serendibtrav

Hi,
We are planning on travelling to Spain after a few days in Morocco. We are thinking of starting in Madrid or Seville depending on where we can get a flight to from Marrakech.
We are thinking of staying a few days / or doing day trips to the following places
What places are good to stay in and what places can we do day trips to ? (train or bus is better ?)
Would greatly appreciate some ideas.
We have around 10 days at the moment starting 27 Dec.
How should we split our time ? (family - 2 adults and 2 adult children) - any places to leave out / add ?

Seville
Granada
Cordoba
Madrid
Barcelona (we fly out from here)

Love to see beautiful buildings, scenery, and experience the culture, good food etc. Coming from Melbourne, Australia

sparkchaser

So you have ten days in Spain?

If yes AND you must see all the cities you listed: fly into Madrid and drive/train to Seville, then Granada, then Cordoba, then Barcelona.

I think it's too many cities but I get your want to get to them all. New Years Eve is fun in Spain, especially if you are in a smaller town.

serendibtrav

Thanks sparkchaser. Must do a bit more research once we get our dates finalised. Currently around 10 days possible. Cheers

kja

With only 10 days, I'd restrict your time to Sevilla, Granada, and Cordoba. JMO. Cordoba can be seen as a day trip from Sevilla, although i thought it deserved 2 full days. Sevilla and Granada are not easily visited as a day trip from each other. Sounds like you would do well to get a really good guidebook or two....

kimhe

New years eve in Córdoba is something special. The gathering of thousands of people on Plaza de las Tendillas for the midnight eating of the grapes is traditionally directly televised. 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. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexMbX4EsRE&NR=1

From the opening of the flamenco clock in Cordoba in 1961: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlyX0icBYBo

New Years eve on Plaza de las Tendillas in Cordoba (eating of the grapes from 8 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUmHIXHaGEk

"Córdoba - vida y genio" (life and spirit): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfGdpF55Uk

RonZ

You'll be flying into Madrid, the only direct flight option other than Barcelona.

inspiredexplorer

I agree with kja and would recommend spending the bulk of your time in Andalusia based on your interests. There's also a nice thread between your trip to Morocco and visiting southern Spain. Plus you're likely to have much better weather in Andalusia than in Barcelona and Madrid.

To avoid having to fly via Madrid or Casablanca, if Tues Dec 27 is your day of departure from Marrakesh, Ryanair has nonstop flights from Marrakesh to Seville (they fly Tuesdays and Saturdays). Only issue here is flight is operated by Ryanair, and departs at 1:15 PM (lands Seville 3:45 PM) so you don't gain as much time on the ground as one might like if it were a morning flight. But the pain of Ryanair might be worth it if you can't find a quicker connecting flight.

Then I'd divvy up most of your time between Seville, Granada, and Córdoba depending on your interests in each place, and do 1 night or perhaps 2 nights in Barcelona (take 1 from Córdoba?) at the end ahead of flying back to Melbourne.

RonZ

I mentioned Madrid because the Ryanair web site shows a flight on the 26th and then not until the 30th. If that is true, I would get to town, train from the Atocha station to Cordoba, taking a couple of hours. Stay in Madrid last and fly out.

inspiredexplorer

Interesting: when I pull it on Ryanair's site and on Kayak, both show a flight on Tuesday 27th December, and not another until the 31st. Weird discrepancy.

If the nonstop RAK to SVQ is available on 27 Dec, I would do that. If not, follow as advised above on going via Madrid.

serendibtrav

Many thanks to all above. I am researching a bit more now wit all your ideas. Much appreciated. I will be back with more questions !