First time to Spain advice

Can easily spend a few nights in Barcelona and do a day trip to Montserrat and then hope the train to Madrid and then a day trip easy from there to Toledo and then on to Seville and that could be your two weeks. Recommend taking a look at the RS Spain book for more ideas but that is a start

Madrid-Sevilla-Granada would be my pick, with the least time spent in Granada (3-4 nights are plenty here imho.) I would also consider bending your rule to include a couple nights in a hill town such as Ronda.

Madrid had so much to offer, and has easy day trips to Toledo or Segovia. Sevilla is a blast, and a stop in Cordoba is a must. Ronda has the stunning scenery you are seeking, and was very enjoyable to boot. Seeing the Alhambra is truly one of those bucket list sights. I didn’t love Granada the city as much as Sevilla or Madrid however. With three nights there I felt like I had covered it all pretty well, and was ready to move on. Outside its old medieval neighborhood, it’s very workaday. But all three of these cities feel quite different from each other, and that certainly was interesting to feel and experience.

I’d suggest Granada (history, views, Alhambra), Seville (culture, food, day trips), and somewhere coastal like Costa Brava or San Sebastián for beach and hiking. Also, if you plan to rent a car, make sure to follow rules and speed limit as you are travelling for the first time. Spanish road signs might be confusing. Check DGT's official site or this resource for road signs: señales de tráfico

We went to Barcelona, loved it, went to Seville, loved that, went to Madrid, loved that too.

One piece of advice I would give is to take a look at a map of the high-speed rail routes. That would give you a framework of how to put several places together.

Spain is such a big country with so many wonderful and diverse places to go to, I would say buy a book like (since we're on the Rick Steves website) "Rick Steves' Spain" so you have some overview of all the different places to choose from.

The Alhambra in Granada shouldn't be missed IMO, and neither should Valencia. The latter is the most enjoyable, under the radar place I've visited. Could easily see myself living in Valencia.

It depends what city you fly to. Madrid’s an excellent option for fast trains to Andalucía.

If I had to choose for a first time trip, Seville Cordoba and Valencia would be high on the list, or you may consider a stay in a white village, Vejer de la Frontera is my favorite. Not forgetting Granada and Cadiz.

We stay a long time in all these places and love them all.

Madrid-Seville-Granada, with a day trip from Madrid to Toledo. Also, consider a day in Cordoba on the way to Seville.