Trip to Andalucia in Spain - help with travel and what to see?
Hi, I’m going to Andalucia in Spain in two weeks… we have six days and were thinking of seeing Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Would going to Cadiz be too much? We aren’t renting car and are relying on coaches/trains (also, if you know anything about weekly travel discount promotions then that would be great to know!). I was just wondering if anyone knew how long we’d need in each of these places to make sure we balanced our time well or just anything exciting that might make my trip as good as possible!
Thanks x
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Tags: Andalucia Spain, Travel Discount, Travel Promotions
19. October 2008 at 12:57 pm :
I can tell you that the Eurrail pass will NOT be a good buy for that. (I think I goofed by buying it…I should have just bought the tickets individually, and so should you for that one),
I don’t think there is anything in Cádiz worth seeing once you have seen the other towns, honestly. I’ve been there, and I’m thoroughly lukewarm about it.
You will only need one daytrip to Córdoba…just do it from Sevilla. Again, not all that much to see…the Mezquita, a walkabout, the Alcázar, the JuderÃa, the bridge. You can easily do it in one day.
Three days in Sevilla and one to one and a half in Granada. Check whether it’s necessary to get your tickets to the Alhambra online. We didn’t, and stood in the hot June sun for two hours! It wasn’t the highlight, I’ll tell you. But in October, you probably don’t need to. Not nearly as many tourists. Bring a sweater/sweatshirt. It can get cool in the evenings. I takes about half a day to actually tour the Alhambra, you can take the bus up into the AlbaicÃn, and walk down, and then you might want to see the Cathedral. You can probably do it all in a day and a half…a little more if you like to take your time walking, and there’s the AlcaicerÃa market, also.
Sevilla: A day for the Cathedral/Giralda and Alcázar, a day for the park and then stroll through the Barrio Santa Cruz, two to three hours to stroll down c/Sierpes (stop at the far end and have sweets and coffee at La Campana…my favorite confiterÃa in the world!)
Lots of corners to explore in both cities. You will have a blast!
I am not counting how you will probably need a day from getting into Sevilla, just to get settled, and probably a day on the way out will be spent travelling…depends how far you are travelling from, and whether jetlag is an issue or not.
21. October 2008 at 11:14 pm :
I’m with Sue. I’d cut out Cadiz and really get to see the little corners of the other three places. There’s too much to see in those places.
You may consider renting a car for convenience. Look at doyouspain.com, where I’m seeing 1-way rental from Sevilla to Granada for under 70 Euros. Even with gas that has to be comparable to trains for two people (but get good driving directions, especially for Cordoba).
Since Cordoba is more or less on the way from Sevilla to Granada, I would see it on the way, and spend the night before or after of both there. The hotels are quaint and cheaper than the other two cities.
Drop me a line if you want more info on hotels. Sue hit the major attractions. I’m a bit of an art buff, so I liked the Spanish Baroque paintings in Sevilla’s art museum, too (but it’s not like Madrid).
Plan your trip well (my favorite guide is the Rough Guide to Andalucia) since many places shut down after lunch on Sunday until Tuesday afternoon.
Finally, have fun. It’s gorgeous there and a good time of year to go. You won’t regret it.
24. October 2008 at 10:49 pm :
Hi, I live in Utrera a small town south of Seville (about 20 mins). I think I can help you out.
My first piece of advice would be to rent a car. I know this can be pricey, but it takes a little of the stress off. You can travel at your own pace and take more time in places of interest.
Cadiz is only about 1 1/2 hours away from Sevilla. I think it is definitely worth a visit. City walls, a baroque cathedral, ancient roman remains, and sunny warm weather will make the trip worth it.
Seville is the biggest city in southern Spain. It is full of old city walls & gates. The cathedral is a must see as long as the bridges that were built as part of a worlds fair.
Granada is probably one of my favorite places. This is where you will see the Alhambra and the Alcazaba fortress. You should also try to visit the Arab baths.
Cordoba is another great choice. I just visited this city a couple of weeks ago. The Mezquita, the Roman bridge, and the Tower of Calahorra will be the main attractions here.
Another place you might consider adding to your trip is Ronda. It is not far from Sevilla. You must see the Puente Nuevo bridge which goes over the El Tajo gorge. It is the birthplace of modern bullfighting.
In all of these cities there are plenty of places to sit, relax, eat, and enjoy drinks. I would warn you to not wait until late afternoon to eat as most places will shut down for siesta.
You can visit this site for more details and info about these cities.
25. October 2008 at 5:19 am :
i though Seville was a bit boring. Cadiz is really small but lovely and Granada is amazing!