Yet another Spain itinerary!

Some say Cordoba palls after visiting Sevilla, but Cordoba after Sevilla is the logical route as train to Madrid goes that way anyway. Granada to Sevilla does not travel through Cordoba. Due to rail construction, that route can be by bus or train for similar length of time but train organizes a bus first leg transfering to train for last leg to Sevilla. Premium ALSA Bus has comfy seats, wifi and a toilet.

My wife and I did a similar itinerary in 2005 starting in Barcelona and ending in Madrid (we also visited Ronda). It's hard to do all four of Madrid + day trips from Madrid, + Andalusia + Barcelona in two weeks. We ended up feeling as if we had shortchanged some of the stops, and I think you may end up the same with this itinerary. This seems way to fast for me. For me Madrid is worth three days on its own not counting day trips, Barcelona you could probably get by with three nights two full days. I would consider Cordoba as a day trip stop between Seville and Madrid. Not sure if it's still the case, but they had luggage storage in the train station there in 2005. Also consider dropping a day from Seville and adding it to Madrid if you really want to do all those (highly worth) day trips. It's best to decide the itinerary first and then get the flight, but I am sure you will have a great time regardless what you decide. Open jaw would make it a lot easier, but maybe you got a great deal on the flight.

Rather than juggling an onward flight straight after your arrival, I would spend that first night in Barcelona and head out very early the next morning. Remove all the stress of possibly missing your plane to Granada because of a delayed arrival into BCN. Flip the itinerary, and take an early train that can have you in Madrid by 10am the following day.

AVE 3070
Dep 07:25 BARCELONA SANTS (Spain)
Arr 10:01 MADRID-PUERTA DE ATOCHA (Spain)

10/2: Arrive BCN 16:45.
Stay near Sants Station (1 Night)
10/3: Early Train to Madrid (3 Nights)
10/4: Madrid
10/5: Day trip to Segovia or Toledo
10/6: Train to Seville (3 Nights)
10/7: Seville
10/8: Day to Cordoba - Mezquita
10/9: Train to Granada (2 Nights)
10/10: Granada - Alhambra
10/11: Fly to Barcelona (4 Nights)
10/12-14: Barcelona
10/15: Fly Home 14:30

You have a degree of optimism that I do not have, in scheduling your onward flight from BCN to Granada as close as you indicate. Or is the journey onward to Granada all part of a single booking?

looks like u got a deal bcn to granada. go for it.

There's no way I'd risk that connection to Granada with Alhambra tickets hanging in the balance. You'll have more time in Cordoba by doing it as a day-trip from Seville. There won't be all that much of the day left if you travel in from Granada.

I disagree that Madrid needs more time than Barcelona unless you are seriously interested in the Big Three art museums in Madrid and have no interest in the modernista architecture in Barcelona. It's not like Barcelona doesn't have its own museums, plus it has much older neighborhoods like the Barri Gotic. Madrid is a newer city, with attractive neighborhoods but I thought lacking the architectural variety you have in Barcelona.

Pulling this off will mean a very fast pace and quite possibly leaving every city feeling that you needed more time there.

Thank you all for the very helpful responses. Looks like it's too risky to catch the Granada flight right after landing at BCN. I was trying to save a travel day but looks like it's not worth it.

I'll try staying 1 or 2 nights in Barcelona, train to Madrid, train to Seville, bus to Granada, the fly to Barcelona. So glad I asked before I made train and hotel/AirBnb reservations!

I too would start in Madrid. The last train from Barcelona to Madrid on Mondays appears to be at 21.10. There are hourly trains until then. That's still a little tight. I'd bite the bullet and spend the first night in Barcelona, then take an early train to Madrid. There's one at 6 am (sleep a little on the train) and you'll have a full day for sightseeing. Then Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada by train/bus and fly to Barcelona for your last few nights.

... it's worth being in Barcelona on the 11th as it's "La Diada", the National Day of Catalonia: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/spain/solo-traveler-in-barcelona-on-catalunya-day and this year it promises to be "special".