Which Spanish cities to visit?

[SpainHoliday]

We have long fancied a holiday where we go to a selection of cities in Spain, probably travelling by train between them.

Which are the nicest Spanish cities to visit? Does anyone have any recommendations 😃

This year I went on holiday to the Catalan region and really liked it. I wouldn't have chosen the area we went to but some family live there and there was a bit of a family reunion.
I really liked it! Really like Tarragona which was a cool city with interesting Roman history. Really liked the countryside, lots of stunning mountains, lots of vineyards.
I had an amazing holiday in Barcelona as a student as well.

Would have to reiterate Seville. Food and drink was inexpensive but amazing, the city is beautiful and incredibly walkable. Went in January of this year and it was 21 degrees which was perfect

Cadiz. Beautiful, fabulous food and drink, views and ambience. The fish market is amazing and is surrounded on the outside by food kiosks selling excellent tapas of every kind. Lovely old 'tabancas' - traditional bars.
For people interested in Granada, it's a charming, sophisticated city and I think the only one which still serves a free tapa with your drink. For now, anyway. DS spent a year there at the university as part of his degree course and totally loved it.

My first holiday with dh was a circuit

Malaga- Tarifa- (boat to Tangier)- Cadiz-
Jerez- Seville- Granada- Malaga - it was excellent but the trains between all of the above are not that great. I am not sure there is one to Granada at all. We hired a car but intercity coaches are worth considering where there is no fast train

but whatever you do do not attempt to drive into (and park in) Seville in any circumstances. It was an early serious test on our relationship (15 years ago!)

we missed our Cordoba for some reason, I think not enough time. But if you visit one city in Spain I think it has to be Granada.

That must have been an experience. Central Seville is not a great place for cars. I am wondering what possessed you to drive in to the centre of Seville - it has a very good metro and tram system.

Well we had hired a car and didn’t feel comfortable leaving it on the outskirts I guess. Plus internet advice wasn’t as easy to get in the pre-smartphone era

but we certainly would not do so again

We had a hire car too when we made the mistake of driving in central Seville!! We thought we were headed for the carpark at el Corte Ingles but someone DH messed up the satnav and we ended up in miniscule streets where we had to pull in the wing mirrors to squeeze through!!

Won't be making that mistake again...!

https://ediblereading.com/2023/09/22/city-guide-granada-2023/

https://ediblereading.com/2021/11/16/city-guide-malaga-2021/

Something to whet your appetite.

I think trying to drive in Seville is the closest me and DH have ever got to splitting up.

Never, never again!!

Same here and we’d only been together about a month at that point

Jerez is lovely, and I enjoyed visiting Cadiz and Seville as well.

Intrigued about the free 2023 trains, I have a trip there planned later this year.

Meh, we always drive to these places on way to see family sometimes they are stressful, sometimes ok. With Seville I prebooked a long stay car park for the duration we were there and it was fine, we didn't use the car during that time. Not really that central though. When we go just for the day we often go central, we've parked centrally in Granada, Jerez and Malaga.

'Would have to reiterate Seville. Food and drink was inexpensive but amazing, the city is beautiful and incredibly walkable.'

We're going in October 😊 have heard so many rave reviews. Will do day trips to Cadiz and Cordoba too. Weather forecast looking a bit too hot so far but hope it will cool down!

62 posts and nobody's said "The one in Whitley Bay," I'm shocked!

https://spanishcity.co.uk/

Anyway, I had a week alongside in Cadiz, because of engine trouble. I loved it, wandering round the fortifications, down by the water, the fish market and generally excellent, low cost meals.

All gorgeous and/or interesting:
Madrid
Cordoba
Toledo
Granada
Cuenca
Valencia
Malaga

Look at Man in Seat 61 https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-spain.htm

Malaga, Cordoba, Seville are all amazing. I also absolutely loved Cadiz...it's got a bit of an edge but in a good way.

@Papillon23

The scheme only applies to Renfe trains.

The scheme was to help with the cost of living crisis and is aimed at - but not restricted to - commuters rather than tourists. Each region runs a separate scheme so even if you get a card for the Basque region, you'd need another for Andalucia.

The cards cost €10 for commuter trains and €20 for middle distance trains (roughly up to 180 miles). High speed trains are excluded. If you make 16 return journeys you can get your deposit back.

You can get the cards at the train station and it takes about 10 minutes to sort it out. You'll need to take your passport.

Extending the scheme to 2024 hasn't been ruled out but it hasn't been agreed yet either.

For other trains, this is a good article on how to get the best deals - train travel in Spain doesn't have to be expensive with a bit of planning ahead.

Thank you - that's super helpful :)

Whitley Bay was mentioned right near the start!!

DD currently in Seville on an art field-trip for her uni course. Her bag was nicked on day 1... containing pencils and brushes of probably no use to the thief. Bah.

We went to Granada in July- loved it but super hot!
I definitely want to go back to do Cordoba, Seville etc but not in summer,

San Sebastian is beautiful and foodie heaven. I recommend it.
I have friends who loved Valencia when they visited. I hope to go there one day.

Thanks all!