I haven't been around Fodor's much recently as the business (ie. "busy-ness") of life has gotten in the way. I hope to be around more often in the coming months. Nonetheless, when it comes to getting trusted advice in planning a trip this is where I come. And, at the moment, I have strong desire to return to Europe this fall. I'd like to go somewhere we haven't been and have considered Ireland, Amsterdam/Belgium, and Spain. I am leaning towards Spain and hope to get airline tickets soon as there are some good prices right now.

A little background info: My DH (53) and I (42) are active travelers who love history, architecture, walking/hiking, good food and wine, great scenery, soccer/football/calcio, art, and more. A few museums are fine, but a couple well-chosen are better than all. We often travel with our 2 sons (ages 15 and 18), but this trip will be just for us and will likely be the last week of October into the first few days of November. We are neither super slow nor rushed travelers and prefer a mix of cities and smaller towns/villages - for example, we combined Wengen, Switzerland and Lake Garda with Venice and Milan on one trip, the Dordogne and Paris on another, Rome, Florence, Tuscany on another, etc...

So, we will have 8-9 nights in Spain. Barcelona is pretty much a "must" for me as I love water and want to see Gaudi's architecture. Plus, it looks like we may be able to see Barcelona play which would be awesome (we love attending matches when we travel whenever possible and have relished being in Europe for both World Cup and European Championship in recent years....just love the big screens and ambience).

It seems that Barcelona-Madrid is a strong and obvious combination, BUT I am also considering a flight into either Granada or Seville and spending some time down there - maybe 4 nights Barcelona and 5 nights Granada/Seville/Cordoba/Ronda in some combo with a rental car??? Or will we just not be able to that area justice and it should be a separate trip? I've even considered Barcelona/Fez/Marakkesh. If we go with Madrid-Barcelona, I'd sort of like a smaller place in between to break up the "big city" thing. I have started reading posts and will use Maribel's guides as well, but would really appreciate input/suggestions/guidance on an itinerary. We will fly open jaw into Barcelona and out of wherever (Madrid, Seville, etc..). I'd especially love to hear your thoughts on combing Barcelona and Andalusia OR where you go between Barcelona and Madrid - is San Sebastian too far? Is Girona or other area worth overnight stays? Rioja?

Thanks in advance!

hi fun,

though I have yet to get DH to commit to a trip to Barcelona, I've looked at the area in some detail and IMO, there's more than enough to fill 8-9 days, not just in the city but round and about in Girona, the coast, etc.

unless you think that you'll never go to spain again, I would save andalucia for another trip dedicated to that area alone -which again would take at least 8-9 days if not more to do it justice.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

Disclaimer: I'm not a fan of Barcelona.

That said, I am a huge fan of Catalonia, but I don't think the time of year you've chose is necessarily the best time to enjoy it (you could get rained out on the scenic coast, or be unable to go high up into the Pyrenees). If you are attracted to heading to heading in other directions, that would be my choice.

One possibility might be to limit your foray in that direction to the Alhambra, filling in with smaller towns, paradors and nature sightseeing.

What would also appeal to me is what you've described, ending in Sevilla.

It is not too far to go to San Sebastian. I did that trip in reverse, and traveled from San Sebastian to Barcelona via France.

All that said, one of my favorite towns near where you are going is the Catalonian capital of Vic, an hour from Barcelona by public transport, with its architecturally magnificent and unique Placa Mayor (better seen when it is not a market day), and also its incomparable museum of Catalonian art, kept protected away from Franco. If you give up on the idea of Andalucia, try to include Vic in your plans, as well as Girona.

But I don't see the logic of going to Madrid (which I adore) if you don't feel drawn to combining it with another city.

Can't help much on the itinery except to say you can always use Zaragoza to break up Barcelona Madrid. Zaragoza has the river, cathedral, roman wall, bull ring, underground roman ruins, "el tubo" for evening tapas and a number of traditional Aragones restaurants that are competitively priced.

As an aside; Real Madrid and Barcelona tickets are easy enough to get hold of through servi caixa, although if your visit co incides with a big game its a little more difficult. This sums up the Real Madrid ticket situation: http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com/re...d-tickets.html

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8480670

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic

Although Vic is the capital of Catalonia, the historic car-free center is compact and easily seen in a day, in addition to the museum. There is also a Roman temple there.

Wow, thanks for the prompt and helpful replies! OK, I really know that we should save the south for another visit. It is too easy to get overwhelmed - as soon as I start researching a place I find more and more places I'd love to go in each area...so let me keep focused and find a direction as time is tight. (Besides work and getting ready to take my son off to college for the first time at the end of August, we are leaving on our family vacation to the Canadian Rockies next Saturday - I know I should be focusing on that, but if I can at least sketch a skeleton plan, then the rest of the details can wait.

So, into Barcelona and out of Madrid. If we make it 9 nights that leaves open a match the first Sunday in Barcelona and the next Sunday in Madrid. (Thanks for the ticket info although I am pretty sure I don't want to wait till the last week - IF we are really going, then I will probably pay for some sort of guaranteed pkg or premium ticket...plus I am sure it is gonna be hard to get Real Madrid with all the fancy schmancy players they just bought).

Soccer aside as that is a detail that puts the "cart ahead of the horse," let's focus on suggestions/details for an into Barcelona and out of Madrid trip of 8-9 nights not counting the flight over.

