Seville- Ishbiliya, Spain Travel Guide
Seville - Sevilla in Spanish or Ishbiliya in Arabic
Seville or as we call it in Arabic “Ishbiliya” is one of the most visited cities in Spain. The city is unique with narrow alleys and Andalusian/ Arabic architecture.
Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of its largest cities.
Here are my recommendations, things we did, and places we tried that are worth mentioning during our 3-day stay in the city.
How to get to Seville?
Seville has an international airport “Aeropuerto de Sevilla”. We flew from Barcelona to Seville via “Vueling” and paid around $45/traveler with a carry-on bag. The journey was around an hour and a half. From the airport, you can take an uber or a bus to the city.
The train is another convenient option- you can take the train from the heart of city A and arrive in the heart of city B very easily. Renfe is the Spanish railway. You can download Renfe App and use it to find trips. Trains in Spain are very neat and comfortable, but they are pricier than flying, especially if you come from the north of Spain like us. Always check which option will make sense for you. Seville train station is “Santa Justa” and it is close to the city center.
Where to stay?
Location is very important during your stay in Seville. You need to be within walking distance of all the main attractions. The best location is where we stayed in the city center “Centro”. the area is safe, has a lot of activity, and is near the attractions.
Other areas to consider as well: Barrio Santa Cruz, El Arenal (near the Cathedral of Seville), Alameda, Tirana (nice area but a bit far from the historic area)
The Airbnb we stayed at in the Cetnro: Here
How to get around?
We stayed in the Centro, and we walked everywhere, however, the city has a very good transportation system. It has Trains, buses, trams, bikes, and scooters. You also can use Uber and it is affordable.
LANGUAGE AND COMUNICATION
Spanish is the main language. However, English is widely spoken and almost everywhere we went, we communicated in English (even when I tried to start a conversation in Spanish to practice, I get the answer in English)
Restaurants and coffee shops
Coffee:
Syra Coffee (pastries and coffee- must try the carrot cake)
Virgin coffee (hole in the wall near Setas Seville - very good coffee)
Parcería Café (next to the Marcado, brunch, and coffee- they offer iced coffee)
Syko Juice and coffee bar (Delicious coffee and juice)
Lila limón Pastelería: Bakery in the Seville mercado. Delicious pastries especially the cake.
Loco Polo: delicious Smoothies and popsicles
Food:
En La Espero Te Esquina: very delicious and fairly priced Tapa place. The grilled squid is a must
Maccheroni Alfalfa: Italian cuisine. The truffle pasta was amazing.
L'Orangier (Famous for brunch -didn’t try b heard a lot about)
Bodeguita Reyes Antonio Romero: Famous tapa place but didn’t try
Al Wadi: Halal and Middle Eastern food. If you get tired from Tapas, you can give the place a try. Very nice staff and delicious food.
La Mala Brunch: Healthy food, breakfast, and lunch
Royal Alcázar of Seville- Golden Dome of the Hall of Ambassadors
What to do in Seville?
Given the history of Seville, each corner has something unique to see. In 3 days, it is impossible to see everything the city has to offer. Here is what I would recommend doing in Seville:
Royal Alcázar of Seville: One of the main Seville landmarks. You will need about 3 hours to fully enjoy the palace. I recommend visiting in the afternoon (we booked a 5 pm entry); from my experience, it was less crowded. I also recommend booking the tickets online (€13.5/ticket- free on Mondays) in advance. The ticket includes entry to Bellver Museum, Antiquarivm, Triana Ceramic Museum, and San Jorge Museum
It is worth noting that the place was used to film some “Game of Thrones” scenes.
Catedral de Sevilla (Cathedral of Seville) and La Giralda (the church bell tower): The cathedral is one of the world's heritage sites and one of the largest churches in the world. It used to be a mosque during the Almohad period and La Giralda was the mosque minaret. The mosque was demolished, and the church was built. If you are going to Seville for the Islamic architecture from the Almohad period, you will notice the mosque courtyard which was used to perform ablution before prayers, the church main door (forgiveness door) which still has Arabic engravings, and the minaret (La Giralda).
Also, Christopher Columbus's tomb is inside the church
Plaza de Espana: There is always a free Flamengo performance in the plaza. Make sure to tip the dancers if you enjoyed the show
Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold): A military watch tower from the Almohad period. We enjoyed it from the outside. You will need to buy a ticket if you want to go inside
Avenida de la Constitución (Constitution Ave): Pedestrian Street with shops and restaurants
Setas de Seville: If you get some time, you can go up during the evening as they do a light show. Otherwise, you can enjoy it from the outside.
Parque de María Luisa: A beautiful park in Seville – you can walk, bike, or have a picnic. The park is large and includes museums and the Aquarium
Puente de Triana (Triana Bridge) and Triana neighborhood: The bridge is an iconic metal bridge over Canal de Alfonso. It connects Triana with the city center. Also, visit Mercado de Triana
Day trip to Cordoba: Visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba and walk in Cordoba's old city. This is a must in my opinion.
Other things to do:
Seville Museum of Fine Art
Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla: Bullfighting Arena
Acuario de Sevilla (Seville Aquarium)
Palacio de las Dueñas
Day trip to hike Caminito del Rey : A bucket list hike and it is about 2 hours away drive from Seville. There is also many guided tours that can pick you up from Seville. Tickets needs to be bought in advance
Caminito del Rey
Final Words
Seville is a very beautiful city, rich in history and filled with life. You won’t get tired of walking in its narrow streets, enjoying citrus tree scents and Jasmin flowers, and observing its unique Andalusian architecture. As a Middle Eastern person, I was so interested in the ruins from the Islamic period (From 711- 1429). Every city has its own unique style depending on who ruled it during the Islamic rule.
Keep in mind that some places may observe siesta (mid-day nap), remember this when you plan for your days in Seville. Also, restaurants close between lunch and dinner. Lunch in Seville is from 1 pm – 4 pm and it is the main meal of the day while dinner is from 8 pm – 11 PM (most dinner restaurants open after 8 pm). Dinner in Seville is lighter than lunch- mainly Tapa with drinks.
Let me know in the comment section below your thoughts about Seville.
