96 hours in Sevilla, Spain.
FINALLY! A trip with my mom! After all these years of travelling, my mom has decided to come along for an adventure. Back in 2013, she helped buy my first ticket overseas, so it’s only right to take her where my need to travel all started, SPAIN. We started and ended our week in Madrid and spent 4 days in Sevilla. Sevilla is absolutely magical, from the history to the culture to the food. Every corner you turn down is just as beautiful as the last, every tapa you eat is just as delicious as the last and everywhere you go there’s so much history to learn. The streets of Sevilla have relaxed vibe to them when compared to Madrid. Even when busy, there isn’t this rush of urgency to be somewhere. In the evenings, there’s a presence of enjoying the present by gathering with friends or family and indulging in delicious food and cold sangria.
TRANSPORTATION: From Madrid to Sevilla is about a 6 hour car drive. You have different options to get from point A to B. You can rent a car, buy a bus ticket or take the train. We didn’t want to waste too much time, so we decided to take the train. Very easy to do and cost about 65 euros each, round trip. Once in Sevilla, we took a cab to our Airbnb. The taxi system in Spain is excellent. It’s very organized and like Uber, you are told the set price for the trip. Getting around Sevilla is really easy and walkable. Downloading a city map from Google Maps is very handy, especially with the locations that that you want to visit. I was able to save all the restaurants and attractions onto my map and get directions to each place without having to use Wi-Fi. We did so much walking, that our legs were always sore the next day but it was totally worth it. We found the cutest streets, cafes, bars, bakeries and restaurants, taking a cab or the bus seemed pointless.
WHERE TO STAY: We scored on the cutest Air Bnb money can buy. A one bedroom apartment located in one of the cutest alleys and decorated with little touches of pink. Carlos, helps his daughter tend to the apartment. He is one of the sweetest men you’ll ever meet. He’ll be waiting for your arrival with a map and list of locations and places to eat. The location is in a great location and walking distance to everything you wan to see. The streets are safe and never busy. The apartment is very clean, organized, and cozy. We made sure to stop at a bakery and buy fresh pan dulce to eat in the morning with our coffee before starting the day. This place really made our experience in Sevilla really special!
WHERE TO EAT: With so many dishes to try, from pallea, tostas, stuffed olives, steak and seafood. Finding the best places to eat can be tricky though. Touristy places have a high chance of serving frozen food versus the smaller places have more authentic dishes. In the morning, sitting at a bakery, eating fresh pastries with coffee is a must to start your day. Breakfast isn’t big in Spain, so save your appetite for lunch & a late dinner. Mercados (markets) filled with tiny restaurants is the best concept ever made. My first time experiencing one was in Mexico City. When I came across one in Madrid and Sevilla, there was no need to go anywhere else. Mercado Lonja del Barranco is beautifully decorated and packed with delicious food. It’s also located near a canal, you can enjoy your food and drinks, and enjoy the view.
Comercio Calle Lineros, 9, 41004 Seville, Spain
Mamarracha Calle Hernando Colón, 1, 41004 Seville, Spain
Mercado Lonja del Barranco, Calle Arjona, s/n, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
Cerveceria La Sureña, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
Churreria San Pablo desde 1960, Calle Murillo, 26, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
Confitería Los Ángeles, Calle Adriano, 2, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
Bar Baratillo | Tapas por la Maestranza, Calle Adriano, 20, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
WHAT TO DO: Sevilla, like most cities in Spain, is rich in history and culture. There’s so much to see and do, we definitely needed the four days to do it all.
1. The Cathedral & La Giralda: Whether you’re religious or not, walk into any church you see. The alters are incredibly decorated and it’s a nice way to get out of the heat. If its not your thing, I would recommend going to see the Cathedral. Its the second biggest after the Vatican and is the world’s largest gothic church. Once you walk in, you are in complete awe of this Cathedrals majesty and beauty. The alters are beautifully decorated and designed and located inside is Christopher Columbus’s tomb. I’m not a fan of Columbus but the tomb itself is held up by four kings. Rumor has it that some of his bones are mixed with those of his brother, and the rest of them are in Santo Domingo. Attached to the Cathedral is the Giralda tower. The only way up is walking up a continuous spiral uphill of about 18 floors. The walk is totally worth it once your at the top and have a birds eye view of all of Sevilla.
2. Real Alcazar: four words to live by; BUY TICKET IN ADVANCE!!
This place is very popular and the line wraps around the building. We didn’t buy tickets in advance, and I wasn’t about to stand in line for hours and hours in the heat. So I went online as we waited and bought tickets online for a 4pm tour. The Alcázar is a royal palace in that was built for King Peter of Castile. After the Christian conquest of Seville, the Abbadid Muslim residential fortress was destroyed and rebuilt by the Castilian Christians. The Palace was decorated with Muslim details and windows with silhouettes of Allah. This palace is very special mainly because two religions coexisting in one place. There’s also a beautiful garden that you can spend all day in.
3. The Plaza de Espana: Located in the Parque de María Luisa and built in 1928. Described as one of Seville’s most impressive sights, the plaza measures at 50,000 square meters. Only a twenty minute walk from Seville Cathedral, this is one of Seville’s more popular locations and with a canal measuring 500 meters, the plaza is known as ‘the Venice of Seville’. It is a magnificent sight and a must see, with its colored ceramics and 48 tiled alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain. This attraction is not only popular with tourists and visitors as it has been used for the location of a number of films including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.
4. Las Setas (Metropol Parasol): The largest wooden structure in the world and located down below is a museum with Roman remains that were found during the beginning of construction. The best park is the three euro price to up to the top and walk along this waffle like structure. There’s also a bar at the top where you can sot for a while and enjoy the view.
5. Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador: This beautiful church was built between 1674 and 1712 on the site of Muslim Ishbiliya’s main mosque. Located inside are enormous alters decorated beautifully with gold & silver, sculptures that are hand carved, and stained glassed windows.
WHAT TO WEAR: Sevilla was extremely hot, to the point that you can physically feel the sun tanning your skin. Its important to pack sunblock or buy some once you arrive in Spain. Definitely were light, fabrics that are breathable and comfortable walking shoes. All these outfits are under 60 dollars and all worked out great. The striped button dress is from Target, from the Who What Wear collection. The shorts and light blazer are from H&M. The lace white dress and the yellow ruffle dress both were found online at Nordstrom on sale, both under $60.
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