Andalucía by Train: Seville, Granada & Córdoba in 7 Days
Andalucía's three great cities — Seville, Granada and Córdoba — are separated by less than 3 hours on Spain's AVE high-speed network. Each is utterly distinct: Seville is operatic and slightly overwhelming; Granada is cooler, darker, more Moorish; Córdoba is compact, scholarly and underrated. A week connects all three without the need for a car.
Seville: Days 1–3
The Alcázar
Seville's UNESCO-listed royal palace is an active royal residence — which means it closes unpredictably for state visits. Book ahead and arrive when it opens. The Mudéjar palace interior is some of the most intricate decorative work in Europe.
La Giralda & Cathedral
The former minaret-turned-bell-tower offers panoramic views after a ramp (not stairs) to the top. The cathedral is the world's largest Gothic cathedral — Columbus is buried here (allegedly).
Barrio Santa Cruz
The old Jewish quarter: whitewashed alleys, orange trees, azulejo-tiled fountains. Beautiful and slightly unreal.
Tapas at their Finest
Seville's tapas culture is the best in Spain. El Rinconcillo (est. 1670, the oldest bar in Seville). Las Columnas for bacalao. Bar Eslava for presa ibérica.
Granada: Days 4–5
The Alhambra
Book the Alhambra 60–90 days ahead at alhambra-patronato.es — it sells out completely in peak season. The Nasrid Palaces are the centrepiece: 14th-century Islamic palace rooms of incomparable geometric intricacy. Allocate a full day; visit both morning and afternoon slots if possible.
Albaicín & Sacromonte
The ancient Moorish quarter climbs opposite the Alhambra, with whitewashed houses, tea houses (teterías) and the best free tapas in Spain — every drink ordered in Granada comes with a free tapa.
Córdoba: Days 6–7
La Mezquita
The 10th-century mosque-cathedral is one of the world's great buildings — a forest of 856 columns and double horseshoe arches in red-and-white marble. The 16th-century cathedral inserted within it is extraordinary in its own right.
Judería & Alcázar
The medieval Jewish quarter around the Mezquita is Córdoba's most atmospheric area. The Alcázar of the Christian Kings has stunning terraced gardens.
Where to Stay
Seville (Luxury): Hotel Alfonso XIII — a 1928 neo-Mudéjar palace built for King Alfonso XIII, with an Alhambra-esque courtyard. The most celebrated hotel in Andalucía.
Seville (Boutique): Lasso Hotel Seville is a beautifully converted noble house in Santa Cruz — rooftop pool, lovely courtyard, and a location you can't beat.
Granada (Luxury): Alhambra Palace Hotel stands on the Sabika hill with direct views of the Alhambra complex — a neo-Moorish gem that has hosted royalty and Nobel laureates.
Granada (Mid-range): Parador de Granada is Spain's most sought-after parador — a 15th-century Franciscan convent inside the Alhambra grounds. Book a year ahead.
Córdoba (Boutique): Casa de los Azulejos — a converted 18th-century palace decorated with hand-painted azulejo tiles, with a patio garden typical of old Córdoba.