Nathan:

Fly from Barcelona to Granada. Read Buying Alhambra Tickets Online.

There are frequent buses from Granada to Seville.

Take the AVE from Seville to Madrid. Read Buying Renfe Tickets Online.

You can do a day trip to Toledo from Madrid. Read the top question about this day trip in the Madrid forum.

Make sure you go and listen to flamenco in the caves when you are in granada and watch the sun set for one of the viewing cafes overlooking the Alhambra. Trains to Santa Justa , the main station of Seville are fairly frequent, pay a trip to Calle Betis to see Triana and make sure that you visit Plaza de espana and the Parque de marie lusis. The museo de Bellas Artes has the second most important art collection in Spain and is housed in a beautiful building

nixie:

For me the Plaza de España is the most beautiful square in Spain. I always visit it whenever I go to Seville and look for the benches of Malaga.

I also always visit the Museo de Bellas Artes, one of the best fine arts museums in Spain.

Thank you Bennie and Nixie and Nurioopta. Much appreciated!

Flying - Ordinarily I agree but the flight times don't work. We are de-boating a cruise and will miss the early flights. The next flight after 09:00 is 19:45. We'd prefer not to spend another day in Barcelona.

Given that, can you share with me your opinion on either:

Renting car and driving to Granada?

--- could stop in Valencia and/or Murcia

--- a brutal drive but it would be our only driving day in a 20 day trip

--- freedom to just toss bags in backseat and go

Train to Granada?

---easy, relaxing, arguably cheaper but long (10hrs)

I am leaning towards getting the car and driving. It costs us a day but seems the most pleasantly adventurous. I would be interested to hear what you think.

Nathan:

If you want to drive, read the Driving Guide for Foreigners.

Valencia - See the City of Arts and Sciences. You may want to do an overnight here.