Charming villages in Spain...and any other advise you've got!

You need to recognise that Spain is a very large country by European standards. Where will you arrive and depart the country? How long is this trip? If you arrive and depart from Barcelona, you surely do not want suggestions like Niebla, which will take you 12 hours non stop each way by car, thus losing at least two days of your trip. If you have not been to Spain before you should continue with your fundamental research, printed guide wise and wwweb wise, there will surely be ample to interest and the advice. When you have a firmer itinerary and are sure you have the time in a particular location for ' beautiful villages', which may not be (but possibly already are) mentioned in those guides, post the city or town where you will be and I will be happy to try and assist.

How long is your trip, and which "major cities" are you seeing? What drew your to Spain in the first place? What are your interests? Who is going on this trip? Etc, etc. Only with this information can someone give advice. Otherwise, as Neil said, your question is just too general to be answered. It's like saying, "I'm coming to America - what are the nice parts?" I'd get Rick Steves Spain, and at least one other guidebook (Rick only covers part of the country). Look at their suggested highlights, and see if they appeal to you or not. Then, branch out from there. Unless you've got a lot of time, you will have to be very selec-tive in which regions you focus on. Seville to Madrid is only 3 hours on the AVE (fast trains), and Barcelona to Madrid is even less, so it is possible to connect these easily. But some other areas have only slower trains, long drives, or flights to connect them (no problem with any of these, as long as you have the time). That's where the duration of your trip and your personal must-sees come in - if you have 10 days and want to go to Santiago de Campostela and Seville, it won't help you to get suggestions about small towns in Catalunya.

Based on recommendations by friends who went last year( and their amazing photos) we are visiting Tossa De Mar this summer. Its an hour and a half by bus from Barcelona. They rented a car and drove from seaside village to seaside village along the Costa Brava,, they also visited Girona and loved it.. Look up Tossa De Mar,, and Lloret de Mar, and Cadeques( think I spelt that wrong). We picked Tossa also because it looks smallest and quaintest , plus the castle ruins on the water .

Thanks, Pat! Tossa del Mar looks magical. Sadly, Barcelona we'll have to do next time. We'll be in Spain for 3 weeks. We'll be in Madrid and go south through central Spain. We'll hop trains for long trips and will rent a car for a week to reach small villages. I'm told the beautiful villages are in the north, but I bet there is someone on this site who knows some around the south coast! Has anyone stayed at the Paradores?

If you are talking about the Parador Casa del Corregidor in Arcos de la Frontera, then yes I have stayed there and it was fantastic. A wonderful view of the countryside, nice rooms and great food. I was there two years ago and it was one of our most special places.