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Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada the last weeks of May. Advice please on venues and ticket purchases

Will be visiting these towns end of May. We have 4 nights each in Sevilla and Cordoba, 3 nights in Granada. What venues would it be advisable to purchase tickets ahead of time to allow us to skip lines and enter without a wait? We have already purchased tickets for the Alhambra and set up a private tour guide while in Granada. We have a dinner reservation at Tera Olea in Cordoba, and dinner reservations at Thomasas in Granada. Also any recommendations on getting around in these town's that worked for you. Thanks for the feedback, it is appreciated. Happy Travels!

Posted by
27122 posts

In Seville you'll want to avoid the ticket lines for the Alcazar and the Cathedral. Rick explains a good work-around for the cathedral in his guide book--buy a combo ticket at the Iglesia del Salvador. After seeing that church, take the ticket to the Cathedral and show it to the ticket-line minder.

Alcazar tickets can be purchased online. As far as I know they don't sell out early; it's just that the ticket line is long (and outdoors, and uncovered). If you are interested in the private apartments (Rick isn't a big fan of them), that's something you should investigate right away. I've read ticket availability is limited, and those do sell out well in advance.

I honestly don't remember what I did about the Mezquita ticket in Cordoba.

Posted by
3844 posts

They are all very walkable and cabs are inexpensive if needed. You will love Terra Olea, it is very small about 5-6 tables only. We took a cab there and the restaurant called a cab for our return. In Cordoba we did a private tour of the Mezquita which we thought was more captivating and interesting than the Alhambra.

Cordoba - We also prebooked tickets to the horse show. Get the more expensive tickets cause they have seats with a back. The cheaper tickets are just a stone slab you sit on.
The patios you can tour on your own. They open I believe around 5. We also booked a private tour of the city. 4 nights is a lot, not as much to see as Granada. we stayed 3.

Seville - on the same day we toured the bullring museum, not too big, was empty and interesting. We took a cooking class at the Tirana market, Always fun and you get your dinner for the evening. Also, a one hour flamenco dance class in the afternoon before the cooking class, so many laughs and so much fun. Wished it was longer. (It was near the market). And we still had time to walk along the waterfront which was so lovely we went back another day and took a boat ride.
Go to a flamenco show, or two. Very different from what we expected.

In Granada we took the tourist train Rick mentions. We got the two day ticket. The first day we just rode the entire route, a little bumpy. It kinda gives you your bearings though. The second day we took it to the Alhambra and back. We could have walked but we walked so much around the Alhambra we needed a little respite.

Just an FYI. in Granada and cordoba especially they tell you how they used rocks from the Quadalquiver river for the streets. And they are rocks, not smooth like cobblestones. Very difficult to walk on. Kinda hard to avoid sometimes. Seville was easier for walking. Have sturdy soled shoes.