Top 3/4 cities in Spain?

[natalia]

Hey everyone! I'm going to Spain this summer and basically I have about 2 weeks to go round Spain, but I have to really narrow it down to a few places. So I'm definitely going to Madrid and Barcelona, I'd like to go somewhere in Andalucia but I don't know where is good! Sevilla? Malaga?

So I'd appreciate anyones' top 3 cities in Spain (and maybe why?)

Thanks!

[djS]

well if i was you i start in Barcelona , Madrid , Sevilla and Malaga
there 4 citys i hit but if it was june

Alicante - Fiestas - Festivals
The main event is the "Las Hogueras de San Juan" (Festival of Saint Juan) which lasts an entire week at the end of June. During this week Alicante is transformed. The focal point is again a street procession, but this time the stars are huge wood & papier-mâché effigies sitting atop the floats & scattered around the city centre. A good deal of humour & satire has gone into the design of these figures, only to be consumed by flames as the finale to the grand palmera (fireworks display) where all floats & monuments are burnt to cinders. This is a fun festival with lots of eating, drinking & dancing. Makeshift party enclosures (barracas) of varying sizes are erected. The larger ones are open to the general public (smaller enclosures often have memberships) with live music & other entertainment gratis. Be prepared to stay up late!
I done this few times stayying up late and partying until it was 1999 real did in the late 80s and 90 and again last 3 years

Summer time in August is holdays for the Spanards
becarful it can get packed and hight price are ever where
jurdy

[richardksa]

Hey everyone! I'm going to Spain this summer and basically I have about 2 weeks to go round Spain, but I have to really narrow it down to a few places. So I'm definitely going to Madrid and Barcelona, I'd like to go somewhere in Andalucia but I don't know where is good! Sevilla? Malaga?

So I'd appreciate anyones' top 3 cities in Spain (and maybe why?)

Thanks!

Far too much enegy required. Find a nice shady plaza with a traditional bar and chill for two weeks. You'll feel so much better. ;)

[Jerezano]

My vote would have to be Cadiz, particularly since you are going to be there in the Summer. Unpretentious, self-assured, good food, beautiful people and the atmosphere of a sea side city that has been inhabited since the time of the Phoenecians. Que arte!

[Damian Corrigan]

Malaga has very little to offer, apart from quite a good nightlife. They do their best to feed off the fact that Picasso was born there, but he was very young when he left. Barcelona's Picasso museum is better than anything you'll find in Malaga.

Spain's big four cities are without a doubt Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Granada, though all the other cities people are mentioning on this page are great too.

But as Richard says, far too much energy required to do all that. Spain will always be here - spend a week in Madrid (with day trips) and a week in Barcelona (with day trips) and come back to do Andalusia in the future.

Look at my page on day trips for help in choosing where to go around Madrid and Barcelona:

http://gospain.about.com/od/regionsofspain/qt/daytripsspain.htm


Damian

[rod]

Much though I love Sevilla, I think that if there is one place in Spain you absolutely have to visit, it is the Alhambra in Granada. If you go, its now a good idea to book your ticket well in advance - at the same time as you book your flights, for example.

And just to back up what others have said. The best time to visit Sevilla is May or September. In July and August and even often in June daytime temperatures are in the late 30s which is no good for trying to do anything active. If you want to go to Andalucia during the summer, go to the beach, perhaps Caños de Meca or Trafalgar on the Atlantic coast.

[natalia]

I've just been to Madrid though lol :) And I've realised that it'll be August so relatively pointless spending much time there.. right? I'm just thinking that if it's like Athens, everyone just leaves for islands etc...


I'm thinking Barcelona, Sevilla, Malaga...? What do you think? (I NEED BEACHES!!! lol! At least in one place! haha :) )

Thanks for the advice guys!

> ooh i forgot to say that i'll only be 17 then :( so i guess i have to bear that in mind.

[Ben]

I would definitely go with Granada as the third, it's one of the most amazing cities in Europe, or perhaps even the world!

[Marina]

For that time of the year I would also choose Granada you would have great Sightseeing (Alahambra, Albaicín...) great tapas and a great night life. If you'd like to be able to enjoy the beach as well while in Andalucia then Cadiz is the best option.

