Please sign in to post.

May in Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Lisbon, are we missing anything re sights, restaurants suggestions

We have our Hotels booked end of May and Have 6 nights Lisbon (been there before), 4 nights in Seville and Cordoba, 3 nights in Granada, 1 night Malaga (to catch a flight next day). Our Itinerary for things to see is as follows; Seville- Alcazar, Seville Cathedral, Barrio Santa Cruz, Metropol Parasol. Cordoba- Mezquita Mosque, Palacio de Viana, Alcazar de los Reyes, Trip to Castillo de Almodovar, reservations at Tera Olea for early dinner. Granada-Tour of Alhambra (have tickets already), Considering evening tour of Alhambra, Basilica de San Juan de Dios, Have evening dinner reservations at Los Tomasas for view of Alhambra. Lisbon-Considering a tour guide for Sintra and Pena Palace and National Palace.

We have time to see each place at our leisure and would like to know what else there is to see as we stroll around. Appreciate all the feedback, thank you

Posted by
1603 posts

While in Seville, be sure to visit the Plaza de Espana. It's beautiful, very grand, and you will take lots of photos here. Visit Casa di Pilatos, a small palace that is off the beaten path. Take a carriage ride. See a flamenco show. Visit the Triana neighborhood, including the Triana Mercado. Another great market is the Mercado Barranca. You can have lunch or dinner at any of these wonderful markets.

Cordoba - walk across the Roman Bridge in the evening. Look back and see the illuminated Mezquita. Explore the Juderia.

In Granada, definitely book an evening tour of the Alhambra! It is magical! And quieter than the day time.

Posted by
27111 posts

Rick's top picks for Seville, Granada and Lisbon can be found on this very website. Click on "At a Glance" at each of those links.

There's much more to see. Rick doesn't list San Juan de Dios in Granada, just as one example. I think there's considerably more in his guidebooks. You definitely need a good one so you don't walk right past something really interesting without realizing it.

Posted by
696 posts

In Granada, see the cathedral and the royal chapel, where Isabel and Ferdinand are.

Take a walk around the Albaicín, including stopping at the Mirador San Nicolas to enjoy the view. If Helados San Nicolas is open, get some gelato. Los Italianos is the most popular choice for gelato in Granada (near the Plaza Nueva), but I liked Helados San Nicolas better.

Eat at Los Diamantes for seafood. Get some falafel from any of the tiny shops. Take a tapas tour (spainfoodsherpas.com, granadatapastours.com; both are excellent). Do lots of walking around and stop wherever it looks good for a beverage, then wait for your (free) tapa.

If you like gardens, there are some lovely ones -- with peacocks! -- at the Carmen de los Mártires in the Realejo district (very quick walk from the usual tourist area).

Definitely do the night visit at the Alhambra -- it's beautiful!

Visit the Mercado de San Augustín, just up from the cathedral.

Posted by
3904 posts

For a unique Sevilla day trip rent a car for the day and drive to the quaint town of El Rocío, located in the heart of the Doñana Wetlands National Park, just southwest of Sevilla. El Rocío is a traditional white-washed Andalucian cowboy town, with its old taverns and dusty streets the town feels like something from the wild west. Virtually unknown to foreign tourists, it's an authentic slice of the little known Andalucian cowboy culture. El Rocío pilgrimage actually happens in May and is the most famous annual pilgrimage for Spaniards. May be extra lively around the time you are there.

Back in Sevilla I'd suggest taking a look at the Archivo General de Indias, a UNESCO heritage site, which is the repository of documents and artifacts of the Spanish Colonial Empire. They have temporary exhibitions of their collection and guided tour of the Renaissance palace that houses it.

While in Cordoba consider a day trip to the nearby Medina Azahara, the ruins of fortified palace-capital of Caliphate of Al-Andalus (aka the Alhambra before the Alhambra).

Posted by
31 posts

Thanks for all the insights, it is very helpful. Happy travels!

Posted by
27111 posts

If you like art, the Fundacion Rodriguez-Acosta is worth visiting. However, the website says it's closed until further notice with no clue about when that might be.