First Time to Spain - 14 Nights - Itinerary Help Needed

Leave the schedule in Madrid as is since you taking that trip to Toledo.
4 nights in Barcelona works for me.

Granada gets short shift on this, but the timing in the other cities is good.
Tell me, is this for 2017? If so, you want to try and commit to Granada dates asap or risk not being able to get Alhambra tickets. October tickets are already sold out online. Here is the official Alhambra website, as there are many others that come up in Google first, but have not updated their information to reflect the fact that there is no longer morning sessions and afternoon sessions and time restrictions.
http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/index.php/Visit-the-Alhambra/8+M5d637b1e38d/0/

Yes this is for 2017 and I know I need to book tickets ASAP, do you have any reccomendations on which tickets to book? I could cut a day back in another city and add to Granada.

3 nights Seville, 3 nights Granada?

Alhambra General tickets include timed access to Nazrid Palace, and all the grounds and gardens.
Yes, 3 nights Granada, but Madrid to Seville to Cordoba for day trips and moving on to Granada in the evening. Maximizes Seville and two full days in Granada for ticket options.
At least that is one suggestion

Thank you! Stopping in Cordoba on our way to Seville, takes away an entire day in Seville, should I cut Cordoba out?

It's a tough call. I was trying to suggest you go directly to Seville from Madrid, then the last day go to Cordoba storing luggage at the train station; then on to Granada, but whether you do it enroute to Seville, or enroute to Granada, Cordoba eats up a good part of the day.

The other thing to consider is the days of the week. Little point in stopping in Cordoba if the Mesquita is closed, but a shame to miss it as you go right by.

The call is yours. I was just trying to get a bit more time in Granada. I wouldn't give up Cordoba for it, however.

Thank you! I will look at the schedule and see if it is open during the days we might be passing through Cordoba. Do you think spending an extra day in Seville would be worth cutting out a day in Barcelona? Or is there just too much to see and do in Barcelona?
4 nights Madrid (day trip Toledo), 4 nights Seville (day trip Cordoba), 3 nights Granada & 3 nights Barcelona (day trip to Dali Museum)?

Or staying in Cordoba for 1 night and cutting a night from Barcelona?

Also, does anyone know if raileurope.com is a good place to book train tickets in Spain?

I wouldn't cut a night from Barcelona. A day trip for Cordoba, given your number of days, is suffice.
The best website is the renfe website itself, others use loco2, and I guess rail europe, but I have heard not all trains are listed on rail europe.

Thank you!!!!

1) Are we spending too many nights in Madrid?
No, I think 4 nights in Madrid when it's first up is a good idea.

2) Should we stop in Cordoba for the day on our way down to Seville from Madrid?
That is a good idea as it frees up a day, allowing you the choice of ....

3) Should we ... ??
a) Rent a car in Seville and drive to Granada, making a stop in Ronda along the way.
b) Base ourselves in Seville and plan on 1 day trip - Jerez, Arcos, Cadiz.
c) Spend the extra time enjoying Seville.
Only you can decide here, they are all really good options.

4) Is 2 nights enough time in Granada?
I think it's enough with your limited time overall.

5) Is 4 nights too long for Barcelona?
No, 3 full days is really necessary for Barcelona.

October
31. 9:30am Arrive Madrid (4)
November
1. Madrid
2. Toledo
3. Madrid
4. Via Cordoba to Seville (3)
5. Seville
6. Seville, or day trip
7. To Ronda (1)
8. To Granada (2)
9. Visit Alhambra
10. Fly to Barcelona (4)
11. Barcelona
12. Barcelona
13. Barcelona
14. 10:30am Depart Barcelona

Thank you!

First, read this excellent article about Spanish trains. You should buy only from the official Renfe site. If your credit card doesn't work, use PayPal.

