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Help with itinerary please!

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My daughter has a business trip to Lisbon in early May. Her husband, 2 sons (12 & 15) and I are joining her in mid-May. We will have 2 days in Lisbon, then flying to Madrid the afternoon of 12 May. We will then have 8 days in Spain – flying out of Barcelona on 21 May. I travelled internationally for my job (prior to retirement) and am planning the trip. We are thinking of the following itinerary and would appreciate feedback – especially regarding getting to Tangier and back on one day. I have a close friend/former colleague from Marrakech who wants to meet us at the ferry and give us a personal tour!

12 May – arrive Madrid late afternoon; stay in Centro area
13 May - see the Reina Safia early; rent car & drive to Toledo; stay in Centro area & enjoy wandering streets; drive out to see sunset
14 May – up early & drive to Cordoba. See Mezquita; drive to Seville. (total driving 5 hours) Say in Centro area. See a Flaminco show that evening
15 May – see Alcazar; lunch in Seville; drive to Arcos Frontera; stay in Centro area
16 May – drive to Tarifa; ferry to Tangier; day with Moroccan host; ferry back; drive to Ronda
Question: can one see the Rock of Gibraltar from the ferry or from Tangier? We were hoping to at least “see” it, but don’t think we have time to actually stop there? Agree?
17 May – drive to Granada; 16:30 entrance to Alhambra
18 May – drive to Valencia; see Science Museum & area; return car; stay near train station
19 May – train to Barcelona in morning; day & evening in Barcelona; stay in Centro area
20 May – all day in Barcelona; take train to stay near airport

Boys love science and history and the 3 adults want to enjoy the culture and great food and drink! We are not interested in the southern beaches of Spain (except Barcelona.) All adults have been to Spain and we have chosen these activities based on seeing much of this before. However, I am concerned whether we can make the 14th and 16th of May work! The boys area great road trip warriors but don’t want to stress from trying to do too much. Would appreciate your feedback!

Posted by
8166 posts

You should definitely cut Valencia and Barcelona; realisticlly don't wear yourselves out driving all over the place trying to see to much.

Posted by
28085 posts

This itinerary is so packed that I really don't know what to say, except "Don't do it."

If you have already bought your airline tickets and are stuck flying from Lisbon to Madrid and later home from Barcelona, the best I can suggest is that you see Madrid, Toledo and Barcelona. Note that you can travel from Toledo or Madrid to Barcelona faster by train than by car.

If you haven't bought all those tickets, I'd suggest hitting Madrid and points south because of your Moroccan friend, but that would be way too rushed for me, and I don't think Tangier itself is worth a day of your very precious time.

Better yet, spend all your time in Portugal and fly home from Lisbon.

Posted by
7175 posts

To even begin to make your plan work you need to drop Valencia.

12 May – arrive late afternoon in Madrid (1 night)
13 May - see the Reina Safia early. Rent a car & drive to Toledo (1)
14 May – up early & drive to Cordoba. See Mezquita & drive to Seville. (2)
15 May – visit cathedral & Alcazar. See flamenco show
16 May – drive via Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa (1)
17 May – ferry to Tangier for day with Moroccan host. Return ferry & drive to Ronda (1)
18 May – drive to Granada (1) & return car. (16:30 entrance to Alhambra)
19 May – morning flight to Barcelona (2)
20 May – all day in Barcelona
21 May - fly out of Barcelona

Posted by
7175 posts

Personally I would also reconsider the value of trying to include Toledo.

12 May – Arrive late afternoon in Madrid (2 nights)
13 May – Reina Safia & other Madrid sights
14 May – Train to Seville (2) - stopping en route in Cordoba to visit the Mezquita
15 May – Cathedral, Alcazar, flamenco show
16 May – Pick up rental car & drive via Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa (1)
17 May – Ferry to Tangier for day with Moroccan host. Return by ferry & drive to Ronda (1)
18 May – Morning in Ronda. Afternoon drive to Granada (1) & return car
19 May – Morning visit to the Alhambra. Evening flight to Barcelona (2)
20 May – All day in Barcelona
21 May - Fly out of Barcelona

Posted by
5 posts

On any trip, I leave some down time. I would include the kids in your planning, and allow them to each choose one attraction to place on their wish list.

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