Trip Planning Advice - October

Skip Córdoba
Skip Madrid and Toledo
Slow down and enjoy life
Or, add 10 days to your trip

You people make me tired

If you were looking for a taste of everything without being too rushed-- you may be disappointed.
Every time you change locations ( 4x in 9 days) you lose half a day. You are overnighting only in large cities, with only one night in Cordoba and just half of a day and two nights in Madrid and two days in Barcelona. The only thing you'll have time for--after making your way to the train stations and from the train stations to your hotels, checking in and unpacking-- is going to be a shower and dinner. You’ll actually only have two nights in Madrid because you’re going to Toledo on the second day.
I would definitely condense the itinerary by cutting out Madrid. Instead, add a night to Granada and a night to Barcelona.
That gives Granada 3 nights which lets you recover from your flight across the pond.
Then train to Cordoba for one night. ( Cordoba illuminated is amazing).
Seville for 3 nights.
With direct flights from $27 on Vueling , fly to Barcelona for your final 3 nights

Check www.Skyscanner.com for the Sevilla to Barcelona (SVQ to BCN). airfares and schedules.

I would drop Toledo and give that extra day in Granada. You will be jet-lagged in Granada, so you really need an extra day there.

Two nights in Granada, the Alhambra is amazing, but Granada is a great little town. Maybe consider adding a night here and just do a day trip to Cordoba from Seville. I think the train ride was only a hour. Madrid has great museums and interesting architecture, Mercado was fun, but I thought Seville and Granada were far more interesting than Madrid, all depends on what you want like to do.

The 20 year old version of me would think this is too slow. The 70 year old version of me would think it is too fast. The 50 year old version would think "hot diggetty-dog! Let's go!"

I'm sure you'll have a great time! I loved Madrid! I loved Seville and Barcelona more. Toledo, why that's nice! Alhambra? Amazing. Cordoba! Fantastic.

I recall having a conversation with a nephew who was heading to the Grand Canyons and they said as long as they were out west they'd swing by Yellowstone. And I said, you realize that they are far, far apart and that's a lot of work to get from here to there. And they said "old man, that's why it's adventure for us and not a vacation. Traveling is the point now isn't it?"

That nephew always annoyed me but that's beside the point....

Whatever you decide, you can't wrong. Spain is wonderful!

Happy travels!

Thank you for all of your input!
Based on your feedback, I'm dropping Madrid and allocating the days towards Granada and Seville/Cordoba. Does anyone have any opinions on trains vs flights from Seville to Barcelona? There is a 5hr 50min train option from Seville to Barcelona which will get us there by noon on a 7am vs. having to go to the airport 2 hours early for an hour and a half flight. Ticket prices for both are comparable after paying for check in bags.

Tentative new schedule:
Day 1 - Day 3: Fly into Malaga, head to Granada (3 nights in Granada)

Day 4: morning train to Cordoba (night in Cordoba)

Day 5 - 8: Cordoba, afternoon train to Seville (3 nights in Seville)

Day 9 - 11: Train/Flight to Barcelona (3 nights in Barcelona) & Fly out of Barcelona