Andalucia is the perfect place to escape, get lost, and enjoy idle hours wandering along winding lanes, hoping to catch a few notes of flamenco playing around the next corner. If you're spending a few days or even a week in southern Spain, put Seville at the top of your list. While you can cover Granada in a day, maybe two... Seville is the perfect place to dig in and spend at least 3 days (more if you have them).
Get ready to be transported back in time, or maybe visit another world (one Game of Thrones fans will no doubt be excited to see), and let's explore all that Seville has to offer. This second part of my Seville Victinerary will focus on how to really relax into Seville and make the most of an extra day there!
GETTING THERE
For info on how to get to Seville by train or by air, and how to transfer from those locations to your hotel, check out my Seville Part 1 Victinerary
THE VICTINERARY - Part 2
Day 3 - If you followed along for Part 1, you got a lot done in your first few days in Seville. Today is for taking the city at a slower pace and enjoying some of the history and views in a more relaxed way.
Start your day at the Plaza España. It's an easy 25 minute walk through town from your hotel near Plaza Nueva, but you can also grab the tram right from Plaza Nueva and ride all the way to Prado de San Sebastian. Then just walk across the park to reach the Plaza.
Tram Fare: € 1.20 per ride. Purchase tickets from the machines at each station, then stamp on the tram once you board.
This grand building was created for the world's fair in 1929. It predominately holds government offices now, so while it's a beautiful place to walk around and an iconic Seville landmark, it won't take you that long to explore. If you have time later in the day, come back at dusk for some sunset photos. Otherwise, stroll through more of the park as you walk back into the center of town.
Now that you've had your walk outside for the morning, it's time to get some shade. A perfect way to do that is to take the Sevilla Walking Tours Cathedral Tour. This massive church is Guinness Book of World Records big and has a lot of interesting history that is worth having a guide for. Don't forget to check out Christopher Columbus' tomb, or to climb the bell tower (Giralda) after the tour.
On this day, my travel companions and I took a leisurely late start to to the morning, so we had lunch after the tour. You can easily swap this around if you get hungry before though!
Tour Times: Mon / Wed / Fri at 1:00 pm, tours run for about 70 minutes
Meeting Location: In front of the main statue in the middle of Plaza del Triunfo (Virgin Mary on top of a white column).
Price per person: € 12, but if you took the city tour, you get a €2 discount on the Cathedral tour!
Before or after your tour, pull up a chair at one of the many shaded tables for lunch at Casa Robles, located right around the corner from the Cathedral on Calle Conteros.
Now you've been outside, seen some sights, and had some lunch, so do as the Spanish do and take a siesta. Afterwards, put on your walking shoes and head across the river to explore the Triana neighborhood. Cross over the Puente de Isabel II and take a walk through the local covered market (on your right as you cross the bridge). If you are on the lookout for some beautiful ceramic goodies to take home, take the first street on your right to find the shop below. I still use the spoon rest I picked up here in my kitchen!
Take a winding stroll through the back lanes, stopping at more shops or local bars for some tapas. Whichever way you go, end up next to the Church of Santa Ana. If you're in town for Holy Week, you'll see two big floats walked through the streets dedicated to the two Virgin Mary's of Seville (the Virgen de la Macarena and La Esperanza de Triana). One is located here, so take a peek inside if you can.
Afternoon Hours: Monday to Friday, 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Entrance Fee / Donation Request: € 2,
After your walk, go across the street from Santa Ana to take a seat in the courtyard and enjoy dinner al fresco at Bar Bistec.
After dinner, walk back towards the other side of the river by crossing over the Puente San Telmo. We made it just in time for sunset, and the view of the water and the the glowing Torre del Oro on the right was the perfect way to end a relaxing day. As you continue along the relatively straight avenue back to Plaza Nueva, you'll notice that everyone is out for the evening Paseo (walk). The streets will be full for most of the evening, the shots I have below full of people were taken at 10:30 pm, little kids included!
The Map
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT
See the Seville Part 1 Victinerary for more information on my recommended hotel, Suites Seville Plaza
I hope this look at how to extend your stay in Seville inspires you to explore this amazing city and really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. If you follow my footsteps or even just use one of the suggestions, please let me know in the comment section below about your experience!
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Thanks for coming along, and check back every week for a new Victinerary to help plan your next adventure!
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(All photos taken in the Summer of 2014 with my Nikon D5300 & Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f3.5-5.6 lens)
