Sevilla > Granda > Madrid
 

Alright, so after seeing Barcelona this past weekend and absolutely falling in love with it I realized I need to see more of Spain (Yes I realize Barcelona is part of Catalunya)

I'm studying in Florence but found a couple of cheap tickets departing from Pisa. It would be going from Pisa to Sevilla and arriving around 21:00 on a Thursday. The plan would be to leave from Madrid back to Pisa the following Tuesday around 13:00. So at first I was thinking I would do Thursday night/Friday all day in Sevilla, then go to Madrid for Saturday/Sunday/Monday and a little of Tuesday. Then I realized, I really want to see Granada so I kind of want to fit it in.

I've been looking up buses and they seem kinda convenient. 20 Euro/3 Hours to Granada from Sevilla.Otherwise it's a little 6 hours/20 Euro to just go straight to Madrid via bus. My first question is would it be too rushed to try to do Sevilla for a day and a night or two, travel early in the AM Saturday to see Granada, then go to Madrid for Sunday/Monday and a little of Tuesday.

I figure Madrid takes a solid 3 days but I don't know when I'm going to be back in Europe so I want to take advantage of seeing Granada too.

Thanks for your help!

This is perfectly doable: Sevilla for at least a couple of days/nights, bus/train to Granada, stay in Granada for one night and then on to Madrid. Will of course be quite hectic, but will also give you a taste of three fabulous and very diverse cities.

Sevilla is perhaps the queen of all Spanish cities, and I could come up with hundreds of suggestions of what to see and do here. Tons of Roman, Moslem, Gitano, Jewish and Christian history and culture. Here's a small intro: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm

I recommend to see real deal flamenco at Casa de la Memória in the midst of the famous Santa Cruz district. Popular with tourists, but some of the finest young artists perform here on a regular basis. Would at least give you a glimpse into the beauty of the art and a vital part of Andalucian culture. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html

The Alcázar in Sevilla is a totally different thing than Alhambra in Granada, but it has got obvious architectural similarities. Most of it was constructed in Arab style by Christian rulers in the 14th Century (Sevilla fell to the Christians in 1248 but there was no question about architectural ideals), and the Real Alcázar thus stands as one of the best examples of mudejar architecture in all of Spain. Stunningly beautiful. You could easily spend several hours here, and you could completely loose yourself in the gardens. It's now the residence of the king and queen when in Sevilla.
http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/

Much more detailed and always updated on Sevilla:
http://www.exploreseville.com/

And here's the best site on what's going on in vibrant metropolis Madrid. If you have short time, remember to make use of the nights. The Madrileños are known as Los Gatos/The cats, and they never go to sleep, at least not at nighttime...
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

Really rushed, but if you decide to do it, be sure to get tickets to the Alhambra ahead of time. You would not want to rush all that way and have them sold out and it does happen.

May I suggest - It would be easier to not do that this time, and to instead visit the great mosque in Cordoba (just a little North of Seville) on the way to Madrid and to visit Toledo (only a half hour by train) from Madrid. You would be seeing more with a lot less expense and travel time. I think your time would be better used and both places are beautiful and have great meaning.

Like Sassa I'd recommend Cordoba (do it with Seville) and then another trip of Granada and Madrid

Thanks for the responses guys!

So you think it would be best to do Seville for a day or two, Cordoba on the way to Madrid (How long would be ideal to spend there) And then get to Madrid and spend a day in Toledo?

Just wondering about the timetables and realistic desirability for time in each place. Basically I'd have 5 Nights/4 Full days/Plus a few hours in Madrid before my 13:00 flight

Would you have another opportunity for a quick trip back to Spain while you are in Florence? If so, I'd make this one Andalucia only (Seville-Cordoba-Granada, with a morning train to Madrid for the flight home if airfare is already purchased), and save Madrid-Toledo for the second trip. Four days is barely enough time for one city, never mind three.

I do plan on making it to Valencia the last week of March (a couple of weeks before I would fly to Seville) I'd be visiting a friend and staying with her so I think I'm definitely venturing there.

Ah this is so tough. I wish time (and money) were not limitations.I understand the blessing I have of being abroad with the ability to travel; I just simply want to see it all!

