Madrid - Seville & Cordoba - Granada - Madrid

It’s difficult to make comments since many of the listed places are not popular sites and how long you’d need to see them is completely unknown. Actually, it’s very eclectic and looks like a computer/AI/ChatGPT generated it.

You can look up grocery stores before going over. Many markets are no longer traditional markets that sell fish, fruit, etc. Many are now large food halls. The are many Chocolaterías and the one you listed isn’t one of my favorites.

Some places like the plazas de Colón and Cibeles don’t take long to see. While in that area look for the lucky frog sculpture and we’ll as Botero’s Lady With Mirror sculpture. Retiro park can take a while to walk through. If there are no exhibits at the Crystal Palace it can be seen in a couple minutes.

Day three is interesting. Visiting a stadium just to visit it makes little sense to me. Likewise, there are El Cortes Inglés department stores in all large cities. Most have grocery stores in the lower level.

The Royal Chapel in Granada doesn’t take long to visit.

I don't know if this is a first trip to Spain or a return, but if it's your initial visit, I'd rethink some of the actual sightseeing destinations.
In either case, I'd suggest saving Madrid for the end of the trip. Take the train to Seville and stay 4 nights. Next Granada for 2 nights, and then Cordoba for 3 nights. End in your departure city, Madrid. That's 4 different accommodations in a relatively short time but if you plan your sightseeing and get necessary admission tickets ahead of time, it's do-able. Also, become familiar with the Renfe site so you know your train options and can select the faster trips.

I agree with Anita's suggestions. In fact, they are similar to our recent trip, which might help you. Here is the link to my report:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-analucia-and-madrid-in-november

Also, in the report, I include names of some guides recommended by Rick Steves and forum members. They were excellent and easy to book online. You might want to consider them, instead of using Get Your Guide.

I'd recommend paying for the Prado (if you are seniors the reduced price is great), so you can take their amazing 90-minute tour, which is a bargain at about 10 euros.

I don't understand this and where you got. these recommendations from. For example, the "Granada recommends."
What does that mean.....places you want to eat?

Near the Plaza Colon in Madrid there are a group of sculptures depicting Coumbus' voyages from the point of view of both sides. I do't even know the name of that grouping but I found it fascinating.

Where/what are the hotels?

I like Anita's suggestion as well. Might I suggest you do Sevilla then Cordoba, then Granada. I think that way it would be easier to travel by train.

Check rail as well as bus schedules from Granada to Madrid. There are a few rail departures taking only 3-1/2 hours, though most are longer. Since there aren't tons of options to and from Granada, it sometimes is a matter of choosing the departure time you prefer, and a bus may work better for you.

One thing I'd add to your list of sightseeing options in Granada is the over-the-top San Juan de Dios. It truly must be seen to be believed.

Tickets to be purchased ahead of time if they are not going to be supplied by a tour guide: Alhambra in Granada; Alcazar and Cathedral in Seville; Royal Palace in Madrid. The Royal Palace in Madrid was not an exception to my I-don't-like-palaces experience, but it is very popular, so if you want to see it, plan ahead. For the all-important Alhambra, I wouldn't want to risk a last-minute cancelation because the tour guide screwed up. The Alhambra can sell out more than a month in advance, so if a guide fails you, you're up the creek without a paddle by the time you are informed of the problem.

Thank you to all for suggestions. I will update the list a bit. We are set on our lodgings so not able to make adjustments there. We have a mixture of an apartment hotel, VRBO, and hostal. We already have bus tickets to Granada, and guides for 3 locations. Sorry, I should have stated the latter.

It is not, unfortunately, AI generated, I'm just a challenged planner with not enough time. This is the first trip to Spain so the goal is to go and enjoy the culture and people. We don't have many "must-do" locations and will go with the flow. We do like being outdoors and hiking/walking so plan to do a lot of that.

The "recommends" section was my notes to myself. I'm always happy to know about hidden out of the way locations and places to find a quiet spot.

I appreciate all the feedback and will incorporate where I am able.

You might take a look at Rick's top sightseeing suggestions for your destination cities, which are available on this website at https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/spain. Choose a city, then click on "At a Glance".

These are high-level recommendations (you'll find more information in his guide to Spain) and don't include all the places I liked, but I think Rick is very good at highlighting sights that will interest most travelers.

Just focusing on Madrid:

Cuesta De Moyano - book stalls

I've walked by many times, it's nothing amazing but your mileage may vary.

Chocolateria 1802 - GF churros

I personally don't think this will be a great use of calories.

Crystal Palace

Closed until 2027, but the Retiro is amazing, definitely walk around there a lot.

Go out to the Stadium?

Why?

El Cortes Ingles

It's just kind of a regular mall.

Royal Palace for the gardens and Armory?

Yeah, good thing to do.

Prado: Free 6-8 (except Tuesday)
Reina Sofia: Free everyday from 7-9 PM and Sunday afternoon (not free Tuesday)

Just get normal tickets and go right when they open in the morning. You don't want to be waiting in lines for most of your trip to the Prado, right? I would go early and then head straight for the popular works of art so you can see everything in peace without crowds.

My Madrid recommendations:

Museums:

• Prado

• Thyssen-Bornemisza

• Reina Sofia

• Naval Museum (free)

• Cerralbo

• National Archaeological Museum

• If you have extra time: Museo del Romanticismo, Museo de America (with Faro de Moncloa too), National Museum of Decorative Arts, Galería de las Colecciones Reales

Food and drink:

• Bardero

• Casa Dani

• Mesón de las Delicias

• Baldoria Madrid

• Motteau Pasteleria

• Casa Revuelta

• Bar Tribuetxe

• La Maruca - Velázquez

• Biang Biang Bar Vallehermoso

• La Canibal

Regarding the free days/nights at the museums, I have been told many, many times that this is when the museums are packed! And you will waste precious time waiting to enter the museums. Purchase your tickets; they aren't that expensive. Be there when the museums open or earlier.

I agree about free-entry period at major, very popular museums: choosing to visit then is likely to lead to a less-satisfying visit. For secondary museums, though, I wouldn't expect it to be an issue.

Conversely, in September 2024, we walked right into Reina Sofia on a free afternoon…so who knows? Regardless, if need be, Guernica is worth the price of admission. Enjoy!

Reina Sofia would certainly be more viable during free hours. Prado just tends to be more busy and I think you do get more out of the experience with less traffic, especially if you really care about seeing the Garden of Earthly Delights, the famous Goyas, Las Meninas, without having to elbow through a crowd.

My take on the free hours is, if one isn’t a huge art museum person, the free hours provide sufficient time to get a feel for whichever museum. For the huge art fans, the free hours probably aren’t enough time to thoroughly see everything.

Twice I’ve paid to go into the Prado and visited once during the free hours. I’ve gone to the Reina Sofía three time; always during the free hours. For both museums free hours’ visits, we got in line about 30 minutes prior to them opening.