We’re in the beginning stages of planning a month long trip to Spain (May 2008.) There are at least three primary regions (along with a few other cities) where we want to spend time and we’re finding it challenging to determine a “good loop.” We’ll probably fly into one city and out of another, so we don’t intend on making it a complete circle. We haven’t bought the airline tickets yet. We’d appreciate any suggestions.

Tentative places and length of time in each area are:
Barcelona (3 days)
Castile—Madrid with day trips to Toledo and Segovia (5-6 days)
Northern region—Santillana del Mar (2-3 days-Altamira caves), Burgos (2) and Santiago de Compostelo (3). About 1 week total - we’ll probably rent a car for this region with one or two additional nights getting to Santiago de Compostelo. Pick up car in Burgos and drop off in Santiago de Compostelo?
Andalucia—Seville, with day trip to Cordoba (3 days), Cadiz (4) and Granada (2), (slightly more than 1 week)
We have commitments (a conference) in Cadiz at the end of May, so this region needs to be near the end of the trip, but could place Barcelona afterwards.

Should it be, Barcelona, North region, Castile, Andalucia;
Or Castile, North region, Andalucia, Barcelona;
Or Barcelona, Castile, North region, Andalucia;
Or would dropping Barcelona and adding Lisbon, Portugal make more sense, travel-wise?

I realize with this sort of itinerary we’ll be all over the country, but with a month we thought it might be possible. Our customary style of travel is to move around quite a bit so this type of schedule is not unusual for us. What suggestions do any of you have? What changes should we consider? Thanks for any and all ideas.

ttt for suggestions

Good question ! I have traveled Spain 4 times and Portugal twice---a total of 12 weeks--and we have not yet seen it all. With only a month I would surely drop Catalonia, which I have always seen as part of a southern France trip. So, what is left??
I see 4 regions and a loop starting in Madrid and ending in Lisbon--perhaps something like this:
Andalusia---7 days
Madrid/Toledo/Segovia--5 days
Galacia/Asturias via Salamanca--7 days
Northern Portugal to include Minho area, Obidos, Evora, Lisbon---7 days

That is rough but you get the idea. We are going back next year to Galacia. Good luck !

Thanks Bob, I think we may drop Barcelona and add Lisbon to the end. We can't do both and do either justice with this ambitious itinerary.

So I'm thinking--Start Madrid and nearby cities, then north, then Andalucia, ending with Lisbon. I don't see how to include Salamanca unless we stop there on the way to Andalucia, which would be to go half way to Salamanca, then continue on (two separate flights or train trips.) Originally I thought to include it as a day trip from Madrid, but we already have two, and it is by far the furthest from the city.

I'd welcome additional suggestions, especially as to how to fit this city into the trip.

Also welcome any suggestions on the car route in the north.

Bob, I think Galacia seems very intriguing and I absolutely have to include this region on this trip. Enjoy your next visit there.
Thanks. Kathy

Try to include Asturias and Picos de Europa in your trip as well. We too are looking at May--check out the 5 days pass dicounts at the Parador site.