Hey Everyone,
I'm going to Spain for the first time at the end of next month and after tons and tons of wavering, I think I have a decent itinerary, but would love some feed back before I book my last two hotels.

Itin:
September 23rd-26th Madrid (arrive early on the 23rd)
September 26th-29th Cordoba
September 29th-October 1st Barcelona
October 1st-October 2nd Toledo
October 2nd 5:30PM flight to NY

So, I know there are a few draw backs to this, however please take two things into account when considering whether it's a good iten. or not. \
1. We're flying into and out of Madrid, no options and have the first three nights of hotel booked there.
2. My travel companion is dead set on Barcelona this trip. No negotiations, no matter how hard I try.
3. Being from NYC, I don't want to spend all of my time in giant European capital (or capital like) cities. I've traveled extensively in Europe and have had my fill for the time being, hence, three nights in Cordoba. My thought is that I'll get a taste for a little bit of a smaller city, and if it's really too much time there, I can always take a day trip and see what's going on in Seville. In short, I don't feel the need to really "digest" the bigger cities. Although I enjoy museums etc and work in the arts myself, I get plenty of that here, and am looking to absorb atmosphere more than check off sights.

Also, I'll be traveling by train.

My real question I suppose is, with Barcelona being a must, is my order of things the best way to do this trip? Madrid, Cordoba then Barcelona? Or should I switch Barcelona and Cordoba for some reason?

Also, I chose Cordoba because I thought it would give me a different taste than Barcelona and Madrid, but really, I'm open to just about any smaller city for that part of the trip? Is there someplace else I should be considering? I've thought about Granada but it seems more difficult to reach transportation wise.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

1. I would stay an extra night in Madrid and do a day trip to Toledo from Madrid.

2. Are you planning to visit Granada at all? Going to Spain and not see the Alhambra is a big loss, IMHO. I personally do not think Seville is a "big city" and I honestly find Cordoba a bit boring after you've seen the biggies there (which takes one day). If I were you, I'd stay either in Seville or Granada.

3. Another thought to your itinerary would be:
Arrive in Madrid and then fly directly to Barcelona or Andalucia (eg Seville or Granada) and start your trip there. I find that I'm usually so tired & jetlagged on my arrival day that the afternoon of that day is usually wasted. So I might as well get all the traveling done on that first day. End your trip with 3-4 days in Madrid/Toledo. That way, you'll be IN Madrid already on your departure day.

Thanks yk, my thought on Toledo was that I have to be back in the vicinity in order to fly out on the second anyways, so may as well stay someplace a little different my last night in Spain instead of return to Madrid?

I've been going back and forth of the Alhambra. I know it's a huge tourist attraction (the most visited in Spain I think?) however, I have a friend who just came back and was less than impressed. She said it was pretty, but not fascinating.(grant it, she's quite jaded). I've done things like the Doge's Palace in Venice, Neuschwanstein in Fussen etc, and enjoy them, but wouldn't go super out of my way for them. Am I mistaken in putting the Alhambra in this category of attraction?

My favorite places in Spain are Seville, Granada and San Sebastian. It's too bad you have to go to Barcelona. With ten days I would visit Madrid Seville Granada or Madrid and San Sebastian. 3 nights in Cordoba is a lot for me. If you're set on those 3 places your itinerary is good. I would probably split the time between Madrid, Barcelona and the Costa Brava at that time of year though.

With only 9 nights and a need to visit both Madrid and Barcelona I'd stick with just these 2 cities. Personally I wouldn't want 4 different overnight bases for a night night trip. If you spend 4-5 nights in Barcelona it would give you time for daytrips to smaller cities (Girona, Tarragona, Vic). I'd probably visit Toledo as a daytrip from Madrid along with Segovia.

Just 3 nights in Cordoba means you're missing out on some of the most fantastic places in Andalucia: Granada, Sevilla, the sherrry triangle villages, white villages, etc....I'd save Andalucia for another trip - you could easily spend 9 days just in Andalucia.

Yeah, I understand all of what I'm missing, I'm just confused by the advice I've gotten a few places to split my time between Barcelona and Madrid. If I had my way, I'd spend no time in Barcelona, and little time in Madrid. So to give up a few nights in a smaller city would be giving up what I REALLY want out of this vacation, which would be to get out of a major city for a few days.

I actually know very little about the Costa Brava, I'm not a beach person however, is it still worth looking into.

When you want to experience the laidback smaller towns, why do you still have only big ones on your list? I would not even think of Córdoba as a relaxing small town.
Otherwise, you restrict yourself by using just trains. Trains are very fine to get from A to B. But hard to find the really small towns/villages that you seem to prefer.

So you got your days in Madrid, and those in Barcelona. Both is fine. And you can't change it.

So why not get a car for the remaining days and find your way from the capital to Catalunya? Forget about must sees, Alhambra, pintxos,.. just get going and see those small towns with zero to 10 people from abroad visiting same time you are there? Discover your own Spain

Some fresh Córdoba impressions:

The "other" Córdoba around Plaza de las Tendillas, the Plaza Mayor-like Plaza de la Corredera, the Roman ruins etc can be highly recommended. All very close to the main tourist attractions but a totally different and more local atmosphere. Bustling outdoor cafés long into the night.