I would consider dropping a night from Madrid and adding it to Barcelona (there is so much to see and do there). 2 full days gives you a day trip to Toledo and a day for one of the art museums and seeing more of the city, besides your first (somewhat jetlagged) day. Then take an early train to Cordoba, store your bags at the bus station across the street from the train station, and spend the day. The Mesquita is a must-see. It is unique! The medieval town is well preserved so allow time to wander through. Then take a late train to Sevilla - you can eat dinner in either city. Dinner typically doesn't begin until 9.30-10.00 and later is not uncommon. 2 nights in Granada gives you a full day for the Alhambra - you may or may not want to spend the whole day there,, but you won't know until you are there. It's a large area, so you will need several hours just to see the highlights. Take sandwiches/snacks with you. There are a couple places you can buy snacks and drinks, but no cafes or restaurants. If you take an early train (or Alsa bus) to Granada, you'll have the afternoon evening to explore the Albaicin, cathedral, and Moroccan market. I think that's enough, considering the other places you are visiting.

Hi. I like your itinerary just as you planned it. I loved Madrid so wouldn't cut a day from there. A day trip to Toledo is a must-the cathedral is stunning! Four nights in Barcelona is great too/ much to see. Enjoy your trip!

Thank you all!!! This is all wonderful advice! We may just keep everything as is, but do 3 nights in Seville & 3 nights in Granada, taking the later train to Granada, which would allow us a good potion of our day to be spent in Seville. Although I might reasearch the road trip option, stopping in Ronda.

Does anyone know if I can drive from Seville to Ronda, the Ronda to Granada in 1 day? Will this leave enough time to get a feel for Ronda? Is this a scenic drive?

Use ViaMichelin.com for plotting driving routes. VM estimates a driving time of 5 hours but is thought to be optimistic. It certainly doesn't include time for any stops, traffic, getting lost, finding parking, etc. That would mean a rushed visit to Ronda, I think.

ViaMichelin marks especially scenic routes in green, but that coloring can be difficult to see once the route line is overlaid.

If you aren't going to spend a night in Ronda and use the time to either visit some of the hill towns or see the sights in Ronda, it's not worth taking a car and driving to stop for lunch in Ronda.

Thank you for all of this info! I agree with there not being adequate time to stop in Ronda. Depending on the situation in Barcelona over the next few weeks, we may have to use the days planned in Barcelona somewhere else. I could use the days to check out more towns in Southern Spain or spend a few days in Valencia.

In high summer we drove from Granada to Cadiz in a day, with a stop in Ronda. We arrived to have lunch, then a few hours looking around, before arriving quite late at Cadiz. So whilst 'doable', I wouldn't advise it, or do it again myself.

We too will be traveling to Spain in November. I have purchased train tickets for Barcelona to Madrid & from Madrid to Seville. We will then rent a car to drive down to Malaga. Will stop in Cordoba & Ronda. As or buying tickets it was advised on this site to buy tickets on Renfe site. Well I called and had my CC approved for the transactions and still after 8/9 attempts gave up. So I decided I would use my paypal account. Well when I hit purchased paypal went through and the tickets did not. I had to open a claim with paypay. Put a stop payment via my bank (which did not work) and contact Renfe via e-mail. It took over 10 days to get figured out and I did not want to repurchase the tickets b/c I was afraid of them being duplicated. I was buying for 5 of us and it was over $400 I was fortunate enough to have had enough in my account. It did end up getting resolved, however I chose to then do the booking via Loco it was the same price only thing is it is based on the British Pound instead of the Euro so cost a bit more, but at least it went through. So good luck hope it works ok for you Happy planning : )

Just my opinion, but I'd reduce the time in Barcelona. Part of my family loves the city and has stayed there multiple times; others find it over-rated and do not enjoy Gaudi. BUT, we all like Cordoba and agree that the old section is particularly appealing in the evening when the day-trippers leave. So, I suggest at least one night in Cordoba. For a change of pace from soul-less hotels, you might enjoy staying at the Banos Arabes de Cordoba. The hotel section is small and the rooms are basic but clean. The appeal is in the unlimited use of the Arab baths on the premises.