We are planning a trip to Madrid, Seville and Andalucia in general. We will have 3 nights in Madrid after we fly in and 5 nights in Seville. We are left with 6 nights to explore. I am thinking after Seville to do 1 night Cadiz (with Jerez de la Frontera), 1 night Arcos de la Frontera (seeing Vejer de la Frontera on the way there), 2 nights Ronda (Zarhara on the way there and Gaucin as a side), 1 night Malaga (with Mijas on the way) and 1 night Cordoba (via Alora). Thats a lot of moving around for us but the towns are so tempting! I am wondering if in December it is worth staying in Malaga? A different coastal town? We generally like smaller towns over bigger cities. We don't want too much driving in one day. I was thinking some of the towns we stay in are close but this may we can explore and have a nice after dinner walk rather than a drive back to a different town. I would love to hear from those who have experienced the region! I am assuming picking up a rental car in Seville and dropping it at Cordoba to take the train back to Madrid. Thank you so much!
Posted by
Washington DC
28083 posts
No Granada?
Posted by
OP
11 posts
I know! Is this a mistake? I feel like it's out of the way of my little route on the map. Do we do Ronda to Nerja, to Granada and then Córdoba? It's impossible to see everything but we don't want to miss out too much. Maybe one less day in Seville but do Granada? I hear such wonderful things about Seville and we do like to "hunker down" in a place. Maybe only two days in Madrid at the beginning?
Posted by
California 🦋
5294 posts
Laurie,
I'd skip Malaga and add Granada to your itinerary.
The Alhambra is magnificent! You'll want to book your tickets 3 months in advance ;-)
It looks like you have 14 nights to explore, so I'd suggest something like this:
- Arrive Madrid >> train to Sevilla on day of arrival (4N)
- Sevilla to Ronda (1-2N)- visit Arcos de la Frontera & Zahara en-route to Ronda.
- Ronda to Granada (3N)- drop off car in Granada.
- Granada to Córdoba (2N)- via train or bus
- Córdoba to Madrid (3-4N)- via train
Keep this in mind; 2 nights translates to 1 full day to explore your destination, 3 nights = 2 full days, 4 nights = 3 full days.
Each time you relocate, you will lose at least half of that day, packing/unpacking, transit time, finding hotel, getting situated, etc, etc...
Happy planning!
Edit to add....
If you'd rather drive to Córdoba (from Granada), you could visit Jaén en-route to Córdoba.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Madrid (3N)
Sevilla (4N) with day to Cordoba
Jerez (3N) with days to Cadiz, Arcos
Pick up hire car
Ronda (2N)
Granada (2N)
Drop off hire car