[gary]

Far too much enegy required. Find a nice shady plaza with a traditional bar and chill for two weeks. You'll feel so much better. ;)

Start with the INTENTION of visiting 4 cities then follow richardksa's advice for a true spanish experience....

[tanjh]

Barcelona, Sevilla, Madrid, Galicia

[suzanne27]

First is Barcelona which is the most beautiful city in Spain by the way. Next is Madrid truly a magnificent place. Museo del Prado and the Placio Real are the two places are among the top choices of vacationers when in Spain. Lastly, is Seville, awesome place to see for it has spectacular architectural structures. Seville Cathedral as this is truly one of the best samples of the architectural wonders of Seville.

[xan]

So I'd appreciate anyones' top 3 cities in Spain (and maybe why?)

Thanks!

These sorts of itineraries, hitting all the ¨top spots¨ sound frankly frenetic and exhausting. Leave something for next time. I really think the south--Andalusia--ought to be a trip in itself. It is so distinct as a region and has all kindsa stuff to see. But it is exceedingly hot there in the summer. Another reason to put it off.

A lot depends of course on what interests you, but for my tastes the places which are not "top attractions" and not foci of tourism can be quite interesting and atmospheric. For variety, since you´re visiting the two largest cities, why not look at some countryside and smaller cities. The pyrenees. Toledo.

[saiguanas]

Barcelona (never been but Hey! It's Barcelona!)-Madrid-Sevilla-Granada

Barcelona- for it's difference, art, and architecture.

Madrid- A little big and industrialized for my taste but in between it has a lot of beauty and charm.

Sevilla- Love the Cathedral and Santa Cruz. Italica is nearby for a quick "Roman Holiday".

Granada- mainly for the Alhambra but also if you get too hot you can drive up the mountain and cool off. Got to play in the snow in June (not much snow but definately cool). Also, it's not far from the coast (someone help me...about an hour or so from Malaga). You could make a quick day trip to Malaga which is about all I would need. Not too impressed with Malaga although it was nice and clean but I prefer Cadiz.

I agree. It's hard to limit yourself especially in the south. You've got Cordoba, Cadiz, Ubrique, Ronda, Granada, Sevilla, Carmona. All worth the while.

I didn't get to spend but a day here and a day there in the north but also a lot of very nice places. Being that you are in the UK and can get back more frequently than those of us in the other hemispheres, I would suggest to pick a region at a time and do each one right. No sense in limiting yourself when you can return for ridiculously low prices!

http://www.edreams.com/edreams/shared/amadeus3/FareItineraryView.jhtml;$sessionid$04FSM22FOHRZLQF IS0JCFEWAVCLN0IV0?_requestid=3098

[richardksa]

Seville Cathedral as this is truly one of the best samples of the architectural wonders of Seville.
It's a pity one cannot see the architecture behind all the religious junk they have filled it up with. It has the most splendid gothic vaulting, but you only catch glipses behind the gilded screens and icons. If that sort of thing interests you, go to Amiens in France. What is more at Seville they charge you 8€ to enter. It's a rip off.

For my take on the city, go here (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2624&highlight=Seville).

[saiguanas]

It's a pity one cannot see the architecture behind all the religious junk they have filled it up with.

Um...isn't that what they do at churches? Put religious stuff in them?;)

I didn't think it was cluttered at all. But to each their own. I wouldn't miss it. Anything that somebody built with the desire being that others would think they were all crazy has got to be good!;D

[zuri]

I'd like to go somewhere in Andalucia but I don't know where is good! Sevilla? Malaga?

So I'd appreciate anyones' top 3 cities in Spain (and maybe why?)

Thanks!

Malaga`s good for about an half a day, after that Nada.

Seville is better and also include Cordoba and Granada.

[zuri]

I'm thinking Barcelona, Sevilla, Malaga...? What do you think? (I NEED BEACHES!!! lol! At least in one place! haha :) )

.

Forget Malaga`s beaches unless you want to swim in raw sewage, lay on horrible gravel beaches, next to one of the countries biggest container shipping docks.

If your goin south go Tarifa, its Europes answer to Australia, with white sand beaches, no union jack kareoke bars.

