Planning a trip to Spain

[Truthy]

Hey everyone,

In January I made a thread requesting aid in planning a trip to Australia, though plans have since changed and now I'm instead going to Spain in mid-December to early January. This will be around December 18th to around January 3rd--I don't have plane tickets yet and these dates certainly aren't set in stone.

Broadly, my plan is to visit Madrid, Barcelona, and Andalusia.

-How would you compare Madrid vs Barcelona (i.e., in which city might an extra day be better allocated)?
-How is public transportation in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville? Is there much of a need for a rental car?
-What cities and historical sites in Andalusia are a must see?
-How would you compare Cordoba, Granada, and Seville?
-What Roman or Carthaginian ruins are coolest and most interesting?
-Is Gibraltar worth visiting?
-Is Spanish North Africa worth visiting?
-Are there any areas that are super touristy and sucky around Christmas and New Years that I should try to avoid?
-How would you recommend getting from Barcelona to Andalusia (edit: or, alternatively, Madrid to Andalusia)? Is it in a scenic train ride? Or might it be better to just try to fly?

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[Thorgalaeg]

-How would you compare Madrid vs Barcelona (i.e., in which city might an extra day be better allocated)?
Depends on your interests, i would say Barcelona is nicer and more tourist-friendly with must-see things like the Sacred Family cathedral while Madrid is a larger city with big things like palaces and musseums you see in TV and such.

-How is public transportation in Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville? Is there much of a need for a rental car?
Public transportation is very good. I avoid driving when going to Madrid.

-What cities and historical sites in Andalusia are a must see?
Lots.

-How would you compare Cordoba, Granada, and Seville?
Well, Cordoba has the mezquite, Granada has the Alhambra but Sevilla has something...special. Any three are wonderful.

-What Roman or Carthaginian ruins are coolest and most interesting?
Lots again. I would say Mérida, Ampurias, Italica, Cuenca, Baelo Claudia...

-Is Gibraltar worth visiting?
Well, cant compare with anything above but it is a curiosity. Cadiz atlantic coast and mountains are a must-see though and less crowded than usual but i may be partial since i am from there.

-Is Spanish North Africa worth visiting?
Mostly no.

-Are there any areas that are super touristy and sucky around Christmas and New Years that I should try to avoid?
Cant think of anything. Whole Spain is super touristy though.

-How would you recommend getting from Barcelona to Andalusia? Is it in a scenic train ride? Or might it be better to just try to fly?
Train. Barcelona-Madrid-Sevilla. Trains are excellent btw

 

[Lillefix]

-How would you compare Cordoba, Granada, and Seville?

I was there in December last year, and the cities are a must see, must see and must see.

I took the plane to Malaga(tourist capital par excellence for any of you non-europeans) and took the bus to Granada, train to Cordoba and train to Seville. Then I went to Toulouse by plane.

Seville doesn't have metro, only tramways and buses, but there is still no need for car. Just walk.

I just googled Orson wells btw and I read was buried in Andalusia in this city:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda

Looks like a very beautiful city.

But if you want to visit these cities, wouldn't it make sense to go to Barcelona first, then Zaragoza(spend the extra day here), then Madrid and then Andalusia by train?

 

[Thorgalaeg]

It is, some really spectacular views there (Ronda), but a bit too large and tourist packed for my taste. It is one of the so-called white towns of Andalusia. You can tour them around Cadiz and Malaga mountains. I highly would recommend it. You will need a car, a map and to drive carefully through the mountains.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Barcelona is pretty spectacular, but different from Madrid. A lot depends on what kinds of things you want to see.

 

[innonimatu]

-How would you compare Cordoba, Granada, and Seville?

If I had to chose only one, I'd go for Granada. Don't go to Seville or Cordoba in the summer, but the winter (as you are planning) is fine.

-What Roman or Carthaginian ruins are coolest and most interesting?

Merida imho.

-Is Gibraltar worth visiting?
-Is Spanish North Africa worth visiting?

No and no.

-Are there any areas that are super touristy and sucky around Christmas and New Years that I should try to avoid?

Just a note, Spain celebrates Christmas until January (gift exchanges...) so you may still find people shopping after the 25th. But I'm not spanish and don't know if that tradition may have been lost recently to cultural imports from the US...

 

[Zkribbler]

Madrid vs Barcelona

IIRC. Barcelona is the pickpocketing capital of Europe. Hang on to your wallet!
In Gibraltar, the thievery is committed by the monkeys.

