Spain Itinerary - 18 wonderful days (and nights)

Posted by Phil (Bellevue, WA) on 01/09/10 09:49 PM

We (2) will be in Spain in October for 18 days; we are reading, planning and anticipating. Our flights are already booked and we are flying in and out of Madrid so we can split Madrid time between first and last.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions about a proposed itinerary:
-> Madrid - 2 nights, then train to Barcelona
-> Barcelona - 4 nights including side trips to Figueres (Dali), Cadaques and Montserrat.
-> Then fly south but I'm not sure which airport makes the most sense (Malaga? Sevilla? Granada?)

While south, in some order:
-> Sevilla - 2 nights
-> Cordova - 1 or 2 nights?
-> Nerja - 2 nights
-> Ronda/Arcos/Jerez - 1 or 2 nights
-> Grenada - 1 or 2 nights
Then back to Madrid by train for 2 more nights?

So there might still be another 1 to 2 days to add, expand, or slow down.

QUESTIONS:
(1) Which places does it make sense to have a car? I am thinking for a day or two of side trips from Barcelona and for a good chunk of the time we spend in the south (not in Seville)
(2) Should we add Gibralta?
(3) Where should we put Toledo, and should we stay overnight there?

This board has been wonderful to read and I appreciate your suggestions very much.

Posted by Norm

Ottawa, Canada

01/10/10 05:43 AM

4555 posts

Your general allotment of time seems good. But you may want to check out public transportation options for your day trips out of Barcelona. Renting a car for a day or two can be hugely expensive...and driving in Barcelona itself is absolutely insane. Hopefully, adynata and others with more Barcelona experience will offer some suggestions on this.
As for your southern swing, I would suggest flying Vueling into Granada. Granada's a tough place to drive if you're staying in the old part of the city. The airport is just to the west of the city, and there is bus service that will bring you right into the center. When you're leaving Granada, pick up your car at the airport, then swing down to Nerja (spend a day in Malaga...its old city is very pretty), up through the mountains into Ronda for an overnight (make a side trip to Zahara de la Sierra...a wonderful mountaintop village), then down for an overnight in Arcos.
Gibraltar could be done as a day trip from Arcos (about 2 hours each way...park in the parking garage about 2 blocks from the border) but I wouldn't go out of your way if you are pressed for time.
Then head for Sevilla and aim to drop your car at the Santa Justa train station (easily accessible by road) then take a bus or taxi to your hotel. (You may want to consider the Best Western Hotel Cervantes, modernized in a giant old house in the heart of the city.)
From there, you can take the AVE for an overnight in Cordoba, then the AVE onto Madrid. But Cordoba does not need 2 nights.
I would suggest an overnight in Toledo, and maybe devoting an extra day in Madrid to see Segovia as a day trip.
For train tickets, you can get up to 60% off booking at www.renfe.es up to 62 days before your travel dates. Try the evening before the 62 days, since they start loading in the new fares at midnight in Spain, which is 3 pm the afternoon before, for you. Even tho there's no discounts for Toledo or Segovia, book ahead to ensure your places.

Posted by Norm

Ottawa, Canada

01/10/10 05:46 AM

4555 posts

One more thing...book your tickets to the Alhambra as soon as the website allows...they usually release them in three-month blocks. Entrance to this jewel is strictly limited, and the places go quickly, even in October. Check www.alhambra-tickets.es to purchase.

Posted by Martine

Ottawa, Canada

01/10/10 09:53 AM

695 posts

Phil, you don't need a car for Montserrat and Figueres, they are easily done by public transportation, Cadaques is not that accessible thought. But with only 4 nights in Barcelona, there is plenty to see there to keep you occupied, Monserrat is a must. Have fun!

Posted by David from Seattle

Seattle, WA, USA ☔️

01/10/10 07:49 PM

6790 posts

Cordoba really can bee seen as a (full) day trip, on the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Sevilla. Cordoba's definitely worth a visit, but I see no reason to spend the night there.

Given the pace of your trip, you might want to trim off one day from Barcelona. It's a great city, but 4 nights? Not so sure.

I would strongly recommend spending the night in Toledo. Mass tourism invades every day - most people do it as a day trip - but before/after the hoards descend on the town, it's a magical (and much more pleasant) experience. We loved wandering the streets in the morning and evening when the place was deserted.

You'll definitely want a car to do the White Hill towns. Pretty much everywhere else, a car is just a headache. Spend the night up in the old town in Arcos - you'll be very glad you did!

Be sure to give yourself enough time in Madrid to spend at least a couple (full) days, and allow another day or two for day trips (Segovia, Avila, etc.).