My husband and I are traveling to Spain in May 2017. He has a conference at the end of your trip so only a few days to vacation. I looked into a group tour but we are not too thrilled about the combination of long bus rides ,average hotels and buffet meals. I know there is more than that to see and do! We have seasoned travelers but still not sure what our best option would be. I think we would like to go south of Madrid. I don't think we want to rent a car so bus or train would be acceptable.
thank you
Posted by
Charleston, SC, USA
922 posts
For a quick trip, I would take the train from Madrid to Sevilla and spend 2-3 nights. Tour Sevilla and take a day trip to Cordoba from there. Return to Madrid by train and then go spend 1 night in Toledo. Spend the last day in Madrid.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
If you can get Alhambra tickets, you can take the train to Granada for two nights (you want to be Granada the night before your Alhambra visit to avoid snags). Then spend the rest of the nights in Seville, with daytrip to Cordoba. Train back to Madrid for the conference.
If you can't get Alhambra tickets, you have more time to spend in Seville and Cordoba; you may or may not want to visit Granada in this scenario (reactions to Granada aside from the Alhambra vary). Or, if you prefer a different option, you can take the train to Barcelona and spend all your nights there. Between Barcelona itself and day trips to places like Girona, Figueres, Montserrat, and Sitges, you won't run out varied things to do in 4-5 nights there.
Both the northern and the southern options I outlined will be great trips, and simple. They may be expensive, however, as the cheapest tickets for trains have probably sold out. Check Renfe for ticket prices, using this tutorial: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html
Just don't be tempted to add too much. Someone's bound to tell you, for instance, that while you're seeing Seville you simply MUST visit Ronda and Arcos and the Costa del Sol and... Pretty soon you have a great two week trip, which won't work with your time constraints.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Day
1. Train from Madrid to Sevilla (2 nights)
2. Sevilla sights
3. Train to Córdoba (1 night)
4. Train (via Madrid Atocha) to Toledo (1 night)
5. Late train returning to Madrid
Posted by
Chicago
8035 posts
Our last trip to Spain we did by public transport. Flew into Seville, spent a week, bus to Ronda for two nights, train to Granada for two nights and train to Madrid for a week. There is absolutely no need to do a group tour. If the conference is in Madrid then I would immediately head for wherever you choose to go the afternoon of your arrival. You didn't say how many days you have but Seville is not a bad choice for say 3 nights or so and then perhaps head to Toledo for a couple of nights with a half day in Cordoba to see the Mezquita. In our trip which included the Alhambra and the Alcazar in Seville which is similar to the Alhambra and nearly as impressive, the Mezquita was the most amazing thing we saw. I would make it a must:
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/the-mezquita-at-least-the-catholics-had-the-good-sense-not-to-destroy-it-when-they-desecrated-it/
The arrival day is sort of shot with jet lag, so use it to get to your furthest point and then head back the day before the conference. While your husband is on business you can easily see Madrid on your own -- The Prado is amazing.