Hi, I am traveling to Spain for the 1st time April 6-18th with my 10yo daughter. It was a surprise trip, and I am short on time to plan. We're flying in/out of MAD. We will only use public transportation on this trip. We want to have fun, see some historical sights and not move around so much that we don't enjoy ourselves. In creating my itinerary I felt as though I had to cut the white towns, Granada and Ronda in order not to spend time each day on a bus or train. Here is my tentative itinerary: 7 Arr MAD->SEV (2.5hr train) 8 SEV 9 SEV 10 SEV 11 SEV->MALAGA (2.5 train) 12 MAL 13 MAL 14 MAL->MAD (2.5hr train) 15 MAD 16 MAD 17 MAD 18 DEP Thoughts? Critiques? Suggested day trips?
We would also be interested in Cordoba (day trip or overnight?) Many thanks!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Why the interest in Malaga? I would not chose to spend three nights there. I would suggest Mad to Cordoba and on to Sevilla the next day. Cordoba is a short ride and beyond easily seen in a half day or so. With jet lag, it would give an opportunity to move around sooner than falling asleep on the train. From Seville I would go to Granada and then back to Madrid. The Alhambra in Granada is THE historical sight in Spain. If you added a couple days to Seville you could do a easy day trip to one of the white hill towns.
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth
7 posts
I appreciate your reply Frank. Malaga was suggested as an underappreciated, but fun city to do with kids~and it is AVE connected to Madrid. Do you have any suggestions of a white town we could see on a day trip from SEV? I know Arcos is just south, but buses leave SEV at 1000, and it's a 2hr trip? Would a white town day trip from GRAN be possible?
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth
7 posts
Also, anyway to cut the trip from Granada to Madrid in half with a good overnight stop in between?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I assume you have your tickets because an open jaw into Madrid and home from Malaga would have made a lot of sense. Malaga is OK but not sure I would want to three nights there. Maybe we miss something but I didn't that there was much there.
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth
7 posts
Yes, unfortunately we already have tickets. Open jaw from Barcelona for instance, would have been wonderful. :(
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth
7 posts
So maybe we amend the itinerary to: 7 Arr MAD->SEV 8 SEV 9 SEV 10 SEV 11 SEV 12 SEV->GRAN 13 GRAN 14 GRAN->MAD 15 MAD 16 MAD 17 MAD
18 Dep
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I like it better but would still put in one night in Cordoba since you are passing through that city on the way to Seville. It is worth it.
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth
7 posts
Ok, thanks.
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
Recommendations Sevilla Reallty Discover Tours smaller than the big groups, great guides.....Hostal Patio de Santa Cruz - good location, nice...will stay there on my next visitchecked it out in the fall when I stayed elsewhere.
Madrid - The Prado, even for a 10 year old, is fascinating...also the Palace, including the armory... The Cervantes Organization building on Gran Via is great. Toledo is 1/2 hour from Madrid via AVE train...wish you could include it, but wise to spend more time in the other cities.
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
To me, the second itinerary is a little Sevilla-heavy. I really liked Sevilla, and in early April it will be great because the orange trees should be blooming (and have an awesome, lilac-like fragrance), but I would suggest considering taking a day away from Sevilla and adding it to Madrid. This way, if you wanted to do a couple of day trips from Madrid (Toledo, Segovia, etc.) you'd have ample time for them.
Posted by
Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
629 posts
I agree with Angela and would take an extra day in Madrid rather than Sevilla.
Posted by
OP
Portsmouth
7 posts
I have finalized my itinerary! We will first go Mad to Cord, then 8-12th in Sev (with optional side trips), then leaving early a.m. for Gran for 2 nights, and back to Mad for 3 1/2 days. I booked our lodgings for Cordoba and Sevilla today, (and got the last tix for Alhambra 4/13). Now I'm off to work on Gran and Mad! Thanks for all your help/suggestions!!! :)