Spain and Portugal - need tips and advice

[Anonymous]

Need advice from those who have been

Thinking of going 2 weeks late April or September. What to pack - do we need a light jacket just in case? Planning on taking only a carry on and personal bag.

I planned for Madrid 3 nights (more interested in Toledo and Segovia so this is just a base after the flight in), Seville 4 nights, 1 night Cordoba, 2 nights Granada, 2 nights Malaga, 3 nights in Lisbon.

From what I read, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga are all well connected by train (just under 2.5 hours).

Madrid - If I am interested in just the Royal Palace, Almudena cathedral and crypt, walking around Retiro Park and the main city center, food hall in San Miguel market, tapas - is the evening of arrival and 2nd day enough? I want to use the 3rd day to see Toledo or Segovia. If both Toledo and Segovia are interesting, I could cut one Seville day and add a 4th day to Madrid. There are guided tours but 12 hours long. Has anyone taken these?

Planning on taking the train to Seville from Madrid. How are trains there? I see Ouigo, AVE, Renfe Avalo, Renfe, Iryo - If you have been, is it worth splurging on the Comfort class for a short 3 hour ride, or are the regular coaches just as fine there? How early do we need to book these if we want to keep plans flexible?

If I want to keep it flexible and stay longer in one place is it better to not book a hotel for the night I am unsure where I will be - example Madrid and Seville - if I want to stay a day longer in Madrid, I would not need the 4 days in Seville so if I keep that 1st Seville night unbooked and just book the next 3 days, would it be too much of a hassle finding accommodation either in Madrid or Seville for the night? There is also the checking out/checking in problem if same hotel does not have any rooms left and wasting time on that.

Since Cordoba is on the way, does it make sense to stop at Cordoba first, then go to Seville and then take a train to Granada from Seville?

What are the must sees in these cities ?

How easy is it to use the metro/trains there if we don't know Spanish. Is it better to stick to taxis? Are the tuktuks or hop on hop off buses needed or is it all walkable in Madrid just like in DC for the main sights that I listed above?

Which areas to stay?

Can you recommend hotels you have stayed at and also any tips/suggestions for a first timer.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Need advice from those who have been

Thinking of going 2 weeks late April or September. What to pack - do we need a light jacket just in case? Planning on taking only a carry on and personal bag.

I planned for Madrid 3 nights (more interested in Toledo and Segovia so this is just a base after the flight in), Seville 4 nights, 1 night Cordoba, 2 nights Granada, 2 nights Malaga, 3 nights in Lisbon.

From what I read, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga are all well connected by train (just under 2.5 hours).

Madrid - If I am interested in just the Royal Palace, Almudena cathedral and crypt, walking around Retiro Park and the main city center, food hall in San Miguel market, tapas - is the evening of arrival and 2nd day enough? I want to use the 3rd day to see Toledo or Segovia. If both Toledo and Segovia are interesting, I could cut one Seville day and add a 4th day to Madrid. There are guided tours but 12 hours long. Has anyone taken these?

Planning on taking the train to Seville from Madrid. How are trains there? I see Ouigo, AVE, Renfe Avalo, Renfe, Iryo - If you have been, is it worth splurging on the Comfort class for a short 3 hour ride, or are the regular coaches just as fine there? How early do we need to book these if we want to keep plans flexible?

If I want to keep it flexible and stay longer in one place is it better to not book a hotel for the night I am unsure where I will be - example Madrid and Seville - if I want to stay a day longer in Madrid, I would not need the 4 days in Seville so if I keep that 1st Seville night unbooked and just book the next 3 days, would it be too much of a hassle finding accommodation either in Madrid or Seville for the night? There is also the checking out/checking in problem if same hotel does not have any rooms left and wasting time on that.

Since Cordoba is on the way, does it make sense to stop at Cordoba first, then go to Seville and then take a train to Granada from Seville?

What are the must sees in these cities ?

How easy is it to use the metro/trains there if we don't know Spanish. Is it better to stick to taxis? Are the tuktuks or hop on hop off buses needed or is it all walkable in Madrid just like in DC for the main sights that I listed above?

Which areas to stay?

Can you recommend hotels you have stayed at and also any tips/suggestions for a first timer.

Thanks!

We liked the Thompson in Madrid (next to Puerta del Sol), Hotel Balcon de Cordoba, and Hotel Gravina 51 in Sevilla. Madrid and Sevilla are walkable. Train between them is fantastic high speed.

