Holidays in Spain

Sevilla should be warm but Madrid will be cold & clear. We've only been there in April/May but my friend has spent the last 3 Christmas/New Years in Madrid (his wife's home town). He says that it is quite an experience at this time of year, real Christmas spirit rather than commercialized. Huge crowds in the streets & plazas -quite a party! In 2009/10 there was even a dusting a snow, the first time in decades. Enjoy!!!

I've spent one Christmas in Madrid, none in Seville. What Bob said about the weather - - Madrid will get close to freezing every night, Seville will run ten or fifteen degrees warmer, probably. It sounds like you're going to be somewhere for a week or ten days. In that case, Madrid is probably better since it has more to offer and the excursions are a bit closer. (But keep in mind that wind on the hill in Toledo can freeze your ears off - - much the same for Avila (especially up on the walls) - - Segovia has some lower spots that aren't as bad). Seville wears out in a couple of days and then you're down to figuring out how to get to Cordova, Cadiz, etc and back in one day and still have time to see anything.

Two years ago we flew into Madrid the day after Christmas, spent a couple of nights, then an overnight in Cordoba, three nights include New Years in Seville, then on to Granada for couple more, and home from Malaga on the 6th of January. Ten days total. It was cold and somewhat rainy most of the time. Colder in Madrid because it is further north and sits on a high plain. New Years Eve in Seville was an unique experience. No American style New Years Eve parties - all bars, restaurants, etc. closed about 6 pm. There is a midnight celebration of grapes, bells, fireworks but very low key.