Please help with Spain itinerary!
 

This is our first trip to Spain. We were initially booked to fly out the night of Sept 29 (and arrive early Sept 30) but found out about the Sept 29 strike this morning and was able to cancel our flights. We are now booked on new flights leaving the US on Oct 6th (arriving Oct 7th) and leaving Oct 17th.

Please help us with our itinerary -- we are looking to do middle and southern Spain (Barcelona sounds incredible but we are saving that region for a future trip.

We fly into Malaga on Day 1/Thurs Oct 7th (arriving at 9:05 AM) and fly out of Madrid on Day 11/Sun Oct 17th (leaving at 10:10 AM). During our time in Spain we'd like to do Malaga/Granada and possibly Ronda, possibly Cordoba, and then Seville and Madrid (most likely with a day trip to Toledo). I'm really worried that we are trying to fit in too much into too little time. We are a mid-20s couple and aren't big in the club scene but would like to do dinners out, stay up late, etc so we're thinking it might be best to spend the night v. day trips in most cities?

What are the must-dos?

Also, one person told us that we "must" stay at Paradors ~ particularly in Granada. Super expensive though and after reading tripadvisor I'm not sure its worth it. I like the idea of staying in a parador at some point during our trip -- which are worth it? Anything else we should know?

Thanks in advance. (also, any restaurants or other recs much appreciated ~ the Fodor restaurant recommended to us for Paris last year was our favorite meal of our trip)

We stayed at the Parador at the Alhmabra many years ago. The view was spectacular with the gardens and the mountains.

It is really nine days in Spain. You should omit Ronda, even though it is a beautiful town. Plus end your stay in the south in Sevilla so you can take the high speed train AVE to Madrid.

I guess it's 10 days (Day 0 is travel, Day 1 starts at 9am, and we leave at 10am on Day 11). Is the Parador at the Alhambra worth it if they have availability? That is one of the few Paradors that will not give us a "young person rate"

Should we omit Cordoba as well? Is Toledo best as a day trip from Madrid? Also, how many days would you stay in each city?

Thank you so much

I agree with Aduchamp1 - you're going to have to eliminate something and you'll want to end your stay in Andalucia in Sevilla in order to take the AVE to Madrid.

The issue is you only have nine days in Spain. And I assume you want to do some relaxing on your honeymoon ;)

Even with eliminating the white villages you're tight on time: I generally recommend a minimum of 2 nights in Granada, 4 nights in Sevilla (w/a daytrip to Cordoba) and 4 nights in Madrid (w/daytrips to Toledo & Segovia). So that wouldn't even leave you with time for Malaga or the white villages and this is just my minimums - already 1 night more than what you have in Spain.

I'd be half tempted (if you could change you flights) to focus just on Andalucia. Weather should be great this time of year. With the 4 additional nights you'd have time for the White Villages and a couple of nights in Malaga. You could save both Madrid and Barcelona for a future trip - they make a good combination on a trip of 12-14 days.

As for the paradors I used to be a fan of them but now it really all depends on which one. Some of them (ie. Granada) are quite expensive. Others almost feel "cookie-cutter" charming and somewhat touristy. But some of them are very nice and often affordable with specials (ie. Cacares, Ubeda, Avila, etc...). Personally I prefer the smaller boutique type hotels that are set in historical buildings but don't have the overhead (and expense) of the paradors. The owners greet you by name and you feel like family when you leave.

DH and I went to Spain in April '09 and did what you are planning - Paradores. We rented a car as soon as we landed in MAD and drove to Segovia.

We stayed in Paradores in Segovia, Toledo, and Jaen. They were beautiful, lots of amenities, great all around. No complaints at all, BUT, they were all away from the center of town, which meant taxi rides ($$$) even though we had a rental car. Parking was an issue in most instances so taxis were a better choice when we wanted to go into town.

Granada and Cordoba we did as day trips from the Parador in Jaen. Doable for sure, but I wished I had stayed a night in Cordoba (contrary to what most people say, I thought it deserved more than a half day).

