Should I skip Granada?

Old Aug 4th, 2007, 06:30 AM
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Should I skip Granada?

I was originally planning on going to Madrid > Toledo > Cordoba > Sevilla > Granada > La Linea (Gibraltar) > Algeciras > Tangier

However, after reading some of the posts here and researching further I'm thinking it's probably better to skip Granada and visit Italica, Ronda and Cadiz because I really love ancient ruins and cities.

Are there buses that go to Cadiz from Ronda? Is 1 day enough for Cadiz or should I skip Ronda? Can anyone tell me the name of some bus companies in this region so I can lookup timetables?

This is what I've planned thus far:

Madrid + day trip Toledo (4 days)
Cordoba (2 days)
Sevilla + day trip to Italica(4 days)
Ronda (1 day)
Cadiz (1 day)
Cadiz > Tarifa > Tangier

If I have time I will try to see Gibraltar on the way back but I've heard it's nothing much to see there, it's more just to say I've been there...hehe
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:05 AM
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ttt
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:08 AM
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If you skip Granada you miss seeing the Alhambra. Think about it.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:29 AM
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Shall you skip Machu Picchu when you’re in Peru? No, and neither should you skip Granada while you’re in Spain.

I would give Cadiz and Gibraltar a pass, and, if necessary, spend one less night in Cordoba and/or Seville to add Granada to this itinerary.

There are busses between all these destinations; unfortunately, it is difficult to get UP-TO-DATE AND ACCURATE information about schedules except at bus stations. (Even local tourist offices often have no information or old and inaccurate information--except for Malaga.)
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:38 AM
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We drove from Malaga to Granada for a day trip to see alhambra. personally, i was not impressed....but there are many other travellers who love the place. we'd been in seville and toured alcazar which I liked a bit more. the gardens at alhambra were very nice - i just didn't care for the atmosphere and 1000's of inscriptions carved into every nook, cranny, wall etc.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:41 AM
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So which one would you skip out of: Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz and Ronda? How much time would I need at each place to see it properly? Should I make Seville my base and take day trips? I eventually need to end in Tarifa or Algeciras.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:49 AM
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Ok, I will take out a day from either Cordoba or Sevilla to fit it in.

So I'm thinking the best route be Cordoba > Seville > Granada > Ronda > Cadiz

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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 08:53 AM
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I would certainly not skip Granada. Cadiz would probably be my choice to drop, but you could also consider only one day in Cordoba.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 09:03 AM
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Personally, I liked Granada more than Ronda, and not just for the Alhambra. Ronda's pretty, beautiful really, but felt a little too well preserved (if one could see that being possible) and tourist weary for my tastes. To be fair, I was just coming out of Morocco and may have been feeling some culture of shock of returning to the more reserveded western culture. Still, Granada felt more like a lively city while Ronda actually seemed to close up like a museum an hour or two after dark.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 09:18 AM
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Some travelers regret visiting Venice, New York City, Las Vegas, etc. Strikes me as odd.

I didn't like the Taj Mahal--all that marble! Or the Eiffel Tower--too much steel. Statue of Liberty--big armpit.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 09:22 AM
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No, I would not skip Granada. Seeing the Alhambra and Ferdinand and Isabella was a highlight of my first trip to Spain.

I'd definitely skip Tangier, though. Blech!
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 09:23 AM
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I agree with happytrails and definitely would give up a day in Sevilla - especially as you've planned four days there - to visit Granada.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 09:26 AM
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Granada is one of the great sights of Europe, let alone Spain. Be sure to tour it at night. It's pure magic.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 09:34 AM
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You guys convinced me! It was my intention to go there but I read several posts saying to forget it!

1 of the days in Seville is for Italica.

So can someone tell me how much time I need in each place please - I know, the more the better but most of us have timelines.

I have also have 3 days budgeted for Madrid and 1 day for Toledo. I don't care for big cities, so should I make it 2 days?

It would really help if you could all tell me roughly how much time to allocate in each place...thanks so much!

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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 10:03 AM
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You are not going to miss much if you if you skip Cadiz. Gibraltar is one of those places that polarizes opinion. I happen to like it but if was between Granada and Gibraltar I would choose Granada. I agree somewhat with StCirq about Tangier. The city is pretty crummy but its Casbah is interesting and fun. If you go there, be prepared for a half dozen kids to latch onto you and follow you the whole time trying to sell trinkets and the like.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 10:06 AM
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Totally agree that you should not skip Granada. And not just for the Alhambra, the city itself is quite interesting. You could consider doing Cordoba as a stopover on your way from Madrid to Seville. It's on the way, the train stops there anyway, and they do have a sizeable luggage storage area. If you took an early train to Cordoba, and a late one to Seville you'd have most of a day which is more than enough for the Mezquita and a bit of the city.

I haven't been to Cadiz or Ronda but I think 4 days in Madrid with a day trip to Toledo, and 4 days in Seville with one day trip and stopping at Cordoba are minimums. I would want 3 in Granada considering it will take you half a day to get there from Seville.

I have photos on line of Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada (www.pbase.com/annforcier) and will have them of Madrid and Toledo pretty soon (just got back from that trip).
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 10:11 AM
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I love Madrid but it is urban to its core, so if you are not a fan of big cities, limit your time (but do try to see the Prado if you care at all about painting).

Do not miss Toledo.

I would spend the night in Granada so that I could tour the monuments at night and the gardens in the morning.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 10:17 AM
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hi, oceania,

I wholeheartedly agree with the OPs who urge you to go to Granada. I've travelled quite a lot in europe [after all, I live here!] and it was one of the most impressive sights I've ever visited.

ideally see it at night and during the day, because the night-time experience is completely different to the one you have during a day-time visit. Even in november, it was quite magical walking through the dimly lit gardens and seeing the palaces all lit up.

you must book in advance - on the official alhambra web-site - for both visits.

you might like to read Robert Irwin's book "the alhambra" for a very accessible history of the palace and the moors in europe.

regards, ann
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 10:41 AM
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I should skip Tangier.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 10:55 AM
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Skipping Grenada and the Alhambra is like visiting Madrid and not El Prado. And if you go to Ronda (and you must), and if you can get in and can afford it, book a room at the Parador de Ronda (Google it for views). Absolutely spectacular.
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