Spain....which basic itinerary to start with
 

Heading to Spain in late February. I know it will be cool, but it'll be warmer than NH! It'll be me, my husband, and our 9 and 10 year old boys. We arrive on Friday morning and leave the following Friday. Where should I start?

Option 1....
Arrive Madrid on Friday.
Madrid... Saturday and Sunday
Train to Barcelona on Monday.
Barcelona....Tuesday thru Thurs
Leave friday

Option 2....
Spend the entire time in Madrid with day trips to Toledo and Segovia

We enjoy trying new foods, wandering, parks, history (even the boys), hiking. It's too cold for any water based interests. They've been to Venice and Rome. Other than that, all travel has been within the US.

In February I'd also go to Barcelona as it will be warmer than Madrid which is at a high altitude and kids may love taking the bullet train that goes up to nearly 200 mph - and Barcelona has in its center a great park with some carnival type rides and Gaudi's park, etc - many would say a nicer overall city than Madrid. Book train tickets early at Renfe and get nifty discounted fares - www.seat61.com has lots on doing that yourself online - general info trains www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts.

I think staying in Madrid would be neat too but it could be too cool for enjoyable outdoors activities. But that could be fun too. But I think for Americans taking that super fast train could be cool.

I'd want to see both Madrid and Barcelona on a first trip to Spain. But barely 7 days is kind of tight to do both. I'd probably pick just one and skip the day trips idea.

If we do both major cities, we would skip day trips. We'll only venture out if we settle in one place.

In Rome we did a LONG day trip to Pompeii and the kids held up great. We spent six hours there and they wanted more. But we had to get back to Rome.

Option 1. Below is our 2015 trip report with photos. First five days in Barcelona ... last four in Madrid.

Should give you ideas. Take note of what sights (La Sagrada Familia, etc.) might be good to get online reservations in Barcelona.

((H))

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/spain-2015/

I agree that trying to see both Madrid and Barcelona in your time frame is not the best idea. Considering that your arrival day in Madrid will be spent getting to a hotel, checking in, and adjusting to the time change, you won't see much on that day. On the Friday you will fly out, it will be the much the same, with checking out of your hotel and getting to the airport with time to get through security, etc. That leaves you with six days, and if you take the train to Barcelona and check into a hotel, that is another half day less at least.

If I were you, I would choose one city. If it is Madrid - either Segovia or Toledo would be a good day trip - but they are in opposite directions, so probably best to choose one. I like both of them - I think either offers a good taste of Spain. Segovia is very compact, so it might be better for a day trip by train on your own - but once when I was in Madrid on my own years ago, I took a tour that went by bus to Toledo, and it was quite enjoyable.

If you do decide on adding Barcelona - yes to the bullet train. I bet your sons would really like it.

If you do decide to stay in one location, you may want to consider renting an apartment so you will have more room to spread out with your family, as well as the option to have breakfast in - which will save a few Euros.

I agree that doing both will mean you'll just get a minimum time but I don't think it's crazy. If you really want to see both I think your option 1 above would be fine. If you do decide to just do Madrid I think you have time for both day trips - Segovia and Toledo. I really enjoyed both of them more than Madrid itself so I think with 6 days you'd have plenty of time for both plus enough to see most of what you'd probably fell are the highlights of Madrid.


Here's my photos of all those places - https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f855477163

Personally, I'd go for Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia. Or Barcelona, Montserrat, and maybe Figueres or Tarragona or Girona. I would find it extremely unsatisfying to have only a few days in either Madrid or Barcelona. YMMV.

9 and 10 year old kids are the wild card to me. I just spent six days in Madrid. The biggest attractions in Madrid are probably the art museums, which may not exactly be prime attractions for the kids. While it might not be the ideal adult trip, I could see doing both Madrid and Barcelona for this group.

What are the kids in to? We went to a soccer game while in Madrid and thoroughly enjoyed that.

Wow, just spent a few hours reading maitaitoms blog. Had to pause here and there to make dinner and attend Cub scouts. After reading that, I think Barcelona and Montserrat will be a better option for one week.

For ideas of what the kids liked in Italy....they loved Pompeii, Doge's Palace, and the light show at the Imperial Forum in Rome. They did not enjoy the Vatican or St. Marks. They also enjoy parks/gardens and just walking around the city trying foods and checking things out.

Well Barcelona is out. Prices are insane due to the Mobile World Conference.

Did you look at apartments through Airbnb?

I did, and many are over $400 per night. That's what made me research and I discovered this event draws over 100,000 visitors that week. We will focus on southern Spain and save Barcelona for another trip.

I'm now considering splitting time between Madrid and Seville. I'd love to visit Granada as well, but I'm not sure there's enough time.

I just got back from Spain and loved Seville. See my trip review for a link to the apartment we rented; I think it might work well for your family.

Twk....I've really been enjoying your trip report. And that apartment does look like a great option. They'll each have their own bed and no one needs to use a sleeper sofa.

You could also just spend a few nights in Madrid and then blast in 2 hours by AVE high-speed train down to warm Andalusia and Seville/Cordoba area and fly home from there. Should be nice weather there -maybe go to Granada and everyone will love the Alhambra -certainly one of the most amazing mesmerizing edifices/complexes in Europe. Seville is a dream city and easy day trip from there to Cordoba - also neat - just another option.

We are non-revving on American Airlines, so we'll go in and out of Madrid.

I'm leaning towards:
Friday - land Madrid early AM
Saturday - Madrid
Sunday - train to Seville
Monday - Seville
Tuesday - day trip to Cordoba, sleep Seville
Wednesday - train or bus to Granada, Alhambra in the afternoon
Thursday - afternoon train back to Madrid
Friday -fly home

OR

Friday - arrive Madrid early AM
Saturday - Madrid
Sunday - Madrid
Monday - train to Seville
Tuesday - Seville
Wednesday - day trip to Cordoba, sleep Seville
Thursday - afternoon train back to Madrid
Friday - fly home

I'd do A simply because of the Alhambra - kids should love it. I might also take train to Seville right from airplane - metro to taxi to Atocha station - one less hotel change and put Madrid days all at end. Again book those AVE train tickets ASAP - sometimes months in advance possible. Be sure to book a time slot for Alhambra - could also do Cordoba on way by train to Grenada and have whole day in Granada - many say the Alhambra took them a happy whole day (I did a half day but I do things fast).

Friday - land Madrid early AM, train to Seville
Saturday - Seville
Sunday - Seville
Monday - Seville to Cordoba, store bags, Cordoba to Grenada
Tuesday - Grenada (Alhambra)
Wednesday - early train to Madrid
Thursday - Madrid
Friday -fly home

Or take a night from Seville and add a night in Grenada to do this: https://www.oliveoiltour.com/ My kids love that sort of tour

Yes sounds sublime - two nights in Seville fine for family.