Trip to Andalusia in May - looking for itinerary input

Wow, what a dream! You’re going to have a great trip! Love exploring Southern Spain.
just got back from Sevilla for the 3rd time. one of my favorite places and found Granada to be fascinating.

My thoughts on time in regard to the cities you’ve mentioned (if I’m understanding correctly, you’ll have around 9 days total after your bike adventure–lmk if I’m mistaken):

Cordoba - 1 day (either as a day trip or enjoy a night here)
Sevilla - 4 days (personally I like spending 5 days here)
Granada - 3 days

*** in regard to beach location, I am curious to hear the responses. Haven’t been to one yet in Southern Spain but Cádiz has been recommended to me by locals and travelers. I hear it can be a quick day trip as well.

Happy travels!!!

We went to Cadiz and Malaga beaches a little over a week ago. I recommend those. we flew back from Malaga it has the most variety of flights from Andalusia. I think two nights in Cordoba, and a minimum of 3 in Seville and Granada.. It depends on the person.

Hello fellow Pittsburgher!

Regarding airfares, your best bet is probably to fly directly into Seville. You will likely have two layovers no matter whether you fly into Madrid or Seville.

The price difference is negligible for most days. Remember that even though you may save marginal money by flying into Madrid, you will still have to purchase train tickets to Andalusia, likely erasing that difference and only adding more time to your transport.

I flew TAP/JetBlue out of Seville back in October with layovers in Lisbon and Boston. The flights were plenty comfortable, the service was good and I spent about $200 less than I would have on other carriers.

I know Pittsburgh has direct flights to London via British Airways that could save you a layover and some time, but they are exorbitantly expensive at the moment and their prices seem to fluctuate wildly, even considering airfares' high unpredictability.

I think your first consideration is what's practical in terms of getting to/from Andalucia. As far as I know, none of the region's airports have direct flights to USA (except perhaps Malaga in the Summer), so you'll need to change somewhere in Britain or Europe (not necessarily in Madrid or Barcelona - could be London, Amsterdam, etc. if it's cheaper/faster), and that eats into your available time.

Without knowing what's feasible for arriving/departing, I'd split your nine nights with four in Sevilla, three in Granada and two in Cordoba and leave beaches for another time.

I checked and there are fairly quick coach connections between Lucena and Cordoba, Granada or Malaga, for example. So, depending on where you arrive/depart, and assuming you have nine spare nights, you could do three in Granada, bike-tour, two nights in Cordoba and end with four nights in Sevilla. Or the other way round. Or if beach time is essential, take a night off Sevilla and Granada and go to Malaga.

PS do you have to transport your bikes? Worth checking what the rules are for buses.

How many nights can you add to the bike trip? I recommend the following:
Seville - 4 nights
Granada - 2 nights
Cordoba - 2 nights
Malaga - 2 nights

We enjoyed Malaga and I think it's an under-rated city. We loved the coastal ambiance and the beautiful and historic city center.

I think a day trip to Cordoba doesn't do it justice. It was one of our favorite locations on our trip. The Mezquita is magnificent, but there is a lot more to Cordoba than just the Mezquita.

My suggested itinerary assumes you have 10 nights. If you only have 9 nights and a beach location is a priority, then perhaps 3 nights in Seville so that you can still have 2 nights in Malaga. OR keep 4 nights in Seville and decrease Cordoba from 2 nights to one night. I think you really need 2 nights in Granada to visit the Alhambra properly. Don't rush through the Alhambra. Take your time and savor this magnificent place.

I think 2 days in Granada would be enough and I'd really encourage more than just a day trip to Cordoba. There is so much more than the Mezquita. The old town area is charming with beautiful views along the river and bridge and beautiful white homes with patios and flowers in the Juderia. You might also consider time in the white villages. My favorites were Grazelema, Zahara and Sentinel.

Not sure how many days/nights you have to spread around here, but here goes... Sevilla is number one on this list. There’s lots to see, and it’s a real pleasure to just explore and enjoy. I would favor Sevilla and give it at least three nights/full days. Cordoba is a doable day trip that you won’t regret, but I tend to agree that a night there would be a plus. I met Spaniards everywhere that were truly disappointed to hear I was not spending more time there. Cordoba has an actual, authentic old town quarter and it seems to hold a special place in folks’ hearts there.

I had mixed feelings about Grenada. It’s got a very unique feeling compared to other areas of Spain. It’s very much not Andalucia. I stayed for three nights and it felt like a bit much. It’s mostly a very workaday city, with some historical sites hiding here and there. Plan enough time to see the Alhambra and the Albacin and you’re probably good. The Alhambra visit itself is mostly the Nazarid Palace. I thought I would spend hours up there, but saw everything while waiting for my entrance time. Now, it’s totally worth going to, but if you were conflicted or feeling rushed I dare to say you could leave Grenada for another trip. The Alcazar in Sevilla is a decent stand-in for the Nazarid Palace. Doing all three cities you list and finding time for the beach might be difficult.

To me, 2 nights each in Granada and Córdoba is enough and 3 or 4 in Sevilla depending on what you want you visit. For beaches, Cadiz is fine but to me the city has little to offer and isn’t my favorite. Any beach along the Costa Del Sol, between Fuengirola and Torremolinos, is fine if you just want a beach. Not much Spanish culture remains. Near Tarifa is Punta Paloma which is popular with wind surfers. Further east, and due south from Granada is Salobrena. It has a nice beach has a more relaxed atmosphere that the Costa Del Sol. Finally, further east is Mojacar. It too has a nice beach.