[Anonymous]

Metro in Madrid is super easy. I think you could do all that in a day and a half if you don’t mind being rushed. I’d do retiro park on arrival day and then the next day get tickets for Royal palace — we went after that for lunch at the market. Check to make sure it’s open every day tough.

I think for trains south you go out of atocha which is an easy station. The train for Segovia goes out of a different station which is very large and complicated — it has several connected terminals. Leave a lot of time that day. Also when you get to the Segovia train station, there’s not a good way to get into the city. There’s a bus but it’s infrequent. There were no cabs when we got there so I googled taxi in Segovia and got a number to call. I speak Spanish so dealt with it all in Spanish. Might be harder in English. In Segovia, see the cathedral, the aqueduct and the alcazar. Get pastries at the place on the plaza. Lots of restaurants on the plaza and it’s nice to sit outside and enjoy the view.

In Toledo you can just walk from the train station — it’s an easy 15 minute walk. Just walking around Toledo is fun. See the cathedral. We couldn’t go to the Jewish museum because we went on Saturday. There is a museum with cool old military stuff. We had a terrible lunch there …. I think a lot of very touristy restaurants but you’ll be there off season so easier to get a table. A Saturday in June was tough to find someplace with a table. We should have just gotten fast eats like empanadas or sandwiches or something. There were some fast eat places that looked good.

[Anonymous]

Oh for hotel we stayed at the marriot ac Carlton near atocha station. It was fine but not on a super trendy street so you need to walk maybe 10 minutes to get to areas with restaurants. It’s near the Reina Sofia museum if you want to add on a quick stop there to your itinerary. The one other thing I’d add for Madrid is the Prado. We downloaded a 1 hour tour or 90 minute tour of the highlights.

[Anonymous]

I actually found Granada to not be very well connected by train to the others. Enough so that we rented a car for a few days which also allowed us stops in smaller locations

[Anonymous]

Make sure you hit the Thyssen in Madrid. Sorry I can't spell it.

[Anonymous]

We went at the end of September and did Madrid - Cordoba - Seville - Barcelona. All travel by train, regular class is fine. Weather was 70s in Madrid, 80s in the south, 60s in Barcelona.

You don't need 4 nights in Seville, 3 is fine. We didn't do Segovia but Toledo is fine for a day trip. Madrid is very walkable and easy to get around. In Madrid, we stayed at the Palacio de Tepa, which was a good location within walking distance of lots of attractions. If you like art, don't skip the Prado, it is huge and amazing. We got around easily with very basic Spanish, as long as you're polite people are very happy to help.

[Anonymous]

Madrid has three world-class art museums. Even if you are not really into art, do not miss the Goya and Velasquez paintings at the Prado. Picasso's Guernica is at the Reina Sofia. The Thyssen-Bournemisza is also amazing but if you only have time for one go to the Prado. It's right next to Retiro Park.

Toledo is great - wear very comfortable shoes. A lot of walking and stairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro in Madrid is super easy. I think you could do all that in a day and a half if you don’t mind being rushed. I’d do retiro park on arrival day and then the next day get tickets for Royal palace — we went after that for lunch at the market. Check to make sure it’s open every day tough.

I think for trains south you go out of atocha which is an easy station. The train for Segovia goes out of a different station which is very large and complicated — it has several connected terminals. Leave a lot of time that day. Also when you get to the Segovia train station, there’s not a good way to get into the city. There’s a bus but it’s infrequent. There were no cabs when we got there so I googled taxi in Segovia and got a number to call. I speak Spanish so dealt with it all in Spanish. Might be harder in English. In Segovia, see the cathedral, the aqueduct and the alcazar. Get pastries at the place on the plaza. Lots of restaurants on the plaza and it’s nice to sit outside and enjoy the view.

In Toledo you can just walk from the train station — it’s an easy 15 minute walk. Just walking around Toledo is fun. See the cathedral. We couldn’t go to the Jewish museum because we went on Saturday. There is a museum with cool old military stuff. We had a terrible lunch there …. I think a lot of very touristy restaurants but you’ll be there off season so easier to get a table. A Saturday in June was tough to find someplace with a table. We should have just gotten fast eats like empanadas or sandwiches or something. There were some fast eat places that looked good.

OP. Thank you! This is very good advice. I read up and looks like to Segovia, bus is the better option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Madrid has three world-class art museums. Even if you are not really into art, do not miss the Goya and Velasquez paintings at the Prado. Picasso's Guernica is at the Reina Sofia. The Thyssen-Bournemisza is also amazing but if you only have time for one go to the Prado. It's right next to Retiro Park.

Toledo is great - wear very comfortable shoes. A lot of walking and stairs.

