Hello,

I've got two weeks to spend in Spain during the holidays (12/23-1/4) and I'm having difficulties planning and need help. I'm trying to see as much as I can but I don't want to be running mad around the entire country. I want to base myself in Madrid and venture off from there. At this point I have Madrid (so many museums), Barcelona (I have to see La Sagrada Familia), Valencia (El CID) and Granada (La Alhambra) on my itinerary. Any suggestions on how much time I should spend in each and what I can see would be much appreciated. Sorry if this seems like such a long question but it's my first time in Spain and I want to make sure it's special.

Thanks!

Hey ricky17, sounds cool

Hmmmmm, your question is not long but it is very broad and hard to answer as it is all-encompasing.

The places you mention have all been discussed on this board (and are excellent choices) so you should spend a good deal of time here looking around before you come over.

Try doing some SEARCHES

The more you read the board and research your trip, the more you will get out of it.

Saludos,
jer...

Jer is right, the subject is very broad. We took a similar trip this March, so I might be able to suggest some things.

How are you planning to travel? We took the train: Madrid->Zaragoza->Barcelona->(via night train)->Granada->Sevilla->(via AVE)Madrid.

Except for the overnight train from Barcelona to Granada, only one trip (Zaragoza->Barcelona) was longer than 4 hours. We stopped in Zaragoza because it's halfway between Madrid and Barcelona, breaks a 7 hour train trip in half.

I noticed you listed Valencia. I visited Valencia many years ago, but in addition to knowing that El Cid recaptured the city from the Moors, I don't know what other El Cid-related aspects are there (much more are in Burgos).

If you are going to go to Barcelona, I strongly urge you to go and have a day up at Montserrat.

They have now finished and opened the �New Rack-Railway� to take over the work of the old Teleferico, and it is simply one of the most Awesome rides up a Mountain that you will ever have.

I�ve just come back from Barcelona, and I always take a day out to go up there and totally relax & unwind.

The New Rack Railway is called El cremallera de Montserrat, cremallerademontserrat.com
And you just go to the RENFE side of plaza de Espa�a, look for the �R5� Train to Manresa, ask for the return ticket for Montserrat via Monistrol station, you will then be called on the Tannoy when you get there and told to get out & change on to the new Rack Railway at Monistrol, and the cost of the return ticket including the ride up the Mountain is �11.80.

When you are up there, you can take the funicular and go all the way to the top for an extra �6.20 Return, and if you have never been on a near Vertical Funicular Railway up to the top of a 1,275 Metre Mountain, then you, re in for a real Surprise, it�s breathtaking up there, and you can even walk on one of the many paths and go up even further, which is great if you like to practice some photography, because the views from up there are Awesome.

Also, you could go up to �Mont Tibidabo� for a few hours, or Park Guell, or el Castillo de MONTJUIC, or the Spanish village perhaps, but definitely top of the list is a day at Montserrat.

The journey up on the New Rack Railway, is quite Staggering to say the least, and is an amazing feat of engineering, the New station that they have built up on the main level of the complex, is very impressive, and does not really spoil the original look of the Mountain as it was before, when they had only the cable car to go up on, which was a bit scary at times.

I'd like to post a Picture here to show you, but I just can't do it, so if you would like to see more of Montserrat, let me know, and I'll send some Pics over by mail.

I'll post some more Info & Links here later tonight on other things & places of interest, like this for example; tuspain.com/alhambra.htm
tuspain.com/travel/global.htm
http://www.conocerespanya.com/

for the church of the Holy family, Master piece of the great Antonio Gaudi, go here:-
sagradafamilia.org

For just �7.00 euros, you can go in to the "Spanish Village" at Montjuic, right next to the Royal Palace, click here for "Pueblo Espanyol" I assure you, a visit here is worth every penny, whatever your interests may be, you can get a decent lunch, great souvenirs, fascinating art work, a great place for photography. Try it, you'll like it.




:cheers: