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Where to Visit in October: Spain it is...

We are in the early stages of planning an October trip. An objective is to focus on smaller towns and cities with the exception of a couple of days prior to flying home. Highlights of our past trips have been time spent at a farmhouse in Tuscany, a bed and breakfast in a hill town along the Duoro Valley, and time spent in the Salzkammergut. This is not to downplay our city time in places like Venice, Florence, Rome, Vienna, Munich, Lisbon, Madrid, London, etc. as we thoroughly enjoy wandering the side streets and discovering new things to us. Museums, castles, and churches are not the reason we travel.

We are an active couple in our late 40’s, in good physical condition, enjoy wine and food (fancy not required), and constant night life is not important.

We have the possibility to arrive in Dublin on September 30 after a five hour direct flight from our hometown, the flight home from DUB would leave on October 14. These flights are convenient and economical but unfortunately this airline does not partner with any airlines in Europe so we must book separate tickets from DUB to our chosen destination. This is not a terrible dilemma as we could enjoy a night or two in Dublin on the way home. This probably leaves us 10 or 11 nights at a somewhat warm destination before we head home to prepare for winter. Options we are considering are:

  • central Italy north of Rome: Le Marche, Abruzzo, Umbria (fly to and from Rome)
  • Italy south of Rome: Basilicata, Puglia, Campania
  • southern Spain: Andalucia, Castilla La Mancha (I must add that I enjoyed being in Madrid)
  • southern Portugal: south of Lisbon but maybe not to the Algarve (fly to and from Lisbon)

Is there any helpful advice or things we should consider to aid in our decision?

Posted by
7175 posts
  1. Arrive in Malaga. Pick up car and drive to Nerja (2N)
  2. Nerja
  3. Drive to Granada (2N)
  4. (Alhambra)
  5. Drive to Ronda (1N)
  6. Drive to Jerez (1N)
  7. Drive to Seville (3N) and drop off car
  8. Seville
  9. Day to Cordoba (Mezquita)
  10. Train to Madrid (2N)
  11. Madrid
  12. Depart Madrid
Posted by
27780 posts

I think any of those areas would make for a very nice trip.

Two smaller towns/cities you might have missed on your earlier trip to Madrid: Alcala de Henares and (much smaller) Chinchon. The first is a university town so should be plenty lively in October. I'm not sure about Chinchon.

I like Puglia a lot. There are many picturesque smaller towns in addition to places like Bari and Lecce. You'd need to do some research to be sure the little towns that have become popular with beach-goers are not closed up tight in October. I think the weather should be fine, but I'd guess not warm enough for swimmimg. If you do this part of Italy, include Matera in Basilicata.

Posted by
11697 posts

October is a fabulous month in Italy. It might get a little cool in the mountains of Abruzzo and Umbria, but it would be great for hiking. The south is finally cool enough to enjoy but warm enough for short-sleeved shirts and possibly some beach time. There will be no crowds.

In 10-11 nights, I'd make no more than 3 base camps, and you could easily spend the entire time in either Puglia or Umbria.

Posted by
15777 posts

I think they are all pretty good ideas. My personal favorite would probably be Andalucia: Sevilla, Cordoba, 2-3 days with a car through the pueblos blancos and Granada. I was in Campania this past February - Naples, Salerno, Amalfi Coast, Paestum (Sorrento/Pompeii previously). October would be even better since the ferries generally operate till the end of the month.

Posted by
126 posts

Thank you for all the information so far.

My "Director of Travel, Finance, and all Things Good" has weighed in this morning and has ruled on Italy. Not surprising as 50% of the choices were Italy!

Now to narrow the two mentioned Italian itineraries with a general loop to and from Rome:

  1. southern Umbria around Spoleto and eastern Ambruzzo?
  2. Gargano Penisula, or general area + Matera or general area + Salerno to visit Amalfi Coast if weather is suitable, Paestrum, maybe Napoli

We will have a car as long as reasonable and will spend at least the last night in Rome, maybe two.

Our time at the farmhouse in Tuscany was mentioned this morning, not to return but as a general descriptor. The comment was more about slow and relaxing than replicating the landscape.

If this sounds reasonable and when we chose an area, I will research towns and post in the Italy forum.

Posted by
12313 posts

October is great for Italy. I've only been to Spain in April but I'd expect it to be roughly the same as Italy, very comfortable but not really beach weather.

Posted by
126 posts

Well life continued and things changed. Some unexpected travel and work duties caused a delay in booking the second part of our trip. By the time we got back to it the flights to Rome increased and we found flights to Spain for about 50% less. We are now booked to fly into Madrid and out of Malaga, 11 nights in Spain:

  • arrive Madrid 10:00 on Sunday, October 1
  • depart Malaga 12:10 on Thursday, October 12

Is there any reason David's itinerary could not work in reverse? Are there any suggested edits based on our current flights?

Is it possible to move this topic to the Spain forum or should I start a new topic?

Thanks

Posted by
27780 posts

With a Sunday arrival in Madrid and a rather short stay there, it is important to verify that the museums you want to see will be open on the day(s) you will need to see them. Do the same for the following weekend/Monday.

Posted by
15777 posts

No reason why not. The Prado is open Sunday and Monday. The Thyssen is open Monday and free - so you may want to see it on Sunday. Free days tend to be crowded in most places.

Posted by
27780 posts

I didn't take advantage of the free day at the Thyssen, so I don't really know, but I remember thinking that it was pretty lightly visited. For myself, I wouldn't hesitate to try it on the free day if I wasn't using the Paseo del Arte card.

Posted by
7175 posts

Flipped ...

  1. Arrive 10:00 at Madrid (2N)
  2. Madrid
  3. Train to Seville (3N)
  4. Seville
  5. Day to Cordoba (Mezquita)
  6. Pick up car and drive to Jerez (1N)
  7. Drive to Ronda (1N)
  8. Drive to Granada (2N)
  9. Alhambra
  10. Drive to Nerja (2N)
  11. Nerja
  12. Drop off car and depart Malaga Airport at 12:10

Google says about an hour to drive from Nerja to Malaga Airport.

Posted by
126 posts

Thank you to all for the suggestions so far. I have started a new thread in the Spain forum since we have purchased our airline tickets.