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16 day Spain Itinerary: Barcelona + Andalucia

Would love to get anyone's input on our travel itinerary for Spain coming up soon. This electronic travel community is a god send!

Apr 29 Fri, Day 1 - Fly into Barcelona at 9am
Apr 30 Sat, Day 2: Barcelona
May 1 Sun, Day 3: Barcelona, Fly to Granada (leaves 10:25pm, tickets purchased)
May 2 Mon, Day 4: Granada - Alhambra (stay with former exchange student - friend has passes to Alhambra)
May 3 Tues, Day 5: Granada (staying with former exchange student)
May 4, Wed, Day 6: Bus to Ronda – stay overnight
May 5 Thurs, Day 7: Ronda (overnight)
May 6 Fri, Day 8: Ronda - Leave for Malaga (Malaga couchsurfing)
May 7 Sat, Day 9: Malaga (couchsurfing) – Spend day in Malaga with tour guide who is our couchsurfing host
May 8 Sun, Day 10: Malaga – Spend day with tour guide who is our couchsurfing host – day trip - possibly Nerja
May 9 Mon, Day 11 Malaga - morning travel to Cordoba (stay overnight)
May 10, Tues, Day 12 Cordoba all day, train or bus to Seville late afternoon
May 11, Wed, Day 13 Seville (couchsurfing with Spanish family)
May 12, Thurs, Day 14 Seville (couchsurfing with Spanish family)
May 13, Fri, Day 15 Seville – High speed train to Madrid – is there a way to stop in Toledo on the way to Madrid from Seville? If so, a place to store bags?
May 14, Sat, Day 16 Fly out of Madrid to U.S., 11:15am

The Granada to Ronda to Malaga is a little screwy geography-wise, but we are set to do the couchsurfing in Malaga May 7-8 with a host who is a tour guide who wants to show us around :-)
If there are other ideas regarding what to do with May 4-May 6 would love to hear them!

Also does it make sense to go from Malaga to Cordoba or would it be better to shift the itinerary so leaving from Cordoba to go to Madrid at the the very end of the trip?

Does more than one day in Cordoba seem like a good idea? I know there are many wonderful festivals in Cordoba in May -- but would then take away from Seville. So hard to decide!

Does anyone see any logistical or travel issues that could come up with the itinerary above?

Thank you all!

Posted by
5293 posts

Lisa,

The Granada to Ronda to Malaga is a little screwy geography-wise, but we are set to do the couchsurfing in Malaga May 7-8 with a host who is a tour guide who wants to show us around :-)

I agree with your comment above, but since you've already made the arrangements for those dates, there's not much to do about the
"screwy geography-wise"...

Once in Malaga, you could travel to Sevilla, then on to Córdoba.
I'd recommend staying in Córdoba at least one night, so you can experience this beautiful city... And the train ride to Madrid will be shorter, especially if you want to visit Toledo.

Yes, you can store your luggage at the 'Puerta de Atocha' train station.

There are secure lockers & the price is very reasonable.
Look for the green sign "Consigna", on the ground floor (Planta 0) at the end of the station, past the tropical garden, near 'Burger King'.

Here is a map of the station: http://www.adif.es/en_US//infraestructuras/planos/estaciones/plano_60000.pdf
"Consigna", is labeled as #5 (green with small white luggage icon), Burger King is #37 (pink)

  • There is a security guard at left luggage (Consigna), where your
    luggage has to be checked via x-ray before entering the locker room.

  • Once you pick up your luggage, check what size locker you will need.
    (Small, medium or large).

  • Any locker with a green light means that it's available & you can open it to
    check the size. (red flashing light means it's locked & thus occupied)

  • Then return to the machines, at the front of the room & pay for the
    first 24 hours.

  • You will get a paper ticket (with magnetic strip) that you must safely keep in order to retrieve your luggage (write locker # on it)

  • To retrieve your luggage, place your ticket in the machine, then pay (if any money due), return to locker & wave your ticker over lock, which will click open.

  • You will have 10-15 minutes to retrieve your luggage once you've paid.

  • Left luggage (Consigna) hours are 5:30AM -- 22:20 (10:20PM)

Enjoy your trip!

EDIT: I forgot to answer one of your questions:

is there a way to stop in Toledo on the way to Madrid from Seville?

No, you will have to travel to Madrid, then take another train to Toledo (travel time 30 minutes)

You can buy your train ticket (to/from Toledo) at the train station in Sevilla or Córdoba, to save you time when you arrive in Madrid.