Although
all of the above listed cities can be reached by bus I only
recommend you take the bus to Carmona. There are many direct
trains to Cádiz, Granada and Córdoba, and you can find more
information on trains in my transportation
section.
I recommend spending at the most 2 days in Córdoba. The
Mezquita should be first on your list,
while the alcazar just down the street from the mezquita
is worth a trip but nowhere close to what you'll see
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in the
alcazar in Seville. Of interest across the street from the
Alcazar are some recently discovered Arab
baths. Include the Roman bridge
and a trip through the streets close to the mezquita in
your first day. There are plenty of hotels and cheap hostels
located around the mezquita, with the cheaper being further
away. You can easily get away with a day trip here if you
arrive early, but if you'd like to see the ruins of the
Medina
Azahara, a Moorish palace and city on the outside
of town, it may be best to spend a night and then part of
the second day exploring the ruins. You could then return
to Seville or go onto Granada. When in Córdoba there are
two restaurants I can recommend, although both are on the
expensive side. El Caballo Rojo is next to the Mezquita
and is quite expensive, but is one of Córdoba's (and Spain's)
best restaurants. They are famous for salmorejo
or try ajoblanco, a white gazpacho made with almonds.
Casa Pepe is also another alternative and a bit cheaper.
If you ask for either place locals will know and can direct
you. For some pictures check out the Córdoba
Photo Album.
Plan to spend at least two days in Granada, although much
more time could be spent here if you wish to explore both
the nightlife and and the Sierra Nevadas.
First on the list is of course the Alhambra.
Aside
from telling you to buy your tickets at least a day in advance,
More information on buying your tickets can be found at
the BBVA
ticket information page. Or you can purchase your tickets
online at Alhambratickets.com.
You may wish to spend the whole day exploring the Alhambra,
and include the Mirador de San Nicolas
and the old Arab quarter in the same day.
If the Alhambra takes up one day You can spend the next
day to cover the Cathedral and Capilla Real, and then head
up through the Arab quarter and the Mirador de San Nicolas
later that day. There are some excellent Moroccan restaurants
in the old Arab quarter which could be a nice break between
morning and afternoon. For pictures of the Alhambra check
out my Granada Photo
Album.
Depending on what you want to do in Cádiz you may
be able to make this a day trip. If you are interested in
the sites of Cádiz and not hitting the beach you can catch
an early morning train and come back that evening. Trains
leave almost every hour from Seville's Santa Justa train
station. Check out the transportation
section for more information. If you are going for the sites
and stay over on a Saturday night consider taking one of
the double-decker tour buses. I know it sounds silly, but
if you purchase an 8€ ticket on Saturday morning it
is good for the whole weekend. You can get on and off the
bus as much as you like, making it easier to see the whole
city. You can catch the bus (two companies run identical
routes) about 100 meters from the Cathedral if you head
towards the ocean. The Cathedral, the surrounding
plaza and the roman ampitheatre can be covered in about
1-2 hours. Nearby you can see the Cárcel
Real, or Royal Prison and head towards the beach
if you want to take in the sun. There are also a few bars
on the beach if you plan to stay a little longer.
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Most
of the sites are along the water. I recommend using the
walkway by the Playa de La Caleta to see
the outside of the Castillo de San Sebastian.
Just watch out for the sea spray in a few places. It appears
they are renovating the Castillo grounds but I have no information
on when they will open. After you walk back you can stop
by the Antiguo Balneario de la Palma, former
refuge of the well-to-do and setting for the latest James
Bond movie. Also include the gardens and parks in Parque
Genovés and Alameda Apodaca.
Include time for a drink in one of the park cafes with views
of the other towns and cities across the sea if you have
time.
I can offer less information on Málaga as I spent a day
and a half there. It is a place to hit the beach, although
most people head to Torremolinos or other
beaches just outside of Málaga. The center of the city is
the best place to be. We stayed in an NH hotel mainly because
there was a reduced price and
we were
heading to the airport in the morning. I do not recommend
this hotel if you want to see Málaga itself, as it is further
from the center. To eat there are a few well known places
on the beach where you can get fresh seafood, including
sardines roasted over a fire.
For
sites the Alcazar located on the hills
above is a great visit and provides views of the city and
surrounding beaches. On a trip through the historic center
you can take in the cathedral and other buildings. More
information is coming soon. To see a few pictures of Málaga
check out my (limited) photo
album. |
