Spain - Portugal Itinerary review help

To travel from Toledo to Granada by either bus or train, you must first go back to Madrid. I don't see a problem with your itinerary; it's just that the Toledo-Granada leg will take a bit longer than one might think from looking at a map. The train will be faster than a bus.

I suspect you may not have a lot of great choices for flights between Santiago de Compostela and San Sebastian--both minor airports. You might also look at Vigo-Bilbao flights. You could start your Basque Country time in Bilbao and end up in San Sebastian.

Personally, I found more to do in Bilbao than in San Sebastian, though I see that you have a special interest in food. I think one night in Bilbao is rather short.

Some initial thoughts:

1. For your Day 11, there is currently no direct train from Toledo to Granada. One has to first back track to Madrid, transfer and then take the train down to Cordoba, and then transfer to a bus and bus to Granada. There's currently some more track being built to connect Granada with Sevilla/Cordoba, but with so many delays I would not count on it being completed before you arrive.

2. That brings me to my next point, I see Cordoba is very noticeably absent from your travels in Andalucia. Cordoba is one of the great cities of Spain, and my favorite in Andalucia (over Granada and Sevilla). Cordoba is home to one of the more significant historical sites of Spain, la Mezquita de Cordoba, the great Umayyad Mosque from the 8th century. The city also has an interesting and multifaceted Moorish, Christian, and Jewish history/architecture. I would recommend you take a night from Granada and Ronda and add them to Cordoba. From Cordoba you can take the AVE train direct to Sevilla.

3. Lastly, I think you are doing Bilbao a big disservice by only staying 1 night there. Personally, I liked Bilbao more than San Sebastian. San Sebastian feels a little too wannabe "Belle Époque" for me, while Bilbao feels more grounded and authentic. I would either take a night from San Sebastian or Santiago de Compostela and add it to Bilbao.

Hope this helps :)

Why not fly home from Bilbao rather than spend a day returning to Madrid? I say this based on past experience, when I've planned to return to a destination because I found a cheap or more direct flight home, then realized after the cost and time involved getting back there, I would have been better off spending a little more to fly out of our last stop. Also, I've learned to minimize as much as possible the one nighter stops.

In Madrid, we stay at Hotel Europa at the Puerta del Sol. I like the itinerary, but have no idea how long it takes to get to each place via public transportation. By that I’m thinking that for some places where you’re only spending at night, by the time you arrive you may not have enough time to adequately see the location. I’m not certain one needs 3 nights in Santiago de Compostela unless you were arriving late on day one. 1.5 days is sufficient to see it since the historic center is pretty compact.

In Toledo we stay at Hotel Maria Cristina. In Ronda, the Parador or Hotel San Gabriel and in Sevilla, Hotel Amadeus.

Salema is cute but I don’t feel worth the journey. I enjoyed my day there - off season - but I would rather go to Evora which has so much more to offer. Based on your interests, I think you would find Evora more satisfying. Pension Policarpo is a great, inexpensive hotel and David is a great host and the tiny 12 seat Restaurant Botequim da Mouraria had the best food I ate in Portugal.

I also agree that you should visit Córdoba. The Mezquita is amazing!

I agree that it would be a shame to miss Cordoba. It is also my favorite city in Andalusia. THe mezquita is amazing and the historical and well preserved Jewish quarter along with the Roman bridge is a do not miss in my book. Looking at your itinerary, I'd take at least one night from Madrid, preferably two for Cordoba. Madrid is lovely and a lively city to visit but it doesn't hold a candle to Cordoba. Cordoba has so much more history and cultural significance. I stayed at Hotel Europa in Madrid at the Puerta del Sol. It was nice and fresh and well priced.

I second everything Carlos said about Cordoba.

I'd go to Toledo between Barcelona and Madrid, because the trip to Granada is long enough as it is. Also you may find it more convenient to travel to Granada by bus, making the transfer in Madrid more complicated, the bus station is about 2 km from the train station.

You may find something useful from my trip report:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/spain-clean-toilets-affordable-lodging

I decided to skip Portugal that trip because there was too much to see in Spain.

Thank you everyone that replied and shared your knowledge of Spain & Portugal - what a great resource!!

acraven - I knew I had to backtrack to Madrid to get to Granada and now have decided to stop in Cordoba for 2N due to the overwhelming positives from reviewers. I was going to fly Santiago > Bilbao and then bus to SS. Have also added another night to Bilbao.

Carlos - I have added 2N in Cordoba (reduced nights in Granada & Ronda) and 2 nights in Bilbao.

Betsy - That's a great idea and will fly home from Bilbao (don't know why I was fixated on leaving from Madrid).

jaimeelsabio - I agree 3N in Santiago is long but meeting a friend who is completing El Camino and then doing day trip to Finisterre.

Phillip - we are using Salema as a "down time" about 1/2 way thru trip. Still researching Evora.

jules m - I did add 2N in Cordoba!!

Chani - I did add 2N in Cordoba!!

Brad - your trip report had great recommendations and your trip sounded wonderful - except the weather.