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Advice for Scheduling First Trip to Spain!

Posted by on

Hi everyone,

I'm very excited to be traveling to Spain with my mother March 14 - 25 (arriving in Madrid and flying back from Barcelona) and appreciate your advice!

We definitely want to see Sevilla and one or two other cities (either in day trips or by stopping on the way). Unfortunately La Alhambra tix are sold out so I was thinking maybe Cordoba but also any other recommendations (Cadiz, Malaga, Toledo,Costa del Sol ??) as I really don't know much about this region. We're coming from cold NYC winter so a place with sunny weather and beach or nature would be nice (unless we are sure to get that in Barcelona during mid March). Below is a rough draft of what we were thinking, open to any modifications and please let me know if we are spending too many days in Barcelona/Madrid and should cut a day to devote to another smaller town!

14- Late arrival in Madrid
15- Madrid
16- Madrid
17- Madrid
18- Early train to Cordoba + overnight
19- Early train to Seville + overnight
20- Seville
21- Early flight to Barcelona
22- Barcelona
23- Barcelona
24- Barcelona
25- Early departure back to NYC

THANK YOU!

Posted by
198 posts

You could take a day trip from Madrid to Toledo or Segovia. I would go directly from Madrid to Seville, and do Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. This way you will avoid a one-night hotel stay.

I don't know if it will be beach weather, but from Barcelona you could take a day trip to Sitges, although Barcelona has perfectly good beaches itself. There are also cava or winery tours you can take from Barcelona.

Have fun!

Posted by
45 posts

It won't be beach weather anywhere in Spain, but it's likely you'll have sun in the south. I'd cut Barcelona and stay in the south. Have you tried to book an Alhambra tour ? Sometimes when there are no tickets, there will be places on these tours. You could also go to Cadiz, Jerez, Arcos, and Ronda.

Posted by
6508 posts

There is enough to see in the cities you mention. Other than a possible day trip from Madrid (Segovia or Toledo) and Barcelona (Monserrat or Figueres) I don’t think you have time to visit another place and still do the listed ones justice.

Posted by
3 posts

I appreciate you letting me know! I do want to enjoy what these cities have to offer so I think I will stick to the 3 cities (Madrid, Seville, Barcelona) and now consider day trips instead of another overnight.

Which do you think is more of a must: day trip to Monserrat from BCN or to Toledor or Segovia from Madrid? (or are both doable)?

Thank you!!

Posted by
27062 posts

The number one side-trip for me is Toledo. No question. In fact, I spent 3 nights there. I also liked Segovia. Depending on your attitude about Madrid's art museums, you might actually have time to see both.

From Barcelona my favorite side-trip is Girona. I'm not sure what the March weather would be like up at Montserrat. Girona has a large medieval historic district, a walkable wall, two very nice cathedrals and a fine museum of moderate size. It's a real city, for all its tourist attractions.

Posted by
7175 posts

14- Late arrival in to Madrid - 4 nights
15- Madrid (Day #1)
16- Day trip by train to Toledo
17- Madrid (Day #2)
18/am- AVE train to Seville - 3 nights
18/pm- Seville (Real Alcazar, Plaza Espana, Parque Maria Luisa)
19- Seville (Cathedral & Giralda, Torre del Oro, Metropol Parasol, Casa de Pilatos, Real Plaza de Toros, Archivo de Indias, Santa Cruz neighbourhood)
20- Day trip by train to Cordoba for the Mezquita
21/am- Fly to Barcelona - 4 nights
21/pm- Visit Park Guell or Montjuic (MNAC & Miro Foundation)
22- Barcelona (Day #1)
23- Barcelona (Day #2)
24- Barcelona (Day #3)
25- Early departure back to NYC

Madrid Day #1
am...City Walk
•Temple of Debod
•Plaza de Espana
•Plaza de Oriente
•Plaza Mayor (morning coffee)
•Puerta del Sol
•Metropolis Bldg
•Plaza de Cibeles
•Puerta del Alcala
Lunch in the Salamanca district before strolling thru Retiro Park.
pm...Prado Museum

Madrid Day #2
am...Royal Palace
Visit Basilica San Francisco el Grande, before exploring the historic La Latina district, with lunch on Plaza Santa Ana.
pm...Reina Sofia Museum

Barcelona Day #1
•Sagrada Familia
•Hospital Sant Pau Modernist Complex
•Passeig de Gracia - Casa Mila & Casa Batllo

Barcelona Day #2
•Palau de la Musica Catalana
•Ramblas - Boqueria markets & Placa Real
•Bari Gotico - Cathedral

Barcelona Day #3
•El Born - Picasso Museum & Basilica Santa Maria del Mar
•Parc de la Ciutadella
•Barceloneta

Posted by
56 posts

If you go to Segovia, I recommend strongly El Meson de Jose Maria to taste Lechón. Candido is the famous one, but I friend of mine that was born in Segovia gave me the advice.

Jose Maria is a great person, He is Sommelier, like me, and Aenologisth. You must to taste Pago de Carrovejas Crianza on his restaurant, is great and just designeg for lechón by Jose Maria.

The Cathedral of Segovia is very interesting to, one or two blocks of the restaurant.

In Madrid now is on show a very interesting exhibition on Sorolla Museum, I recommend you strongly!

I will be on Madrid the same weekend of you, I hope good weather that days

Greetings from Tijuana. This is my 11th trip to Spain, widely recommended!

Posted by
6788 posts

Unfortunately La Alhambra tix are sold out...

Local hotels can sometimes get Alhambra tickets for guests even when sold out. We showed up in Granada with no Alhambra tickets, called upon arrival and was unable to get them ourselves. We then asked the concierge desk at our hotel (recommended in Rick's book) and they were able to snag ticket for us for the next day. No guarantees, but they can work magic sometimes. Worth investigating.

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