Critique my Draft Spain Itinerary Please

Brilliant plan. You worked in days of rest and you didn’t fall for the temptation to keep adding more and more cities until your holiday is just an “amazing race” through Spain.
Have a fantastic holiday!

As much as I love Seville, I definitely think you should leave Seville around 9AM and go to Cordoba. The Mezquita is amazing, and the Juderia is lovely with its narrow cobblestone streets, patios, white-washed buildings, etc. In fact, I highly recommend spending a night or two in Cordoba if you can steal some nights from somewhere else.

And it would be better to spend at least one night in Toledo. So perhaps 4 nights in Madrid and one night in Toledo?

Some people will tell you to drop Malaga, but we really enjoyed Malaga. There is a lot to see and do there. And it looks like you are using Malaga for some much-needed R & R, which is a good idea.

The Prado doesn't open until 10 AM. If you have a 2:35 PM train to Granada, what time will you need to leave the museum in order to retrieve your luggage (from your hotel? from the left-luggage facility at Atocha Station?). Won't you also need time to buy food for the train trip? The Prado is a very large museum. The Reina Sofia and Thyssen are small by comparison. You aren't going to have enough time for the Prado on Wednesday unless you just want to see part of the collection. The museum is open until 7 PM on Sunday night. I'd recommend seeing the Prado on Sunday after you finish up at the Royal Palace. You could then see the Thyssen on Wednesday before you leave for Granada.

You're also cutting your time very short at the Alhambra with the plan to squeeze in a walking tour before getting on a 3 PM train. The Alhambra complex is very large. You could spend nearly a full day there if you wanted to see everything.

You're giving yourself 21 hours in Granada and 43 hours in Malaga. Yes, I think you're making a mistake. And I did enjoy Malaga.

I don't think you'd be pleased with the sort of rushed visit to Cordoba your stop-off plan would yield. The Cordoba train station isn't right in the historic center--it's over a mile from the Mesquita, so even if you have no navigation problems, just walking to the Mesquita and back will take about 45 minutes. You'll also be counting on finding an available locker at the nearby bus station (which you well may, but there's no guarantee). At some point between your arrival in Cordoba and your departure you'll need food--at least something to take with you on the train. So how much sightseeing time will you really have? I'd urge you to bag Malaga and allow time for a real, not-hectic visit to Cordoba instead.

The Gaudi sights in Barcelona and the Picasso Museum are usually packed. You will maximize your enjoyment of those problematic (but essential-for-most-of-us) places by scheduling one of them first thing every morning you remain in the city. You will at least walk into a place that doesn't already have tons of other visitors. There is no need to allocate that precious first-in-the-morning time to the Barri Gotic walk, the Eixample walk, or Barceloneta. Those things can be done at any time of day.

The Ramblas is a pickpocket-infested shopping street. There is nothing special about it. You'll see it as you come and go from your hotel; you needn't dedicate time to it otherwise.

You need to have tickets in your hand before arrival at these sights:

• Granada: Alhambra (top priority)
• Seville: Alcazar and Cathedral; Rick's guidebook explains how to avoid the Cathedral ticket line.
• Barcelona: Picasso Museum, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Parc Guell
• Train tickets: Except for Madrid-Toledo-Madrid, they will be cheaper if purchased well ahead of time, once you're confident about your travel plans. Waiting till shortly before the day of travel can mean trains are completely sold out, as well. I've seen that most often between Madrid, Cordoba and Seville, but I can't swear it doesn't happen on the other travel legs you have planned. Rick warns specifically about sellouts from Toledo back to Madrid.
  

You might need to get the Royal Palace + Kitchens ticket ahead of time. I just got the basic ticket back in 2016 and hardly had a wait at all, but it is a very popular sight. It's possible to encounter a bit of a line at the Cathedral in Toledo, but I don't know what procedure there is for getting a ticket in advance, or whether it's usually necessary. I hit a religious holiday and did have a bit of a wait.

Missing from your sightseeing plan in Barcelona: Palau de la Musica Catalana and the Sant Pau modernista site.

I agree with staying a night in Toledo- I absolutely loved it there. I would definitely take a night from Madrid to do that…I would also consider additional time in Grenada… I did the San Nicholas Viewpoint and loved it. You need to purchase tickets to the Alhambra in advance and for a specific entry time.

Re: Barcelona.. see if you can catch a Futbol game- it was a lot of fun. Also there is a train that can take you to Monserrat- I enjoyed that.

Have fun!

Thank you for the replies and very helpful feedback. It is very much appreciated!!

I have a couple of questions:
1) Besides the alcazar, is there anything else to see or do in Granada, or was the suggestion for more time to allow some time to soak in the atmosphere? I can carve out more time in the city by leaving Madrid earlier in the morning for Granada +/- leaving for Malaga later. We only had penciled in the Alcazar (tickets purchased already) and the walk in RS guidebook which looks like it won't take us too long.

2) Unfortunately a daytrip to Toledo is all we can do (accommodations are free in Madrid so using it as a base). But how long should we plan for our daytrip? We could go first thing in the morning and stay into the evening - like 8/9pm? Since the advice is to prebook these train tickets, I'd appreciate tips on which time of day to return!

3) Any thoughts on a few hour stop off in Girona (en route back from Figueres)? I have booked Dali theatre museum tickets for 1045am entry. I don't know how long is reasonable for the Teatro-Museo, but assuming 3.5 hours, we could probably get into Girona at roughly 4pm. Walk around, have dinner, late arrival back into Barcelona. Curious on thoughts on this! Girona isn't in the RS Guidebook at all, so if there are any tips on how to the town I'd also appreciate them.