Could you catch a flight back to Pisa from Granada? If you could, then you could do just Seville and Granada and save Madrid for another time. If not, then I would stick with Seville and Madrid (with perhaps Cordoba).

It would be more money, but with your short time, I would not take the bus between Seville and Madrid - way too long. The train is faster. I would still stop in Cordoba.

Do you plan to visit the Prado in Madrid? It is closed on Mondays, so you would have to go there either late afternoon on Sunday, or very early on Tuesday for an hour or so, and catch a taxi form there to the airport.

The El Greco museum in Toledo is also closed on Monday, but the cathedral is open and the city istself is so lovely, it is worth going.

Hard choices. I love Granada - one of my favorite places in Spain - just doesn't fit well with such a short trip if you have to bus back to Madrid. Can you fly into Granada and back from Seville and skip everything else? That could work.

when you come to valencia try to do an open jaw to valencia but leave back from madrid so you can do that part of the trip and side trips.. toledo, etc. that way no back tracking.

I think my trip to Valencia will have to stay in Valencia since I have a free place and am trying to do it cheap since the flight comes in and leaves from Valenica.

I could do a daytrip somewhere but not too sure where would be ideal for less than a day in Valencia.

Hmm...Man this makes me wonder if I should do just Sevilla, Granada and maybe Cordoba.
But I don't know when the heck I'm gonna be back in Europe so I feel like I need to do Madrid while I'm here. Decisions, decisions

You know, you just can´t see it all. Once you accept that, then even short or longer stays in places are justified. It IS hard to decide because you are not sure which places you will like more to spend more time. Don't fret too much over it. You will have a great trip, especially following the advice from the people here. Try to visit as many city websites as you can and that may help you decide. Especially finding these special small town daytrips.

Interrupting your trip for only one day in Valencia sounds rushed to me, unless, of course, the person you are visiting is that important. Then, even a few hours with a good friend is more than worth it.

The time required for me depends on what it is I like to do in a city. If you like museums you need more time than the fellow who enjoys getting an overall exterior view of plazas and architecture from the tourist bus ( which are usually GREAT ay sot see large cities).

If you go for quick fast food and even skip meals, you can get alot done in a day and be happy.

I always see a lot more when not traveling with my husband who relishes having a slow lunch everyday. When I do a trip with a female friend we always comment on if our husbands were along we would be gaining weight and seeing half as many sites! So, to each his own! Good luck planning!

I love Madrid, but I always like to go to a couple museums/special exhibits and get at least one Flamenco show/dance project in late at night. There are great walking tours from the tourist office at Plaza Mayor, and lovely quaint narrow streets full of bars and eateries off the plaza in many directions.

IMO what makes Spain, and many countries "unique" are the small towns. Do leave time to investigate a couple of those.

ah thanks lincasnova. I know, I know I have to accept not being able to see it all. Afterall I'm just 21 so I have plenty of time in my life. My idea is that I don't want to waste any time now though. What if I get hit by a bus tomorrow?

I was saying Valencia is a separate trip I am taking. Might have been unclear there. I broached a whole 'nother subject bringing up my Valencia trip. I was kind of just wondering if there was any other towns close by worth visiting.


Anywho. I'm between doing Seville Thurs Night > Saturday Midday, Madrid Saturday Afternoon > Tuesday Afternoon
AND
Sevilla Thurs Night > Saturday Night, Granada Sunday, Cordoba Monday, Back to Seville to fly out Tuesday Afternoon

go with the second one

Definitely the second one. Less time traveling between places = more time to enjoy those you do see.

You have been infected by the Spain bug -- there's no way you'll NOT return.

I know getting bit by the travel bug is the worst yet so much fun.

Now I'm considering Madrd from Thursday > Tuesday. This means time to see Toledo and Segovia.

AHHH

Then there's Seville > Granada > Cordoba

my advice is ...take a deep breath...slow a little, Spaniards say

" el que mucho abarca poco aprieta "... follow the good advice of Lincasanova and others.
Buen viaje.

P.S. I also LOVE Andalucía in general. In fact, I have found pleasure in many many places that are never even mentioned here.