question about 11 day itinerary

What a great opportunity to experience the best of Andalusia, and October is such a good time to visit.

Are you getting a car for Sevilla >> Ronda >> Nerja >> Granada ??

Maybe head straight to Sevilla on arrival.

6-Oct arrive madrid. train to sevilla (4N)
7-Oct sevilla
8-Oct sevilla - cordoba day trip
9-Oct sevilla
10-Oct ronda (2N)
11-Oct ronda
12-Oct nerja (2N)
13-Oct nerja
14-Oct granada (2N)
15-Oct granada
16-Oct plane home from Granada

Yes we are getting a car when we leave Sevilla. I was going to return the car when we arrive in Granada or do you think it would be a good idea to keep it and use it to get to the Granada airport on Monday?

I don't think I want to stay in Ronda for two nights. Are you suggesting that so I can make a day trip to Cadiz?

Just wondering... if you want to see only the South of Spain, why are you going to Madrid? That leaves you with a pretty useless 5 hour car ride right at the beginning of your tour. Too late now since you have already booked, but next time you might want to think of heading straight to Malaga or Granada.

Since you say you love the outdoors, and your route is currently very town-focussed: You may want to check out the Donana, a national park near Jerez. Great birding and wildlife there as long as the waters haven't completely dried up (which may actually be the case in October, unfortunately), and great ranger-led tours. I've never met anyone before who knew the names of all the birds we came across in all the languages of all the tourists on our vehicle (eight languages!). Caution: The park is accessible from two sides (either side of the Guadalquivir river), and the two sides are NOT interconnected. The major part is is on the western side.

I'm Flying into Madrid because it was a good price from the US with no layovers. All the flights to Malaga and Granada had long layovers with 2 stops.

From Madrid airport to Cordoba via the Renfe it looks like 2 1/2 hours. All the layovers were longer than that. Plus I'll be jetlagged so I might get to snooze on the train.

Oh, you're taking a train from Madrid - that should make things more relaxed. I see that you said you were picking up your car in Seville - missed that before.

Extra time in Ronda so you can explore some of the white hill top villages (pueblos blancos).
You can spend a few hours in Arcos de la Frontera on the way to Ronda.

Other towns of interest ...
Zahara dela Sierra
Grazalema
Vejer de la Frontera
Setenil de las Bodegas
Olvera

http://www.planetware.com/spain/top-rated-pueblos-blancos-white-villages-of-andalusia-e-zzz-11.htm

But if Cadiz is of interest, and I can attest that is does indeed make a worthwhile overnight stop, then spend the night of the 10th there.

Indulge in the baked fish with a salt crust at El Faro de Cadiz.
(Calle San Felix 15,
+34 956 211 068, www.elfarodecadiz.com)

Thanks I'm still undecided... I need to read more about Cadiz and Malaga.. I really don't think that i want to stay two nights in Ronda... Is it possible to just decide at the last minute based on how I feel or it that too risky mid week in early October?

We had trouble securing accomodation in advance for Cadiz, and ended up paying more than we hoped to. For that reason I'd commit to either the 10th in Cadiz or Ronda, and book well ahead.

or should I add the night to Granada? I'm driving myself crazy trying to come up with good itinerary.......

Tough call ... but your call.

I think this is it....

5-Oct plane depart 6:35 PM
6-Oct cordoba arrive 8:05 AM train to cordoba
7-Oct sevilla train to sevilla
8-Oct sevilla sevilla
9-Oct sevilla sevilla
10-Oct ronda drive to Zahara de la Sierra then Ronda overnight
11-Oct nerja drive the coast stopping in Malaga to Nerja
12-Oct nerja Nerja (relax) walk the beach
13-Oct granada drive to granada (return car)
14-Oct granada Alhambra
15-Oct granada Other Granada sights
16-Oct home depart granada 10:10AM home 3:40PM

Happy place. Enjoy.

.... and keep detailed travel notes in case you are called on to testify before the senate.

Funny! 😊 Thanks everyone