Day trips Toledo and Cordoba

My wife and I did a similar trip a few years back, and I would really recommend sleeping at least one night in Toledo. We did 3 nights each in Seville, Madrid and Barcelona and 1 in Toledo.

We really wish we have done 1 less in Seville (ended up going to a festival in Jerez that was lame) and 1 more in Toledo, which rocked.

I would recommend Segovia and Arcos as day trips, we loved them both!

Peace,
Tom

Shannon, you've asked several questions so I'll answer one after the other. My wife and I spent 6 weeks in Spain and Portugal this past Oct & Nov and had your same choices. 1)You don't need to buy tickets in advance in October - a couple of days before will be fine, unless you want to travel on a weekend or a holiday - lots of holidays in Spain! This way you can be flexible with the weather. 2) Toledo is an easy 30 minute day trip by fast train from Atocha Station. Assuming you want to go early to cram in a full day visit, trains do fill up for this trip so don't wait until the last minute to buy your tickets. Since you only have 3 days in Madrid you'll have to decide if Toledo is worth a full day out of your visit. 3) You have two choices for Cordoba - either stop for a quick visit on your train trip from Madrid to Seville, or return to Cordoba as a day trip from Seville - either way can work depending on how much time you want to spend in Cordoba. Cordoba is a beautiful city, but really the main attraction is the Mezquita - you really should try to see the Mezquita. Hope this helps.

We were driving so I can't help with the train connections but I would encourage you to include Toledo. Cordoba, not so much. In Seville, try to find lodging in the old city. Madrid for 3 nights and Granada for two sounds about right.

Have a great trip.

Thank you all for your replies. It sounds like most agree that Toledo would be worthwhile so I will likely spend one of my Madrid days there. Unfortunately I will be in Madrid Fri, Sat, Sun leaving Mon am so that means that there is no way to avoid going to Toledo on a weekend. Is a day or two ahead of time enough to buy those train tickets, or should I decide on a day now and buy them ahead of time? Stopping in Cordoba on the way to Seville isn't an option because I am not going from Madrid to Seville but to Granada. I suppose I can decide once I get to Seville if I want to take up a day for the Mezquita, it doesn't sound like those trains are as likely to fill up and there is no discount on the fare for buying ahead (at least I don't remember there being one when I checked last night.) Thanks again for your help! I'm getting excited!

Toledo -- I have traveled there on two times from Madrid and purchased my ticket when I got to the station. (The ticket office is on the 'garden level' to the right as you exit the escalator. The train platform is on the level immediately above.) When you get to Toledo, about 25 minutes later, exit the train station parking lot to the right and catch the # 5 (?) city bus into the city - inexpensive. Get off at Plaza Zodocover, the center, and go from there. Museum Santa Ana is there at the Plaza. The Cathederal is certainly worth a visit. Purchase a guide book if you wish. Also the Church of the Jesuits offers a spectacular view of the city from the top of the twin towers (146 steps). Toledo is one of my favorite places to visit. In fact, I am returning in October for two more nights!

Thanks HJ! Great info!

Toledo is like so many places in Europe: historic, impressive, and overrun with hoards of day-tripping tourists who arrive by bus mid-morning and depart before dinner. Outside of the mid-day crowds, it's an entirely different place: charming, quiet, authentic, magical. My advice would be to carve out some time to do an overnight there, so you get to enjoy the place without being shoulder-to-shoulder with the tours. It's easy and convenient - as others have said, a short fast train ride from Madrid.

I'd also agree with those who said to do Cordoba as a half-day stop between Madrid and Seville - it's perfectly situated for this, and all you really need to see there is the mezquita, which is among the greatest sights in Spain IMHO.

BTW, I think 3 nights in Seville is probably too many - I'd steal a day from Seville rather than from Madrid. Seville is fine, but I just don't think it's worth 3 days (while Madrid is).

You might also look at a little less time in Ronda. We liked Arcos MUCH better than Ronda - I'd spend 1 night in Arcos and 1 in Ronda, and that's probably all the pueblos blancos you'll need (on a trip this short). Between stealing a little time from Seville and Ronda, that would give you enough time to do other places....

Hope that helps.

Three days is not too much for Seville, if you want to see a lot without rushing, that is. We went to Ronda for one night and liked the town so much we stayed two. If you can, try to get a reservation as the Parador, well worth it. If you have time, Arcos is worth a visit too, but you can do that in one day. They have a very nice Parador too.

Most people like to rush into Cordoba and see the Mezquita and zip out, but if you want to visit the old quarter and take in the other sites, two days is better. We overnighted there and only had one full day, and it wasn't enough.