Andalusia Itinerary & Alhambra

This is the official site https://www.alhambra-patronato.es/en

Instead of hauling luggage from the airport to the train station in Madrid and on to Seville fly to Granada then work your way back to Madrid. Be easy on yourself on arrival day. You can also visit Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. The less moving around you do with luggage the easier your trip will be.

We rented a car from Enterprise in Granada and drove to Ronda and Arcos De La Frontera. Look at locations for pickup and I suggest you select one near a freeway entrance. We found the Enterprise location to be perfect for pickup. We found the drive to Ronda and Arcos very easy. I selected a drop-off location near the train station in Granada which was very easy. I also looked at parking lots driving into Ronda and selected one near the city center.

While in Granada, we enjoyed the GranadaTapasTour mentioned in the Rick Steves' Guide Book. We also enjoyed a Carmen dinner at twilight in Granada. There are several options mentioned in this forum.

Cordoba is definitely worth 2 nights. I wouldn't cut a night from Seville in order to stay in Ronda. I think 4 nights is a reasonable minimum for Seville. Ronda's interesting, and it's nice to visit the white villages, but with limited time Seville would be my priority. If you decide to see Ronda/villages, a rental car linking Seville and Granada will be more efficient than using public transportation for that segment of the trip.

I'd be nervous about waking up in Cordoba when I had an afternoon flight from Madrid. Occasionally there's a catastrophic train delay. Is the flight out of Madrid a transatlantic one or a shorter, cheaper flight within Europe? What time does it depart?

What are you going to do about that initial train ride from Madrid to Seville? It's really impossible to know when you'll be ready to board a train after a transatlantic flight.

I wouldn't bother with Ronda when you have so little time, especially when you may get a cloudy day and not enjoy the scenic views which are the best part of a trip there. Alhambra - I did the night visit first and then went back the next day for most of the day. Check ahead - the night visit to the Nasrid Palaces is only a few nights a week. You may need to adjust your itinerary to do it. I thought the Nasrid was very romantic after dark and looked completely different in daylight.

On my last visit, I spent my last day in Cordoba, then took the train to Madrid for a night flight home at the end of March. I took a train that arrived at Atocha 4 hours before flight time and was very comfortable with that. I had plenty of time that day to make alternative arrangements if there'd been a problem with the train. Also I was one person with a 4.5 hour flight so even if I'd missed the flight, the expense of rebooking would not have been more that about $400-500.

I will also be in Andalucia in January. We spend a month in Seville every year and about 10 days in Cordoba and Granada.
We also enjoy the history and museums. It's a great time of year to go, generally the days are warm. Granada will most likely be chilly.

Given the limited time you have i think a day trip to Cordoba is a good idea. Two nights in Cordoba is only one full day of sight seeing.

The Alhambra is worth the effort for sure. Did you manage to find the official Alhambra site? I have it if you still require it.

Hope your plans are going well.

I like Madrid a lot, and not just the art museums. Have you been to the ticketed convents or the Bellas Artes museum? Ronda is much easier by car. We returned our car on arrival in Granada for 3 nights.

Long ago, we did the Alhambra both day and night, and the night visit was harshly and unevenly lit by prison floodlights (in your eyes, too) and laughable movable domestic standing lamps. I hope a recent visitor can give a current report on the quality of the lighting.

It seems very unwise to take a train on your departure flight day. What is the cost if you miss your plane? Is that in fact a 3-seat public transportation ride that day?

Thank you everyone for your input. Always so helpful with trip planning. This is our updated itinerary:
-Land in Madrid Friday at 9:00 and take 12:00 train to Seville
-Seville x3 nights at Hotel Amadeus (depart Monday)
Rent car in Seville and explore some hill towns on our way to Ronda. I know there are a variety of opinions about doing this but, I have a strong desire to see some.
-Ronda Tuesday night Soho Palacio San Gabriel
Drive to Granada and return rental car (currently return is at train station)
-Granada x2nights - Hotel Room Mate Leo (Tuesday and Wednesday). Depart Thursday after Alhambra (tickets secured)
Alsa Bus to Cordoba
-Cordoba x2 nights - Hotel Mezquita
Depart Saturday IRYO train (All Ave trains sold out already) midday for Madrid - currently booked at AC Hotel Carlton bc it is close to the train station
Sunday- depart Madrid at 1:00 PM
Feel free to critique. Thanks again for all of the help and opinions.

While I might do things differently, there is nothing wrong with this. You might consider paying a little more for your Madrid - Seville train in order to be able to change it if you are somewhat delayed (but not so delayed that you won’t have landed in Madrid by train time).