Would Somebody Help Me Out On My Spain Itinerary??

SharpshooterTom

Hi all, I am planning to go Spain on the 31st of July for two weeks, here is my itinerary so far:

Granada - 3 days
Cordoba - 3 days
Seville - 4 days
Madrid - 5/6 days

Fly back on the 15th august

This is very very sketchy :P. I just basically wanted to go somewhere warm and cultural (as oppose a lads holiday abroad).

I was advising my itinerary to someone and they said 2 days (which I had initally had done) was too short for Granada as La Alhambra takes a long time? I thought it was only a day trip?

Also, is Cordoba worth 3 days? I could take one day off and add another day to Granada making it 4 days.

Like I say I don't know very much about this area of Spain, I'm just wanting to go somewhere cultural find out for myself what its like by trial and error.

Also, another thing, is it very hot at this time of the year? I'm told its the hottest area of europe, averaging 35-36C (which is unheard of for europe), matching temperatures in Alice Springs, and close to Las Vegas/Arizona. Seville is meant to be the hottest city in europe.

Any advice on this trip? I am probably doing this and appreciate if anyone could help me out with advice about it.

mel.b

I went to Madrid last year in April for 5 days and loved it.

The weather in April was gorgeous - July WILL be hot. See yr.no for the forecast for the next 10 days http://www.yr.no/place/Spain/Madrid/Madrid/long.html

I did day trips to Segovia and Toledo both of which I recommend. I caught the bus to both places as I either missed the trains or they were sold out.

In madrid I visited the Renia Sofia and the Thyssen muesum. Entry to the Renia Sofia is free at specific times but there was a long queue for entry. In July I think I'd pay for entry rather than queing up in the sun. I'm not really a muesum person but I really enjoyed the Thyssen. I didn't do the Prado and was told it was mostly religious art (not sure how try that is).

I also spent an afternoon in the Retiro park which was really nice and i'm sure you'll be joined by thousands of others trying to escape the heat. You can hire a little row boat and row on the boating lake which looked like fun. I also did a trip to the Real Madrid soccer stadium - again I'm not a huge soccer fan but basically being able to walk next to the pitch and sit in the seats was pretty cool. A long queue again for entry tickets, so it might be worth seeing if you can get them in advance to save queing in the heat. The Champions league semi-final Real Madrid v Barcelona was on while I was in Madrid so there was no hope of getting tickets but if there is something else on while you are there you should be able to get tickets.

As a tourist I found the afternoon siesta a little annoying especially in places like Toledo and Segovia - you'd find something in a shop that you liked the look of and when you go back to buy it, the shop is shut. However in July I'm sure you'll appreciate it! Plus having the shops open till 10 - 11pm is fantastic and creates a great buzz in the city.

The metro is really easy to use and very handy for getting around. each trip is E1 and you can buy a ticket of 10 trips for a little less than E10 to save some money. you can also get to / from the airport by metro for E2 which is probably the fastest & easiest way. I caught a bus into Madrid when I arrived but used the metro for the return trip and it was much better.

As you can probably tell I had a great time in Madrid and loved it. Sorry I can't help you with your other destinations. I really want to visit Seville though:)

catchup

Hi there, did much the same trip a few years ago and had a great time. Flew to Madrid (other post sums it up well..amazing city) and took AVE train to Seville and the local trains to Grenada and Cordoba and flew home from Seville. You will find it oppressively hot in all cities but especially in Seville. Make sure all your hotels have AC and preferably a pool. Do what the locals do and plan on staying in your air-conned room from 1pm till 5pm. Everything will be closed anyway. Go out and see the sites early or late. No one eats before 9 or 10 in the evening.

In Grenada, book your ticket for the Alhambra online well in advance as it will be impossible to get in on the day. Also, we ate here: http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g187441-d1070398-Reviews-El_Huerto_de_Juan_Ranas-Granada_Province_of_Granada_Andalucia.html and can highly recommend it as it overlooks the Alhambra.

Have fun and bring lots of Factor 50!

jacool

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

I was advising my itinerary to someone and they said 2 days (which I had initally had done) was too short for Granada as La Alhambra takes a long time? I thought it was only a day trip?

Not only does the Alhambra take a long time, you'll be knackered after all that walking so you'll need a day to relax afterwards. Where you spend that is up to you, but it would be good not to be having to pack bags and move the day after that trek. It is really well worth every minute though, a fantastic place steeped in history.

coylemj

+1 for Toledo since you mentioned culture. It was the capital of Spain before Madrid and is still the ecclesiastic capital as the Archbishop of Toledo is the Primate of Spain so there is a magnificent cathedral with lots of murals by El Greco who spent the last few years of his life in Toledo.

The tomb of Christopher Columbus is inside the cathedral in Seville. You probably won't be able to get near it with all the American tourists taking pictures of each other beside it. Also in the same cathedral is an altar made from two tons of gold brought back from the New World i.e. plundered from the Aztecs and Incas.

edeldonlon

Just make sure you book your tickets for the alhambra before you leave at that time of the year they are often booked out. I had friends who arrive a day late last year (there own fault didnt book correctly) and there were no more tickets for 4 days.

Sevilla will be very hot at that time of the year, I might cut that a day short if I had to cut any of them.

Have you ever been to Salamanca, it is my favourite city in Europe. Its 2hr 30mins by bus from Madrid. So pretty, great vibe and lots to see

two wheels good

I'd skip Seville.

mel.b

two wheels good wrote: »

I'd skip Seville.

Why the heat at that time of year or another reason? Seville is somewhere i have wanted to visit for a long time so i'm interested to hear why you'd skip it.

edeldonlon

August is hot in Spain and Seville is one of the hottest cities in Spain. Also it can be quiet at that time of the year as the majority of the spanish take their two week holiday and head to the beach.

It really depends what you want to see and do in Seville but in my opinion 3 days would be enough.

Are you hiring a car or going my public transport?

two wheels good

mel.b wrote: »

Why the heat at that time of year or another reason? Seville is somewhere i have wanted to visit for a long time so i'm interested to hear why you'd skip it.

Yes, it was a curt dismissal. I'll try to explain.
If the lemon blossom were in bloom or it wasn't so hot then maybe.
Sevilla: The Giralda and the plaza mayor are lovely sights but lovelier sights are there in Cordoba and Granada. The Mezquita and Alhambra are breathtaking.
Sevilla's Giralda and plaza mayor, the uninspiring gallery I visited, the sluggish river, the crumbling expo park, the gardens buzzed by traffic; none seemed to have the romance I expected. Maybe it was my attitude. La Carboneria, flamenco and beer was great but now I read it's not so authentic and expensive.

Instead, maybe consider some smaller rural towns. Trujillo, Caceres I really liked. Or some mountain village as a stopover.
Salamanca: I've never been but have heard great accounts.

Or give more time to Madrid. There is so much to see there. If you like art I recommend the little known Sorrolla museum, located in what was the artist's own house
There now - ended on a positive!