October

Hello fellow Fodorites!

We will be arriving in Madrid on December 4th and departing on December 10th. I realize this is a woefully inadequate time to do Spain justice. Sigh. A little about me, this is my first trip to Europe and my first big trip with my boyfriend, so I'd like it to be romantic. I love gardens, art, Moorish and Roman architecture, and am mainly drawn to Spain for the Alhambra. Here is our tentative itinerary:

Dec. 4- Arrive Madrid 9:30 a.m
Dec. 5- Train [Toledo] to Granada (sleep Granada)
Dec. 6- ½ day Granada to see Alhambra, train to Sevilla
Dec. 7- Sevilla
Dec. 8-Sevilla
Dec. 9- [Cordoba] to Madrid, sleep Madrid (Seville to Madrid, 2.5 h AVE)

The cities in brackets are optional, depending on how much time we have. We plan on using all public transport for the duration of the trip due to possible snowy roads and limited daylight.

Since the gardens will mostly be dead, will the Alhambra be worth the limited time we have? While I don't want to shortchange Madrid, as I would love to see the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Museo Sorrolla, I prefer smaller, more intimate towns and natural scenery. Other priorities: Moorish and Roman architecture and a hammam.

Also, to build in flexibility, would it be advisable to only book our first night's hotel in Madrid, the AVE train to [Toledo] Granada and our tickets to the Alhambra?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

CathyM

With 6 nights I'd just visit Sevilla & Granada if this is your interest.

I'd take the AVE to Sevilla and spend 4 nights. You may have time for a daytrip to Cordoba and can play it by ear. From Sevilla I'd take the bus or train to Granada. Spend 2 nights. Id you have an early flight back on Dec 9 you may have to just do one night in Granada and leave late afternoon for Madrid and your final night.

I think you're going to have to cut Madrid & Toledo.

Alternatively you could visit Madrid & Sevilla or Madrid & Granada. I wouldn't try to do all or you're going to be exhausted. The first 3 days alone you're in 3 different hotels and no time to adjust.

Egbert

Or I would take the AVE directly to Sevilla for 3 nights, 2 in Granada and the last night in Madrid. You will not have time for the Prado or anything other than some food and a glass or two of wine.

danon

I agree with PP

yorkshire

The first day you will be jetlagged anyway, so I'd just continue on traveling. I did just that and the train was relaxing. Just keep repeating that you will return to convince yourself to not try to do too much.
I think if you are determined to stay in more than one place, a combo of 2 nights-3 nights-1 night works best.

Others will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you would have to return to Madrid after Toledo.

If I was interested in nature/gardens, I'd go to Andalucia in spring and do a winter trip in Madrid where indoor pursuits are more the draw, but you have to choose the best trip for you.

suec1

I'd go for Madrid and Seville - do a day trip to Toledo from Madrid and you can visit Cordoba from Seville. My opinion is the Alcazar in Seville is very similar to the Alhambra. We were at the Alhambra in Oct. and were disappointed - the lion fountain has been relocated for renovation and there was scafolding in other parts that detracted from the site. If you think you can stand it, land in Madrid and immediately go down to Seville for maybe three nights. Spend a day going to Cordoba - the mezquita is amazing! Then back to Madrid, hit the museums and daytrip to Toledo. This itinerary gives you a very nice variety of the different architecture and sites that Spain has to offer without having to change hotels much.

greg

Regarding hotel booking, realize that you have pros and cons of not making reservations. You already noted the pro - not having to make commitments. On the other hand, it will chew up what little time you are already left with to look for places to stay. Everybody wants nice place to stay at good price. So these are harder to find. If you are not picky about the type of rooms or the price, it does not matter. Also to take advantage of the "flexibilities," there need to be likely scenarios where you might benefit. What are they? If there are no likely scenarios, you are only dealing with the cons of not booking.

From the timing point of view, you can visit all these places. I have talked to many travelers who have done even more demanding itineraries, and while they admit being tired, they were glad they did it. Whether you end up enjoying is a different matter as you can see from the preceding posts. This kind of itinerary is not for everyone.

I presume you are locked into flying in/out of Madrid.

There are possible itineraries to include Madrid Museums. There certainly are other options.

12/4 travel on to Sevilla
12/5 Sevilla
12/6 Sevilla- day trip to Cordoba
12/7 Granada- leave Sevilla early, do Alhambra
12/8 Madrid - Leave luggage at Atocha, goto Reina Sofia, then to Prado.
12/9 Madrid - day trip Toledo, do Sorolla as upside
12/10 fly home

12/4 travel on to Granada
12/5 Sevilla- do Alhambra, then to Sevilla
12/6 Sevilla- day trip to Cordoba
12/7 Sevilla-
12/8 Madrid - Leave early, leave luggage at Atocha, goto Reina Sofia, then to Prado, Sorolla is a stretch.
12/9 Madrid - day trip Toledo, do Sorolla as upside
12/10 fly home

You have heart set on certain places. Here is a relevant quotation for you:

<i>Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. </i> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1..._n_997301.html

October

Thank you so much everyone for your thoughtful replies. I'll think it over and let you know what we decide. I'm leaning toward continuing on to either Sevilla or Granada as most of you have suggested. And Greg, at first I thought the Steve Jobs' quote was your signature, and then when I realized you posted it for me, well, it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. They are certainly words to live by and I will take them to heart.

ribeirasacra

The days of 6th and 8th of December are public holidays. the day in between is usually taken as a vacation day. Plan accordingly as this is normally a busy time for the tourist and public transport industries.

lincasanova

you will save hours if you rent a car at the madrid airport and take off for toledo directly. you'll be there in 1.5 hours max.

. then next day drive to cordoba/sevilla dumping the car in sevilla, perhaps after stopping at carmona for a snack.

take carriage ride in sevilla first thing to see all the sites from the carriage, get tickets to casa de la memoria.. and next day off to granada by bus/train.

train back to madrid.