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Feedback on 2-week Spain Itinerary?

Hello! Long time listener, first time caller...

I'm in the preliminary stage of planning a 2-week trip to Spain for August 2025 (second half of the month). I would appreciate any feedback and insight. My wife and I have never been to Spain and we are very excited to get this locked-in.

Background:

  • Let me begin by stating that I acknowledge and consent to the brutal heat of this time of year. We will take precautions. We like it hot!
  • I am however concerned regarding the busy-season and am purposefully avoiding coastal and less offensively-hot areas in the hopes of somewhat avoiding the greatest concentrations of tourists (No Barcelona, Marbella, Valencia, San Sebastian)
  • Changing the timing is not an option due to vacation scheduling difficulty.
  • Our current intent is to travel around by rail.
  • Our primary focus is food. I am worried about August closures (LMK what you think!).
  • We also enjoy visiting landmarks, art museums, etc. and just relaxing in general. My wife is concerned about moving around too-much while I want to see and try a lot of things. So we have to strike a balance as much as possible. Don't get me wrong, I want to relax as well.

With all that said here is my current rough itinerary. I'd love to hear if you think this is balanced properly, with whatever you feel is the "right" amount of time for each area:

  • Madrid: 5 nights (Segovia day trip)
  • Toldedo: 1 night
  • Seville: 4 nights
  • Granada: 3 nights

That's 13 nights total, but I have 14 to distribute. I dont think my wife will want to stay in another new location but I am open to all feedback! I currently have us with nights in 4 different locations. She is already concerned that greater than 3 is too many hotel changes. I am not sure how we should navigate that

All input is appreciated!

Thank you

Posted by
7541 posts

If you want to avoid concentrations of tourists in August, you need to find different locations to visit.

For the cities you chose, I feel the balance is fine, but if it was my trip I’d stay in Toledo for 2 nights and take a night from Madrid.

In Toledo, consider staying at the Parador just outside of town. Without a car you’d need to take a taxi into town, but it is very relaxing and one can’t get a better view of the city.

Posted by
2 posts

Thanks jaimeelsabio for your feedback. Just to clarify, I understand there will be tourists in all the hot spots, I guess I was just figuring there'd be more tourists elsewhere as the heat seems to scare some folks away? But maybe I'm wrong...

Posted by
7541 posts

The places you want to visit are busy year round, but especially late May through mid September. They are still very enjoyable.

Posted by
28928 posts

Throw your extra day to Cordoba, which is a major omission from your itinerary. Although I loved spending multiple nights there, many people see Cordoba as a day trip from Seville, and that's a great deal better than not seeing it at all. The trip from Seville takes less than an hour by train, though there's a bit of a walk from the train station to the historic center. Do some research on Cordoba. There's more to see there than just the Mezquita.

I like the idea of the extra night in Toledo, too, but you need to think about how much time you'll be spending in Madrid's art museums before you reduce the length of your stay there, especially since you plan to take the day trip to Segovia.

Andalucia is going to be miserably hot and the area around Madrid probably not all that much better. Be sure the lodgings you choose have very good air conditioning. If they're listed on booking.com, those are good reviews to check out before you book directly with the hotel. I'd also prioritize a central location so you can easily take a break back in your air-conditioned room if you need to. You'll encounter extended mid-day closures at many locations in that part of Spain.

Edited to add: I feel I must say that I wouldn't go to that part of Spain in the summer. I'd head up to the north coast, between San Sebastian and Santiago de Compostela. Yes, the small historic center of San Sebastian is annoyingly touristy (I prefer Bilbao), but I'd rather deal with crowds in pleasant conditions than crowds in an oven. The heat in the south is highly likely to be extremely uncomfortable. It would affect my interest in food.

Posted by
460 posts

I agree that Cordoba is worth using the extra night for - even as a day trip from Sevilla. If your wife doesn't like packing up and moving, I'd day trip to Toledo. Be sure to book in advance so you can get the trains you want but at least you'll have one full day there. There isn't much point in one night - considering the time spent checking in and out of accommodation and luggage etc - either add an extra night for a total of two (but I don't see where you could take it from), or a day trip could be fine.

Posted by
102 posts

Sounds good overall.

Personally, I would Toledo as a day trip and do an overnight in Cordoba instead. It could be convenient for train arrangements too as a hub between Sevilla and Granada. Toledo is great for the cathedral and the old medieval city nature of it, but I would rather have dinner in Madrid personally. Same with Segovia, unless you're really in love with the traditional Spanish cuisine, I like the options in Madrid better.

Food recs:

Cordoba: Don't eat dinner in the tourist zone, I found the restaurant better values and more interesting closer to the Plaza de las Tendillas area.
Sevilla: Bodeguita Romero, Vinoteca Lama La Uva, Lobo López, Naked and Famous Cocktail Bar, Robles Laredo and El Favorito for just having a relaxing beer in the tourist area, braXas.
Madrid: Bardero, Bar Tribuetxe, La Caníbal, Casa Revuelta, Ástor gastro-place, Bar La Campana, Bravo Wine Bar, La Fisna Wine Bar, Baldoria, La Maruca Velazquez.

Posted by
5125 posts

This is all fine tuning and depends on your interests and balancing your situation.

If it were me, I would probably do like jamie suggested and take a night from Madrid and give it to Toledo (for 2 nights). I like art but don’t love it so I don’t need to see all the museums.

Then I would add your extra night to Seville for a Cordoba day trip OR stop for one night in Cordoba.

But you could equally see Toledo as a day trip from Madrid during your 5 nights and give 2 nights to Cordoba.

Just tossing out options, as there’s no wrong choice.