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Spain with focus on Andalusia - itinerary questions!

Posted by on

I’m planning 12 days in Spain around Thanksgiving in November. I want a combination of big cities with quaint towns, and am planning to rent a car to explore Arcos and Ronda.

Flying in and out of Barcelona. Planning to fly directly from Barcelona to Sevilla without leaving the airport, so the trip will start there and end in Barcelona. One question is if I rent a car at the end of my time in Seville, where in this itinerary does it make sense to return?

The places I’d like to fit in are Seville (3 days), Ronda (2 days), Arcos de la Frontera (2 days), Cordoba (2 days), Barcelona (3 days).

Thoughts on the itinerary? I need some help on order and which driving routes make the most sense. Thanks in advance friends!

Posted by
27166 posts

Three days is painfully short for Barcelona, but I realize that you want to focus on Andalucia. Just understand that the number of days you list is not what you will really have, because it takes time to move from place to place. I believe you are listing the number of nights you plan to spend at each place, so you'll only have 2 full days plus a few hours in Barcelona and in Seville.

I'm surprised not to see Granada listed. For many people that's the #1 sight in Andalucia.

Two nights in Ronda and two nights in Arcos is going to give you, comparatively, a lot of time in those places. Arcos, especially, is quite small.

Posted by
162 posts

I would drop one of the White Hill Towns (probably Arcos) and take away a day from Cordoba. That gives you 3 days.

You definitely need to add Granada for 2 nights to see the Alhambra. After that, you could add a day to Sevilla or Barcelona, depending on your fancy.

Unfortunately, it's not particularly quick to get from Andalusia to Barcelona. It would be much easier if at least one of the flights went through Madrid, which is a quick train ride away from most of Andalusia.

Posted by
258 posts

Doing similar, although longer and we are beginning in Barcelona:
Fly to Sevilla, 4 nights. During that time, day trip to Cordoba by train.
Rent a car and drive to Ronda, 3 nights. Explore Arcos on the way to Ronda, then full day in Ronda, another full day exploring wherever, then:
Drive to Granada, turn the car in, spend 3 nights, fly out.

So, you could try this:
3 nights Sevilla with or without side trip to Cordoba,
rent the car, 3 nights Ronda as above, maybe Cordoba (2.5 hr drive but that's too much for my taste) from this spot;
3 nights Granada, fly to Barcelona,
3 nights Barcelona, fly home.

Posted by
7175 posts

I agree with Nathan and others.
1. You should prioritise Granada over Arcos de la Frontera.
2. You should add an extra night to Barcelona, at the expense of your 2nd night in Córdoba.

Day
1. Fly (via Barcelona) to Seville (3N)
2. Seville
3. Seville
4. Train to Córdoba (1N) ... Visit the Mezquita
5. Pick up rental car ... Drive to Ronda (2N)
6. Day visiting pueblos blancos
7. Drive to Granada (2N) ... Drop off rental car
8. Visit the Alhambra
9. Fly to Barcelona (4N)
10. Barcelona
11. Barcelona
12. Barcelona
13. Fly home from Barcelona

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