Hi. DH and I are planning 9 days (so really 7 w/o travel) in Spain in mid May. I am leaning towards 3 or 4 in Madrid (w a side trip to Toledo or Segovia), 2 in Sevilla and a side trip to Granada to see the Alhambra. Is this doable? I know can take a high speed train from Madrid to Sevilla but not sure how to do the Granada portion. Also, is mid May too hot for this? Thanks. I lived in Madrid about 18 years ago, was fluent and am now coversational. We are big foodies-I dont' remember loving the food in Spain (did really like the tapas!) but was on a college budget then so sure things are different.
Thanks for any and all comments- need to book those ff miles!!

Could be pleasantly warm - or hot as hell (I've been in Madrid at the end of April when it was 99 and humid). But I think you're cheating Andalusia at the expense of Madrid.

It could even be chilly - you just don't know. I've been in Spain at the beginning of May 3 times. This year it was rainy and damp (aka chilly), another year it was a little warm (mid 80's) and another year in the 70's.

7 days for Madrid, Sevilla & Granada is pushing it. You could theoretically spend 4 days in Madrid and 3 in Sevilla doing Granada as a daytrip from Sevilla but I wouldn't recommend this. First of all you'd be cheating yourself out of a day in Sevilla and only really have 1.5 days there. Secondly it's 3 hours each way so is a very long day trip. Then you still wouldn't have time for other great places nearby: Cordoba, white villages, sherry triangle cities, Cadiz, etc...

cathy and ny traveler-i only really went to granada adn nerja-spent more time up north during college. please let me know what i am missing in sevilla etc. how would you spent the 7/8 days? am wondering if i can fly into madrid and out of a location down south-would that get me more time? thanks

Personally (just my opinion) with only 7 day and a desire to see both Sevilla & Granada I'd spend 4 in Sevilla and 2 in Granada. I'd see if I could use Malaga as one leg of the airfare and spend a night in Malaga too.

If this is during the Patio festival in Cordoba I'd consider spending the night in Cordoba. Although it can easily be done as a daytrip from Sevilla spending a night during the patio festival would give you more time.

The first weekend in May is usually the May crosses. It's big in Cordoba and also Granada. If you are visiting during this weekend I'd try to arrange the trip to be in one of these 2 cities.

With only 7 days I'd skip Madrid.