[Juanjo]

Forget Malaga`s beaches unless you want to swim in raw sewage, lay on horrible gravel beaches, next to one of the countries biggest container shipping docks.

If your goin south go Tarifa, its Europes answer to Australia, with white sand beaches, no union jack kareoke bars.


Zuri is right:thumbs-up:. Tarifa's beaches are probably the best in Europe and not crowded with lobster- skinned Brits and their supporting hostelries!>:D

Juanjo

[zuri]

Zuri is right:thumbs-up:. Tarifa's beaches are probably the best in Europe and not crowded with lobster- skinned Brits and their supporting hostelries!>:D

Juanjo

Its an absolutely gorgeous place, words cannot do it justice.:D

And you get good view of the Atlas Mountains in Africa.

Its also very relaxed place, no hassle, plenty of surf bars and everybody seems to be enjoying life there, its a very stress free place.

If i believed in God, my idea of heaven would be the beaches and town of Tarifa.

[richardksa]

Um...isn't that what they do at churches? Put religious stuff in them?;);D
Not quite to the extent of Seville. They really have over-egged the pudding. I prefer the Cathedral at Toledo. But I hate the charges. How they can charge to enter a house of God is beyond me. A Church, whether you are religious or not, should be a place for quiet contemplation, to visit as often as one needs. To charge 8€ is extortion.

[natalia]

Ooo just to let you know, I ended up going to Salamanca for a spanish course, then went to Sevilla, Málaga, Córdoba for the day and back to Madrid to stay with a friend before flying back. I loved Málaga the best for some reason. Well, Salamanca was my number 1 haha, then Málaga, I'm just not sure why. It's a weird city, horrible beaches, but there was just somethign about it i liked :)

[ribeirasacra]

No one here has mentioned Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. It is the third most important Christian city, behind The Vatican and Jerusalem. That in our minds makes it the top city in Spain. It has been on the tourist trail, because of the Camino de Santiago, for over 1000 years.

[ValenciaSon]

No one has mentioned Valencia, the third largest city in Spain.

[zuri]

Zaragoza also worth a mention, but don`t go in Summer its very hot and winter its very cold, best around May or Sept, October.

[Legazpi]

Its also very relaxed place, no hassle, plenty of surf bars and everybody seems to be enjoying life there, its a very stress free place.

If i believed in God, my idea of heaven would be the beaches and town of Tarifa.

It's amazing to think that before somebody invented windsurfing, Tarifa apparently had the highest suicide rate in Spain! Something to do with the high winds sending people over the edge. Talk about an invention that saves lives!

[la vieja de la manga]

No one has mentioned Valencia, the third largest city in Spain.

OK - I'll mention Valencia - just 3 hours drive north for me. I love it there - wonderful architecture - especially Snr.Calatrava's 'stuff', excellent museums, art galleries, with superb beaches, golf and the albufera bird reserve. Food's pretty good too and the air clarity is amazing,

How's that VS - does it buy me cava next week ;)

[ValenciaSon]

OK - I'll mention Valencia - just 3 hours drive north for me. I love it there - wonderful architecture - especially Snr.Calatrava's 'stuff', excellent museums, art galleries, with superb beaches, golf and the albufera wildlife park. Food's pretty good too and the air clarity is amazing,

How's that VS - does it buy me cava next week ;)You got it!:thumbs-up:

[luliladewyoming]

No one mentioned San Sebastian? The north coast is amazing and SB's tapas are magnificent! Maybe you could end up here for 3 more relaxing days.

[MrMark]

Bilbao is up there, if we're talking nightlife, architecture and surrounding countryside. Only let down by its climate...

[zuri]

It's amazing to think that before somebody invented windsurfing, Tarifa apparently had the highest suicide rate in Spain! Something to do with the high winds sending people over the edge. Talk about an invention that saves lives!

Are you confused with Castilla La Mancha.

Almadovar features it in his films alot since he was brought up in Ciudad Real.He many story lines are taken from his childhood which he attributes to this famous wind of the region.

I`ve never heard the same stated for Tarifa.

[zuri]

No one mentioned San Sebastian? The north coast is amazing and SB's tapas are magnificent! Maybe you could end up here for 3 more relaxing days.

Don`t spoil it, its to small to have lots of tourists.