Hello fodorites. We just booked a trip to Spain, 12 nights, arriving in Barcelona on Thursday 28 October and departing from Madrid on Tuesday 9 November. Otherwise, no plans yet!!

I always wanted to see Seville and Granada (for the Alhambra) but I don't know whether this is a practical plan given our limited schedule. So, the question is whether we limit our trip to Barcelona and Madrid or try to broaden our horizons. It may be many years until we return for another visit to Spain. Any suggestions?

this year?

yes, this year, in just a few weeks, so we have to plan quickly.

We are leaving this Friday for my first ever trip to Spain. We are going to Barcelona, also. So I can't give you advice on whether or not you can fit in Andalucia. We are spending 5 full nights in Barcelona; then we are renting a car & driving north along Costa Brava, staying one night in Cadaques, then driving to Girona & spending 2 nights there. After sightseeing in Girona, I hope to spend a day exploring some of the small inland Medieval towns, such as Vic, Besalu, Rupit & Ripoll. Not sure if these locations would interest you. We didn't want to drive too far because we only have 3 nights when we leave Barcelona.

Even though this is my first trip to Spain, based on my research, I don't think you have enough time to see Barcelona, Madrid & Andalucia in 12 nights.

You can spend 3 days in Barcelona, fly to the south, spend three days there and then take the AVEm, high speed train to Madrid.

All give or take a day.

Monday 1st November is a public holiday in Spain
Public transport is going to be on a Sunday schedules and some public buildings will be closed too.
I would plan with this in mind.
I would suggest you visit just the 2 cities and broaden your horizons in the future.

You could make this a fabulous journey with a taste of very different parts of Spain. I would suggest 3 days in cosmopolitan and "Northern European" Barcelona, then fly Spaniar or Vueling from there to Granada in 90 mins, some 30-50€. Stay a couple of days in Granada with Alhambra (and don't forget the Cathedral with the Capilla Real with the tombs of the "Catholic kings", Isabella and Fernando, its almost not possible to overestimate their role in history, for good or bad). Go to magical Sevilla by bus or train (some 2h 30 mins) and let this fabulous city get under your skin for some four days. Then go to majestic Madrid by the high speed AVE train (2h 30 mins from city center to city center) and spend your last days here.

Informative sites on my two favourite cities along this route; Sevilla and Madrid:
http://www.exploreseville.com/index.htm
http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

You should also check maribelsguides.com

And, when in Barcelona, you'll have the chance to see José Mercé, one of the greatest flamenco singers alive on the 30th of October. I'm sure your hotel will get you tickets if you are interested: http://www.deflamenco.com/agenda/ver...odigo=FLA|3378

One of José Mercé's most popular songs. This is the unofficial hymn to democracy in Spain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRadQwNsq_Q&feature=fvw

The "real deal": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xoUg...eature=related

I appreciate everyone's answers. I am still leaning towards splitting our time among the three cities: 4 nights in Barcelona, 4 nights in Seville and 4 nights in Madrid. If we stick to this schedule, we would fly from Barcelona to Seville on November 1, a holiday. This schedule would also permit us a day trip to Granada to visit the Alhambra.

Is it feasible to fly from Barcelona to Seville?

Both Vueling and Iberia have flights from Barcelona to Sevilla.

woodstock - it is a good 2 1/2 hours to Granada from Seville, that's 5 hours round trip, at a time of year when there will be little light after 6pm.

so you will really be able only to see the alhambra, not much else.

personally i prefer kimhe's idea, even if you only spend one night in Granada. however, 2 nights would be better:

Day 1 - arrive Barcelona.
Day 2 - Barcelona
Day 3 - Barcelona
Day 4 - Barcelona
Day 5 - am flight to Granada. afternoon and evening there. [don't forget to book your night-time visit to the alhambra]
Day 6 - GRanada
Day 7 - am train/bus to Seville.
Day 8 - Seville
Day 9 - Seville
Day 10 - early train to Madrid
Day 11 - Madrid
Day 12 - Madrid
day 13 - fly home

this gives you 4 nights in Barcelona, [to allow recoevery from jetlag and allow exploration of the sights which are pretty wide-spread] 2 in Granada, and 3 in Seville and Madrid.

If you've always wanted to see the Alhambra, then definitely spend 2 nights in Granada so that you can see it during both the day and at night.

If you absolutely want to see Madrid, Barcelona and Andalucia in a 12 day trip annhig's itinerary is probably how I'd arrange the time. That said, by trying to see all 3 areas you miss out on the opportunity to explore the individual areas seeing the smaller cities and focusing on just large cities (ie. Barcelona daytrip to Girona, Sevilla daytrip to Cordoba, Madrid daytrip to Toledo).

You just have to weigh what you give up versus gain in trying to see Andalucia.

