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Ideas to Add to Spain Activities

We will be in Spain in Sept/Oct. and I'm listing tentative plans for each location. (During the trip, we keep our actual itinerary very flexible with the exception of reserved events.) Do you have any other ideas that we should consider, especially anything focused on Spanish music or small group experiences. In the past, we've enjoyed small bike tours, cooking classes, opera, festivals, etc. as 1-2 special events while we're in a country. This is our first time to Spain.

Toledo – arrival day: Explore the town outdoors
Toledo – 2nd day: Ideas??
Madrid – 1st day: Royal Palace & Gardens
Madrid – 2nd day: Prado Museum; the Teatro Real artistic or technical tour
Madrid – 3rd day: Retiro Park; afternoon - hubby at bullfight & I’m at Reina Sofia to see Guernica
Cordoba – 1 day: Mesquita
Seville – 1st day: Purchase the 3-day Seville Card to see sites
Seville – 2nd day: Seville 3-hr Bike Tour; evening Flamenco show
Seville – 3rd day: More sites from the Seville Card. Ideas??
Seville – 4th day: 4-hr Market & Cooking class
Ronda – 1st day: Ronda Guitar House evening concert
Ronda – 2nd day: Palicio Del Rey Moro – garden & tunnel
Granada – 1st day: Cathedral; Ideas??
Granada – 2nd day: The Alhambra & Generalife
Granada – 3rd day: Ideas??
Frigiliana – 1st day: Enjoy slow pace of Frigiliana & swim in the pool
Frigiliana – 2nd day: Explore Nerja & Cueva de Nerja
Frigiliana – 3rd day: Enjoy Frigiliana, hike & swim in the pool
Frigiliana – 4th day: Nerja's Sunday Market and boot sale - why not?
Malaga – 1 day: Walk through Malaga Park; cathedral
Madrid – day before flight home: the Museo Cerralbo

Posted by
723 posts

When in Toledo watch for and visit sites of historical Moorish, Jewish and Christian importance. I have travelled a lot in Spain and the Toledo cathedral really impressed me. Make sure you wander the narrow streets of the historic center in the evening. Hire a taxi to take you to the hillside Mirador del Valle right outside the city where you can get that classic photo of Toledo in all its glory. Check out the beautiful gates "puertas" of the city. If you are interested in El Greco visit the Church of Santo Tomé.

I have been to Málaga on three different occasions. I would skip the walk through the park and go uphill to the alcazaba and Roman ampitheater. Admission is cheap and well worth it. Beautiful scenic views overlooking the city, the port and the bullring.

Posted by
7159 posts

If the main reason you're going to the Reina Sofia is to see Guernica, it's open free in the evenings from 7-9 and on Sundays from 2-7. Believe it is closed Tuesdays, but check it's website to be certain. You could save some money. For my wife and I, 2 hours in the evening was plenty of time to see what we wanted to see in it.

As far as cathedrals, Sevilla's is much prettier, larger, and grander, than Granada's. There are a lot of cathedrals nicer than Granada's

Posted by
286 posts

The military museum in the Alcanzar of Toledo is excellent.

At some point take a cooking class. These have been high points of our trips.

Posted by
7806 posts

michaeltipton , is there a cooking class in Spain that you recommend? I was thinking of either Seville or Granada since we'll be there extra days.

We took a cooking class in Rome and really enjoyed the experience, learning more about Italian regional cooking, and of course, the meal! In Paris last year I took a croissant class and purchased one of their hairbrush-sized pastry brushes as my trip souvenir. That class has been very beneficial - making amazing croissants at home now.

Posted by
7806 posts

jaimeelsabio , thank you for the information about the museum free hours. My husband will be at the bullfight on a Sunday afternoon, so this is a nice bonus to be able to enter the museum free that afternoon. I will definitely enjoy more of the museum, but the Guernica is a "must see" on my list after reading the history about it.

Posted by
7806 posts

Thank you, Pat, for the info for Toledo and Malaga. Malaga was originally our return flight destination (before some changes from Delta). I'll check out your options - sounds better than just walking through the park.

Posted by
266 posts

We did a bike tour in Seville on Friday and found it a great way to see a lot of the city. It's perfect for biking. We also saw a flamenco show on Saturday night at La Casa Del Flamenco. Definitely recommend that.

I know you said cooking classes, but we did a fun tapas tour with Devour Sevilla. It was great.

RS recommends a woman who does cooking classes in Granada in his book. You could also try the Arab Bath near Plaza Nueva.

Posted by
5294 posts

Hi Jean,

In Toledo we enjoyed visiting the Santa Ana & El Greco museums. The Santa Ana is in a beautiful building that used to be a church and a hospital. We also liked visiting the Santa Maria La Blanca Synagogue and San Juan de los Reyes Church & Monastery.
One day I walked across the (bridge) Puente de San Miguel and watched a young woman go on a zip line across the river!

In Sevilla make sure you walk around the Plaza de España with it's amazing ceramic tile murals depicting each of the 48 provinces of Spain.
If you want to buy ceramic souvenirs, you must go to Triana and check out Cerámica Santa Ana.
While in Triana, go to the Mercado de Triana (an enclosed market) where you'll find great produce, cheeses, cured & fresh meats, fresh fish, breads & pastries, etc...

In Granada, you can't miss going to the Albaicín, and go to the Mirador San Nicolás, make sure you get there before sunset for spectacular views of the Alhambra. If you have RS Spain book follow his advice and walk to the Mosque (garden) for the best place to take photos of the Alhambra at sunset. Better yet, go to El Huerto de Juan Ranas (right across the street from the Mirador), find a place to sit (get there early as it gets very busy before sunset) on their terrace bar area and order some tapas, dessert, or a drink, and enjoy the amazing view!

In Granada make sure you eat the delicious ice cream at 'Los Italianos ' right across from the cathedral.

One day we decided to walk along Calle Acera del Darro, past Plaza del Campillo (nice fountain) then along Carrera de la Virgen where we found an extravagantly decorated church, Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias. When we entered the church, there was a wedding ceremony in progress and my mom and I stayed till the very end of the ceremony just so we could see the bride's beautiful mantilla (lace veil)!
No one seemed to mind that we were there, wearing our casual travel clothes, while everyone else was beautifully dressed. After the ceremony, the couple was showered with brightly colored rice as they exited the church. This was such a unique and special experience for us ;-)

After the wedding we walked over to Plaza del Humilladero where I wanted to visit the public library but unfortunately it was closed.

Have a wonderful time in Spain!

Edit to add...

If you have time in Córdoba, walk around the Jewish district, visit the tiny synagogue and Casa de Sefarad, and the artisan shops along Calle Judíos. Check out the Puente Romano (Roman Bridge) and climb to the top of the Torre de la Calahorra for nice views.

I almost forgot... While in Toledo, climb to the top of the cathedral to see the biggest church bell and a birds eye view of this beautiful city.

Posted by
4656 posts

Granada and Cordoba have a 'Global Greeter Program' chapter. It is a free, vetted group of volunteers to spend 2-3 hours with. They aren't trained tour guides, and that isn't the intent of the program, but it offers a local's perspective of their city, or tapas crawl, and an opportunity to speak to a non-tourism related person for a change. It might have some appeal. I am traveling after you, but intend to try these programs. You need to register several weeks before arrival so give their website a read sooner than later - if interested.

Posted by
723 posts

Maria, thanks for sharing that tip about Global Greeters. I had not heard of it before. Just looked at their website. What a neat idea!

Posted by
7806 posts

Thank you, everyone, for the great replies! I missed seeing the classes listed in the RS book - thanks for pointing those out, too!