Our Spain Ttip

Ronda definitely worth a few hours to a half day (or more).

Having spent two nights in Cordoba this past May, I would say three nights would be pushing it for me. Mind you, your overall itinerary shows you enjoy a slow travel pace so maybe its ok.

Glad you have given Madrid ample time. We were surprised to find we prefer it over Barcelona.

Is Valencia doable as a day trip from Madrid? I don't have any rail maps to hand but it seems unlikely.

I would add a night to Seville and take one from Córdoba. 3 nights is low for Seville, but a bit much for Córdoba, and good for Granada.

Deborah,

Valencia is almost 2 hours by AVE train from Madrid... I would not want to be on a train almost 4 hours just to spend a few hours in Valencia. There are other great cities you could visit from Madrid that are much closer.
Toledo is one of my favorite cities in Spain & I'd encourage you to spend at least an overnight there, so you can enjoy its beauty without the day crowds.

You may also consider changing your route as follows: Madrid>>Córdoba>>Sevilla>>Granada>> Ronda >> Marbella.

I think Sevilla deserves more than 2 days (3 nights), since there's so much to see & do there.

Enjoy your trip!

I would take one night from Madrid & add it to Sevilla.

Andrea, I was doubtful about Valencia, too, but the AVE gets you there in less than 2 hours.

Deborah, if you find you don't need as much time in Madrid as expected, there's an additional very good day-trip possibility on the way to Valencia: Cuenca. It has a picturesque old quarter with hanging houses along a ravine and two quite nice modern art museums. You could spend a full day there. Or you could peel a couple of nights off Madrid and use Cuenca as a base for Valencia. You'd have an additional hotel change (annoying, I know), but there'd be less travel time to Valencia (but more to Granada). I found Cuenca considerably less touristy than I expected, given its attractions. I think folks haven't yet figured out how quickly you can get there from Madrid on the AVE.

Four nights seems very short for Barcelona, given that your first day will be jet-lagged. I am very much not a beach person, so 5 nights in Marbella vs. 4 in Barcelona looks very wrong to me. There is so much to see in Barcelona between the museums, the modernista sights, and the historic districts. Madrid has mainly just museums (albeit fabulous ones)--and of course a lot of magnificent day-trip possibilities. But Barcelona has Girona and Montserrat just for starters.

I took the AVE from Atocha station to Valencia in about 90 minutes. I spent three nights there last Fall and found more than enough to occupy that time. The highlights could be done in one long day however. Be sure to tour the Cathedral (the Holy Grael is there) and visit the City of Arts and Sciences.

I would allow more time in Barcelona (so much to see and do and great day trips) and less in Madrid. Unless you want to spend days looking at the paintings in the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia, there's much more to see in your other cities.I would not go to Valencia for a day trip.Either spend 1-2 nights between Barcelona and Madrid or skip it. I would consider spendin a night or two in Toledo instead of seeing it as a day trip. You can leave your luggage at Madrid's Atocha station and take a small overnight bag, then continue on (you have to go through Atocha to get to/from Toledo anyway). If you are going to rent a car, do it from Sevilla and spend a couple of days driving through the pueblos blancos, with an overnight in Ronda and then on to Granada and Marbella.

Thank you all for your suggestions and advice.
I think we will nix Valencia as a day trip from Madrid.
We are committed to the 7 nights in Madrid with
1 day Toledo, 1 day Segovia side trip.
Suggestions for another day trip from Madrid?
With a first day later arrival in Madrid and perhaps 3 days away in day tripping that leaves 3 full days for Madrid.

I'd go to Cuenca, which I think is about an hour away on the AVE line (going toward Valencia). To me it's far more interesting than Avila, which is another possibility but--to me--just doesn't justify more than 2 or 3 hours.

I made a daytrip to Avila from Madrid a couple of years ago and I found it very interesting, although the 4 hours on the train (2 each way) was trying. Last Fall I spent two nights in Cuenca - about 35-40 minutes if you take an AVE train heading to Valencia - and I found plenty to do and see to fill my time. I really enjoyed visiting the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses) and the Parador - an old convent. The best views, in my opinion, of the houses is from the San Pablo Bridge on the Parador end.

Barcelona - 4 nights
Train to Madrid - 7 nights (with day trips to Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca/Salamanca).
Train to Granada - 2 nights
Train to Córdoba - 2 nights
Train to Sevilla - 4 nights (with day trip to Jerez)
Drive via Ronda - 1 night to Marbella - 5 nights

Thank you David. Will consider your suggestions.