12 days is not enough time to see all three places. It will also be exhausting and at least two days would be spent traveling. I would have cut out Barcelona if you wanted to see Seville and Granada. Since it is too late, this trip can be done and annhig has the best itinerary.

We are leaning strongly towards annhig's itinerary. I have always found Barcelona and Andalucia the most compelling destinations in Spain for me, more than Madrid, even though I recognize visiting Madrid is essential. If anyone is interested, I will report back as our plans (quickly) are made.

looking forward to hearing about your experiences, woodstock.

I always find spain a very rewarding and enjoyable place to visit, not least because it is possible to find something to eat at virtually any time of the day or night. This is very convenient for the tourist who may not be able to stick to the more rigid meal-times common in France and Italy.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Have you booked your alhambra tickets yet?

Some Madrid suggestions:

Have breakfast at Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes in down town Calle Alcalá, 42. One of the city's most emblematic cafés. Grab a window table and watch Madrid wake up on bustling Calle Alcalá. Later in the day, you should take the lift up to the roof topp terrace (the azotea) for the most spectacular views of the city. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/cargarApl...ntificador=179

The Reina Sofia contemporary art museum. The second floor with Picasso, Dalí, lots of other painitings, posters, films, photos etc., dealing with a couple of the greatest civilizational breakdowns of the 20th century, The Spanish Civil War and WWII, completely blew my mind off last year. Free admission on Sundays from 10 am to closing at 14.30 and Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7pm (closing at 9pm).

(And of course Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums)

A stroll in beautiful Retiro Park. http://www.aviewoncities.com/madrid/parquedelretiro.htm

Sunday shopping at the Rastro market: http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com/el-rastro.html

The Chueca and Malasaña area, north of Gran Vía, is Madrid's most lively shopping district that "combine both originality and the avant-garde. Specifically, the section made up of little streets perpendicular to Fuencarral and Hortaleza streets is a shoppers’ paradise".
http://www.softguides.com/madrid_gui...ne.html#chueca

Watch the sunset over the Guadarrama mountains from the terrace at El Ventorrillo in the Vistillas park. Great pollo al ajillo, some say the best in town. Map, video and some pictures: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-ventorrillo

Have lunch or some tapas at Casa Granada, on the 6th floor of an apartment building just off Plaza Tirso de Molina. Hard to find and a great terrace. http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...ada-Video.html

Medina Mayrit, an Arab bath-house just off Plaza Mayor in Calle Atotcha, 14. (Mayrit is the old Arab name (from the 9th century) of Madrid, meaning running water and referring to the water sources beneath the city). http://www.medinamayrit.com/

Café Central, just off bustling Plaza Santa Ana, is a fabulous jazz venue with live performances from the best artists every night at 10. Entrance 11€. Good food also.

Experience world class flamenco at one of the best tablaos. Madrid is arguably the flamenco capital of the world. Although the art form comes from the South (Andalucía), everybody has to conquer Madrid to get to the top. On their way there, or as an opportunity to try out new things and get an up close audience, many of them work the top tablaos. I recommend Casa Patas and Cardamomo, both close to Plaza Santa Ana.
http://www.casapatas.com/
http://www.cardamomo.es/

Txirimiri in Calle del Humilladero, 6 gives you an idea of why the Basque kitchen is considered among the best in the world. In the midst of one of the best tapas/restaurant districts in town, in and around Calle Cava Baja in La Latina.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ri-Madrid.html

I never leave Madrid without having had the squid in its own ink and the famous cod at Casa Revuelta, also in the same district.
http://11870.com/pro/casa-revuelta

You should also try the excellent salmorejo, a somewhat thicker variant of the tomato/vegetable soup gazpacho, in Según Emma just behind the newly reopened gourmet-oriented San Miguel food market. http://11870.com/pro/segun-emma
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ma-Madrid.html

Fine dining at El Mentidero de la Villa:
http://www.mentiderodelavilla.es/
http://11870.com/pro/el-mentidero-la-villa

This site is great about Madrid. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

Thnaks for the new replies. As for the Alhambra, I have not yet booked tickets because I am still working out our itinerary. Do they book up well in advance?

The information on Madrid looks great and I will take my time reviewing all the helpful links.

You never know with the Alhambra as millions of people go there every year. I have found that the hotel concierge can always get tickets to the Alhambra. If you're going high season might be best to get them a month in advance.

We just got back from a month in Spain. We loved Barcelona, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba and the Andalucian Coast. Madrid was ok, but with your schedule I would add Cordoba (the Mezquita is a WOW) and cut my time in Madrid. We flew very inexpensively from Barcelona to Granada on Spanair. From there we rented a car and used the train from Cordoba to Madrid and Toledo. By the way, buying train tickets before you go can be very confusing and we ended up going to the department store, El Corte Ingles, in Barcelona and having them book our train tickets. That worked very well.