FamilyRoadTrippers

We are a mixed age family of 6 t(including 2 children) ravelling by rental car from Sevilla (as base) to various surrounding cities. We plan to stay in Sevilla after Christmas through New Years and take day trips to Cordoba, Granada, Ronda and anywhere else that looks good. Would love suggestions on places to go? if this plan makes sense? what new year's in seville is like? Thanks.

TonyBishop

Day trips to Cordoba, Granada and Ronda? By car?

It takes a minimum of 3 hours to drive from Seville to Granada, but probably more, plus time to find somewhere to park the car. And then you have to drive back to Seville at the end of your day.

Lexma90

Cordoba is an easy train trip from Sevilla; due to difficulties parking, I would suggest the train. Cordoba is an interesting city, with a lot to see - you could definitely spend an entire day there. Don't miss the Mezquita; it's gorgeous.

Sevilla to Granada isn't easy on public transportation, so you'd want to drive; when we drove to Granada (from Toledo), we parked just off the highway and walked into the old city from there (a bit longer of a walk than we'd envisioned). The drive time would be a bit long, but the Alhambra in Granada is amazing.

kimhe

Carmona is an excellent small town just outside Sevilla: http://www.andalucia.com/province/se...rmona/home.htm

I also have a very soft spot for Antequera, one hour+ driving from Sevilla towards Málaga. Antequera is known as "the heart of Andalucía" or "the crossroads of Andalucía". Almost right in the middle of the Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga rectangle. Here you'll find dolmens (some 5000 years old burial chambers), Roman baths, a Moorish Castle, Gothic churches, Renaissance fountains and baroque bell towers. Antequera was the first of the Granada emirate towns to fall to the Christians in 1410.
http://www.andaluciacoastandcountry.com/antequera.html

I love the terrace in the corner of the peaceful square in front of the Real Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor, the first partly Renaissance-style church in Spain (built 1514-1550). Up here it's totally peace and quiet. Next to the recently excavated Roman baths beneath and looking up on the 13th century Moorish alcazaba/fortress. Great views over unique landscapes (the spectacular Torcal limestone mountain etc.). http://www.wild-about-travel.com/201...ing-antequera/

New Years eve in Sevilla should be great, even if the celebrations in Córdoba - on Plaza de las Tendillas - is perhaps more famous and traditionally directly televised:
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-g...n-seville.html
Plaza de las Tendillas in Córdoba: http://www.artencordoba.co.uk/SQUARE...as-Square.html

TonyBishop

In spite of what someone wrote above, Sevilla to Granada is very easy by public transport. There are both direct trains and buses that take you from city centre to city centre, but it takes just as long as the driving.

One way, it takes approximately 3 hours by bus or train. The advantage of using public transport is quite obvious. The person who would otherwise have driven arrives at the destination fresh and ready to start.
http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/index.html
http://www.alsa.es/en/

TonyBishop

FamilyRoadTrippers, you asked "Would love suggestions on places to go?"

1. Just out of curiosity, how many FULL days to you anticipate spending in Seville?

2. Are you looking for another big city to visit, or a smaller town as a contrast?

Egbert

Cars are a major hassle in Sevilla and Granada.