Spain Itinerary - Barcelona, Seville, Madrid
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: SPG Marriott Gold
Posts: 90
Spain Itinerary - Barcelona, Seville, Madrid
We're traveling to Spain for 9 nights (8 full days, knocking off the arrival day).
Arrive in BCN and fly out of MAD. Family of four with a 6- and 4- year old.
The plan was to spend around:
- 3 or 4 nights/days in BCN
- train to Seville (5 hr trip)
- 3 or 4 nights / days Seville
- 1-2 nights in MAD.
My kids are big into eating, parks, museums (more of the history, science, etc, type.)
A few questions:
1. Any obvious big mistakes in this balance of heavy-on-BCN-and-Seville and then a quickie in MAD? Or do I have the spread wrong?
2. If I opt for one night in MAD, it basically means we travel there in the am from Seville, see a tiny bit, eat dinner and then head back to NYC the next morning. Our thinking was to make the visits to the other two cities a bit longer / more settled. But perhaps we should extend MAD to two?
3. Are there are any must-do day trips, particularly with kids, from these base cities? I'd love an excuse to get in a car and explore a bit.
Thank you so much for tips / feedback. FT has aways been such a tremendous resources for us.
Arrive in BCN and fly out of MAD. Family of four with a 6- and 4- year old.
The plan was to spend around:
- 3 or 4 nights/days in BCN
- train to Seville (5 hr trip)
- 3 or 4 nights / days Seville
- 1-2 nights in MAD.
My kids are big into eating, parks, museums (more of the history, science, etc, type.)
A few questions:
1. Any obvious big mistakes in this balance of heavy-on-BCN-and-Seville and then a quickie in MAD? Or do I have the spread wrong?
2. If I opt for one night in MAD, it basically means we travel there in the am from Seville, see a tiny bit, eat dinner and then head back to NYC the next morning. Our thinking was to make the visits to the other two cities a bit longer / more settled. But perhaps we should extend MAD to two?
3. Are there are any must-do day trips, particularly with kids, from these base cities? I'd love an excuse to get in a car and explore a bit.
Thank you so much for tips / feedback. FT has aways been such a tremendous resources for us.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SFB
Posts: 75
Just got back from Barcelona last week, and was in Seville a couple of years ago. I think Barcelona definitely merits the length of stay you are thinking. Quick tip: with tourism in Spain at an all-time high, it's very advantageous to make museum/architecture reservations in advance, preferably in the morning. We had a very good experience in the 9am Sagrada Familia entry...Park Güell with the afternoon crowds was not so good...missed out on the Picasso Museum altogether trying to slip in late one afternoon. So if I had it to do again I would book a couple of things for the morning/lunchtime each day and then spend the afternoons walking around the city/Montjuďc.
We had a wonderful time at Montserrat: easy commuter train from Plaça d'Espanya.
Your kids are probably young for Game of Thrones, but Girona features prominently in Season 6. We went on a guided tour there and they showed a lot of the filming locations, which was cool.
Seville I am probably less excited about as a family destination. Great city for adults to eat tapas and see flamenco...but with small children I would probably shift a night towards Madrid.
Have you considered flying BCN-SVQ? About as economical as the train on Vueling or Ryanair, and saves a bunch of time.
Finally, you haven't said what time of year you are going. Keep in mind that it gets very hot in Seville in summer...Madrid somewhat less so.
We had a wonderful time at Montserrat: easy commuter train from Plaça d'Espanya.
Your kids are probably young for Game of Thrones, but Girona features prominently in Season 6. We went on a guided tour there and they showed a lot of the filming locations, which was cool.
Seville I am probably less excited about as a family destination. Great city for adults to eat tapas and see flamenco...but with small children I would probably shift a night towards Madrid.
Have you considered flying BCN-SVQ? About as economical as the train on Vueling or Ryanair, and saves a bunch of time.
Finally, you haven't said what time of year you are going. Keep in mind that it gets very hot in Seville in summer...Madrid somewhat less so.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: SPG Marriott Gold
Posts: 90
This is really helpful. Thanks so much!
We're traveling in late March. The tip regarding pre-booking activities is great. I wouldn't have done so otherwise.
And I'll add to time to Madrid. The little information I could find was confirming a lot of what you said about Seville being more of an adult-oriented experience.
I had originally wanted to do BCN and San Sebastian but my husband thought it would be too mild that time of year.
Would you drop Seville altogether?
Flying is also very much an option, especially if we'd ultimate take the train from Seville back to Madrid just for the kids (and us!) to have that experience. I just figured with travel to/from the airports and waiting for the flights, it might not be that much of a time saver.
We're traveling in late March. The tip regarding pre-booking activities is great. I wouldn't have done so otherwise.
And I'll add to time to Madrid. The little information I could find was confirming a lot of what you said about Seville being more of an adult-oriented experience.
I had originally wanted to do BCN and San Sebastian but my husband thought it would be too mild that time of year.
Would you drop Seville altogether?
Flying is also very much an option, especially if we'd ultimate take the train from Seville back to Madrid just for the kids (and us!) to have that experience. I just figured with travel to/from the airports and waiting for the flights, it might not be that much of a time saver.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,779
This is really helpful. Thanks so much!
