I consider Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish) one of the most beautiful cities I have been to in Spain. The city is filled with Arabic and Mediterranean architecture, various lush and colorful parks, and picturesque streets lined with boutiques, terraces, and greenery. Also, you can expect pretty great weather given it’s located in the south of Spain. After our visit there last Christmas, I can see why this is such a popular tourist spot and a frequent filming spot (e.g., Star Wars, Game of Thrones). SGDF and I only had 2 full days in Sevilla so we really focused on seeing as much as we could and the major attractions.

Day 1
SGDF and I arrived from Madrid via the high speed train to Sevilla Sta. Justa. We stayed at Ayre Hotel Sevilla, located across the street from the train station, since we wanted to be close to the station given we only had 2 days. It is only a mile away from the city center but also there are several buses (e.g. C2, 32) that go into the center.

After we checked in, we ventured into the city center. Sevilla has several parks and gardens located in the center and outskirts. We walked by one called Jardines de la Buhaira on our way to Plaza de España. This plaza is by far the most impressive plaza I have ever seen.

The circular wall (see image above) is lined with different sections that have different murals and mosaics, each representing one of the provinces of Spain. You can see a close-up in the image below. We spent at least an hour wandering around the plaza, crossing the various bridges, staring at the boats you can pay to ride in, and people watching at one of the province sections.

 

After wandering around Plaza de España, we went to the nearby Parque de Marie Luisa. This scenic park was once intended only for the Spanish Royalty so it was grand, intricate, and striking. We spent the rest of the late morning relaxing by Plaza de América and passing through Isla pájaros (area with a bunch of different types of birds), Fuente las ranas (fountains with different frog statues), and Jardín de los leones (garden area with pools of water surrounded by lion statues).

 

If only we had more time, this was a perfect spot for a run, bike ride (few areas where you can rent a bike), or picnic. Instead, SGDF and I continued our tour and headed to Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, a beautiful plaza with many shops, restaurants, and the Catedral y Giralda (see below).

Tip: Be sure to look up the hours for the Cathedral since it differs based on the day. The tower opens from 2:30-5 or 6, and offers a 360 view of Sevilla.

 

We ran out of time to visit the Cathedral, but it’s on my list for next-time. The Cathedral recommend visiting and then to check out the cathedral, which also houses the grave of Christopher Columbus.

Since we arrived after the tower closed, we explored the Barrio de Santa Cruz and ended up at the Mercado de la Encarnación (see image below). This market is known for the beautiful white structure, which you can find acrobatic shows with acrobats. It is also in an area great for shopping and to stop to have a snack or drink.

We headed towards the river and stopped by the Plaza de Armas, an indoor plaza with some shops.

In Spain, it is typical to have a drink or a snack before eating dinner. For those who know me, you know that I love eating before eating so I absolutely love this custom. We stopped by a bar to have a cocktail and also wait it out until our dinner spot, La Azotea to open. Tip: Best to get there before they open to queue. I can see why there was a wait because all the food was amazing. Nothing like a great meal to end the day.
Day 2
In the late morning, SGDF and I headed to the Real Alcazar. It was insanely crowded that we considered leaving but this is the main attraction in Sevilla. Luckily, the queue moved quickly, but here is a tip, make reservations or book tour group to jump the queue.

Entrance fee was 9.5 euros and audio guides were 5 euros. We were at the Alcázar for ~3 hours, but we easily could have spent more time there relaxing or admiring the amazing architecture or beautiful gardens.

I can see why Game of Thrones selected this place as one of the kingdoms. It was incredible to walk around this once royal palace. This palace really shows the mix of Arabic and western influences down to the minor details. I was in awe of architecture, design, and details that went into the walls, roof, and garden (see image below)

It reminded me of the Alhambra in Granada but with a remarkable garden area.

I wish we had more time in the Alcázar, but we realized it was getting late for lunch. We grabbed a quick bite up the road from the Plaza de Virgen, which wasn’t bad considering how touristic the area was. After lunch, we headed to the Plaza de Toro, which is also another GoT spot (when they had the pit fights). Bull fighting is still popular in Sevilla, but despite the tradition, I still don’t think I can stomach going to one.

We walked along the river and went to Torre del Oro and paid the small fee to go to the top for a better view of the city. The tower isn’t very tall but still great to see the city from a bird’s eye view.

We walked across Puente del Isabel II towards Barrio de la Triana, which is across the river from the city center. We again decided to grab a drink before dinner and also catch the sunset at this bar called El faro de Triana. They have an amazing terrace with a view of Sevilla and the river, but just make sure to ask first before heading up to the terrace.

After the sunset, we wandered around Triana, mainly down its Main Street before
heading back to Barrio de Santa Cruz to get dinner. We tried another recommended restaurant called Dos de Mayo. This is not your typical sit-down restaurant. You need to order at the bar and wait for your order to be called (don’t expect anyone to take your order).

We then headed back to pack up before heading to Córdoba the next day. Until next time Sevilla!