Itinerary for two weeks in Spain

If you could start in Barcelona and end in Granada or Seville (or vice versa), you'll save some train time. It will require connecting flights, but to me it's worth it (others will disagree).

A day trip from Seville to Granada is not only tiring, but risky. The Alhambra's main sight, the Nasrid Palace, has strictly timed admission, with a 30 minute window for entry. If you can't get a ticket for a time that works with your day, or if you miss your entry because your train is delayed, you're toast. You should plan at least one night in Granada, to make your sightseeing less stressed. I'd plan to arrive in the evening, then see the Alhambra as early the next day as possible.

You will probably want more than 1 full day in Seville, which is all your current plan allows.

Overall, I think you're squeezing in one too many overnight places and a few too many daytrips, even for a fast-paced trip. I know some like this pace, but for me this would be an endurance test - you're on the go with either daytrips or travel between cities for about half your days. As hard as it is, I'd cut one of your three night stays and spread it around the others, so you can enjoy them.

Penny,

Regarding your proposed itinerary, I count 12 nights, is this correct?

I think you have too many destinations for your 12 nights & too many days traveling 5-6 hours to reach said destinations.

If you've already booked your flights to/from Madrid, then I'd suggest choosing 3-4 cities at most.

Madrid, Córdoba, Granada & Sevilla would make a nice trip & you could save Barcelona & San Sebastián for another trip (as these are the outliers)

You may consider something like this:
Fly into Madrid >> train to Córdoba (2N) >> bus or train to Granada(3N) >>bus/train to Sevilla (3-4N)>> train to Madrid (3-4N)
with day trip to Toledo.

If you've not booked your flights yet, and you must visit Barcelona, I'd suggest booking a multi-city ticket where you'd choose
flying into Barcelona & out of Sevilla or Madrid.
Having said this, I still think you should save Barcelona for another trip.

You only have 12 nights. I would suggest dropping San Sebastian from this trip, especially as you are looking at travelling in October which is cooler than high summer, and possibly rainy.
Also look at an 'open jaw' ticket - into Madrid and out of Barcelona (or vice versa).
I would strongly advise against considering the Alhambra as a day trip from Sevilla - about 3 hrs travel each way.

Fly in to Madrid - 3 nts (day trip to Toledo)
Train to Sevilla - 3 nts (day trip to Cordoba)
Train to Granada - 2 nts
Fly to Barcelona - 4 nts (look at Vueling for cheap fares)
Fly home from BCN

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! How about this: fly into Bilbao and spend one night; two nights in San Sebastián; three nights in Barcelona; fly to Granada; three nights in Granada; train to Madrid; three nights in Madrid; and fly home from Madrid?

Is Vueling a reliable airline?

I am good with cooler weather (anything more than 24 degrees is bordering on insufferable!).

Penny

Gee Penny, don't come to Australia in summer then. Adelaide, for example, just set a December record with x4 consecutive days over 40C. And 116 houses were lost to bush fires on Xmas Day along Victoria's southern coast.

Sevilla and Cordoba are still pretty warm in October so I guess in your case these may be the best places to drop.

Vueling is part of the British Airways/Iberia group and are pretty good for a low cost carrier. I have flown them several times without problem, actually arriving early on 2 occasions.

You have more intercontinental flight options into Barcelona and Madrid, rather than Bilbao.
Unfortunately, all your destinations are far flung.

Fly to Madrid
Train to Granada
Fly to Bilbao via Madrid
Train or bus to San Sebastian
Fly to Barcelona
Fly home from BCN

You all gave me good information. We finally settled on the following itinerary:

-fly to Bilbao and stay one night;
-bus to San Sebastian and stay two nights;
-train to Barcelona and stay three nights;
-fly to Seville and stay three nights (includes a day trip to Cordoba); and
-train to Madrid and stay four nights (includes a day trip to Toledo)

Thanks so much to everyone for all your help! This site is such a valuable resource!

Penny

Penny,

-fly to Bilbao and stay one night;

-bus to San Sebastian and stay two nights;

-train to Barcelona and stay three nights;

-fly to Seville and stay three nights (includes a day trip to Cordoba); and

-train to Madrid and stay four nights (includes a day trip to Toledo)

I still think you have too many destinations for the amount of time you have for your trip.

Keep in mind that each time you relocate from point A to point B, you will lose part of that travel day.

So...If you keep your revised itinerary (above), this is what it translates to:

• One night in Bilboa = less than a day to visit Bilboa (depending on time of arrival, you may only have a few hours to explore Bilboa)
• 2 nights in San Sebastián (SS) is equivalent to 1 - 1.5 days in SS.
• 3 nights in Barcelona = 2 full days in Barcelona.
• 3 Nights in Sevilla with day trip to Córdoba = one full day in Sevilla & almost one full day in Córdoba
• 4 nights in Madrid with day trip to Toledo = 2 full days in Madrid & almost one full day in Toledo

I'd still suggest leaving Barcelona for another trip.

You may consider something like this:

Bilboa (2N) => SS (2N) => fly to Sevilla (3-4N) => day trip to Córdoba or (1-2N) => train to Madrid (4N) with day trip to Toledo.

Remember... sometimes... less is more... less destinations = more time to explore & enjoy each destination.

Enjoy your trip!

I like your final plan. It omits Granada, but hey, you can't do everything. For what you want it's perfect.
You may find it easier to fly from San Sebastian to Barcelona, and take the train from Barcelona direct to Sevilla.

Day 1 - Arrive Bilbao - stay one night
Day 2 - Guggenheim. Bus to San Sebastian - stay two nights
Day 3 - San Sebastian sights
Day 4 - Train to Barcelona - stay three nights
Day 5+6 - Barcelona sights
Day 7 - Fly to Seville - stay three nights
Day 8 - Sevilla sights - Cathedral, Alcazar
Day 9 - Day trip to Cordoba - Mezquita
Day 10 - Train to Madrid - stay four nights
Day 11 - Madrid sights - Royal Palace, Prado
Day 12 - Day trip to Toledo
Day 13 - Day trip to Segovia (or more Madrid museums)
Day 14 - Depart from Madrid

I agree with those who advise dropping one destination; however, for me, it would be Bilbao. Imo, its attractions can't match those of any of the other cities on your proposed itinerary, except S. Sebastian, which I would also drop. I can't imagine deleting Barcelona in favor of those two. Open jaw is the best way to fly.