would also be appreciated - we're looking to spend under $200 USD a night for hotels

Ackislander

Don't go to Gibraltar. It is like Plymouth Rock: you go there, then wonder why. I would try for Cordoba as well as Seville and Granada. Ronda is beautiful but not essential. The coast is not worth visiting. If you were a sun-starved North European, it would be one thing, but if you have seen wall-to-wall condos in Florida, you can skip it.
Not that I have an opinion, you understand

zootsi

Definitely explore the white villages near Ronda - a very scenic area. We drove from Ronda to Grenada, which is pleasant but not particularly memorable. From Grenada, you can explore the pretty seacoast town of Nerja. In doing this, you will pass thru the very spectacular Sierra mountains, which also have some interesting and remote hill towns. Go to rusticblue.com for so insight on the Andalusian countryside.

Graziella5b

Hi kaate, A few minutes ago I answered some questions under the title Andalucia travel or similar and I think it will be good to you too.
In my opinion, concentrate in the classics, Granada, Cordoba and Seville. Add UBeda and Baeza if you like art, or if not go for some pueblos blancos like Arcos de la Frontera, I would choose on top of the classic Ubeda and Baeza.

KateH123

Thanks for your help. Is Nerja a reasonable day trip from Granada? I see that it's not a far drive distance-wise, but is it actually 1.5 hours or are the roads much slower?

nytraveler

With limited time I wouldn't bother with Gibralter. It isn;t very Spanish - but mostly faux British and is basically a big rock with a view of Africa. Getting in and out can be time-consuming since the Spanish authorities often decide to "search" tourist cars by taking them apart (they ripped our backseats out and even opened some of our luggage).

You really must do Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba and some of the white towns - and might want to see some of the resort beach areas. With all that Gibralter is very far down the list.

Judi

Hello Kate. We go to Nerja every year and have done day trips to Granada twice, once by car and once by bus. The drive is through mountains, much like the Rockies in Colorado. It is not a difficult drive.

I am not particulary fond of Granada other than the Alhambra. I see that you will be in Granada to visit your sister and she may know some more interesting spots than a typical tourist would know.

I think Gibraltar is a waste of time. We went there once and I was not impressed.

Have fun in Andalucia!

zwho

Hi, We have flown into Madrid with 8 days to see the country and this is how I would spend it for a 1st trip. Spend your 1st day in Madrid, see the Art Museums and the area all around there walking. The next day take the fast train, (the AVE), if it stops in Toledo now, to Toledo. Otherwise take the bus. Spend the day and night, if the AVE stops there, cause the next morning you can take it to Cordoba. If the AVE doesn't stop in Toledo yet, go back to Madrid in the evening and sleep there. Day 3, take the AVE to Cordoba and spend the morning an afternoon, and then take the AVE to Seville. Stay there 2 days, thats 4 & 5. Day 6, if it were me, I'd rent a car and drive to Granada, stopping in Ronda or another white village enroute to Granada. Then take the train back to Madrid for your flight home or better yet, see if you can find a low cost flight to Madrid. It rushed, yes, but you will be able to see the main sights and still have time to stroll a little.

artlover

If you're going to Andalucia, you'd be much better off flying in and out of Malaga unless you want to see Madried, but with 8 days, you're better off sticking with Sndaluacia.

Go to bookstores and check out guide books, go to Spanish internet sites (you can just google various cities and come up with them) and read previous trip reports to get an idea of what you would like to do.

josele

Driving Seville to Granada by the coast is a much longer way than the Ronda option, which I recommend. The coast, especially that part, is very spoilt and overbuilt.
Daytrips from Granada do not worry, as your sister will know them. The Alpujarras are my recommendation. Ubeda/Baeza as well, though a bit far. Anyway you'll need the car.
Ackislander, I almost go to Plymouth Rock!!!

whethergirl

We did an 8-day driving tour of Andalucia last October, and this was our itinerary:

As soon as we arrived in Madrid, we almost immediately boarded the AVE train to Seville. The AVE is quick, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive.

We stayed in Seville for one night, and rented a car and drove to Cadiz for two days. I really loved Cadiz and thought it was beautiful, plus you can go to Jerez for the day if you wish.

We then drove from Cadiz to Nerja in one day, through the hill towns, stopping first in Arcos de la Frontera, and then in Ronda for lunch. Arcos was a pretty cool little town, very steep with narrow roads, and Ronda was beautiful as well.

The drive through the mountains was a bit harrowing as it was rainy and foggy, but I bet on a nice day it would have been unbelieveable.

Anyway, if you want to soak in some beach time, Nerja is a good bet. You'll pass the hotel-studded sprawl of Marbella, and Nerja, while certainly housing a few tourists still retains some small-town Spanish charm (and an unbelieveable sunrise). We stayed at the parador there and really enjoyed it.

We then drove to Cordoba for a night, which was a pretty cool little town, and back to Madrid for two.

All in all, I think we did a bit too much for 8 days. I would recommend two nights in Seville, drive to Nerja by way of the hill towns, stopping for lunch in perhaps Arcos or Ronda (we ate at a great little cafe called "Sal y Pimiento" in Ronda). Stay two nights in Nerja and continue on to Granada.

Nerja and Cadiz were my favorite stops on our tour. Good luck and have a blast!

Kate