Help with itinerary for Madrid and Andalusia in April

To get to the Atocha train station and get the train to Cordoba, take the Airport Express Bus from the airport. It stops at each terminal and the location is well marked outside the luggage claim area. If you do not see the signs, ask someone. Fee is five euros, pay the driver...get some euros state side if you can, will be easier than locating an exchange place open. Luggage goes with you on the front of the bus. 25 minutes, and one or two stops you will be at the Atocha entrance. You can get tickets in advance, but be warned they are not refundable and not changeable. Allow sufficient time for delay, etc at the airport. You can get a lite breakfast at the airport before you get the bus if you want. Or, there will be a snack car on the train, but that is coke, sandwich, etc.

Time is about 2 hours to Cordoba. Train tickets will have the car number and the seat number on them.

Flamenco in Sevilla! Contact the Really Discover Sevilla for a first class tour...smaller number of people than the larger companies...also they can recommend an excellent flamenco show. Go early to get a seat on the front and be amazed for a full hour. Might not nee the third night in Sevilla.

Spend one night in Toledo if you can...it is a different city when the day tourists leave.

Madrid...Prado will be busy no matter what day or time you are there. But it is worth the effort. Also, nearby by a block, the Park Retiro is excellent ...large and full of interesting people and sights. The old post office at Cibeles Fountain (looks like a very large wedding cake) offers an excellent view of the city from the top. Small admission price and take the elevator ride.

Other great museums....Scorolla Museum, in the house of the painter dating from the 1890s or so. Near Ruben Dario Metro stop. Museum of the City of Madrid at the Tribunal Meto Stop.....dine at Plaza Oriente in one of the restaurants overlooking the Royal Palace.. Great food, reasonable prices, and fantastic setting. Gran Via...just over 100 years old now, magnificent architecture. Great walking adventure.

I would respectfully disagree with some of HJ's recommendations. When I landed at Barajas airport, I went to the Renfe station there and bought my ticket to Cordoba, which included the local train to Atocha station. There was no waiting and the agent sold me a ticket for the next train. If you take the bus to Atocha, you'll have to buy your tickets to Cordoba then. You may encounter long lines (I've been in them there).

For Flamenco in Sevilla, instead of going through a tour company, just buy tickets at La Casa de Flamenco. There have been several good reviews from people on the forum (me included). It's low key, a small venue, and the performance is not touristy - no tables, no drinks, no food, just an hour or so of serious flamenco.

If you want very much to see a bullfight, you should go to Sevilla during Feria. That's when you can be sure of it. There are few bullfights other than at festival times. Or spend another night in Cordoba and day trip from there on the 17th. According to this tentative schedule, that's your only option, unless there's one in Madrid later.

I do agree with HJ that Toledo is much better as an overnight visit. Take the commuter train from Madrid when you arrive from Sevilla and spend your last 2 nights in Madrid. If you want, you can leave the bulk of your luggage in a locker at Atocha and just take an overnight bag to Toledo.

I don't agree with your friends. You won't have time to see all the great sights in any of your cities, and they are quite different. Cordoba and Toledo feel like small towns, Sevilla and Madrid are more lively and bustling. Granada is . . . well, the Alhambra is in a class unto itself.

One thing:

If you will be in Sevilla for the Feria, book your lodgings NOW. You will have a very difficult time later if you don't. I highly recommend Airbnb, because even with the inflated prices, it is likely less expensive than a hotel. I stayed in a great one; if you'd like the link, you may PM me.

I also don't agree with your friends' concern. You have great sights on your list and will not regret prioritizing those. Malaga and Cadiz don't make Rick's priority list for a first month or two of visiting Spain, and April won't particularly be beach weather.

April Fair is April 12-17 this year. Hotels will be full of Spanish families, but it won't be impossible to find a place. We stayed at the Silken Al Andalus. It's a short bus ride from the center but I got a great deal on the room, four nights double for under 300 total. When I got there, their standard nightly rate was almost what we paid for four nights.

Bull fights are every night during the fair. After that I think they run two or three nights a week (at least one on the weekend and maybe one on a weeknight).

Chani gave you good information. I'd add that, opinion only, Madrid is my least favorite city in Spain (maybe all of Europe) because it has no real history and less culture. I go to Europe for history and culture. Unlike most cities, it's history only goes back about as far as Baltimore and Spanish culture is much harder to experience there. El Prado is a must see, but it's walking distance from Atocha station. I'd stay in Toledo any day. It's nicer, lodging and eating are cheaper and it offers more and better sights. The only activity where Madrid excels is late night bars and clubs, which aren't my priority.

Flamenco in Sevilla - go to a smaller tablao like the Flamenco El Arenal, which is a quick walk from the cathedral. There are only 100 seats and you can book online. Don't buy the dinner - 38 Euros gets you the show and one drink and is an excellent value. Have dinner or tapas somewhere else.

Malaga was a waste of time. One day maximum if that. See the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba and Cathedral but if pressed for time, take more time in Granada.

Thank you all so much! This information has been really helpful in planning our trip.

On our last trip to Spain, we only had 10 nights, and we visited the same cities that you are planning on visiting. We like history, culture, good food and wine, as well. I was particularly interested in the history of Moorish Spain. Our allocation of days was a little different than yours, but we enjoyed each of those cities very much. There's a lot to see in Cordoba, not just the Mezquita (which is amazing).

what was your itinerary and can you tell me some of the things that you enjoyed most?

Also, I am having trouble working in Toledo now. Trying to decide if I should swap Córdoba for Toledo for the first night (although it seems like getting to Granada would be a super long trip then) and then do a day trip to Córdoba from Sevilla. Just don't have many days in Madrid as it is and there's so much to see.

On our last trip to Spain in Oct' 15 we followed almost the same itinerary as yours, except we added Barcelona ! All on the advice of Chani, David and Priscilla.
Madrid was our least favourite city because the others had so much more to offer, but having said that, we're going back to Madrid
in April this year. We'll use it as a base to go to Segovia and or Avila.