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Recommendations for a 2 week trip starting in Barcelona in January 2025

Posted by (Maryland (USA)) on

My wife and college-aged kids are working on a 2-week itinerary in January for a trip to Spain. We're doing January because they'll both be on winter break from college. I've been looking for a while trying to nail down the plans. I had been considering doing a Portugal and Spain split but after reading several posts here I'm thinking it isn't enough time. My wife and I were visited Madrid, Valencia and Seville last year and one of the kids was in Barcelona. They loved Barcelona so we're going back. My current thinking is something along the lines of the following:

  • Barcelona 3 - 4 days
  • Valencia 2 - 3 days
  • Granada 3 days
  • Malaga 2 days
  • Marbella 2 days

We'd fly into Barcelona and maybe out of Malaga. Between cities probably train but maybe car if it makes more sense. I would love to get the expert opinions on this forum. Thank you in advance.

Posted by
676 posts

Would you keep the car the whole trip or pick up and drop off in each city? The train would be simpler unless you have specifc sites outside of the cites to visit.

Its only 60 km from Malaga and Marbella. Stay in one and visit the other?

Posted by
1072 posts

I'm not sure Marbella has much to recommend it in winter. We visited Spain in February and really enjoyed Malaga but didn't like Marbella very much. You don't have Seville on this itinerary. It's a lovely place in winter when it's less crowded.

Posted by
3 posts

JKH - for the car, I wouldn’t keep for the whole trip but as you mentioned pick up and drop off as needed. To yours and Australia point, given the season it sounds like I might be better off just staying in Malaga and visiting Marbella one day. I’ll take a look at maybe adding Seville.

Posted by
3071 posts

If I may, I would consider less mileage...

In some countries, outside the main "cities" or population centres (and a few natural spots) there's little really worth visiting, but that's not the case here. Take any of the base cities you mentioned earlier, say for example Barcelona (capital city of Catalonia, which is roughly the size of Maryland), you have literally plenty of options worth visiting at a stone's throw away, either by train or car (in some cases) so you can do a lot of day visits without having to carry your luggage up and down. And the proof is in the pudding: Catalonia Experience

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for the suggestion and the link Enric. I will take a look.

Posted by
4 posts

I would maybe skip Marbella and add those two days back to another city. Maybe Valencia?

I recommend checking out that app Gaido. They have a bunch of recs from locals outside the tourist traps in a lot of cities in Spain.

I think the train is a great option, but renting a car is always a different experience.

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