We returned the car in Cordoba and took the AVE to Madrid.

Food - neither one of us cared for the food Paradores had to offer, too heavy for us. A small restaurant in old Cordoba was great, but I can't remember the name. And we loved the food in Madrid.

If you intend to visit The Alhambra, and why wouldn't you?, make sure you reserve your tickets in advance. I'll look for the website I used and will post it in a couple of days (if no one else does)

All in all, I LOVED Spain. Hope you do too.

Oh! check this site for Maribe's guides - she gives so much information! definetely worth your time looking and reading :)

Our responses got crossed. I just saw your note that you had 10 days in Spain. So, my idea of 2 nights Granada, 4 nights Sevilla and 4 nights Madrid would work. However, I'd still consider an all Andalucia trip (if possible with the flights) and leave more time for the White villages and Malaga....more relaxing.

We initially planned to fly into Madrid and out of Granada (wiht a connection) but are now pretty much locked into at least some time in Malaga (although we dont even need to spend a full day there). Also, it's not our honeymoon! We've been married 2 years now :)

What would you cut from our trip? Granada, Seville and Madrid are definites. Also at least a half day in Malaga because we are flying into there and getting in at 9am.

Should we do Toledo as a half-day from Madrid? Is Cordoba worth including, and if so, should we do it on the way from Seville to Madrid? (I was looking at trains and it seems pretty easy as a mid point).

Also, as a general point should we structure our trip to have more day trips from main points with multiple nights there (ie, day trips from Malaga) or should we plan on staying the night in multiple cities? (one night in Malaga, one night in Granada, etc)

The last trip we took was 19 days, quite different from 11 (really 10 once you consider travel) and we only did 4 cities in that time with one day trip.

Sadly... no 19 day trip this year ;)

also, we live in NYC and are used to walking A LOT. So, a 15-20 minute walk is nothing to us and we'd prefer to stay in places that are walkable and dont bind us to public transportation constantly.

"4 nights in Madrid (w/daytrips to Toledo & Segovia)"

If you have four night ( about 3 days) in Madrid and take 2 day trips, this leaves about a day or so to see a huge city. Madrid has some of the best art museums in Europe, beautiful plazas, elegant avenues , wonderful parks and good restaurants.

You have to calculate in travel time between cities - it can easily take 1/2 day each time you move.(packing, getting to train/ bus station, checking in and out..etc)
What is a must see should be your choice.

Please remember there are no Paradores in Madrid and Seville. I do not have an opinion as to whether to stay in the Parador in Granada because we stayed there long ago, thus I do not the condition of the Parador or its staff. But when we did stay there the view from our room was spectacular.

We are native NY'ers who have spent considerable time in Spain.

There are many trains and buses between Madrid and Toledo. I would travel directly to Madrid and not decide until you get to Madrid how and when to visit Toledo until you better understand what you want to see and use Madrid as a home base.

What about this itinerary?

Oct 6 - Day 0 - leave USA
Oct 7 - Day 1 - get into Malaga at 9am (Malaga/Granada/Ronda)
Oct 8 - Day 2 - (Malaga/Granada/Ronda?)
Oct 9 - Day 3 - (Malaga/Granada/Ronda?)
Oct 10 - Day 4 - Cordoba?
Oct 12 - Day 6 - Seville
Oct 13 - Day 7 - Seville
Oct 14 - Day 8 - Madrid
Oct 15 - Day 9 - Madrid - Toledo day trip
Oct 16 - Day 10 - Madrid
Oct 17 - Day 11 - 10am flight to USA

Should we cut Cordoba and/or Ronda?

Ronda is out of the question for the first day. I would see Malaga until you drop and there is plenty to see. Although it is only 40 something miles to Ronda, the road is is not straight or quick.

