Travel Talk Sat May 9: our travels to Spain (online, everyone welcome)

FUTURE ONLINE MEETINGS: 2nd Saturdays, except as noted

July 11: Christmas Markets planning in July

August 8: Greece, travels and tips beyond Athens

November 14: let's start hearing about the trips we have taken this year and build discussions around those!
- volunteers requested to share their 2026 travels!

December 12: travel souvenirs and travel trees
- let's see what you bought from this year's travels
- show us your Christmas travel tree (if it's not up yet, maybe a photo from last year?)

My RSVP

Where in Spain have you been, especially a place(s) that you loved!

I have just returned from Valencia, which I loved!
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/7-and-a-half-days-solo-in-valencia

Where in Spain are you thinking of that others might have been to and can tell us about?

I love a one week city stay, which I've done in Sevilla and Valencia. Madrid is on the list. Are there other towns that you might think of as 3 or 4 day stays, but which I might stretch into a week? Perhaps with a day trip or two.

Thanks, I plan on attending!

Not sure what that time difference is to Glasgow, where I will be May 9, but add me to the list. I think it is late enough I'll be moved in and ready to participate.
I was in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla, Cordova, Segovia, Toledo.
I am looking at a long stay in Malaga this winter, so tips would be helpful.

I am looking at a long stay in Malaga this winter, so tips would be helpful.

Oh, I'll be interested in hearing what you have planned, and from others who have been there.

What are the rules for those meetings?
Does it use Google Meet, Zoom or other platform?
Camera must be on?

Thanks.

Joy - I will send you a forum message, we are flexible and would love to have you!

never been to Iberia, not even close.

But becoming interested. I'll listen. Valencia and Seville intrigue me

difference is to Glasgow

8 hours. 10am PDT is 6pm BST British Summer Time, teatime

never been to Iberia, not even close.

I can understand. It would be a very long drive for you, Nigel!

Lynn and I would like to join.
[email protected]

We have been to Barcelona (1996) and Sevilla (2018).

David

Lynn and David - you are welcome to join! I will send a message on the forum nearer the meeting date with the details to participate, so no email addresses required. And you may wish to edit it out of your RSVP, for privacy/security!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend as we'll be in SF visiting our son, but I saw Maria mentioned winter in Malaga so thought I would chime in.
We are from MN and decided to winter in Malaga in 2019. We loved it immediately and have been back each year except 2021 due to COVID. The first year was a 5 week stay and this year was 10 weeks. We have stayed in different areas of the city, but now go back to the same unit located in Soho. If anyone has any questions that you think I could be helpful with, please feel free to contact me!

We usually visit another location in Spain before, during or after Malaga.
We have been to Madrid, Avila, Segovia, Toledo, Alicante, Valencia, Cadiz, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Mallorca, the Canaries, Bilbao, San Sebastian and towns around Malaga including Ronda, Nerja, Frigliana, Marbella and southern coast.
We loved Valencia! It comes in a close second to Malaga for us.

Would be interested in hearing thoughts on Salamanca, Leon, Cuenca and Zaragoza.
Thanks!

Please send me a message so I can join.

Combining this topic and the next, my last visit to Barcelona was meant to be a 4-day weekend to see the Christmas markets and Enric. Mostly I saw the inside of the Sant Pau hospital - not the beautiful tourist site which I highly recommend, but rather the modern building down the street that the hospital moved into, after I had a little trip on my big trip.

Spent about 2 weeks total in Barcelona, with several day trips, Valencia for Las Fallas (where I had the extreme pleasure of Avirose's company for several days, Malaga and Sevilla during Semana Santa, Ronda and the pueblos blancos twice by car, other visits to Sevilla & Cordoba (my favorite) a couple times, Jerez, Cadiz, Madrid twice, Granada and Toledo.

I hope to do a loop by car of about 2 weeks from Bilbao through the Basque country as far as Galicia and back to Bilbao or San Sebastian.

And next time in Barcelona I hope to go to Zaragoza.