4) Would a daytrip to Segovia need to be prebooked to the same extent as Toledo? Is Segovia reasonable to see in a daytrip? There are some pretty quick train options.

Thank you again for the fantastic insight and suggestions!

Your trip is similar to the one we'll be embarking on a few weeks. Here's what we're doing (by # of nights):

Madrid: 3 (day trip to Toledo), Cordoba: 2, Granada: 3 (day trip to Nerja), Seville: 3, Barcelona 5 (day trip to Tossa de Mar/Girona).

You mean the Alhambra in Granada, not the Alcazar.

Granada is a lovely city for wandering and soaking up the atmosphere. The cathedral is very interesting to see as well. But I don't think you will have time for that.

IMO, to see the Alhambra properly, you should not rush through it. The Alhambra is amazing. The Nasrid Palace is spectacular, the Generalife gardens are beautiful, the Alcazaba is interesting. We spent almost a whole day at the Alhambra including a light lunch and drinks. You have to eat, right?. If you can't extend your visit to Granada, I would concentrate on spending as much time as possible at the Alhambra and soaking up its atmosphere, history, and beauty. It really is an amazing place, and you shouldn't rush through it

I would allow more time for the Prado Museum in Madrid. It is the largest museum of the 3 you mention. That should be the first museum you visit so that you have as much time as possible. The other 2 museums don't require as much time. If you visit the Prado museum on the day you plan to train to Granada, you will constantly be looking at your watch (or cellphone) to check the time.

I would spend the entire day in Toledo. There is a lot to see and the city is lovely in the evening when it's illuminated and tour buses have left.

Skip Maliga and add the time to Granada, which is worth 3 nights at least. Outside of the Alhambra (reason enough to go to Spain) the town, the people are the sight and that should not be rushed. Granada is best done on the weekend, when all the locals are out having fun. Seville deserves at least 3 nights too. I would trim some off Madrid and add it to Seville. Don't miss Cordoba, trim time off Barcelona and add it to Cordoba. Southern Spain is heaven, and cities are just cities, good things to see but why have a burger when you can have prime rib? What every you do enjoy yourself, J

1) Also in Granada:
- Basilica of San Juan de Dios: Fabulous Baroque church.
- Monasterio de San Jeronimo: 16th-century jewel of Spanish Renaissance with two-tiered cloister.
- Cathedral, Calle Gran Via 5: Renaissance masterpiece, but earlier Capilla Real is most impressive part.
- Cathedral itself not remotely one of Spain’s best.
- Capilla Real at the Granada Cathedral: Rest of cathedral not as outstanding.
- Corral del Carbon: Galleried courtyard from Moorish era, now government offices. May be open Mon-Fri 1030-1330 and 1700-2000; Sat 1030-1400.
- Iglesia de Santa Ana: 16-th century Mudejar church with elegant Plateresque coffered ceiling.
- Real Cancilleria, Plaza Santa Ana: 16th-century, with beautiful arcaded patio and stalactite ceiling.
- Casa de los Tiros, Museum of Arts and Traditions: 16th-century house with 19C art and decorative art.
- Museo Arqueologico: In Renaissance mansion; don't know what it displays.
- El Banuelo: 11th-century Moorish baths.
- The Albaicin: Old area of whitewashed houses on hillside. Casa de Zafra at Calle Porteria Concepcion 8 is the interpretation center for the area. Mirador de San Nicolas is the famous view point.
- Casa Horno del Oro: Moorish house.
- Colegiata del Salvador: Magnificent patio with horseshoe arches. Church with reconstructed Moorish ceiling.
- Sacromonte: Best seen on a group tour. There are potentially safety issues, with Lonely Planet warning the area can be unsafe for solo women.
- La Cartuja (GC): Flamboyant Baroque/Rococo Carthusian monastery, by far the greatest Baroque monument in Granada. Altar like ''motionless architectural earthquake.'' Doors inlaid with mother of pearl, ivory, ebony, tortoiseshell.
- Another poster highly recommended the "Granada Night Adventure" walk but noted that it was fairly strenuous.

2) There are many interesting sights in Toledo, with the very large hilltop historic area itself at the top of my list. I'd plan for a very long day. This article covers some of the key sights: https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/toledo-e-cast-tol.htm. This website describes a set of what I call "secondary sights" accessed via a single ticket: https://toledospain.click/toledos-tourist-bracelet/. There is some overlap between the two lists. I don't think the price cited for the combo ticket/bracelet in the second article is current, but I'm sure it remains inexpensive. I really enjoyed seeing the bracelet sights, but I confess to being a big fan of mudejar architecture.

3) I love Girona, a fabulous historic city. (There doesn't seem to be much of importance in Figueres besides the DT-M and its jewelry collection.) You can walk the wall, and there are two historic churches. It also has a small Jewish museum and a good art museum. It takes many hours just to walk all the streets in the historic center. Girona is known for wonderful restaurants, but Spain eats dinner extremely late--not before 9:30 or 10, so I don't know that dinner in Girona is practical if you are sleeping in Barcelona. Also, there's something of a walk from the train station to the historic center, so some of your time would be spent walking back and forth unless you grab a taxi. To me, Girona isn't really a half-day sort of place.

4) Tickets on some of the trains to Segovia would potentially be cheaper if bought early, but there are rather a lot of fast AVANT trains whose fares are fixed at just over 11 euros one way. I have not heard that sellouts are an issue, and there are (much) slower trains that cannot sell out. Segovia is very worthwhile and doesn't require as much time as Toledo does for a solid visit. There's some interesting architecture there, aside from the stunning aqueduct.

While in or departing from Sevilla, definitely include a visit to Córdoba.