Hi all, This is a tour managing all your own sight seeing through Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Ronda and Sevilla. We will try and get to the recommended places to see as outlined in his tour. Will you please share your WOW moments and if I need reservations in advance. For example, checking out the Picasso museum in Barcelona etc. Thanks!
Going at the end of May. Have a couple extra days in Barcelona.
We did this tour last May, but had already done a similar itinerary, so we only chose to do our favorites a second time - those were La Sagrada Familia and The Alhambra. We like the Picasso Museum and Parc Guell monuments area in Barcelona, but I understand that the latter has gotten much more crowded. I was fascinated by the concept of a designed community but if I had to chose a “wow”, I would say Palace of Catalan Music and would definitely try for a concert. I think most everything you want to see in Barcelona needs reservations just because of the crowds and making sure you don’t waste time. Are you adding any extra days in Barcelona?
In Madrid, the Royal Palace and the Prado were my favorites the first time and I think both need pre-booked times. The Alhambra in Granada absolutely needs reservations and should be done as soon as possible. You’ll need to pick a time for the Nassrid Palace, which is inside the complex. We went first thing in the a.m. before the crowds got started. We didn’t book anything in Ronda, but enjoyed touring the bull ring & museum. The Alcazar in Seville is a must. Our one mistake was not booking the Cathedral in Seville. It ended up selling out the weekend we were there and there was no walk-up option.
Sometimes the guide will offer an optional activity. Our guide organized a dinner in Granada over-looking The Alhambra and we watched as the sun set and the lights came on. The was a real “wow” so if that isn’t offered, it would be worth arranging yourself and the guide can help you with it.
I’m happy to answer any other questions about this.
Thanks all. Very helpful!
11 DAYS and you have 5 cities to visit. You will average 2 days per city, NOT enough time for Seville, Madrid and Barcelona. Also, you didn't mention Toledo, which in my opinion is a MUST see in Spain. You can do Toledo on a day trip from Madrid.
I suggest that you pare your list or add more days, I remember my first time in Spain in 1984, I had a guidebook that recommended for sure visiting Seville and Toledo as the best in Spain. I have been back to Spain several times and found many great places, but still agree with that opinion.
Remember, you can come back to Spain.
Sorry Eve, but I don't know where else to ask a Question about Day 3.
The itinerary reads: "Train: 3 hours. Bus: 1½ hours." So for those who have done the tour, what about the 1.5 hours on the bus? Is this just hotel to and from the train station or is this a bus tour around the historic area like Hop on Hop off buses take?
I believe the bus time they are talking about is to get to the train station in Barcelona and then from the train station to the hotel area in Madrid. We got an orientation walking tour of every city we stayed in.
