My husband and I are planning our first trip to Spain - two weeks starting in Barcelona (3 nights), train to Valencia (3 nights), then a train to Granada where we’re thinking of renting a car so we can do some day trips. We definitely want to do at least three nights in Seville before we take the train to Madrid to fly home (probably stay two nights in Madrid - or maybe just one?) My quandary is how many nights should we spend in Granada (2? 3?) I was thinking we could do a couple of day trips from there, and explore on our way to Seville. Does this sound reasonable? I hope this makes sense! Thanks for any help!
Posted by
7002 posts
What are the day trips you wanted to do? If I was just seeing the Alhambra, I would want two nights at minimum in order to devote one full day for that and whatever else. If I was planning on multiple day trips, I would want at least two additional full days, so three more nights.
I’ve been to Andalusia twice but not Granada. If you were going to drop something, I’d drop Valencia so you can explore more in Andalucia and explore other regions on another trip. I would not feel bad about giving Madrid short shrift, as it is the easiest place to get back to. In that case, you would still want a night in Madrid depending on flight time.
Are all flights booked?
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8790 posts
I’m not certain if two weeks is excluding travel time and if two weeks is literally 14 days in country.
For a first visit, 2 full days (3 nights) in Granada should allow sufficient time to see the main sites and get a feel for the city. I don’t see it as a great place to take day trips from as there are no really interesting towns close to it.. The Alhambra alone could fill the better part of a day for some people.
A better use of the day trip time would be to fully explore Granada, then visit a place en route to Sevilla, such as, Antequera, Córdoba, or Ronda. There isn’t enough time to visit multiple locations as you’re already spending what many would consider a minimum of time in the places you want to visit.
No matter what you decide, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Granada, and Sevilla will fill all your available time. If you had to cut a day from someplace, for me, it would be Valencia.
Posted by
1452 posts
What are the day trips? As it stands, everything is pretty well connected via public transportation. For me, it’d have to be some pretty compelling day trips to go through the effort of renting a car and all that entails.
I liked Granada ok, but you’re mostly there for the Alhambra. It takes some effort to get there, but I remember by the third night being kind of done. I’d suggest trying to fit a stop in either Ronda and/or Cordoba instead.
I’d keep the three nights in Seville for sure, and at least two in Madrid.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
16117 posts
I would only rent a car to see the white hill towns (pueblos blancos) for 2-3 nights. I've done it twice, both times basing in Ronda and doing day trips. Others like to spend a night each in different towns. I would definitely not use Granada as a base - it's a very big city so you waste a lot of time driving in and out and driving in the historic center is horrible. If you choose this option, rent the car when you leave Granada and drop it when you get to Sevilla. Driving in the hills is very scenic, and there are multiple pull-outs so you can admire the vistas and take photos.
3N in Barcelona is short-changing this great city, especially if you are arriving after a transatlantic flight - jetlag, sleep deficit . . . . There's tons to see and do and great day trips as well. Valencia is nice but Barcelona is better. If you keep Valencia, i'd forget the pueblos blancos and the car. In 2 weeks you just don't have time for everything.
Please, please do not skip Cordoba. The Mezquita is unlike anything else, a real wow. Cordoba is a great city to spend 2-3 days, but at least see it as a stop between Sevilla and Madrid. There's luggage storage in the bus station across the street from the train station - lockers so get there reasonably early in the day.