Thank you! Will keep Prado in mind. We are not museum people but if we have time, will try to fit this in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went at the end of September and did Madrid - Cordoba - Seville - Barcelona. All travel by train, regular class is fine. Weather was 70s in Madrid, 80s in the south, 60s in Barcelona.

You don't need 4 nights in Seville, 3 is fine. We didn't do Segovia but Toledo is fine for a day trip. Madrid is very walkable and easy to get around. In Madrid, we stayed at the Palacio de Tepa, which was a good location within walking distance of lots of attractions. If you like art, don't skip the Prado, it is huge and amazing. We got around easily with very basic Spanish, as long as you're polite people are very happy to help.

Thank you! I had the extra night since I was keen on a day trip from Seville.

At Seville, this is my plan:

Day 1 - Night arrival train station Santa Justa (maybe stop at Cordoba on the way from Madrid? to see the Mezquita, bridge and Flower alley? If time permits, Christian monarch palace?
Day 2 - Plaza, Maria luisa park, toro, walk by the river, tapas, flamenco show
Day 3 - Alcazar, Cathedral, Giralda, see the maestranza and sunset at Setas
Day 4 - Day trip to Ronda and white villages
Day 5 - Checkout and travel to Granada

Is this feasible or am I missing anything else interesting in Seville and should I skip the Ronda daytrip?

I really want to see Ronda, Setenil and Zahara but the tours are booked out for that combo for my dates - I am seeing tours for either Ronda and Setenil or Ronda, Zahara and Grazalema. If anyone has done this day trip, need advice on what tour you booked and which is the better option between Setenil de las bodegas and Grazalema? One of them will be cut in the tours that are currently available for my dates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Need advice from those who have been

Thinking of going 2 weeks late April or September. What to pack - do we need a light jacket just in case? Planning on taking only a carry on and personal bag.

I planned for Madrid 3 nights (more interested in Toledo and Segovia so this is just a base after the flight in), Seville 4 nights, 1 night Cordoba, 2 nights Granada, 2 nights Malaga, 3 nights in Lisbon.

From what I read, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga are all well connected by train (just under 2.5 hours).

Madrid - If I am interested in just the Royal Palace, Almudena cathedral and crypt, walking around Retiro Park and the main city center, food hall in San Miguel market, tapas - is the evening of arrival and 2nd day enough? I want to use the 3rd day to see Toledo or Segovia. If both Toledo and Segovia are interesting, I could cut one Seville day and add a 4th day to Madrid. There are guided tours but 12 hours long. Has anyone taken these?

Planning on taking the train to Seville from Madrid. How are trains there? I see Ouigo, AVE, Renfe Avalo, Renfe, Iryo - If you have been, is it worth splurging on the Comfort class for a short 3 hour ride, or are the regular coaches just as fine there? How early do we need to book these if we want to keep plans flexible?

If I want to keep it flexible and stay longer in one place is it better to not book a hotel for the night I am unsure where I will be - example Madrid and Seville - if I want to stay a day longer in Madrid, I would not need the 4 days in Seville so if I keep that 1st Seville night unbooked and just book the next 3 days, would it be too much of a hassle finding accommodation either in Madrid or Seville for the night? There is also the checking out/checking in problem if same hotel does not have any rooms left and wasting time on that.

Since Cordoba is on the way, does it make sense to stop at Cordoba first, then go to Seville and then take a train to Granada from Seville?

What are the must sees in these cities ?

How easy is it to use the metro/trains there if we don't know Spanish. Is it better to stick to taxis? Are the tuktuks or hop on hop off buses needed or is it all walkable in Madrid just like in DC for the main sights that I listed above?

Which areas to stay?

Can you recommend hotels you have stayed at and also any tips/suggestions for a first timer.

Thanks!

We liked the Thompson in Madrid (next to Puerta del Sol), Hotel Balcon de Cordoba, and Hotel Gravina 51 in Sevilla. Madrid and Sevilla are walkable. Train between them is fantastic high speed.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

For trains in Spain - do prices change dynamically? Or are they fixed based on time of departure? Should I book them now if I go in April or is it okay to keep it flexible and just book when I get there?

I'm thinking of just booking the Madrid-Cordoba-Seville train now - but then again I dont know how long I will spend in Cordoba.

Also how long does it take to get through security in Madrid, Cordoba, Seville and Granada train stations? How much time to we need to keep in mind for this.

I was reading up and for Malaga, some people are suggesting catching the ALSA bus - is that better or train is better?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone booked aparthotels or apartments in Seville through booking.com? Is that a risk if we are going in peak season?