We're traveling in late March. The tip regarding pre-booking activities is great. I wouldn't have done so otherwise.
And I'll add to time to Madrid. The little information I could find was confirming a lot of what you said about Seville being more of an adult-oriented experience.
I had originally wanted to do BCN and San Sebastian but my husband thought it would be too mild that time of year.
Would you drop Seville altogether?
Flying is also very much an option, especially if we'd ultimate take the train from Seville back to Madrid just for the kids (and us!) to have that experience. I just figured with travel to/from the airports and waiting for the flights, it might not be that much of a time saver.
We're traveling in late March. The tip regarding pre-booking activities is great. I wouldn't have done so otherwise.
And I'll add to time to Madrid. The little information I could find was confirming a lot of what you said about Seville being more of an adult-oriented experience.
I had originally wanted to do BCN and San Sebastian but my husband thought it would be too mild that time of year.
Would you drop Seville altogether?
Flying is also very much an option, especially if we'd ultimate take the train from Seville back to Madrid just for the kids (and us!) to have that experience. I just figured with travel to/from the airports and waiting for the flights, it might not be that much of a time saver.
In Barcelona, there is a small amusement park for younger kids that they might enjoy. I think this is it. http://www.tibidabo.cat/coneix-el-parc/cami-del-cel/
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,569
A few stray thoughts, having just been to all three cities.
1. Doesn't address the question of how many days, but if your kids enjoy sports or watching the Olympics (mine did at that age), try the Olympic and Sports Museum in Barcelona. (They can start by putting their feet into athletes' footprints out front - something kids of all ages can enjoy.)
2. If they have the energy and stamina, take them up the tower in the Seville Cathedral - it will wear them out! (Four is probably too young.)
3. I think kids would enjoy the Alcazar in Seville, both the inside and the gardens.
4. We found flying within Spain to be very low hassle...other than how far you have to walk in the Madrid airport.
5. I'm having a hard time picturing young kids enjoying walking around Madrid as much as walking around Seville. Having said that, in Madrid they'd probably love the Puerta del Sol with the mimes and other street performers (and the churro and cocoa place a short walk away).
1. Doesn't address the question of how many days, but if your kids enjoy sports or watching the Olympics (mine did at that age), try the Olympic and Sports Museum in Barcelona. (They can start by putting their feet into athletes' footprints out front - something kids of all ages can enjoy.)
2. If they have the energy and stamina, take them up the tower in the Seville Cathedral - it will wear them out! (Four is probably too young.)
3. I think kids would enjoy the Alcazar in Seville, both the inside and the gardens.
4. We found flying within Spain to be very low hassle...other than how far you have to walk in the Madrid airport.
5. I'm having a hard time picturing young kids enjoying walking around Madrid as much as walking around Seville. Having said that, in Madrid they'd probably love the Puerta del Sol with the mimes and other street performers (and the churro and cocoa place a short walk away).
#6
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Platinum Pro (LT Gold), Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium, National Exec,Hyatt,Melia, BA Exec, Iberia+
Posts: 527
I think you can't really go wrong either way.
I haven't traveled with small children in Spain, but things I think would appeal - in Madrid the Parque del Retiro is awesome, especially on weekends when there are performers; the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are good for walking around; a tour of the Royal Palace; a tour of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium where Real Madrid plays.
In Sevilla the Alcazar and gardens, walking along the river, going on a horse-and-carriage ride, checking out the tower of the cathedral, perhaps a flamenco performance if it wasn't too long.
Also you could go to Toledo, the former capital, which is a 25-minute train ride from Madrid. It's a walled city, there is a cool train ride that circumnavigates the city, and it's very walkable.
I haven't traveled with small children in Spain, but things I think would appeal - in Madrid the Parque del Retiro is awesome, especially on weekends when there are performers; the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are good for walking around; a tour of the Royal Palace; a tour of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium where Real Madrid plays.
In Sevilla the Alcazar and gardens, walking along the river, going on a horse-and-carriage ride, checking out the tower of the cathedral, perhaps a flamenco performance if it wasn't too long.
Also you could go to Toledo, the former capital, which is a 25-minute train ride from Madrid. It's a walled city, there is a cool train ride that circumnavigates the city, and it's very walkable.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, AA 2MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,268
Self and several middle aged American colleagues will be in Malaga, wish to make day trip to Seville before catching flights from AGP early next am.
Any suggestions for sights and activities in Seville during day in mid March? Hate to compress the visit into a few hours but we only have the one day open.
TIA
Any suggestions for sights and activities in Seville during day in mid March? Hate to compress the visit into a few hours but we only have the one day open.
TIA
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
Total travel time by train between Barcelona and Sevilla is indeed almost the same as by plane (unless you know BCN airport well and cut it really close - like leaving home 1 hour before the flight. But if you stick to the "be early at the airport" mantra than you're better of by train).
On the number of nights: I would go for 3 nights in Sevilla and add the other night to Madrid. (As said earlier, you can always add a day trip to Toledo, or Segovia for instance.)
On the number of nights: I would go for 3 nights in Sevilla and add the other night to Madrid. (As said earlier, you can always add a day trip to Toledo, or Segovia for instance.)