Happy to add more destinations.

Wow, Susan, 5 and 10 weeks in Malaga! It has been on my list anyway, and now I am intrigued for a longer stay. I'm sorry that we will miss you for this meeting!

Laurie Beth, forum message just sent. Welcome!

Chani, cool that you've been to Las Fallas in Valencia. I enjoyed the museum that houses the annual float winners. I hope you will bring stories from some of your favorites in Spain to entice us all! Hopefully not just the ones where you end up in a ditch and get to visit a hospital!!

Hi CWsocial, I will be home to attend this one.

Here’s the Spanish cities I’ve stayed in February the last three years. I really like Spain - especially Estepona & all of the 2026 listed cities.

2024: Malaga, Estepona, Cadiz, Sevilla, Madrid

2025: Cordoba, Sevilla, Marbella (didn’t like Marbella), Estepona, Malaga

2026: Malaga, Cordoba, Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Sevilla

Previously in 2017 we stayed in Madrid, Cordoba, Ronda, Sevilla, Granada, Nerja/Frigiliana & Malaga.

I’m taking a break from Spain in 2027 unless CWsocial talks me into Valencia! : )

In 2019 I visited Barcelona (5 nights). In 2015 I visited Madrid (5 nights), Sevilla (5 nights), Cordoba (3 nights), and Granada (2 nights). Loved/liked them all!

I’m probably most interested in Cadiz, Malaga, and the Basque Country, although I have no plans at this time.

Please add me in -- I"m most interested in Paises Vascos but enjoy hearing about everywhere Iberian.

I've been to Madrid (Prado twice) and Toledo and Barcelona and Girona and Tarragona and Valencia and Sevilla and Granada and Malaga and points inbetween.

Malaga was better than I expected; as other posters have suggested, Rick needs to revisit and update his impressions. If I could afford a vacation home, I would have Tarragona between the beach and the restos of the circus at the top of my list.

I can talk about both Las Fallas and Semana Santa in a couple of the above.

We don't hear often enough about Galicia here in the forum!

I love Spain! I tend to travel by train and appreciate Spain's extensive high speed train lines.

2014 - Basque country including San Sebastián and Bilbao
2015 - Barcelona including a day trip to Montserrat
2106 - Barcelona
2023 - Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba, Granada, Sevilla
2024 - Málaga, Córdoba, Cádiz, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Teruel, Valencia

Please count me in, CW!

Glad you can join, Jean and Barbara N. That's a lot of expertise on Spain to learn from!

"I’m taking a break from Spain in 2027 unless CWsocial talks me into Valencia!"

Jean, I will do my best. And now that I know that Lucciano's is in Malaga, that may be my next destination in Spain! ;-)

Wow, Christine, I had no idea! Glad you can make it!

"I can talk about both Las Fallas and Semana Santa in a couple of the above."

Avirosemail, after going to the Las Fallas Museum, I'm interested in hearing more about the event itself. Maybe there is a small town to see it in miniature? Without the crowds? My only experience with Oktoberfest was Erfurt's miniature version, which was perfect for me. Although I recall that someone watched one of the events from their balcony. Jean, was that you?

Sorry to miss this, love Spain, but still traveling.

To clarify, I was NOT in the ditch, only the car was! And the "trip" in Barcelona was at a supermarket.

I was in Valencia at the beginning of Las Fallas. Avi was there for the entire festival and did much more sightseeing. He should definitely be the one to report on the festival and the city.

Thanks for clarifying 'my' time to attend, Nigel.
With all the great Malaga brains trust attending, I'll be sure to be there.
@Susan, may I send you a PM, about your Malaga apartments?

Sorry, I didn't answer this very thoroughly (I blame my allergies!) 7PM in Sweden is such a great time for this call, thank you!

I've been to Cordoba, Granada, & Sevilla, of the three, I adored Cordoba, remembering it's narrow streets & the Mezquita. Agree completely, we would prefer a 1-week stay in one of these, with day trips to the others if possible? Would love some feedback about 1) Time of year 2) trains between these 3 places & why so many people rave more about Sevilla than Cordoba 3) Christine's picture book is enough for us to try to get to Cadiz!

