Another request for itinerary feedback

I don't know anything about the views from the Valencia-Barcelona rail line, but on a trip of this length, I haven't read anything that would tempt be away from Madrid/Toledo/Segovia/Cuenca and Barcelona/Girona/etc. to spend time in Valencia. It's just not, to me, one of Spain's top destinations on such a short trip.

Since Valencia is not really on the way from Madrid to Barcelona, that stopover comes at a cost in both time and rail fare. You can go from Madrid to Barcelona in 2-1/2 hours by train. Traveling via Valencia takes at least 5-1/2 hours even if you never leave the Valencia RR station.

Edited to add: You'd also need time to store and retrieve your luggage.

To be totally clear, I've never been to Valencia, though I have spent rather a lot of time in Spain.

You know where you want to go. Keep it the way you already have it :

Day 1, arrive Barcelona, stay 3 nights; Day 4, train to Madrid, stay 3 nights; Day 7, train to Valencia, stay 1 night; Day 8, train up the coast to Barcelona, stay 2 nights

And when you get there depending on how it goes take a day trip somewhere else like Segovia or Toledo from Madrid or Monteserrat Monastery from Barcelona; or look in your guide book to see what strikes your interest

Thanks to both of you for replying so quickly.

I think I'll post a separate question about the coast train trip and whether it's worth it to try and include that. One of the guidebooks I picked up from the library suggested a train trip from Barcelona down to Cartagena, which is where I got the idea.

Tony

With such a short trip I would personally stay in one base only. Any of the ones you mention warrants several days in-situ and also several days for day escapades, there are literally dozens of choices in each area. But again, that's me, I hate rushed visits.

Just food for thought since you arrive at my homeland, Catalonia, here a few sites to get you started re:Barcelona:

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/
http://www.infocatalonia.eu/
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona
http://lameva.barcelona.cat/en
http://www.barcelonaesmoltmes.cat/en/inici
http://patrimoni.gencat.cat/en/discover/search

and a few brochures on the region:

Welcome to Catalonia
Catalonia Experience
Routes and getaways

With only 9 nights, I would reconsider moving around so much. Each time you change hotels, you use around 1/2 day. If you are going in summer, consider dropping Madrid - it can be brutally hot there, while the Costa Brava has a more moderate climate. There is a lot to see and do in and around Barcelona. If it's summer, you might even consider a couple nights in the Pyrenees.

If you are landing in the morning or early afternoon, don't stay in Barcelona. Take a train to either Madrid or Valencia, then spend all your Barcelona nights together at the end of your trip. Or can you change your plan to fly open-jaw Barcelona/Madrid?

Unless you have a late flight in to Barcelona, I would try to get to Valencia on your first day.

Day
1. Arrive Barcelona. Train to Valencia (2N)
3. Train to Madrid (3N)
6. Train to Barcelona (4N)
10. Depart Barcelona