 

[caketastydelish]

Run with the bulls.

 

[The_J]

I've been a few years ago to Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and Granada.
Madrid as a city itself is not that interesting, so i'd probably take Barcelona ^^.
As a note, the Spanish museums are for free between 18:00 and 20:00, but don't try that with the Prado, will be way too full. But it's good enough for the Guernica in the Reina Sofia, especially if you're not much into modern art.

Public transport was good in reliable. But attention, there are security checks with metal detectors at Madrid central station.

Cordoba itself was amazing. Had a cheap hotrl totally central, and it's just a nice city. Mezquita also really worth it.
Granada in contrast seems besides the Alhambra to be an extremely touristy city. Also nice, but Alhambra is really the main thing. I was there in summer and we ordered tickets beforehand, no clue if also necessary in winter.

And Toledo is close to Madrid, also worth for a day, looks like from a medieval spanish movie.

 

[Thorgalaeg]

IMO most interesting musseum in Madrid is the Thysen-Boderwitsza. The three main musseums (Prado, Reina-Sofia, and Thysen) are pretty close in the so-called "arts triangle" near the main train station. Others spots apart of the countless musseums are the huge Palacio Real, Retiro Park, the Plaza Mayor and Gran Via Street. Near Madrid is the Escorial Monastery, a must see.

 

[Camikaze]

If you're a Game of Thrones or Star Wars (prequels) fan (to the extent any of the latter exist), then Seville might be bumped up your list slightly, compared to Granada or Cordoba. Though I would've thought Granada is the place to go, simply on the basis of the Alhambra, which is one the absolute must-sees of Europe.

Granada in contrast seems besides the Alhambra to be an extremely touristy city. Also nice, but Alhambra is really the main thing. I was there in summer and we ordered tickets beforehand, no clue if also necessary in winter.

My understanding is that booking your tickets in winter is still advised, even though you'll most likely be able to show up and get them, unlike summer. Of course, it's unclear why you wouldn't book them at least a couple of days ahead of time (after looking at the weather forecast), if you know you're going to go anyway.

 

[Lillefix]

When I was in Alhambra last december the receptionist at the hotel booked me a ticket when I came. That was the day before I went. Even in December there was a respectable amount of tourists. Mostly spanish it seemed like.

And I agree with Camikaze. Alcazar in Seville was the one building I liked the most on this trip. And even though I don't watch Game of thrones I recognized parts of it.

 

[Truthy]

How would you compare Cordoba, Granada, and Seville?
Well, Cordoba has the mezquite, Granada has the Alhambra but Sevilla has something...special. Any three are wonderful.

Well this and the other responses are pushing me more in the direction of visiting all three, which I wanted to do anyway

-What Roman or Carthaginian ruins are coolest and most interesting?
Lots again. I would say Mérida, Ampurias, Italica, Cuenca, Baelo Claudia...
-Is Gibraltar worth visiting?
Well, cant compare with anything above but it is a curiosity. Cadiz atlantic coast and mountains are a must-see though and less crowded than usual but i may be partial since i am from there.

Merida looks pretty awesome, but maybe too far out of the way. Italica seems like a good choice since it's so close to Seville. Are you familiar with Segovia? It seems like a trip out of Madrid to Segovia, El Escorial, and Avila could be worth it (but would require a rental car I'm guessing)

-Is Spanish North Africa worth visiting?
Mostly no.

Aww. I'll admit I was only interested so I could visit a new continent and was hoping for an ad hoc justification.

I was there in December last year, and the cities are a must see, must see and must see.

I took the plane to Malaga(tourist capital par excellence for any of you non-europeans) and took the bus to Granada, train to Cordoba and train to Seville. Then I went to Toulouse by plane.

Seville doesn't have metro, only tramways and buses, but there is still no need for car. Just walk.

Good to know. Did you go to Italica?

But if you want to visit these cities, wouldn't it make sense to go to Barcelona first, then Zaragoza(spend the extra day here), then Madrid and then Andalusia by train?

I agree that makes more sense

Barcelona is pretty spectacular, but different from Madrid. A lot depends on what kinds of things you want to see.

I'm having a hard time answering this ... cool architecture and art museums; general historic sites for sure; beer, coffee, wine; parks like Park Guell (did Gaudi design the entire city of Barcelona?). I definitely want to visit at least a few major museums, though I get museum fatigued after around 3 museums. My impression is that Barcelona has a higher density of interesting stuff and is a better place to explore, which makes me want to spend more time there than Madrid.

