Spain Itinerary
 

My husband and I (60+) would like to go to Spain next February but I haven't a clue how to plan the itinerary. We would like to spend at least three days in Barcelona, visit Seville, Granada, perhaps Toledo and a brief time in Madrid to see the Prado Museum. What is the most efficient transportation between cities and where should we start?

Trains are the faster link between these cities and the Spanish railways have improved greatly in recent years so on mainlines is now on par with those in the rest of Europe. Trains now go up to about 190 mph on new high-speed tracks. www.renfe.es the Spanish railways web site provides fares and if you can navigate it you can book online. There is also a Spanish Railpass that may be good for you as you are traveling rather long distances. (Marketed in U.S. by RailEurope - www.raileurope.com and their agents like BETS (800-441-2387; www.budgeteuropetravel.com - who i always recommend for their expert service in my experience. Ask on their web site for their free European Planning & Rail Guide that has a good chapter on Spain, with a rail map and itinerary suggestions and descriptions of the places you'll be going.) www.ricksteves.com also has good info on railpasses and Spanish trains. You should also investigate cheap flights for long-distance travel - though you don't see the countryside they can be efficient - www.whichbudget.com provides links to cheap flights between any 2 cities. Go to www.okspain.com for the Spanish National Tourist Office web site with oodles of info on Spanish travel in general.

Barcelona is really out of your way, but there are great air connections between Barcelona and Sevilla (vueling.com), so you could start there, then from Sevilla, go see everything else you want to see. You can also fly into Granada and work your way back up to Madrid to leave. I do recommend air for getting out of BCN, and the other cities are on either train or bus lines. Renting a car in Andalucía, though, I think is always a good idea.

Trains good. I suggest you add the alhambra in Grenada and Cordoba to your list of reading

Thank you all! The information you have provided is a great help. I really appreciate it.

As much as I have enjoyed traveling by rail throughout Spain, I would have to agree with Laclaire on this one. I would fly from Barcelona to the farthest point (Granada) and then use rail or bus (3 hours or so) to Seville; from Seville a high-speed AVE train 2.5 hours to Madrid (which in the long run would probably be more convenient and faster overall than flying Seville to Madrid).