3 weeks in Spain - Gaudi! Sevilla vs Granada

That seems pretty sensible overall.

I would probably spend one night in Cordoba between Granada and Sevilla. It's a nice experience seeing the Roman bridge lit up at night and the day trip tourist crowds leave the old tow.

Also, I would consider shaving a night off Granada or Sevilla to add to Madrid. Madrid has a ton to see, the food scene is great, and it's a major European capital with a ton of history, architecture, culture, etc.

Sevilla would be my choice over Granada because there's just more to see and the tapas scene is incredible.

If you want to spend so much time in Barcelona your division sounds good. I'd take a night from Barcelona to overnight in Cordoba (or take it from Sevilla).
This is our trip report from January 2025 which might be useful:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/spain-in-january-february-madrid-sevilla-cordoba-toledo-valencia-and-coast-n-s-of-alicante
I wouldn't choose between Granada and Sevilla unless you plan to return to the area. The Alhambra is unmissable. Be sure to dress warmly, we visited in March and it was cold.
If you intend to return to the area then this time in January I'd choose Seville because it'll be milder

Thanks for the useful advice @Tinac. I read through your report. Very interesting and helpful! My takeaway? Cordoba deserves some more time and not just a day trip. Interesting about the Prado being packed in Jan. I wouldn't have thought that although it's a big city and there are several masterpieces so I suppose it makes sense.

As west coast Canadians, we're used to cooler, wet, weather so your descriptions sounds perfect :) Thanks again for sharing. I'm sure we'll bookmark it and refer to it again.

I like your plan, definitely recommending adding an overnight in Córdoba as others have suggested.

If you want to really immerse yourselves in GOED, I strongly recommend this tour of the Prado: https://www.takewalks.com/madrid-tours/early-access-prado-museum-tour/.

I did it last month, and the entire tour was great, but we spent probably 15 minutes in front of GOED, and our guide gave a brilliant analysis. And we had it completely to ourselves. (There were I think 16 of us in the group.)

I went back to see it again after the museum was open, and the crowds around it were massive, and there were three or four guides all talking at once.

I agree with Tinac - give Cordoba a night taken from Barcelona or Seville. Don’t take it from Granada. There is easily 2 full days of places to see in Granada.

Otherwise, looks like you have a good overall plan that suits your interests.

DO NOT miss Toledo just south of Madrid. Also, Segovia north of Madrid.
Cut a day from Granada and add a day to Cordoba. Do Cordoba on your way from Madrid to Seville.

I liked visiting the Colonia Guell outside Barcelona. It's accessible by public transportation with a bit of walking, but it does take time. There's a rentable audioguide that has to be returned by a specified closing time, so I'd suggest heading out there in the morning rather than leaving it till the afternoon.

I like all the modernist architecture in Barcelona, not limited to Gaudi's work. I imagine you've seen the Palau de la Musica Catalana, but what about Recinte Modernita Sant Pau?

For modernist decorative arts there's a small museum in the Eixample as well as a collection at the MNAC--a very worthwhile museum even aside from the modernist collection.

The guidebook published by the Ruta del Modernisme folks is worthwhile for lovers of modernist architecture. The price is very reasonable, and it comes with a discount card that can save money at sights which don't require prepurchase of tickets. Warning: The book is quite heavy.

There's an interesting Gaudi Center in the man's hometown of Reus. There are no buildings designed by Gaudi in Reus, but there are two interesting sites designed by others that can be toured. Reus is close to Tarragona and accessible by public transportation.

Thanks so much @Lane. That private tour is gold. We'll def be doing that!!! :) I did a similar thing with Leo's Last Supper in Milan and you could hear a pin drop as we all stood and gazed in wonder.

Based on all your kind suggestions we're planning the following:

Barcelona 5 nights
Madrid 2 nights (we'll arrive on a high-speed early morn train from Barcelona so we'll have 2 full days)
Sevilla 5 nights
Cordoba 2 nights
Granada 3 nights

Sounds like Ronda is a day trip option so may check that out too. Don't think we'll have time for Toledo etc.

As you all know, there's never near enough time to see all you want so hence Rick's, "keep on travellin."

I'm looking at the GOED as I write. I bought a very good print of it in the Prado gift shop and had it framed when I got home. I like your new plan. Cordoba is my favorite Spanish city and over the years I've found more and more lovely places there. Look for an evening walking tour. I've booked 2 through the TI though the tours weren't given by the TI, and both were excellent. One was a general tour, the other was mostly through the Juderia (very romantic after dark).

we were in Seville in January a few years ago - very pleasant time of year to go. Wanted to recommend a food tour we did:

https://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/my-food-wine-tours/

we were referred to her by a friend and she did an excellent Tapas tour for us. Highly recommend!