We are traveling 10 days to Spain. We are flying into Madrid and out of Barcelona. Son is studying in Barcelona and we will spend the last half there.
The question is the first half. Do we spend the first five days in the Madrid area including an overnight in Toledo? Or do we go to Seville for two days and then do Madrid and Toledo? We really want to see Toledo. Is there enough to do in Madrid or would we have a better time in Seville? Don't want to spend all the time in museums prefer visiting churches and other sites. Also don't want to feel to rushed but get a good feel of the places we visit.
Posted by
Tigard, OR, USA
1068 posts
IMHO, there is plenty to do in Madrid and surrounding areas. In addition to an overnight in Toledo, which will eat up some of your time, there are trips to Avila , Segovia and El Escorial if you get bored there. If I had to go to just one city, I prefer Seville myself, however it seems to me that it will be trying to pack too much in to a short time to get to Madrid, Toledo and Seville in 5 days. You also didn't mention if that was a total of 10 days on the ground or whether the time includes the days you arrive and leave.
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
6 posts
It includes the day we arrive 9 am but not the day we leave. We are leaning towards Madrid and Toledo. I'm just hesitant spending that much time in a big city. Are Segovia and Avila worth traveling too.
Posted by
Port St Joe Florida
513 posts
There is more than enough for you to do for 5 days exploring Madrid and Toledo. However visiting Segovia and Avila will certainly enhance your trip. I am making my ninth trip to Spain this Fall, and as I usually do, I have set aside 5 days of my 3 weeks for Madrid.
Posted by
OP
Pennsylvania
6 posts
Thanks. We have been researching Toledo. Is there enough to see two nights in Toledo?
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
I would spend all 5 nights in Madrid (or Sevilla), avoiding a change in hotel, and allowing for 2 easy day trips.
From Madrid to Toledo and Segovia.
From Sevilla to Córdoba and Jerez.
Read up to see which alternative appeals more.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15607 posts
When are you going?
Madrid's art museums are terrific, if you want to spend several hours looking at paintings. The Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia - check them out on internet/guide books to see if their collections appeal to you. In a nutshell - Reina Sofia is mostly modern, Thyssen 19th c. and Impressionists, Prado everything before that. There's an excellent Naval Museum, full of stuff about the Age of Exploration.
Toledo gets mainly day-trippers from Madrid. Especially if you are going when it's crowded, you'll have a better time staying a night or two. To make it easier, do it at the end of your Madrid stay, pack an overnight bag for Toledo and leave the rest of your luggage in a locker at the Atocha train station and pick it up when you leave for Barcelona.
It's about 3 hours by train to Seville from Madrid. And 2.5-3 hrs longer from Seville than from Madrid to Barcelona. That would be too much train time for me for a 2-night stay (one full day in Seville). I'd consider Seville instead of Madrid before mid-June or after mid-September (to avoid the summer heat - when it's low season in Seville).
I'd also consider spending less time in Madrid and more time in Barcelona, where there is so much more to see and do, including great day trips.