Trip Valencia and Andalucia, where to stop?

Hi,
Have you been to Spain before? Do you have to stop and start in Valencia?
Asking because the area between Valencia and Andalucia has some highlights for sure, but I find the density of "top sights" to be lower than in many parts of Spain. For instance, you could skip Alicante and Cartagena with few regrets.

I’ll assume you have not been to that part of Spain. If you spent 2 nights in each Valencia, Granada, Córdoba, and three nights in Sevilla, that only leaves a couple free nights. Since you start and end in Valencia that realistically leaves only one free night. To me, Cartagena and Murcia city are worth a few hours visit each, at most. I preferred Almería with its Alcazaba over Murcia city, but you could fit it in if you stayed at Cabo de Gata. I haven’t spent any time in Alicante. The one place I’d drop from your list is Marbella. It would be out of the way from the route you’d take from Malaga up to either Sevilla or Córdoba. Since you will have a car, once you get an idea of your stops and route, check for things to see in some of the smaller towns along it. I appreciate that you will be visiting that part of Spain since it is not part of the normal tourist circuit. Remember that if visiting either before or after the tourist season, many beach towns like Cabo de Gata essentially shut down with many hotels and restaurants closed.

When do you plan to take this trip? Andalucia is often brutally hot in the summer. If you're traveling at that time of year, that might argue for focusing on coastal towns and Granada (which has some elevation and thus is likely to be not as miserable as Seville).

If not for weather issues, I'd say Seville, Cordoba and Granada are the most important stops. I'd rank Malaga and Valencia next. The others didn't make my cut when I spent over a month in Andalucia in 2019 and headed north, so I obviously can't claim to be speaking from experience where they are concerned. However, I did a great deal of guidebook reading.

I'm unclear on exactly how much time you have, because I wouldn't ever count 10 nights as 11 days. Are you flying to Valencia after a transatlantic flight? If so, your arrival day may be lost to jetlag, and you shouldn't plan to hop in a car and drive a long distance that day. What happens on the last day? Are you taking a cruise or flying home? What is your departure time? I'd count this as more like a 9-day trip.

To me Seville calls for 4 nights because it's large and has a lot to do; a 3-night stay would be rushed. I'd certainly not drive all the way there for fewer than 3 nights. Granada and Cordoba benefit from 3 nights in my experience, but people have done them in less time. As already noted, you probably need to be back in Valencia on your last night.

There are other interesting places in the area, including Cuenca/Albarracin/Teruel northwest of Valencia. I'd consider that loop (basically impossible without a car) if you're traveling in the summer and decide not to risk the hottest destinations like Seville.

I am not a beach person, so you must take that into account (in a big way), but with all the cultural riches in Andalucia and the limited time you have available, I would spend no more time on beaches that necessary to cool off in the water--unless you're a northern European or Canadian desperate for sun, that is.

You need to consider the driving time. For example Valencia to Granada is about six hours non-stop, with the direct route taking you through northern Murcia (region), but not near Cartagena. Then, Sevilla back to Valencia is well over seven hours using the direct route which is inland taking in La Mancha rather than Andalucia or Murcia (though you would pass via Cordoba and also close to Ubeda - a real gem of a city, along with its little sister Baeza).

I think with 11 nights you should either (a) concentrate on Valencia and the Andalucia big three or (b) take a south-eastern route that skipped Andalucia and left it for next time.

For instance -as an example of (a) 2 nights in Valencia, a night on route to Granada in Murcia (city) or Elche, Granada 3 nights (day trip to the Alpujarras), Seville 4 nights (including Cordoba), Ciudad Real 1 night, then back to ValencIa. You can visit rural areas along the way, but won't be near the seaside after Elche.

For a (b) type trip I'd bookend with Valencia and Cartagena and then drive in one direction along the coast and the other inland.

Murcia region has no wow sights equivalent to Andalucia. Nor does it have any cities as interesting as Valencia (but it can give Alacant a run for its money). Murcia Isn't a top destination for those wanting tourism-rich trips. On the other hand it has better beaches than neighbouring regions, a handful of low-key sights (especially in Cartagena), some attractive countryside and, of course, Spain's best food. Nevertheless, not in my view a place to prioritise for a first, second or third trip - unless you want to play golf.

I'm not sure I understand 11 days and 10 nights. In my mind, that would only work if you arrive early on Day 1 and leave late on Day 11. Are you taking into account the time to get from airplane (?) to hotel and from hotel to airplane? Will you be jetlagged on Day 1?

No Jetlag, arriving early in the morning and leaving in the evening. Obviously, you can call it 10.5 days.

Thanks to all the people that helped and gave insights about possible destinations and path! It is really appreciated and we work around it to find something manageable.