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Madrid - Seville & Cordoba - Granada - Madrid

If anyone would love to offer feedback, much appreciated!

Surprise trip so anonymous. Feedback appreciated. Thank you!

MADRID 
Arrive at 9:30 AM. Check in and drop bags.
A large Mercado and grocery store: eggs, bread, coffee, juice, butter, cheese, jamon.
Automatons de goyesque carillion - early engineering site on map
Cuesta De Moyano - book stalls 
Chocolateria 1802 - GF churros

Day 2
Retiro Park and Crystal Palace
Plaza Colon 
Palace Cibeles
Salt Street Watchmaker
See list below, ideas

Day 3
Go out to the Stadium?
El Cortes Ingles
Park or museum

Seville
Day 4: Train to Seville
1:30 PM Pick up groceries at Mercado.
Stroll through Barrio Santa Cruz shops and alleys.
Walk through Maria Luisa Parque?
Electric Bike Tour?

Day 5 Seville
Las Setas in afternoon
Tour Palacio Des Duenas
Back to Las Setas for sunset / 8:30 light show
Flamenco Museum? 

Cordoba
Day 5: Train to Cordoba for a day trip
11:15 Mosque Tour: Get Your Guide
Alcazar tour in afternoon
Walk through the Jewish Quarter
Cross Bridge for sunset views of old town
Royal Stables
Evening equestrian/flamenco show?
Train Departs: Ave: 9 PM

SEVILLE
Day 6
Cathedral, Alcazar & Tower Tour: Get Your Guide
Stock up on groceries @ Mercado
Walk in Parque Luisa & Plaza Espana

Day 7
Walk the river. 
Walk through the Jewish quarter.
Triana
Hotel EME Rooftop views of cathedral

GRANADA
Day 8: Bus to Granada
To lodging and check in
Groceries
Royal Chapel
Walk through the Silk Market: Alcaiceria

Day 9
Walk to Alhambra for a tour (takes 20 minutes to get from the entrance to the palace for tour beginning). 
Calle Caldereria Nueva - tea houses in the hills

Day 10
Plaza Nueva and Calle Elvira for shops and tapas
Walk up in the hills of the Albacin / Monastery of San Jeronimo
Traditional Tea house 

MADRID
Day 11 - Bus to Madrid
Walk to Mercado
See list below
Circulo de Bellas Artes Rooftop tapas at night?

Day 12
Royal Palace for the gardens and Armory? 
Walk by Plaza de Oriente and Almudena Cathedral
Sunset at Temple de Bod

Day 13: Fly Out

Madrid Recommends
Gem museum/minerals 9-2pm
Church of St Anthony of the German
Royal Basilica of St Francis the Great
Real Casa de Correos - BELENs
Plaza Colon
Arts and Crafts Fair at P de Recoletos
Plaza and Palacio Cibeles
Montana Artificial - man made mountain in Retiro
Prado: Free 6-8 (except Tuesday)
Reina Sofia: Free everyday from 7-9 PM and Sunday afternoon (not free Tuesday)
Cuesta de Moyana : book stalls 

Granada Recommends
La Telefonica - healthy spanish
Cafe Futbol - GF desserts/cocoa  —- Breakfast too.
Mercedes Isla - GF desserts
Calle Navas - street for tapas
La Nonna - GF Pizza! 
Mostaza Green Burger

Posted by
8147 posts

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.

Posted by
625 posts

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.

Posted by
1252 posts

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.

Posted by
964 posts

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?

Posted by
152 posts

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.