Madrid → Seville → Granada
In 60 seconds
The route in 60 seconds
Spain's capital, then south to Andalucía: Madrid for the Prado and late nights, Seville for the Alcázar and tapas, Granada for the Alhambra beneath the snow of the Sierra Nevada. The high-speed train makes Madrid to Seville a morning; Seville to Granada is a slower, scenic run.
Stops
Where you sleep
Granada
Spain
The Alhambra and the Albaicín at sunset.
Day by day
How the days fall
The order we would follow, with the transfers already in the right place.
Day 1
MadridThe Prado and the Retiro.
- Morning
Museo del Prado
Book ahead and go at opening.
- Afternoon
The Retiro
The Crystal Palace and the lake.
Day 2
MadridPalace and old Madrid.
- Morning
Royal Palace
The state rooms and the armoury.
- Evening
La Latina
Tapas along the Cava Baja.
Day 3
Madrid → SevilleSouth by high-speed train.
- Morning
Train to Seville
From Atocha, about two and a half hours.
- Evening
Santa Cruz
The lanes of the old Jewish quarter at dusk.
Day 4
SevilleAlcázar and cathedral.
- Morning
Real Alcázar
Book the first slot.
- Afternoon
The cathedral and the Giralda
Walk the ramps up the tower.
- Evening
El Rinconcillo
The city's oldest bar.
Day 5
Seville → GranadaEast to Granada.
- Morning
Train to Granada
About three hours and a quarter.
- Evening
Mirador de San Nicolás
The Alhambra at sunset from the Albaicín.
Day 6
GranadaThe Alhambra.
- Morning
The Nasrid Palaces
At your timed slot; allow half a day for the whole site.
- Afternoon
The Generalife gardens
The summer palace and its water gardens.
Day 7
GranadaThe old quarters.
- Morning
The Albaicín
The old Moorish quarter's white lanes.
- Afternoon
The Royal Chapel
The tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella.
Transport
Between destinations
- Madrid → SevillaTrainAbout 2 h 30–3 h
High-speed trains from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Sevilla Santa Justa, several an hour at peak times.
- Sevilla → GranadaTrainAbout 3 h 15
Renfe trains from Sevilla Santa Justa to Granada; the fastest current services take about 3 h 13, with only a few a day.
Highlights
Key experiences
If the trip is cut short, these are the four to protect.
Las Meninas at the Prado
Velázquez, Goya and the Spanish masters in one morning.
The Real Alcázar
Mudéjar courtyards and long gardens in Seville.
A tapas crawl
Standing at the bar, one plate and one drink per stop.
The Nasrid Palaces
The heart of the Alhambra; tickets are timed and sell out.
Stay
Where to stay
- Madrid
- Sol and the Barrio de las Letras, between the Puerta del Sol and the Prado.
- Seville
- Santa Cruz or El Arenal, beside the Alcázar and the cathedral.
- Granada
- The Albaicín for views, or the centre near the cathedral for flat streets.