Several fine bodegas/tabernas in this area. Here you'll find great local places on every corner. Just had some excellent meals in a couple of them. Taberna Salinas comes recommended in the Michelin guide, and we were perfectly happy after two raciones, a bottle of wine and a couple of brandys for some 35€. http://www.tabernasalinas.com/

Bar Santos in Calle Magistral González Francés, 3 along the eastern side of the Mezquita is a laid-back and small respite in this heavily touristy area. Wonderful Jamón Ibérico.

Felt immediately at home in Plaza de las Tendillas. The thousands of people gathering here for the midnight eating of the grapes on New Years eve is traditionally directly televised on national tv. The clock on Plaza de las Tendillas has got no bells. Since 1961 the hours has been chimed in by recorded flamenco chords from the guitarist Juanito Serrano. Great atmospehere and good spirit well into the small hours, at least in the week-ends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexMbX4EsRE&NR=1

We lived in modern Hotel Córdoba Centro, just excellent, some 300 meters north of the Mezquita, next door to the main Tendillas Plaza. Some 60€ for a double. http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/cord...?rid=702348143

Cowboy, it's really a matter of me just not being sure where to even start with small towns, but maybe something to look into. You're absolutely right, it maybe time to get over my young backpacker with a rail pass way of life (although I'm buying point to point tickets, not the point and spend some time exploring with a rental car.

kemhe, thank you so much for the info and recommendations, I'll look into some of those and I appreciate the input.

If hotel could be changed to a later date, I would go on directly to Barcelona, and put all my days in Madrid at the end of the trip. I would fly from Barcelona to Sevilla, then train to Madrid. That way, you have made a neat circle, and have only three hotel stays.

To reasure you a bit, none of these cities will seem big compared with NYC. The city centers are pretty walkable, and you can take day trips from each. With so many open plazas, and cut back corners in parts of Barcelona, even major cities like Madrid will seem more relaxed than NYC. Even Madrid takes a nap in the early afternoon. Take a long walk in Guell Park in Barcelona.

I would certainly stay in Seville rather than Cordoba. Seville at night doesn't seem big city at all and is a great cultural experience. From Madrid, do go to Toledo and Segovia for small city experiences. Stay late and have dinner.

I would not bother with a rental car this trip because I think you can get some of the experiences you want with day trips.

Well in that case in between Madrid and Barcelona is a very small town called Teruel which Spaniards voted in El Pais to be the most beautiful small town in Spain. Then you have Zaragoza and Tarragona which are small cities. Also small towns on the Costa Brava, like Begur, Cadaques, etc. Cordoba is still great if you want a smaller city and an Andalucian vibe.

My first suggestion is to get a new travel companion. Someone that inflexible and stubborn will not be a good partner on this trip. That is entirely too much air or road time for a short trip and you will be missing great places that you will be near to. Barcelona is another big city and not worth all that effort on the trip you have laid out. Why torture yourself making a pleasurable vacation into a rushed ordeal. Think of the time lost going there and back. Besides, Seville and Granada are much more interesting than Barcelona and you will be right there.

Barcelona is another big city?
Surely you jest.

I was addressing the fact that the writer expressed a preference for smaller cities on this trip. Due to the travel time involved getting there and returning to Andalucia with only at best 1 1/2 days in Barcelona my advice is to not go there just to squeeze it in. Like other major cities with many sights and activities Barcelona deserves more time to really enjoy. Is that better?

I would either

A) Go from Madrid to Granada by train for 2 instead of 3 nights. Smaller city than Córdoba with the Alhambra. Sevilla has almost a million inhabitants.
Add one night to Barcelona and fly there. If your companion wants to go there, you should do it right. The city can be as busy or as quiet as you want to. Stay in Gràcia, for example. It's a small town within big BCN. You will think that you live in a town of 30 or 50K inhabitants.

B) Go north to San Sebastian by train.

C) Rent car in Madrid. Drive to BCN (now you have to forgive me for advertising my own itinerary but since I will do this drive next month I opted for one route, yours could be different):
Cuenca - Teruel (see Egbert's remarks above) - Morella - Horta de Sant Joan (Picasso museum / cave) - Falset/Gratallops (Priorat / Montsant wine region with the best "black wines" money can buy) - Poblet monastery - from there probably nonstop to BCN.

JArret,
I like Cowboy's suggestion of staying in Gracia while in Barcelona. It's a Spanish neighborhood where you'll see lots of locals, children playing, etc. Also visit Sarria & Pedrables (smaller neighborhoods within BCN). Instead of going to Andalucia, which seems much further away, you could rent a car & drive up the Costa Brava, into the Pyrenees, visit Girona. In the area of Cadaques, for example, there is lots of things to do without being in a big city, such as visit Dali's house in Port Lligat, drive up Cap de Creus for beautiful scenery, visit the monastery, Figueres, etc. You can click on my name to read my trip report from last October if that will help.

I have to say I agree with bwdlinks. Maybe not about getting a new partner.