Nailing down my itinerary for Barcelona, Madrid, Granada and Sevilla

If you're flying in from the US or Canada on June 7, I'd be very hesitant about booking a food tour for that evening unless you have quite a bit of European travel experience and know that you are not sleep-deprived/jet-lagged on your arrival day like many of us are.

You have grouped three very busy Barcelona sites--for which most suggest making timed reservations in advance--on June 10. It can be difficult to predict how much time you'll spend at each of those sites, so putting three of them on one day may make ticket-purchase a bit challenging. Also, note that Parc Guell is well away from the center, farther out than La Sagrada Familia. If you want to see those on the same day, it would be a bit more efficient to place them back-to-back. But you'll still have the timing issue to deal with.

Your current schedule has you visiting the area around the Prado on three days in a row--for Retiro Park on June 11, for the Prado itself on June 12, and for the book stalls on June 13. You might save yourself some subway or walking time by re-ordering your Madrid sights a bit.

If your free walking tour includes Plaza Mayor and San Miguel Market, it will have you in an area that's not terribly far from the Palacio Real, which you're planning to visit on a different day. Obviously, this doesn't matter if your hotel is in that area.

Thank you for your advice!
I have an early arrival flight to Barcelona- 7:15am. I think there will be plenty of time to rest and recuperate before the Food tour, but I haven't booked any of the activities so I can still rearrange things! I'm going to place the Sagrada Familia and Casa MIla visit on June 8th instead of the 10th.

And yes, In Madrid we will be staying near Plaza Mayor.

Any suggestions on horseback riding or hiking trails?

Again, thank you!

I didn't get to Montserrat on my 2016 trip to Barcelona, but I know there are walking/hiking trails in that area. You may encounter rather hot weather in June, so it's a bonus that Montserrat is higher up; with luck you'll find cooler weather there. In the normal course of your Barcelona visit you'll have plenty of opportunity to walk if you choose to. Things are sort of spread out there.

I don't know anything about horseback riding, but I bet Google will turn up something for you, then you can check for reviews on TripAdvisor.

i will only comment on the first half of your trip, as those are the only portions i've done. but on first glance, i do not see many things which are overly ambitious about your plan.

June 7th- Arrive in Barcelona (am), Las Ramblas for the afternoon, Food Tour (pm)

this is a good plan. you'll have time to sleep between arrival and your food tour. and walking la ramblas isn't time consuming. i'd give it 30 minutes, tops

June 8th- Leisure time, Mirablau rooftop bar for views (either late afternoon or sunset)

this is almost a non-day, which is great. resting is good.

June 9th- Picasso Museum (am), Barceloneta beaches until late afternoon, PM ??

you've just described maybe 3 hours worth of things. also good. you are allowing down time. seriously, great plan. barcelona invites lingering.

June 10th- Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila (am- mid afternoon), Parc Guell and Laberint d'horta ( Late afternoon-evening)

this day is overly ambitious, at least given the pace you've set up. totally do-able, but not as chill. maybe move casa mila to a different day. parc guell and sagrada familia are do-able within a half of a day, though i'm not sure how adding Laberint d'horta will work, as that's farther out.

June 11th-Depart Barcelona and Travel to Madrid (am), Retiro Park and Paseo (afternoon-late evening)

under-ly ambitous. which is totally fine. if you like food, consider a food tour on your first night. it made me love madrid.

June 12th- Free walking tour (am), Arab Baths (afternoon), Prado Museum (pm)

if you are not a huge museum fan, great. we spent way too much time at the prado and honestly could have used a hammam after.

June 13th- Royal Palace (am), La Cuesta de Moyana (street of books) (afternoon), PM ??

street of books is a stroll on the way out of retiro; do this on your first day and save yourself a lot of walking/transport.

Thank you for your suggestions! I will definitely rearrange when we visit the street of books.

Has anyone ever visited Los Cahorros Monachil, Granada? Its a walking area about 8 miles from the center of Granada.

I think your proposed itinerary is quite reasonable and will provide an excellent introduction to Spain. Go for it!

The Alcazar in Seville would be high on my list and I would work in a half day trip to Cordoba for the Mezquita; it was the absolutely best thing we saw in our most recent trip to Spain and we also saw the Alhambra on that trip.

https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/the-mezquita-at-least-the-catholics-had-the-good-sense-not-to-destroy-it-when-they-desecrated-it/

I agree with not seeing Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Parc Guell all on the same day. In addition to the logistical problems, all that Gaudi in one day would be overload for me. Instead, move Parc Guell to June 8, which is a light day; since the Parc is outdoors, it's perfect if you are feeling a bit tired.

If you are as underwhelmed by Las Ramblas as I was (and I know others agree with me), you may want to do a walk in the Barri Gotic instead. See how you feel by the time you reach the Boqueria Market and the living statues just below the market; if you've had enough of the Ramblas, turn left to explore the Barri Gotic.

Hi there!

My husband and I are planning a trip similar to yours in early November. I am curious about your itinerary travel between cities...are you taking buses? trains/ flying?
Would appreciate any assistance!
Thanks --
Mary

Do flamenco instead of bull 'fight' on the 18th (less blood and cruelty). Head to Cordoba for the Mezquita on the 19th.