We will be taking a 2 week trip to Portugal and southern Spain coming from the Algarve to Seville. We could spend 4-5 nights in Seville and take day trips to Cordaba or Ronda or Cadiz. Or, should we break up the 5 nights?

A day trip to Ronda from Sevilla is very time consuming these days and requires a bus ride of 2.5 hours one-way.

A day trip to Cádiz can be done by an MD or Alvia train and the ride takes 1 hr. 32 min (Alvia) or 1 hr. 45 min. (the less expensive MD train).

Córdoba is a much easier day trip by high-speed AVANT or AVE train, a ride of just 42 minutes. But many of us believe that the city deserves at least an overnight (as does Toledo) because it's really atmospheric at night without the crowds (just like Toledo). If you could allow at least a night here you would really enjoy it more.

Thank you for your advice. We are having a challenging time finding lodging in Seville. We will have a car. Thinking of 3 nights in Seville and a few in Jerez. It’s a work in progress.

If you can, I would spend 4 nights in Seville. There are a lot of important cultural and historical sites in Seville, and it's a beautiful city for exploring, with parks, fountains, plazas, etc.

Have you ruled out Cordoba? It's a very pretty city, very different visually from Seville, and it boasts the magnificent Mezquita, along with the Roman Bridge, Alcazar gardens, Palacio de Viana with its 12 patios. I recommend spending 1 or 2 nights in Cordoba. As Maribel says, Cordoba is very atmospheric at night without the crowds and when it is illuminated.

When is your trip?

Feb. 28 - Mar. 14 in and out of Lisbon. We are thinking 3 nights in the Algarve before Seville.

I agree about spending the 4 nights in Sevilla. Forget about Ronda on this trip; that city is just too far for such a short Andalucian visit.

What is the problem finding the hotel in Sevilla? Do you have a particular area of the city in which you would like to stay?

In Seville, you don't need a car. It's walkable, and there are buses. Take the train to your next destination. It'll probably be easier to find lodgings without the need of parking.

For a day trip to Cordoba, take the train

Thank you for your advice. Margo_oz-agree that we should stay in Seville and take the train to Cordoba for the day. ekscrunchy-the rates staying at a 4-5 star hotel in Seville center are high. Should we include Granda? How does this sound-
Tavira-Granada for 1 night
Granada to Seville for 4 nights with a day trip to Seville and/or Jerez?

Thoughts on these accommodations please:
Hotel Cetina Sevilla
Suites Murillo Catedral

If you are willing to slum it, the 3 star rated Eurostar Regina has parking.
It is a 25 minute walk to the cathedral.

If you have any interest in Roman Spain, I would suggest a visit to Italica, founded to settle his veterans by the great Scipio Africanus after his successful campaigns in Spain against the Carthaginians. https://www.italicasevilla.org/en/

Thank you Fra_Diavolo and cdnyul for your thoughtful responses. Will keep you posted.

Suites Murillo Catedral, if within budget, are fine.

I need a bit of help to understand your itinerary. Do you plan to stay in Tavira for one night, then the next day go to Sevilla or Granada?
From Tavira to Granada would take at least 4.5 to 5 hours. That would be a very long drive that I certainly wouldn't attempt.
The drive from Tavira to Sevilla on the A 49 will take about 2 hours and it's easy.

And your time in Sevilla---will it be 4 nights in Sevilla with a possible day trip (via the MD train) to Jerez?
From Sevilla to Ronda---it's just too far for a pleasant day trip.
Ditto to Sevilla to Granada---a minimum of 3 hours one way.
From Sevilla to Jerez is a very easy day trip via the MD train fro Santa Justa rail station. Just about an hour. I do this frequently.

There seems to be two threads by the same poster on the same topic.

cdnyul- I apologize if there appears to be two threads; I was trying to keep the Spain itinerary separate and only on the Spain forum. Maribel- we are staying in Tavira 3 nights, coming from the plane arrival in Lisbon, to explore the Algarve and then, driving to Cordaba, where we have booked La Llave de la Juderia. Then, we will go to Seville (trying to book Suites Murillo Catedral currently). I appreciate your confirmation of their viability. Thank you both for your time. I may have a few other questions/thoughts about the day trips, etc.

virginiafish,
Just an important question:
Are you planning to drive immediately after your plane arrival all the way to Tavira? I hope yours is a short intra-European flight and not a transatlantic one, arriving at LIS with jet lag. I would never make the 3 hr plus drive to the Algarve in the second case.

The alternative to driving would be to connect at LIS to a TAP flight to Faro, then when refreshed with coffee at the airport, pick up a rental car at the Faro airport for the very short distance to Tavira on the toll road.
There's also the handy fast train, the Alfa Pendular, from Lisbon's Oriente station (just a quick taxi ride or two stops on the metro from the airport) directly to Faro.

And will you be returning from Sevilla through the Alentejo to Lisbon with your car? I assumed that you had a round-trip arrival and departure at LIS and would return fro Sevilla to Lisbon, but I may be. confused.

Maribel, Thank you for your very thoughtful reply. We are definitely taking your suggestion to fly, or take a train, to Tavira after crossing the pond. Such a prudent idea. We have, though, in the last 24 hours, decided not to go to Spain this trip. It was just too much driving etc., but there was no trains across lower Portugal, etc., etc. We will make that a separate trip someday. Focusing on a full Portugal itinerary. Will keep you posted on the other thread.

I think you've made a very wise decision, focusing on a full Portugal itinerary!

I am glad you mentioned Italica. It is a short bus ride from Seville and well worth a visit.

Thank you Maribel! Using lots of your suggestions from prior trip reports, etc.