Hi everyone,

We are new to Fodor's and we have travelled to Europe many times in the past, sometimes alone as a couple, sometimes with our children (who are now grown), and this summer, we will be going away for a longer period of time, spending 30 nights in Spain. We have already booked our flights, arriving in Seville in mid-July, and flying home from Palma de Majorca in mid-August, and have reserved hotels for the first 9 nights of our trip, 5 nights in Seville and 4 nights in Granada, where we plan on doing one day trips from each. We wanted to split our time between mainland Spain, concentrating on Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands, spending about two weeks in each. In the Balearics, we plan on spending 4 nights in Ibiza (not in Ibiza town), 3 nights in Formentera, and ending our trip with 8 nights in Majorca. We will have a car available to us so day trips and travelling between locations will not be an issue, and we will take the train if it makes sense.

So, here are our questions:

- with 6 nights available in mainland Spain, which destination would you recommend? We are considering Malaga, Cadiz, Madrid, Valencia or Cartagena/Murcia? The distances between Granada and these places is not an issue and we have been to Barcelona twice before.
- is 5 nights in Seville adequate?
- which one day trip would you recommend from both Seville and Granada?
- we know Ibiza is known as a party island, and some people we know do not recommend it for that reason, but we think the island looks beautiful and has alot to offer outside Ibiza Town? Would you agree?

Thanks for any help, advice and/or recommendations you can offer.

A & M

Mid July to mid August in the middle of holiday season for Europe!

First thought you need to visit Malaga and Cordoba

HI bilboburgler,

We were considering a day trip to Cordoba from Seville, and, as we have never been to Madrid, do you think spending 6 nights there would be better than spending this time in Malaga?

Thanks!

Madrid needs a fair amount of time say at least 4 to 5 days so your six nights makes complete sense especially if you throw in Toldeo. It will be hot, very hot and the altitude (while not excessive) means you may want to run from fountain to fountain, shadow to shadow. I'd stretch my day out as much as possible and sleep through the real heat, eat late etc

Malaga is just about visitable from Seville or if you are looking for a coast stay then it is pretty good, a little less hot with the easy chance of a swim

It really depends on your interests, but FWIW, I think Madrid makes most sense for your 6-night option. If you have any interest in art, Madrid can keep you busy for days on end. In addition, it's a reasonable base for day trips to Toledo and Segovia, though i admit thinking that Toledo deserves one or two nights.

Day trip from Sevilla: Cordoba, though again, I think Cordoba deserves a night or two. IMO, 5 days is sufficient for Sevilla for most people.

Hope that helps!

I Second Madrid , .it has great museums, but also beautiful parks, elegant neighbourhoods, interesting Palace, even a river.
Someone mentioned hot weather…looking at 40 C ( 100+ F) in the south and Madrid.
Some towns shut down midday.

My concern about your trip is that Andalucia will be unbearably hot in the summer. Think of temps in the 90’s and 100’s. When I was planning our trip to Andalucia, people who were there in the summer wrote about being drenched in sweat within 10 minutes. We went in September, and even then Seville was in the mid 90’s at the end of September. Please make sure that you have plenty of water, sun hats, and sun block. And a hotel with a pool. Sightsee in the early morning and late afternoon/early evenings.

While I would normally recommend spending your 6 nights in Madrid instead of Malaga, I might suggest 6 nights in Malaga instead since you will be there in the heat of summer. Malaga will be a bit cooler, and you can easily swim during the afternoon heat. There is lots to do and see in Malaga, too. From numerous small art museums to the Alcazaba, Castillo, Cathedral, Atarazanas Market, etc.

If you choose Madrid, you have the option of spending lots of times in the art museums if you like art, so you can keep cool that way. It’s very easy to spend a whole day in the Prado.

I would recommend Madrid as it is awesome destination and you can get out of the heat by spending much time in air conditioned art museums. Personally I wouldn't go to southern Spain in the summer at all because of the heat. From Madrid you can easily spend a day in Toledo but it will likely be a very long day with an early morning train and an evening train back. Same with Segovia. Toledo is south of Madrid and Segovia is north of Madrid.

