Lovetotravel123

I'm planning my trip and while most of the planning is already done, I feel like I'm going to be rushing through places and want to adjust.
I've initially planned to spend 1.5 days in Madrid, 1 day - trip to Toledo, next day travel to Sevilla via Cordoba, 1 day in smaller towns, day in Sevilla and then day in Granada.
I have very speicific interests in each: to see Mesquita in Cordoba, Alhambra in Granada, Prado in Madrid, Flamenco in Sevilla. It looks however that I'm going to rush things and wake up many mornings really early (like 7 am) - not a good thing for my travel companions. Looks like I have to probably either give up on Toledo day trip (and spend an extra day in Madrid instead) or go to Seville direct from Madrid without stopping in Cordoba. Looking for your opinion. I know it's very individual for everyone, but from your experience - what would you rather give up?

Graziella5b

Hi Lovetotravel, from the outset I believe you are indeed rushing too much,
I did not get the one day in smaller towns means (?)
I would live that one out to start, then I will try not to leave Cordoba out...however , most likely I would not be so ambitious in such a short time...buena suerte.

Graziella5b

Sorry I had been a little confusing, I can see that,
I meant I would leave the little town visit out, and then try to keep Cordoba in.

yorkshire

Stopping in Cordoba to see the Mezquita on the way to Sevilla is the easiest thing, so I would not skip that. I have not been to Toledo, but I do know you will have to backtrack to Madrid.
I don't think i am really understanding your itinerary, but one night in each place is reeeeealy short.

yk

< 1 day in smaller towns >

That's what I'd give up.

If all you want to do in madrid is to visit the Prado, then I'd still go to Toledo and stop in Cordoba.

I assume the trip to Toledo is a daytrip??? Or are you staying in Toledo overnight?

I'd suggest you stay in Madrid and visit Toledo as a day trip, but return to Madrid to sleep.

And I assume that the other museums in Madrid (Reina Sofia, Thyssen) don't interest you?

Lovetotravel123

I guess I did not make my plan very clear. This is what I have so far:
Monday 3pm arrive to Madrid (from Barcelona). Walk around Madrid
Tuesday - day in Madrid (Prado and more walking)
Wednesday - day trip to Toledo (this is the one I'm thinking about giving up)
Thursday - train to Cordoba. Visit Mesquita and train to Sevilla. Sleep in Sevilla
Friday - daytrip - drive to Pueblos Blankos willages tour (mini bus with the driver - recommended by RS)
Saturday - walking tour of Sevilla, seeing Flamenco show
Sunday - bus to Granada, afternoon visit to Alhambra and evening bus to Nerja (YK - thanks to your report I've made this change to my schedule)
Monday and Tuesday - recovery time in Nerja
Wednesday - fly home.

Like I said earlier, it seems a lot of moving. I've booked hotels already and the bus from Sevilla to Granada and Granada to Nerja. However Madrid - Sevilla portions are still can be changed.

danon

Prado is huge but if there are just certain paintings ( or artists) you wish to see, it can be done in a few hours.
You will have time for a walk in Retiro park and some window shopping in Salamanca.
If you wish to visit Toledo you can take an early train ( only 1/2 hour, bus from the station to the center of Toled), spend 3-4 hours in Toledo and come back to Madrid in late afternoon .
Since spending very little time in each location is not a problem for you, might as well spend a few hours in Toledo .

amsdon

I liked Toledo very much, HOWEVER in this case I would bypass it (this time) & see more of Madrid. You do not have much time there.
Yes stop in Cordoba.

yk

I think your itinerary is doable. But whether your travel companion is up for it I do not know. Perhaps you can go to Toledo yourself and your companion can stay in Madrid if he/she doesn't want another day trip?

howardg46

I haven't been to Toledo, but I can speak about Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, and Granada. I spent a day in Madrid, half at the Prado, half at the train station. I don't feel like I saw Madrid, but I did see the Prado, and it was worth the day. The Mezquita in Cordoba is fabulous, don't miss it. It takes a couple of hours, tops. Do you have timed tickets for the Alhambra yet? Get them at
www.alhambra-tickets.es, otherwise, you'll never get in. Plan to spend most of the day at the Alhambra, even if your tix are for mid-late afternoon.
For flamenco in Seville, go to La Carboniera on Calle Levies, 11 p.m. A great, great experience.

bigtyke

I would give up the time in Madrid in order to visit Toledo and Cordoba

gruezi

Love to travel...

