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southern itinerary help and should we include Madrid?

Posted by on

My wife and I are planning our first trip to Spain this November and could use some advice on our itinerary. We have 10 days off, including travel days, and we're particularly interested in exploring southern Spain.

We're debating whether to fly into Madrid and spend a few days there before heading south, or to fly directly into Málaga and start our adventure from there. I know we cannot see everything, so I'm okay if we can only see a few cities.

Here are a few questions we have:

Is it worth spending a few days in Madrid before heading to southern Spain, or should we focus solely on the south given our limited time?

What are the must-see cities and attractions in southern Spain for a first-time visit?

Any recommendations on how to divide our time and plan our route?

We were hoping to only use public transportation, unless we really needed to rent a vehicle.

Any hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path places we shouldn't miss?

We appreciate any advice, tips, and personal experiences you can share to help us plan an unforgettable trip.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Posted by
7162 posts

Ten days that includes the travel times equates to seven days in country since you lose a day going over. It’s not really possible to visit off the beaten path (depending how you define it) locations if using public transportation. For those, you really need a vehicle or plenty of time because the off the beaten path locations aren’t well served by public transportation. You realistically don’t have the time to visit any anyway.

The popular destinations most people gravitate to in Andalucía are Sevilla, Córdoba, and Granada. With the very limited time you have you could visit those. The must see attractions are those that are of interest to you. Popular attractions are the Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita in Córdoba, and the Alcázar, cathedral and Giralda tower, and Plaza de España in Sevilla.

Posted by
4987 posts

It would depend on the airfare to me--include Madrid if the fare is a steal and you want to focus on Cordoba and Sevilla, which are quick train trips from Madrid. Choose Malaga if your interests lie more on the coastal side. Either way, as long as you do not try to do too much it will be great. I like the Rough Guide for this region.
Madrid is the one you will most likely fly into in the future, so I see no reason to not be patient. November's cooler temps will be great for Andalucia (for Madrid, too, but slightly more of an issue in Andalucia I think).
With ten days, I would choose no more than three stops, but preferably two.

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