Agree with packing light for the trains (carry on and backpack each). Recently did London/Paris with my 16 yo DS and I had a big suitcase 😂 which was kind of a pain on the train. He’s big so not a major issue but with kids your age you will be more “in charge” so I think that’s important.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with Andalusia, I would fly in and out of Madrid and take the train to Cordoba and Seville. Cordoba is probably the most underrated European city, it is spectacularly beautiful with extensive preserved medieval ruins and structures and hotels and super cheap. Seville is a little more expensive but still very affordable. Train travel between the three cities is easy and I would do all three - if you only want to do Madrid and one other I would pick Cordoba, no question.

Would you do Cordoba instead of Granada?

I have done Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, and Seville in one trip and would do that again in a heartbeat. An earlier post suggested that OP might be interested in only 2-3 cities so I was being mindful of that - if it were between Cordoba and Granada I personally would choose Cordoba, the city as a whole is more beautiful and interesting in my view BUT Granada has the Alhambra which is spectacular and probably the most impressive thing in any of these four cities. It's a very tough call, which is why I personally would do both!

Anonymous wrote:I agree with Andalusia, I would fly in and out of Madrid and take the train to Cordoba and Seville. Cordoba is probably the most underrated European city, it is spectacularly beautiful with extensive preserved medieval ruins and structures and hotels and super cheap. Seville is a little more expensive but still very affordable. Train travel between the three cities is easy and I would do all three - if you only want to do Madrid and one other I would pick Cordoba, no question.

Would you do Cordoba instead of Granada?

I agree with Andalusia, I would fly in and out of Madrid and take the train to Cordoba and Seville. Cordoba is probably the most underrated European city, it is spectacularly beautiful with extensive preserved medieval ruins and structures and hotels and super cheap. Seville is a little more expensive but still very affordable. Train travel between the three cities is easy and I would do all three - if you only want to do Madrid and one other I would pick Cordoba, no question.

Side, day trips are not essential if spending 3-4 days in cities that offer a lot and add a hassle, planning component for a parent.

Rooftop views, top floor department store cafes are fun to include.

Consider some park time to run off energy.

Again, I am thinking city, not beach.

Spain is especially great if your kids study Spanish in school, and you didn’t.

Try to use some foreign money even if you can go cashless because kids love it.

Have each child read a bit and pick a top destination, site, attraction per city. Even a tourist trap.

If this is their first European trip, I often suggest London instead.

Make sure they visit supermarkets wherever you go.

Try to find a greeter or guide who can customize a walk to kids’ interests. You can Google Madrid Greeter or Barcelona Greeter. These walks are free.

I further suggest hotels…kids love them.

OP: If you are still reading. I love Spain and really love Barcelona. I picked a hotel in the Gothic Quarter because, after a day of sigh-seeing, we could just go out at night and be entertained b/c the setting is entertaining.

DYK There's a Renaissance Fest in a Renascence City about two hours south of Barcalona? It's free, and amazing.

https://www.spain.info/en/calendar/renaissance-festival/