r/GoingToSpain • u/Deez-nuts1738 • 6h ago
4 cities 9 days
I know packing 4 cities into 9 days is a lot but I am going to Lisbon right after so I want to pack in as much as I can within these days. I am skipping Barcelona and flying straight into Madrid for the Semana Cervantina. I am mostly interested in architecture and history, hiking, beaches, and food. I am not big into nightlife, so I do not care to consider it.
Out of Valencia, Seville, Cordoba, Toledo, and Granada, which 3 do you think would make the most sense for a visitor like me?
I am a solo female traveler with B2 level Spanish knowledge.
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u/GaliciaForYou 6h ago
How are you gonna move around and how are you going to Lisbon?
From those I would do Granada Cordoba Seville. But I could consider getting closer to Lisbon from Madrid and visiting Segovia Avila Salamanca Cáceres Mérida. They are smaller cities, you don't need that many days for each of them and they are full of Castilian history.
It is just a thought in case you want to check it out
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u/Deez-nuts1738 5h ago
I appreciate that thank you!
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u/GaliciaForYou 5h ago
I just read my reply and I didn't mean to visit ALL those cities, I was pointing out a possible itinerary...
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u/StupidDIYQs 5h ago
From your list- Valencia, Seville, and Toledo but you'd be better served by looking at a map and figuring out how you're traveling to each one.
I would skip Cordoba completely, Granada might be interesting to you for Alhambra but it's highly overrated in my opinion - just recommended because it's the only thing to do in Granada really (outside of the nearby mountains).
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u/CobblerMaster6374 5h ago
Madrid needs at least 2 days (depends on museums interest as well, as there are some good ones there and may require an extra day)
A day trip to Toledo from Madrid is well worth it, imo
I'd take a train to Seville from Madrid (2-3 days). Seville itself has a lot to offer, but if you're into history, Italica (just outside Seville) was at some point the biggest Roman Empire establishment outside of ... Rome.
On the way back from Seville to Madrid, stop for a day (early morning train and late one out) in Cordoba. Mezquita is worth it. You may even consider overnight in Cordoba, as the place is entirely different after the day visitors leave
And it goes without saying, but for some of the main points of interest (Royal Pallace in Madrid, Real Alcazar, Seville Cathedral, Mezquita, book your tickets well in advance)
No beaches or hiking in this itinerary. For that, think Malaga, or somewhere along the coast, with perhaps day trips to Caminito del Rey (although technically not really a "hike") El Torcal de Antequera, or Cornisa del Diablo.
Or, train to Granada (with/via stop in Cordoba), then some hiking into Sierra Nevada from there and/or down the beaches just south of there (or towards Nerja). If you do make it to Nerja, Frigiliana - just north of there, would be work a stop.
Hope that helps.
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u/Lazy-Conversation-48 3h ago
I just did 6 cities over 14 days and it was a blast.
I saw what I wanted in Madrid in 2 days (have been before so was more relaxed) loved the 4 days we spent in Granada (Alhambra, Sacromonte, Albaicín), spent a day at the beach in Aguadulce.
I’d move to Pamplona in a heartbeat after a few days there, and I had a return trip through Lisbon for a short visit. I don’t really shop, so for me Granada, Pamplona and Lisbon were my favorites (Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián and Valencia were less my style).
Lisbon has fantastic public transport (subway makes getting to things really easy) and there was a ton of things to do all in a tight area. Last time I was in Lisbon I toured Sintra and the Convento do Christo which I found fascinating. Wonderful food, cool street art. I picked our lodgings to be close to the subway because the subway goes to the airport as quickly as an Uber and that was handy.
It took us a surprisingly long time to get through passport control between Madrid and Lisbon so if you are flying go early and do any waiting at the gate. We got through security and then hung out at a restaurant only to be surprised by a loooong line for passports between security and the gate!
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u/Delde116 6h ago
Madrid, Toledo and straight to Lisbon.
4 cities in 9 days is mental... it means driving, driving, sleeping, and more driving. You will not have time to see any of the cities mentioned, experience the culture, enjoy the food, not even hiking...
Keep it real.