I spent 3 nights in Cordoba and thought it well worth it. We went twice to the Mezquita, once in the morning and another time in the afternoon. Didn't plan it that way, but ti is a super-highlight of Europe and Cordoba is astonishing. Many interesting highlights.

I did go in Summer, and I will warn you that both Seville and Cordoba are in the lowlands. In the Summer it is like walking on the sun. They have siestas for a reason. In fact, you might find a lot of things closed mid-afternoon. Coastal towns like Cadiz get sea breezes, so tolerable. Granada slightly higher elevation also makes it tolerable.

Spain is filled with so many highlights all over. I wish I had that much time. I doubt I'd devote 6 nights to Madrid.

Thank you all for taking the time to help us.

1. We don't want to move around too much so we chose Granada over Cordoba to spend a few nights based on many reviews we have read online, and do a day trip to Cordoba from either Seville or Granada (about the same distance from each), if we have the time.

2. We were in Malta two years ago during a major heat wave and it was like opening the door to an oven every time we left our hotel. So, we can change our flight for a minimal charge and land in Malaga instead of Seville, spend 4 nights, travel to Granada for 2 nights, then on to Seville for 5 nights, then drive to Lisbon, which we have never seen and is cooler, for 4 nights, before flying to the Balearics.

Would this be a better itinerary?

A & M

Thank you all for taking the time to help us.

1. We don't want to move around too much so we chose Granada over Cordoba to spend a few nights based on many reviews we have read online, and do a day trip to Cordoba from either Seville or Granada (about the same distance from each), if we have the time.

2. We were in Malta two years ago during a major heat wave and it was like opening the door to an oven every time we left our hotel. So, we can change our flight for a minimal charge and land in Malaga instead of Seville, spend 4 nights, travel to Granada for 2 nights, then on to Seville for 5 nights, then drive to Lisbon, which we have never seen and is cooler, for 4 nights, before flying to the Balearics.

Would this be a better itinerary?

A & M

Thank you all for taking the time to help us.

1. We don't want to move around too much so we chose Granada over Cordoba to spend a few nights based on many reviews we have read online, and do a day trip to Cordoba from either Seville or Granada (about the same distance from each), if we have the time.

2. We were in Malta two years ago during a major heat wave and it was like opening the door to an oven every time we left our hotel. So, we can change our flight for a minimal charge and land in Malaga instead of Seville, spend 4 nights, travel to Granada for 2 nights, then on to Seville for 5 nights, then drive to Lisbon, which we have never seen and is cooler, for 4 nights, before flying to the Balearics.

Would this be a better itinerary?

A & M

For those not interested in museums, an overview of Madrid would probably take 3 days.
Instead of rushed day trips to Toledo and Segovia, I would rather spend 2 days in beautiful Salamanca.

Depends on what you want to see and experience!

You'll probably face a substantial drop-off fee for taking a rental car from Spain to drop in Lisbon.

Lisbon will probably not be as hot or humid as Madrid, but Andalucia is the real killer at the time you'll be there. You might want to consult weatherspark.com

If you're committed to Spain, look at the north coast. Maybe Bilbao or San Sebastian or any of the other lovely options you'd have there. Of the Pyrenees.

It sounds as if Murcia/Cartagena has been eliminated, yes? I'm just curious as to why you chose those two at all. I'm told by a few people from Murcia that it is one of the most boring cities in Spain. I meet a group just a few months ago when I was in Valencia--same opinion of their home city!

Now, I've not been there so do not take this too seriously. No place in Spain could be boring for me, so far, at least!

Sounds great--30 days in Spain!

All of your advice and speaking with friends has helped us to finalize our vacation:

Fly into Seville, spend 5 nights
Drive to Porto, spend 4 nights
Drive to the Douro Valley, spend 4 nights
Drive to Madrid, spend 4 nights
Fly to the Balearics, spend 13 nights

What do you think?

A & M

Wow, I didn't envision such a different plan!

Hot HOT HOT in Seville and Madrid.

I hope you haven't decided against Granada! The Alhambra is truly magnificent.