I'm not an expert but some opinions...

I haven't been, but my husband isn't much of an art buff but he keeps telling me (I am an art buff) that I must get to the Prado as he loved it and spent a few hours there. He also enjoyed Madrid very much and was surprised by that.

We are probably in the minority, but we didn't love Seville all that much. I very much enjoyed the Alcazar and there is a nice art museum - beaux artes? - plus the cathedral, but the whole tapas scene was a bit spring-breakish for us. I wish we had gone to Cordoba instead.

We loved the Alhambra and also had some very nice meals in Granada. We went to see it at night and during the day. Wonderful. Leave plenty of time to pick up your tickets as there is a bit of a walk from the ticket office to the entrance. Do see the gardens - they are really amazing. The fountain with the lions is under renovation but you will still find much to be in awe of at Alhambra.

We saw a fantastic flamenco show in marbella (sp?) of all places...It's the only show in town. Not sure if that is doable from Nerja - which I hear is lovely. I was surprised by how nice the beaches were in Costa del Sol - expected more of the French Caribbean type thing but they were very beautiful with white sand.

If you are considering Ronda, it is ideal for a drive-thru. The bridge and crevasse is worth seeing but you don't need to spend the night or even a full day there to appreciate the striking view.

If you are driving, Spain is one of those countries where things take longer than you expect...so plan more time than you think to get from place to place.

Enjoy...

gruezi

jcoz23

I would say skip Toledo and spend an extra day in Madrid. I actually would only recommend it as a daytrip to someone who was ONLY spending time in Madrid, so they could get a feel for a smaller (though very touristy) town. It looks like you will see quite a bit of the rest of Spain...I don't think you'll miss it at all. I did an itinerary very similar to yours and did include Toledo... It was okay but it was probably my least favorite of all the places we visited.

AnnMarie_C

We recently returned from a week in Madrid, two nights in Toledo...as much as we enjoyed Toledo I would spend the extra day in Madrid.

maryanntex

I vote to skip Toledo.

carioca4ed

I have done a bit of research on Toledo...It looks totally fascinating...I would not give it up...As yet,have not been there,but it does look really worthwhile...Will let you know on this site as to what I found there..But I'm not going till August,('cos I want to take in Argentona festival....small village annual pottery festival....which is around the feast of St.Dominic,Aug 4th...They have a massive festival of pottery there,and I want to bring back some more pieces).

NEDSIRELAND

LovetoTravel123 writes: "I guess I did not make my plan very clear. This is what I have so far:
Monday 3pm arrive to Madrid (from Barcelona). Walk around Madrid
Tuesday - day in Madrid (Prado and more walking)
Wednesday - day trip to Toledo (this is the one I'm thinking about giving up)"

Assuming it takes an hour or so to get settled in your hotel after you arrive from Barcelona, you still have several hours of daylight for a BusVision or walking tour of Madrid that afternoon/evening you arrive.

Toledo is definitely worth a visit, if only for its Magnificant Cathedral. But you could do that on your own: catch an early train or Bus; see the sights, and be back in Madrid by mid-afternoon.

I think 3-nights in Sevilla might be 'overkill,' especially if you're looking at afternoon temperatures around 40 Degrees Celsius.

mlgb

I've been to all of those places except Nerja. I would not give up Toledo or Cordoba. I would probably give up Nerja.. but then beaches are not a big attraction for me.

I like the idea of going on your own to Toledo if your travel companion doesn't wish to.

Lovetotravel123

Thanks a lot guys for taking time to give your advise and opinion. I'm thinking now to may be taking afternoon trip to Toledo. May leave Madrid around 3-4 pm, spend an evening in Toledo - stop by in Cathedral for 30 min, walk in the old town, take a 'cheesy' train around the city and off to Madrid around 8-9pm to have dinner and sleep. This way I'm thinking to skip the heat and the crowds. Do you think it's a good idea?
As far as Sevilla, I'm really staying there 3 nights but only 1 full day. First day we arrive to Sevilla only at 8pm from Cordoba - already booked tickets based on your advise. The second day we taking a minibus tour to small towns - this takes from 9am to 7pm - the whole day. The 3rd day we doing walking tour of Sevilla itself, may be Alkazar and Flamenco show at night.
Nerja is really a place to have a vacation after vacation and do nothing - may be caves (do you think it worth time and effort?) and if the water is warm enough - may be swim a little.