9 Days in Spain - Barcelona and Sevilla or Just Barcelona?

I prefer Sevilla to Barcelona so split your time, no day trips.

We love Barcelona and are going back in September for a week. It will be our third time there. We've rented an apartment and are looking forward to visiting some places we've been before as well as some we haven't enjoyed yet.
We were in Seville many years ago, and it's great, too, but does not have the cultural alternatives you will find in Barcelona.

You probably have already checked what weather would be most likely in December? If you haven't, there are a number of websites that have good average weather data. Average late December weather in past years, of course, isn't a prediction, but they give you an idea of what a realistic expectation on your part should be.

The distance between the two cities should not be under-estimated. Some travelers fly and some take the high speed AVE train. Rick's opinion is that the high speed AVE train is just as fast since it's 5.5 hours and takes you from city center to city center without having to do the airport thing.

I just took that train and it gets up to 193 mph on the straightaways, amazing train technology the Europeans have compared to the US.

If you take the train, make sure you get the AVE train which makes the trip in about 5.5 hours, don't take a slower train or you'll lose too much time since the distance between the two cities is 700+ miles.

And book the train as soon as you know that you'll take it (there are limits on how many months in advance you can book), this is to get the reasonable train fares you can get if you book early.

Yes. My plan is to take the high speed train although I haven't checked the schedule out yet. That day would just be a travel day which in a way is a lost day but in another way is and adventure all it's own. I just don't want to arrive in Barcelona too late. It's no fun arriving in a new city at night!

The big question is --- are we breaking up our trip too much by trying to see two cities in 9 days when one day is dedicated to travel or would we be better off just thoroughly exploring Barcelona?

I have not checked December weather stats for Barcelona. I know it doesn't get bitterly cold there, but what's your tolerance for cool and wet, coupled with short daylight hours? For that matter, I don't know how much warmer or sunnier Seville would be expected to be at that time of year.

Weather differences aside, I'd stick with Barcelona with possible side-trips to Girona and Figueres. I had no trouble filling nine non-jetlagged days in the city. Full disclosure: I like art museums and happily tracked down a large number of modernista buildings.

Both cities are worth a few days.
I give the edge to Seville.

Since you said you may not make it back to Spain for a long time after this trip, then I would do:

Arrive in Sevilla -- spend 3 or 4 days there -- take the train to Barcelona -- spend 4 or 5 days there -- and fly home.

Maximize your limited travel opportunity

I'd split between the two cities, giving the edge to Barcelona over Sevilla (although I love both). I'd do at least 5/4 or even 6/3 as there are more day trips to do from Barcelona. I'm thinking about trying my first winter trip to Spain this year at the same time!!

I would also split the time. While Barcelona could use more time you can have a pretty rewarding trip with just 4 or 5 days and Seville can be seen pretty well in 3 or 4 days. Neither would be especially rushed and you'd get to experience both.

You say you don't like to arrive in a city too late, but if you are able to time things so that you could have a full morning in Seville, then you have lunch (and a nap?) on the train and get to Barcelona in time dinner. That would maximize your time.

I'll add my vote to see both cities - they are both distinctive and worth seeing. I could have spent more time both but especially Seville.

You don't say what your interests are but just to add complexity to your plan I'll point out that you will traveling through Madrid which happens to have some world class museums with walking distance of the train station. You could train into Madrid, stash your luggage in Atocha (in the jungle), walk to either Reina Sofia for modern art or The Prado for classic older art for several hours and then proceed on your way to Sevilla. Personally would spend time in either of those cities over Madrid but does have some amazing museums. It would turn your 5 - 6 hour travel day to a 10+ hour travel day but if art interests you it's a rare opportunity.

My $.02US, have a great trip!
=Tod

We have been to some of the world's greatest art museums in London, Paris, Florence and New York as well as smaller museums like the Chagall in Nice. Although we thoroughly enjoy art we do not want to center our trip around it. We are more interested in getting a "feel" of the culture by walking through the towns and watching the people, the architecture, the food and exploring the back streets and small shops.
I think we would be better off just exploring one or two cities in the amount of time we have.

Because you don't think you will return to Spain, I definitely recommend visiting both Sevilla and Barcelona. And I think you have enough time on this trip to visit both cities. Of course, one would always like more time, but you don't have it. Both Sevilla and Barcelona are beautiful cities with interesting historical sights, but they are very very different from each other as far as history, culture, and architecture goes. You will get a taste of Andalucia and a taste of Catalonia.

Based on your dates, you have 10 nights (I always plan my vacations by the number of nights). So you could spend 4 nights in Seville and 6 nights in Barcelona. I assume you will do an open-jaw (or multi-city) flight itinerary, such as fly into Sevilla and out of Barcelona, or vice versa, whichever works best for you.