Hi, we are arriving in Madrid from Morocco in mid April and will have eight nights. We were going to spend the last two nights in Madrid. Any suggestions for the other days are appreciated! We have been to Barcelona so don’t want to go there again this trip.
We can rent a car or drive. Thinking of Toledo maybe the first night and then heading to Andalusia...Seville, Ronda...etc but not sure what the best routewould be or best mode of transportation. Thanks for any help!
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4656 posts
Your dates may co-incide with the Feria (April Fair) in Sevilla. Accommodation will be in short supply and pricey, but worth it if you are interested. Google it for photos and extra information.
Otherwise, avoid Sevilla - because of the April Fair and visit Toledo, Cordoba and Granada. All can be done by bus.
A third option is to stick to the area around Madrid and do a road trip taking in the hill and castle towns.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7160 posts
Others can tell you about heading south so, possibly rather than heading south after Toledo, head north if you have a rental car. From Toledo go to Avila - Salamanca - Zamora - Leon - Segovia - San Lorenzo del Escorial and Valley of the Fallen, then back to Madrid. You can see Avila the same day as Salamanca since Avila is only a couple hour stop. Zamora is worth a half day, then head to Leon which is only about an hour drive from Zamora. Leon is good for a full day. If you enjoy castles, there are a number in that area (e.g., Coca castle and Mota castle.) If you found you have more time, throw in Burgos after Leon and before Segovia. Another nice town is Cuenca just east of Madrid.
Zamora and Burgos are each about 2.5 hours drive from Madrid. Toledo is about 45 minutes from Madrid and Segovia is about an hour drive.
Posted by
OP
26 posts
Thanks! Looks like we will just miss the festival in Seville. The places we are interested in are Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Arcos de Frontera, Ronda and possibly Alhama de Granada. Any thoughts on these choices and should we base ourselves in Seville for the first few nights then rent a car and visit the others? And where should we stay after Seville? Thanks!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7160 posts
If all the places you’re interested in seeing are in Andalucia, why not fly into Sevilla, Jerez, or Malaga from Morocco rather than going to Madrid just to head south.
Posted by
OP
26 posts
Great idea and we have switched to fly into Seville. Any ideas on how many nights to stay in each place in Andalucía? We will have a car there and will still have 6 nights there before taking the train to Madrid for the last two nights.
We are thinking 2 Seville, 2 Cadiz and 2 in Marbella, and visiting Ronda and a few other small towns on our loop.
Thanks!
Posted by
OP
26 posts
Sorry...2 nights Seville, 1 Cadiz, 1 Ronda, 2 Marbella!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Perhaps consider something like this if you intend squeezing so much in to your limited time.
Day
1. Arrive Sevilla (2 nights)
2. Sevilla
3. Morning train to Jerez (2 nights)
4. Day trip by train to Cadiz
5. Pick up hire car ... Drive via Arcos de la Frontera to Ronda (1 night)
6. Drive to Malaga (1 night) ... Drop off hire car
7. Late afternoon train** to Madrid (2 nights)
8. Madrid
9. Depart Madrid
**AVE 2173
Dep 17:00 MALAGA MARIA ZAMBRANO (Spain)
Arr 19:45 MADRID-PUERTA DE ATOCHA (Spain)
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
2 nights Seville, 1 Cadiz, 1 Ronda, 2 Marbella! does that mean you've decided to skip the Alhambra? It's easier to take the train to Cadiz, then rent a car when you leave to drive thru the pueblos blancos including Ronda. What do you want to do in Marbella??? Drop the car in Malaga and take the train to Madrid. The train will be lots faster than driving.
No Cordoba? Toledo?