Malaga Parador (Gibralfaro) is on top of the hill overlooking thge city and the sea, superb view and location, BUT you cannot avoid taking taxis. I may rec. a hotel in the city center (NH, AC Malaga Palacio, Don Curro) and going at the Parador once for lunch or a drink.
Trips to Ronda and Granada you can do by Bus easily; to Cordoba you have the fast train (AVE, fast, expensive) or the Avant (cheaper and only 15 min. "slower").
Mentioned hotels are walking distance from Bus/Train stations.
You'll have enough daytrip with Ronda, no time for white towns.
I cannot tell you what to skip, but you may stay four nights in Malaga and that permits you the daytrips, you may be back by 6,30 or 7,00PM.

Thank you again so much. Wow, this is overwhelming! I am on the fence about cutting out Ronda and Cordoba, and am leaning towards night Malaga (one night), Granada (2 nights), Seville (3 nights), Madrid (3 nights) which leaves one extra night to add to Madrid, Seville, or to use as a night in Cordoba. What would be best?

I wish we had more time but dont want to constantly feel rushed in each city, so if we have to leave things out, we leave things out (which is why we are not trying to squeeze in Barcelona as well on this trip).

IMO, the Mezquita in Cordoba is magnificent, so if I were choosing between Cordoba and Ronda, I would chose Cordoba. But it depends on what you want to see and do!

If Madrid, Sevilla and Granada are your musts then you are still short on time with only 9 days. Your plan of 1 night Malaga, 2 nights Granada, 3 nights Sevilla and 3 nights Madrid is probably as good as you will be able to arrange (if these are all musts). With the one additional night personally I'd add this to Sevilla allowing for a daytrip to Cordoba. If your fear is being too rushed in each city this is still a somewhat hectic plan with 9 days - but it is doable.

Is there a reason why you couldn't save both Madrid and Barcelona for a future trip? This would give you time to adequately visit Ronda & Malaga and not be so rushed.

Is there a way to edit my original post? we actually have 10 days not 9. we get in at 9am on day 1, and leave on day 11 (which I am not counting) so 10 full days.

Madrid and Seville are musts - more willing to sacrifice Ronda. Malaga is a must because we booked our flights to arrive there at 9am but we are flexible and are willing to do a half-day there and head for Granada that night, although I think it's probably best to spent the night in Malaga and head out in the morning.

Also, as far as seeing cities like Cordoba, Granada, (anything other than Seville and Madrid) - is it better to do them as day trips or to spend the night in those cities? I was under the impression that it's important to spend the night in a city to get the full feel of it, and that by doing a day trip you miss out on the most important part of the day: the night. Would you agree?

It is hard to say, as one night stays eat up a lot of time, but when they are conveniently on the way like Cordoba is, I'd be inclined to overnight there--that way you can also see the mezquita in the evening and in the morning, when crowds are less.
The rest looks good--one night Malaga, 2 Granada, 3 Sevilla, and 3 Madrid.
On my first visit I bypassed Madrid for more time in Andalucia. I flew in there because I had a great deal but then immediately boarded a train for Sevilla. I reasoned that I was more likely to get a flight to Madrid in the future and combine it with other regions of Spain. But then when I returned, I went back to Andalucia again--and I still have yet to see Granada.
Enjoy!

> I was under the impression that it's important to spend the night in a city to get the full feel of it, and that by doing a day trip you miss out on the most important part of the day: the night. Would you agree?

I believe that's a matter of preference. Many people find that the time it takes to relocate is not worth it. Because I travel very light, I'm inclined to do one-nighters rather than day trips when it isn't inconvenient to do so because I like seeing places at night after day-trippers have departed.

I would spend one night in Malaga, two in Granada and 3 in Seville for a perfect trip. Cordoba is best done as a daytrip from Seville. For me there is nothing to see in Ronda but the bridge but many people disagreewith me on that. To kja, IMO it is important to stay in Seville and Granada and perhaps Malaga because they are so vibrant, fun and happening all night long. Other places like Cordoba, Ronda, Toledo, etc. close up early (unless there is a festival)are too sleepy for me considering the world class cities so close by.