3 Weeks - First Trip to Spain

Hello! Overall I think the itinerary is very correct, but you are only going to the big blockbuster places that are on every first timer's itinerary. Nothing wrong with that but keeping in mind you want to see we "less touristy communities and opportunities to interact with local folks" you might consider slipping in one or two lesser visited places to accomplish that. You could consider adding some of these places that are relatively close to places you are visiting, as day trips or multi day side trips:

Vic - north west of Barcelona, the agricultural capital of Catalonia, excellent farmers' market on the Placa Major. Vic is known for it's amazing Fuet sausages and the unique Vic Cathedral, a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassic styles.

Zaragoza - conveniently halfway between Barcelona and Madrid on the AVE. Zaragoza has everything, Roman ruins, a Moorish palace, and one of the greatest cathedrals in Spain. Also it's one of those "backdoors" to Spain that will give you a look at the real local Spanish life.

Baeza and Úbeda - perfectly preserved twin Renaissance towns, between Granada and Cordoba, these UNESCO World Heritage Sites are treasure troves of well-preserved architecture, enriching cultural history, and intangible enchantment. Best part they are relatively unknown to foreigners (for now).

Cadiz - south of Sevilla, this ancient port city, perched on a narrow slice of land jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe, Cadiz has a rich tapestry of history, culture, and local cuisine (especially seafoods). Very popular with local Spaniards as a multi day escapade.

You should note that there are several festivals around April in Spain, which is a unique opportunity to experience real local Spanish culture:

March 31 & April 1: Easter Sunday and Monday (closures)
April 14–20: Feria de Abril (April Fair), Sevilla
April 23: Diada de Sant Jordi (St. George's Day) in Catalonia, look for special book and flower markets in Barcelona
April 30–May 12: Los Patios de Córdoba (courtyard flower festival)

-interact with the locals?

What does that mean? I have seen it before. It seems to be a penchant for many. But it is ill defined.
So, as a first timer to Spain, what does it mean to you and how will you go about it?

Itinerary is solid. Wouldn’t change it really. I think a visit to the coast is unnecessary. Ronda, and the towns nearby for those two days will be about as small town as you’re going to get. And that’s fine.

I enjoyed Toledo, and like any day-tripped heavy town it gets exponentially more charming in the evening, but idk if I’d stay one night. Like, either two nights or zero nights. But I also wouldn’t take a night from anywhere but Barcelona. 5 nights is a lot in any city. I dunno, very much splitting hairs here.

Be prepared, it can still be very chilly in April, especially in Granada. You’re really up in the mountains there.

Spain, especially Andalusia, is one of my favorite countries to visit. You want cool weather and fewer crowds. Check timeanddate.com for April weather for the past @ 20 years to get a good idea.
Day trips from Barcelona that I've taken include Girona (a lovely ancient town which was also used as a setting for Game of Thrones due to its stunning architectural features) and Montserrat (@ a one-hour train ride from Barcelona.) Girona is @ 40 minutes by train.

Three weeks in Spain should be delightful--enjoy!

I’m in full agreement with Carlos. There are hundreds of places to visit in Spain where there are few tourists. What you have planned is fine for a first trip, so consider some smaller out of the way places on your next visit.

Thank you for the great input everyone!

In response to the question about my comment regarding “opportunities to interact with local folks”; we enjoy meeting local people in small markets, cafes, laundromats, parks, and pubs, etc. not primarily frequented by tourists. So, venturing out a bit beyond the larger cities and sights and staying a little longer in some locations gives us those opportunities. I particularly appreciate the input regarding possible day trips and stops we might make to enjoy some smaller towns.

Thank you!

Don't look for two one-way airline tickets. Check the fare for a multi-city ticket, into Barcelona and out of Madrid (preferably, for weather reasons), or vice versa. That usually costs about the same as the average of the two round-trips. For my origin airport, Barcelona and Madrid cost about the same most of the time, so the multi-city ticket would be in about the same price range.

I would definitely spend one night in Toledo instead of visiting Toledo as a daytrip from Madrid. Toledo is very popular and very crowded during the day with daytrippers. We stayed one night, and it was so enjoyable at night. Much less crowded and quiet. Plaza de Zocodover was packed with tourists and tour buses during the day but so much quieter at night. Spanish families were out with their children riding their bikes. Everyone buying ice cream. Lots of fun.

If you want some coastal ambience, I highly recommend visiting Malaga if you have the time. The restored historic city center is lovely with its beautiful architecture, pedestrianized marble walkways, cafes, restaurants, and shops. There is the Alcazaba, cathedral, numerous art museums, Atarazanas Market, and a very scenic seaside promenade.

Regarding airfares, look for multi-city or open-jaw tickets. They are usually the same price as R/T tickets or slightly more. You need to consider that if you fly R/T into Madrid or Barcelona, it will cost you money for train tickets to get back to your departure city. And you lose a day of sightseeing by doing this because you should be at your departure city the night before your international flight home.

Just back from Andalucia, we found Ronda extremely crowded with tourists and therefore disappointing. The nearby small town of Arriate is lovely though. We had some of the best food of our entire trip there at Taberna Malacana, a tiny indoor-outdoor place packed with locals and with staff who, while hustling, took time to try to help with the Spanish-only menu. The highlight of the trip was walking the El Caminito del Rey about an hour from Ronda. Our favorite of the white villages was Olvera, beautiful and non-touristy. The Mezquita in Cordoba was the”wow factor” site for us and we had an incredible meal at Ermita de la Candeleria. Have a great trip!