spain recommendations for family trip
 

Our family (20,18, &13 yr olds)is traveling to Spain for 11 days over Christmas time. Besides visiting Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, & Ronda, I'm choosing between a few other towns to explore. How does Cuenca compare to Ronda? How about Caceres vs. Avila? Should we skip Toledo and go to Segovia, which may have more interest for the kids? How does Merida compare to Segovia in terms of Roman ruins? Thanks

How are you traveling? If by car, you could do Segovia, Avila and then down through Caceres and Merida on the way to Seville. I did that 20 years ago, but included Salamanca. But I think such a trip might be pushing it if you are also spending a few days in Madrid. I think that Avila is more impressive than Caceres.

Well, for 11 days, I'd wouldn't add any more. Try this:

4 days in Madrid with day trips to both Segovia or Toledo (I loved them both, and this is what I did).

Cordoba on the way to Sevilla, 3 days in Sevilla.

2 days in Ronda,

2 days in Granada.

That's 11 days.

That's a lot of moving around, without hitting the other towns.

Karen

I agree with Karen. We just returned from Spain where we spent 1 day near Malaga, 1 day in Granada, 3 in Seville and 2 in Gaucin, one of the pueblos blancos. It was a wonderful but hurried trip and if you have only 11 days, you will be quite busy with the places you already have listed.

I think Karen has an excellent plan. You'll be doing alot in 11 days...IMO anymore would be just rushing too much. Spain will still be there and you will probably (like me and many others) want to go back again and again.

My husband and I were in Andulucia five years ago. One thing you must remember, if you are driving, the driving times between cities is longer than you might expect. Also, besides all the amazing sites in Spain, you must allow yourself time to enjoy the "cultural" aspects of each city. I remember spending one day just walking the plazas in Sevilla and stopping at the tapas bars along the way.