Thinking maybe 3-4 nights Barcelona, 1-2 nights smaller village/town en route, and 3-4 nights Madrid. I understand that the time of year means some of the nice weather and outdoorsy stuff may be limited so beach scene is probably out, but I am sure there are lovely places to be in the fall. Zaragosa looks like a cool possibility. Would Vic/Girona be better as day trips or overnights? Toledo will likely be a day trip out of Madrid.

How would you do it? Where would you go? And would you rent a car in between or can a couple of days enroute be done by train? Thanks!!

I would do Vic as a day trip out of Barcelona. I might be inclined to skip Girona, as much as I enjoy it.

I would probably take the high speed train to Madrid, but--

Now for something completely different:

I would at least explore the possibility of basing in Toledo, and doing the un-normal thing of touristing from there, even day tripping to Madrid if a museum is wanted, then coming in for your soccer game. I don't know how Segovia would work as a base -- I don't know how Toledo would work as a base. But I quite liked being there despite it having nothing going on but tourism.

And I really love being in Madrid, but only for its modern urban glamour and great museums and goya. It is very much a 20th c. capital,

zeppole writes: << And I really love being in Madrid, but only for its modern urban glamour and great museums and goya. ... >

Is that Goya's works on display at Museo del Prado or Centro de Arte de la Reina Sofia to which you refer? That stresses even more anguspm's recommendation of Zaragoza as a stopping point between Barcelona & Madrid. Goya's birthplace is in Fuendetodos, Zaragoza; there's a small museum there and some of his frescos are visible in the Cathedral of la Virgen del Pilar.

anguspm writes: <<Can't help much on the itinery except to say you can always use Zaragoza to break up Barcelona Madrid. Zaragoza has the river, cathedral, roman wall, bull ring, underground roman ruins, "el tubo" for evening tapas and a number of traditional Aragones restaurants that are competitively priced. >>

I would say 'reasonably priced;' the cuisine of Aragon and wines from the nearby Rioja region can be a real treat. Another vote for Zaragoza!

In addition to the works you mentioned, I was thinking of the magnificent cupola in the church of San Antonio de la Florida.

Thanks again for all your input - it's been very helpful.

Update: I just purchased flights yesterday (woo hoo, that means we are really going!). As it turns out, we will have 8 nights in Spain flying into Barcelona and out of Madrid. As much as I'd like to spend a couple of days in a smaller village or town, it seems there is just so much to see and do that 2 locations will be plenty. We plan on 4 nights BCN and 4 nights MAD with the train in between. A daytrip from each is likely. I've sketched out some sights and hotels so have a feel for what we want to do.

We leave on our family vacation to the Canadian Rockies early tomorrow morning so the rest of the planning will have to wait until our return.

Thanks again. I am sure I'll be back as the planning progresses.

Well it's too late I was going to tell you that San Sebastian is one of the most amazing cities in the world. I was going to suggest flying into bcn and out of Bilbao. Since you're going to do Bcn and Madrid don't spend any time in between but do go to Toledo or Segovia as a daytrip from Madrid. My favorite places in Spain are Seville and Granada so do plan your next trip there. I just have to say after making my first trip to the Basque country a few weeks ago I was and still am blown away by it.

Would love a bit more re: Girona...what are your thoughts about it? Really great? Missable? We really love history and while not super religious, we are Jewish so do like to see some Jewish history mixed in with all the churches and cathedrals. We are also interested in the Moorish influence and history in Spain (although I understand most of that is in the south. Is Girona a pleasant place to stroll and have lunch - charming "old downtown" or not?

Thanks, Egbert - San Sebastian/Basque region and the southern part of Spain sound and look fantastic. I just fear that 8 nights means we should focus on a smaller area and really enjoy it, then we must plan a return visit.

just for some ideas ...

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-spain27may27

and
http://www.kosherdelight.com/SpainTudela.htm

in your spare time...

Girona is worth visiting but if I had only a few days in Barcelona I would not spend a day in Girona. The "old town" is 20-25 minutes walk from the train station and rather hilly.

disclaimer:
I love Barcelona!

You will find more Jewish history in Toledo .

With only eight days, IMO, you are right to take the train between Barcelona and Madrid. Do visit Toledo and the synagogue there. You might also do a day trip to Segovia from Madrid. Either or both would give you at least some smaller cities/towns.

About the weather and outdoor life (hiking) in October. October is the best time for autumn colours, but you never know about the weather - one week can be fantastic or rainy.
We have been hiking in the Pyrenees (Aragon) and in the National parks of Sierra Nevada (Andalusia) and Picos de Europa (Cantabria, Asturias) in October. I guess we were lucky, because it turned out to be simply wonderful every time. The weather was perfect for hiking and the autumn tints were something we had never experienced before, especially in Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees.
In October you can not and you should not try to tacle the highest peaks. But there are many routes to choose in the valleys or on the lower slopes of the mountains.
You will find excellent route descriptions in English, driving instruction, maps, GPS waypoints etc. from: http://www.topwalks.net/en/index.htm
Also, the Topwalks routes are graded by difficulty and you can see the preferable months for each route.

Another link to walksntalks own website...Why? The OP has never asked anything about walking or hiking and then you go and promote your website...a very peculiar way of marketing your own website