I would love to be able to stay in each city for a week if possible but unfortunately this is not gonna happen. I have a work trip in Barcelona for a few days and DH will fly to Spain to meet me.

Easiest way for us to fly out is Madrid, flights from Seville back to SFO with star alliance $$$$ right now, so Madrid it is.

9/6-8Thining about 2 days with DH in barcelona, as i would've been there for a week already, he will be okay to cut it short.
9/8- Flight to Seville
explore towns in this area, not sure if we can fit in Granada, if not, it's okay
9/15 Train to Madrid (wondering if we should leave a day early and see Toledo, not really interested in Madrid, just need to get there to fly out.
9/16 madrid to SFO

Think you have enough time to see both Cordoba and Granada, the biggies of Andalucia.

Toledo is definitely worth a trip! Loved it, spent 3 (maybe4?) nights there!

You could spend your last night or two in Toledo and take a taxi from there to Barajas. Especially wonderful at night when day trippers have left and things are lit up.

Google for car services or have a look at this company:

https://www.taxi2airport.com/en/pric...110cbfd2e5b6aa

Price is probably comparable or cheaper than training back to Madrid and taxi from Mardrid to BAR.

Also agree that you can fit Córdoba and Granada in your plan.

Wonderful Córdoba is only 45 mins away from Sevilla with the high speed AVE train. Here you have the spectacular Mezquita et., but Córdoba is much more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk&t=10s

Perhaps go to nearby Carmona and into Roman times: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/carmona

Even more Roman in the even closer to town Itálica ruins: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/italica.htm

And Sevilla itself is of course the undisputed queen of the cities in the south of Spain: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville

Make a "day-trip" to local atmosphere Triana on the other side of the city river Guadalquivir:
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/triana.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mFE9k0E-2Y

And great cafés, galleries, markets and nightlife in the Alameda/Macarena district, a little North of the most beaten tourist track. Another day-trip option within the city itself: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...macarena-spain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WJkTCpbp8w

And a suggestion for a last night in Madrid to get a good taste of the city:

Have dinner in emblematic Casa Alberto from 1827, just off vibrant Plaza Santa Ana. Traditional Madrid food with a modern twist, and very popular with both locals and visitors. One "sol" (sun) in the Guía Repsol, the Spaniah equivalent to the Michelin guide. Also an excellent tapas bar in front of the restaurant. Expect some 35€ pr. person for a three course meal: http://www.casaalberto.es/en/
https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/gastro...-casa-alberto/

And 200 meters from Casa Alberto you have Casa Patas, one of the best tablaos (flamenco venues) in Spain in recent years. Only top of the shelf artists perform here (changing every week), and late night shows. Song, guitar and male and female dancer. A night here could easily be the highlight of your trip: http://casapatas.com/casa-patas-2/
Rising star Macarena Ramirez in Casa Patas not long ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdWH02jklOM

And also 200 meters from Casa Alberto you have Café Central, the best live jazz venue in town. Excellent both Spanish and international artists every night, and the program also here changes every week. Ranked among the best jazz clubs in the world by DownBeat Magazine. Have ended many never to forget Madrid nights here:
http://www.cafecentralmadrid.com/
http://www.thejazzspotlight.com/cafecentral/
Saw Javier Colina, Albert Sanz and Perico Sambeat here seven years ago, and after that we were sold on Central: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFgvSO26o1c

Do this route, and you might to want to come back to Madrid for more ;-)

taxi to barajas from toledo not advisable ( IMO) unless you have LOTS of time. The beltways can be very congested with traffic and accidents or who knows what. I would find that very stressful.. not to mention.. expensive

Personally, I would not try to fit Barcelona, Sevilla, and Madrid into the same week. You might want to commit to just one of these areas – Barcelona and the Costa Brava; or Sevilla and just the tiniest taste of Andalusia; or Madrid, Toledo, and maybe a taste of something else in central Spain.

In September, I’d think twice about Andalusia, as it will be HOT. Check wunderground.com

If you are committed to spending 2 or 3 days in Barcelona (and I can easily understand wanting to do so!), aren’t interesting in visiting magnificent Madrid (? but hey, it’s your trip), and plan a departure from Madrid, then my proposal would be to
• Consider adding some time to Barcelona or couple of days near there, perhaps in Girona or Tarragona or….
• Go from Barcelona through Madrid to Toledo for at least a night or two, if not three (like joannyc, I thought it easily worth 2 very full days),
• and then on to Madrid for the night before your flight.

Good luck!