Final Tweeks for a 17 Day trip to Spain

Maybe Algeciras - it's certainly conveniently located for both Gibraltar and the ferries to Tangier.

Consider driving from there to Jerez for a 2-3 night stay and return the car when you get there. You can easily day trip to Arcos by bus and/or day trip to Cadiz by train. Then train to Sevilla. Once you're in Jerez, you won't need a car. Take 2 or more sherry bodega tours (Tio Pepe is the most fun), see a horse show at the Royal Equestrian School (not offered every day, so plan ahead), see the cathedral.

I don't think 3 days in Sevilla is overkill, but since you don't seem to be averse to short stays, consider spending 1-2 nights in Cordoba, much more charming in the evenings than Sevilla.

Thank you Chani,

I like the idea of leaving the car in Jerez and possibly staying there longer.

Enjoy your day.

9- explore Ronda - drive to southern Andalusia -TARIFA 2n
10- day trip Tangier - TARIFA
11- drive via stop in Gibraltar to JEREZ 3n
12- day trip to Arcos or Cadiz - JEREZ (turn in rental)
13- drink sherry in Jerez - JEREZ
14- early train to Seville - SEVILLE 3n
15- day trip to Cordoba - SEVILLE
16- explore Seville - SEVILLE
17- late train to MADRID 1n
18- fly home

Thank you David !

May I ask why you recommend a day trip to Cordoba instead of stopping on the way back to Madrid? I believe they have luggage storage at the bus stop by the train station.

We really like your idea of driving straight from Gibraltar to Jerez and spending more time there. We could even ditch the rental car earlier and take a bus to Arcos.

You could do Cordoba en route to Madrid, but you have plenty of time in Sevilla to allow for a day there and back. I wouldn’t want the hassle of chasing luggage on the last day of my trip. I would soak up more of Sevilla, get an evening train to Madrid, and stay the night near Atocha Station. The AVE train Sevilla-Cordoba is as little as 42 minutes. You would probably spend 15-20mins both storing and retrieving luggage, so minimal time advantage all up.

I had typed “return car in Jerez and then day by bus to Arcos”. Lol. Your call.

Nice trip. Enjoy.

The time and cost of day-tripping to Cordoba vs. the time to store and retrieve luggage in Cordoba - I'd choose stopping on the way to Madrid. But since I saved you hotel changes ☺, I will now encourage you to spend 2 nights in Cordoba, take an early evening train from Sevilla to Cordoba, drop your luggage and go out for dinner (10 pm is normal dining time) and enjoy walking around the Juderia when it's quiet. Then you have a full day in Cordoba, so you can even get to the Mezquita for the 8 am free hour. There's plenty to see after that. Then you have another evening to enjoy the city. BTW Cordoba hotels are cheaper than SEvilla's.

You haven't asked about hotels. I suggest Hotel Europa in Madrid. It's a central location just meters from the metro/cercanias, making it very convenient to the train station (day trips) and the airport.