Regarding Las Fallas, let me start by saying that many outside visitors believe that the burning of the floats on the last night, and the parade that precedes it, is the highlight or reason for being of the festival -- this is a cavalcade of fire leading up to La Crema.

This is a misapprehension. Like the Palio in Italy and similar festivals, Las Fallas is the end of a year-long cycle of community activity, centered on neighborhood brotherhoods called cofradias. These brotherhoods parallel the parroquias/parishes of local church communities. They compete with each other (contrades in Italian) and submit entries into the Las Fallas parade floats, but they also have much more important cultural and religious functions in the lives of the participants.

From a quick query to Gemini:

how do cofradias function in Las Fallas and throughout the year?
cofradías (religious brotherhoods) are central to Spanish cultural life. In the context of Las Fallas, the equivalent
Role in Las Fallas
During the festival neighborhood commissions manage the local celebrations:
Monument Oversight: Each commission is responsible for the design, funding, and eventual burning (Cremà) of its specific falla monument.
L’Ofrenda (The Offering): Members dress in traditional 18th-century attire to parade through the city and offer flowers to the Virgin of the Forsaken.
Social Cohesion: The Casal Faller acts as a permanent clubhouse where members meet weekly for dinners and social activities.
Cultural Preservation: They coordinate with local artists (artistas falleros) to plan next year's monument and maintain
Distinction from Religious Cofradías
Cofradías in Valencia focus on the Maritime Holy Week (Semana Santa Marinera) immediately following Las Fallas:

Spiritual Stewardship: They safeguard religious relics and sculptures used in Easter processions.
Charity: Throughout the year, they engage in Christian charity and community service under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Valencia.
Procession Training: Members practice year-round to carry heavy processional floats (pasos) for Holy Week.

CWsocial, I watched the Malaga Carnaval parade from my hotel balcony/window.

The only Spanish festivals I’ve attended have been the Cadiz Carnaval - excellent! The Malaga Carnaval- doesn’t compare to Cadiz’s. And the Féria at Nerja.

Count me in for at least the first hour! Unfortunately I have a wedding shower I will have to get to during the second half, so will have to leave somewhat before the end. So I am hoping you will report on Valencia first!

Edit: Although I’ve been to Barcelona and the standard Andalusia loop 3 times, I will be spending a couple of weeks in northern Spain in November.

Just wondering if there is still space, I´d like to join in if possible. Thanks.

FWIW, while Fallas is Valencia is the best, there is a group called Fallers pel Mon who "export" the Fallas to other places around Spain. Two weeks ago more than 3500 valencians invaded Logroño and had a mini Fallas with all the associated activities. They have a FB page.

Also, if it would be of interest, I could talk a little about the Cofradias. I am a cofrade of the Santo Cristo de las Animas here in Logroño, and this Easter it didn´t rain, so we were able to do our Good Friday Procession.

Please add me. I’ve been to several places from Toledo to the French border. I really want to head south. Friends just returned from Malaga and Cadiz. Both sound wonderful.

dlindstrom, space is not an issue at the meeting, you are welcome to join!

I'm always interested in learning about the culture of the activities that we see in the streets, or in the museums. Thank you!

Everyone, this meeting, we'll "raise hands" to share the stories of our recent travels and experiences in Spain. If anyone wants to bring a very few photos to share an aspect of your trip, we can screenshare those. To give everyone a chance, we're not doing the "15 minute trip reports" that we sometimes do.

Please add me to this meeting. It’s been so long since my visit to Spain as I’ve been focused on Portugal for the last 5 years.
1. Trip to Spain in 2015: Barcelona, Montserrat, Madrid, Granada, Cordoba, Seville
2. Would love to hear about the Basque region of Spain

I would like to attend. My last trip to Spain was before covid - so I’m interested to hear from people who have been more recently. Thank you!