If I had to chose only one, I'd go for Granada. Don't go to Seville or Cordoba in the summer, but the winter (as you are planning) is fine.

Merida imho.

No and no.

Just a note, Spain celebrates Christmas until January (gift exchanges...) so you may still find people shopping after the 25th. But I'm not spanish and don't know if that tradition may have been lost recently to cultural imports from the US...

Hopefully I'll have enough time for all three. Merida really looks like great, but I'm not sure if it's in the cards

IIRC. Barcelona is the pickpocketing capital of Europe. Hang on to your wallet!
In Gibraltar, the thievery is committed by the monkeys.

I'd visit just to see people get robbed by macaques

 

[Thorgalaeg]

Merida looks pretty awesome, but maybe too far out of the way. Italica seems like a good choice since it's so close to Seville. Are you familiar with Segovia? It seems like a trip out of Madrid to Segovia, El Escorial, and Avila could be worth it (but would require a rental car I'm guessing)

Italica are the largest Roman ruins in Spain. There is a big relatively intact amphitheatre there. A must see for anyone interested in the topic. Never went to Segovia or Avila though.

Aww. I'll admit I was only interested so I could visit a new continent and was hoping for an ad hoc justification.

If you are looking for a justification you can find it in the trip itself. Crossing the Gibraltar Strait in ferry can be interesting. Very scenic and probably there will be dolphins surfing the ferry's wave. Ceuta and Melilla are not very remarkable though. You could go to Tanger instead (you will need a passport) it is a much more exotic city and you will be able to say you were at Morocco. I recommend taking the ferry at Tarifa, which itself is a very interesting town, half in the Mediterranean half in the Atlantic. Algeciras otoh is a pretty dull city.

You could also visit Cadiz, which is about 100km northwards. It is a very particular city, different to anything else you will find in your voyage and less touristy.

 

[Truthy]

Run with the bulls.

I'll have to find some cows and get my own impromptu running with the bulls started

I've been a few years ago to Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and Granada.
Madrid as a city itself is not that interesting, so i'd probably take Barcelona ^^.
As a note, the Spanish museums are for free between 18:00 and 20:00, but don't try that with the Prado, will be way too full. But it's good enough for the Guernica in the Reina Sofia, especially if you're not much into modern art.

Public transport was good in reliable. But attention, there are security checks with metal detectors at Madrid central station.

Cordoba itself was amazing. Had a cheap hotrl totally central, and it's just a nice city. Mezquita also really worth it.
Granada in contrast seems besides the Alhambra to be an extremely touristy city. Also nice, but Alhambra is really the main thing. I was there in summer and we ordered tickets beforehand, no clue if also necessary in winter.

And Toledo is close to Madrid, also worth for a day, looks like from a medieval spanish movie.

I'll add Toledo to the list of places to potentially visit. Thanks for the heads up about the tickets. I agree with Camikaze that i might as well buy them in advance

Star Wars (prequels) fan (to the extent any of the latter exist)

then Seville might be bumped up your list slightly, compared to Granada or Cordoba. Though I would've thought Granada is the place to go, simply on the basis of the Alhambra, which is one the absolute must-sees of Europe.

My understanding is that booking your tickets in winter is still advised, even though you'll most likely be able to show up and get them, unlike summer. Of course, it's unclear why you wouldn't book them at least a couple of days ahead of time (after looking at the weather forecast), if you know you're going to go anyway.

Star Wars/GoT does make me more interested ensuring I see the Plaza de Espana (apparently it was also in Lawrence of Arabia) and Alcazar of Seville. I'm guessing the ticket advice applies to generally

Italica are the largest Roman ruins in Spain. There is a big relatively intact amphitheatre there. A must see for anyone interested in the topic. Never went to Segovia or Avila though.

God to hear

If you are looking for a justification you can find it in the trip itself. Crossing the Gibraltar Strait in ferry can be interesting. Very scenic and probably there will be dolphins surfing the ferry's wave. Ceuta and Melilla are not very remarkable though. You could go to Tanger instead (you will need a passport) it is a much more exotic city and you will be able to say you were at Morocco. I recommend taking the ferry at Tarifa, which itself is a very interesting town, half in the Mediterranean half in the Atlantic. Algeciras otoh is a pretty dull city. You could also visit Cadiz, which is about 100km northwards. It is a very particular city, different to anything else you will find in your voyage and less touristy.

As someone who's easily impressed by ferry trips, that sounds great. I'll have to see if I can squeeze that in.