21 days Portugal/Spain

I remember Ronda and its stunning views and gorge as a highlight of the my way Spain tour 2017. You could do it as a long day trip from Seville or Cordoba, but sleeping there one night is better. The tour used Su Casa en Ronda which treats its guests as well as any hotel I've ever been. Update: This hotel is now called the Soho Boutique Palacio San Gabriel. I don't know the backstory on this change. I also agree with others posting here that Granada, with its Alhambra Palace, in the Andalusia region is worth a visit if you have the time and the train/bus schedules work out for you.

You haven't mentioned Granada. Have you already been there? I realize it's at (modest) altitude and will be chillier than your other Andalucian stops in December/January.

Flight leaves from Madrid (thats why I go there last).

Sounds like I should do Ronda! It is definitely beautiful.

Yes I have been to Granada and enjoyed it. Unlike Seville I think it's a one and done type location.

So many potential places in Spain, and you’ve got some fantastic places listed. If you’re so inclined, consider adding Granada - the Alhambra palace is incredible, and has to be seen to be appreciated.

Very near Madrid is Segovia - fantastic ancient Roman aqueduct, and a lively social town.

Ronda is one of Rick Steves’ “back doors” of Europe. Could be worth your time. Since you’ve been to Seville before, could some or all of those 3 days go for other places?

Don't forget that many, if not most, places will be closed for much, if not all, of the 24th and 25th. I spent Christmas solo in Madrid a couple of years ago. I made a nice, and totally seasonally inappropriate, meal of some of my favorite foods in the kitchen of my AirBnb, and it was great. But if you're in the mood for something more festive, you'll have to plan ahead.

I love Seville and Madrid, but if you've been there before, I agree that you might want to spend some time elsewhere. I seem to be the only person on the planet who was underwhelmed by Ronda, but I'd definitely vote for Granada. I also really enjoyed Segovia and think it deserves at least a day trip from Madrid. Somebody else may have caught this already, but how are you planning on traveling from place to place? Train, car, plane?

Caroline

I wondered whether it might be more relaxing to put all of your Madrid time together at the end, and perhaps spend two nights in Toledo.

Great ill add Segovia (hadn't heard of it), and probably spend a couple nights in Toledo.

Mixture of plane/train/bus. Probably the only plane is from Porto > Seville. The rest train or bus (whichever is cheapest).
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You left off Sintra, Évora and Barcelona.

We love both countries and actually like Portugal a bit more than Spain.

Consider an open jaw air ticket flying into either Madrid or Lisbon then flying out the other.

However, renting a car in one country and dropping in the other will be a huge charge.

Lisbon 3 days is a minimum, also consider an portion of a day in Sintra.

Don't need a full day at Obidos, it is a must see town with ancient Roman wall, but 3-4 hours are enough.

Porto is wonderful, we spent three days there (loved the B&B called The InPatio Guesthouse- book early).
We did a super Douro River cruise that I highly recommend. We were able to visit Salamanca, Spain just across the border as well.
If you don't do the Douro valley, you won't need four nights in Porto. 2 or 3 is good, but you can take the train up the Douro and stay at Regua or another of the river towns.

Seville and Toledo are MUST SEE for Spain. Also, recommend a day trip from Madrid to Segovia to see the ancient Roman aqueduct that was still in service until the second half of the 20th Century. Don't miss the Prado Museum in Madrid. You can do Toledo on a day trip from Madrid. Consider cutting a day or two off Cordoba.
You are missing Barcelona and Granada, but perhaps you don't have time.

My only comments

a) work out when you are travelling and when Christmas falls. It seems you go from Porto to Sevilla on Xmas Day, but my maths might be wrong. Do check what flights run that day, but assuming you're not interested in 'celebrating' the day with family or others, that's a good travel day.

b) you can get from Cordoba to Toledo on the same day easily. It will involve a change, but an easy one since there are lots of fast options from Cordoba to Madrid and then from Madrid to Toledo. And they use the same railway station so changing is simple. Personally, rather than sandwich Toledo between two visits in Madrid, I'd save one unpacking by putting Toledo straight after Cordoba.

By the way, Toledo is overrated on this forum. One night is enough. A day trip from Madrid even better.

I think Toledo is really great. It has a huge historic area, some lovely mudejar buildings and a great cathedral. The bulk of the tourists don't venture far beyond the path between Zocodover Square and the cathedral. You can wander off on your own and imagine it's the Middle Ages.

Great info thanks all....revised..

I have done Lisbon/Sintra prior (that's why i’m skipping Sintra).

Skipping Douro, due to going solo. Planning on spending Xmas in Seville. The Madrid part of my trip is quite large now. I would do Barcelona but have been and could skip. Maybe I should add Valencia to the end?

I have heard many people love Portugal more than Spain. Am I missing anything in Portugal? Is Coimbra enjoyable?

Lisbon 4 > Obidos .5 > Coimbra 2.5 > Porto 3 > Seville 3> Cordoba 1.5 > Madrid - Toledo/Segovia (day trips) 8.5

Three days is pretty minimal for Seville, quite a large city and one where the weather is likely to be considerably milder than it will be around Madrid (average daytime high 63.7F vs. 50F).

Should you need additional day-trips from Madrid I can recommend Alcala de Henares (old university town a commuter-rail trip away), Cuenca (atmospheric hill town but at 3000' so could be cold and windy) and Salamanca (large university town).

Valencia's a worthwhile destination, but so are Malaga, Cadiz and other places in Andalucia. I certainly wouldn't peel off time from any of your other destinations in order to add Valencia. However, I'll note that the aforementioned Cuenca is on the AVE line between Madrid and Valencia.

Evora makes a good day trip option from Lisbon since there’s a direct train taking 1h 45m.

I probably will not change my travel dates but my trip to Spain is in the first 2 weeks of October. My work is closed from Christmas through New years day. Do you think I am making a mistake by not going to Spain I the last 2 weeks of December? I was afraid I wouldn't know what to do on christmas and new years day if the museums and castles are closed. How did you pick December January?

I am traveling solo too. As of now I have 3 nights in Madrid, 1 night in Toledo, 2 in Córdoba, 3 nights/2 days in Granada, 4 in Seville. Granada has the Alhambra. Maybe you will be happy with the Alcacar in Cordoba and skipping Granada.

I'll be at hostels over Xmas/NYE so I'm hoping it should be fine socially (usually is). I didn't pick Spain/Portugal due to Xmas, but because my work lets me off for a few weeks around that time. I'm pretty agnostic on traveling over Xmasor not, so I think you'll be fine either way. You are right about museums being closed...usually its just a day or two around the holidays, but it's possible Spain shuts down longer. Past two years I've been in Mexico over NYE and it was great.

revised schedule:

Lisbon (Evora day trip) 4 > Obidos .5 > Coimbra 2.5 > Porto 3 > Seville 3 > Cordoba 1.5 > Madrid - (Toledo/Segovia/Alcala de Henares day trips) 7.5

I might add another day to Seville and take away from Madrid. I loved Seville last visit - and only skipping Granada due to having been, and solo it wasn't the best.