Andalucia and Madrid October 2020, new supposed itinerary

Looks full but nicely paced. I like how you have left time for what you may not have had time for on a previous day.

Revised abbreviated supposed itinerary:

Sunday: arrive at Granada airport at 1:00pm. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights (2 whole days + a few hours to half a day on the day I arrive) in Granada

Wednesday morning: Bus or train to Córdoba. Wednesday and Thursday nights (at least 1-1/2 days) in Córdoba.

Friday morning: Bus or train to Seville. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights in Seville. Half or more of Monday in Seville. (3 night, 2 whole days + half or more of the day I arrive + half or more of the day I leave). Bus or train to Toledo.

Tuesday: sights in Toledo. Evening train or bus to Madrid.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights (4 nights, 3 whole days) in Madrid

Saturday: flights back to Detroit.

Go from Granada to Seville via bus. Then do Córdoba as you make your way up to Madrid. That is what we did.

If I make Seville my second city and Córdoba my third city, I will be in Córdoba on a Sunday and Monday. On Sundays the archaeology museum and old synagogue have abbreviated hours, both are closed on Mondays, and the Alcázar is closed on Mondays. My current thinking is, if I make Córdoba my second city, I will be there on a Wednesday and Thursday, when these sites have better hours. My plan works logistically considering that - at least based on what I saw on google maps and rome2 rio, all the trains and buses from Granada to Seville stop in Córdoba. I didn’t see any train or bus routes from Granada to Seville that go straight west staying staying south of Córdoba. Maybe google maps and rome2rio aren’t showing all the routes that will exist.

Just remain flexible. If you don’t see the bullfighting museum in Sevilla, there’s a nice one in Cordoba; same for the bull ring. Remember the Giralda tower by the cathedral in Sevilla, and the Plaza de Espana. The Torre de Oro is pretty much a walk by. For me, I make a list of sights I want to see in a location, but don’t assign them a day or time (unless it’s a timed entry). That allows me to pick what I want to see and when, rather than say I need to see these sights today. Some museums have free days, so look those up before your trip, and time your visit for when you can get in for free, if possible. I enjoyed the military museum in Toledo years ago, and just happened to be there when it was a free day. It provided a good insight into what life was like there during the Spanish civil war.

Don't use Google Maps or Rome2Rio to check train routings or schedules. Use Renfe.com. If you already know you're going to take a train, go straight to the source for the most reliable information.

I agree with what you have observed: Looking at the early-March schedule (since trains for October aren't loaded yet), some of the fast train connections (AVEs and AVANTs) seem to require transfering in Cordoba; others seem to be direct, but I think they still stop in Cordoba. It's true that at least some of the slower connections (including MD, Media Distancia, trains) require a change in Antequera instead of Cordoba. That seems like less mileage, but the travel time is longer.

What looks as if it makes sense on a map--and does make sense if you're driving--doesn't necessarily align with the way trains run.

So I don't think it matters when you go to Cordoba from the perspective of travel time. Choose what works best given the schedules of the attractions you want to see.

Thanks for your imput.

I am thinking of skipping the Cathedral of Seville, even though I know it is the biggest church in the world, the third biggest gothic church in the world, and includes a huge wall with 45 scenes from the life of Jesus made of wood and gold... there are too many other sites in Seville. There wouldn’t be time for everything... most likely I will see at least one or more churches in Granada, at least Capilla Real/ royal chapel, and/or San Juan de Dios, possibly the Catedral - those should take away my need to spend a lot of time in any big churches in Seville versus the archaeology museum or the other sites... based on other trips, I seem to have a talent for visiting some of the less popular or uncrowded sites and museums.

Good choice. I don't think it is the biggest church in the world, though it might be the biggest in Spain. It's reasonable to skip it - a lot these churches do tend to merge together after a while. I think you'll find the inside of Granada's capilla real and Cordoba's mezquitta more memorable. I think the most interesting part of Sevilla catedral is the outside anyway. Also, I wouldn't make Granada catedral a must-see if you're short of time, it's pretty bog standard - the inside of the royal chapel is much more interesting. The good bit of Sevilla catedral is going up the giralda for the view. But actually you get a better view going to the metropol parasol since from there you can actually see the giralda/cathedral. You can also get that view if you go to the rooftop bar of the hotel Inglaterra.