Buckeyeknitter

Looking for advice for our upcoming trip Will be in Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, Madrid

Tours - Thought we would like to do a tour when we first arrive in Barcelona and Madrid to help us get our bearings - any suggestions - do not want to spend a fortune on these but am sure some tours are better than others and would appreciate some guidance

Flamenco dancers and bullfight - this is first trip to Spain and want to see both. Where would you recommend we do this and should we buy tickets ahead of time

Local arts/crafts, boutiques, galleries, markets We both really enjoy these types of places - would really like any recommendations as to neighborhoods, specific shops or markets or galleries where we might find unique locally produced items Will be in cities listed in first line of post

Food - again a very broad category but tips for unique, low to medium priced restaurants and bars would be much appreciated for any/all of the cities we will be visiting

Day trips - we are planning a trip to Cordoba when in Sevilla and a trip to Toledo from Madrid. Any suggestions as to how to do these - train, bus, tour companies? Also may do a second day trip from Madrid - what would you recommend - thinking of Segovia


Thank you so much! We are leaving in two weeks
Pam

ekscrunchy

As far as tours go, we took one offered by the Madrid Tourist Office, beginning at noon, Monday through Saturday from their Plaza Mayor office. The details are in my report from last January. Here is their site; we paid 3.90 euro each.


http://www.esmadrid.com/descubremadrid_en/portal.do


In Granada, we took one of the tours offered by the Alhambra patrimonio and it was well worth it; again, I have the info in the same report from my January visit. The same report has lots of food information. For low-budget dining (you really should define a monetary amount because this means different things to different people) I can think of one great starting point in Madrid: El Brillante. Again, details to be found in the link below:


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...k-in-spain.cfm

In Barcelona, the tourist office also offers low-priced tours, starting from their base in Placa Catalunya.

You really ought to do a few searches here before asking additional questions, since most of what you ask has been answered many times before, quite recently in fact.

Christina

I've done most of those things in Seville, but not Madrid -- the flamenco, anyway. I didn't buy tickets ahead I just reviewed guidebooks and websites and then went to one near my hotel, which was convenient (Gallo, as I recall, in Santa Cruz area). It was very good.

I also took a day trip to Cordoba from Seville and just used the local trains, that's all. It was very easy and not very expensive. I also took a day trip to Segovia and do really highly recommend that, I loved Segovia

Can't help you on bullfights as I wouldn't go to one of those, but I would presume you could look online for tickets and dates of such schedules, they are done at major arenas. I know where the one is in Seville, down by the river, so presume you can go buy tickets there or at a tourist office or something, if there is such an event during your stay.

Nikki

I have been to two flamenco shows at Casa Patas in Madrid, which I really enjoyed. www.casapatas.com

Egbert

Los Gallos in Sevilla is a good tablao for Flamenco. Late night free flamenco at La Carboneria. The Gypsy caves of Sacromonte in Granada are also an unforgettable place to see and hear Flamenco. Read Maribelsguides.com for excellent advice on restaurants, tapas, etc. Bullfights happen in Sevilla on Sundays. Get shade seats "sombra" if you can afford it. I wouldn't bring a child though. Don't miss La Boqueria in Barcelona for the world's best food market.

kimhe

When are you going? You'll probably have the chance to experience world class flamenco in all of those places.

Casa de la Memória in Sevilla only stages top performers. Popular with tourists, but this is the real deal. Some of the finest flamenco artists in the world perform here on a regular basis. Pastora Galván was recently voted best female flamenco dancer by Spanish critics and she has danced here every week for a long time. Here in a modernistic tribute to how the women dance in the Andalusian backyards (she would do a more traditional routine at Casa de la Memória):
http://www.flamencotv.es/es/componen...e-pastora.html

Revulgo2

Search for Flamenco in Madrid
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/shows-madrid

kimhe

Always updated programs for flamenco concerts in

Madrid:
http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=1

Sevilla: http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=5

Granada: http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=10

Barcelona: http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/events.jsp?barrio=4

And then you have all the tablaos (flamenco clubs/restaurants). Many great artists use these as an opportunity to experiment and get an up front encounter with the audience.

Good tablaos in all these cities. In Madrid there are several excellent places, among them Casa Patas and Cardamomo, just off Plaza Santa Ana. In Sevilla I would recommend Casa de la Memória (a cultural center, not a restaurant), but also Arenal and Los Gallos are reputedly good. In Barcelona, Tablao El Cordobés has got a high standing among the artists themselves. http://www.tablaocordobes.com/home/general/en/1/

And when in Sevilla, maybe a night out at Casa Anselma? No need to go before midnight: http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...fe-detail.html