Seville (Sevilla in Spanish) is the largest city and capital of the southern region (AndalucΓa region) of Spain. Seville is my favorite city in Spain so far, though I still have much more of Spain to explore! While I was studying abroad in Madrid, I went on a weekend trip to Seville; here are some tips on how to enjoy a weekend in Seville:
How to Get to Seville From Madrid
By train:Β I went to Seville via the high-speed AVE trains. Head to Puerta De Atocha station in Madrid and take the train to theΒ Santa Justa train station inΒ Seville. The roughlyΒ two-and-a-half-hourΒ train ride is a nice way to see the different views from Madrid to the southern region of Spain.
You can also take a flight, or rent a car and drive there, but I enjoyed the train ride. I also noticed there weren’t many places to park in Seville, so I would keep that in mind if driving.
Where to stay
Hotel Don Paco
Situated in the center of Seville, Hotel Don Paco has it all!Β There’s aΒ rooftop with beautiful viewsΒ accompanied by a pool and reasonably priced drinks.
Where to play
Seville Cathedral
TheΒ third largest church in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site,Β and the largest Gothic cathedral. You don’t want to miss this landmark!Β I must warn there are a series of ramps to climbΒ to the top. But once you make it, you’ll get beautiful views of the city.
Metropol Parasol
Located in theΒ Old Quarter, this wooden structure provides interesting and modern architecture. There are four levels to explore. The street level hasΒ a public plaza and market; whileΒ the fourth level providesΒ aΒ panoramic balcony that offersΒ viewsΒ of the city. I didn’t go to the top but if you’re interested, admission is onlyΒ β¬3-4 and includes a free drink.
Casa de la Memoria
You can’t come to this beautiful city and not watch a flamenco show. Flamenco started in the southern region of Spain, so if you don’t catch a live performance then you’ve done yourself a disservice. Casa de la Memoria provides nightly live performances, as well as a museum dedicated to flamenco. You’ll want to book your tickets in advance as the venue is small and provides limited seating.
Plaza de EspaΓ±a
This is probably one of the most picturesque places in the city. Not to be confused with Madrid’s Plaza de EspaΓ±a; Seville’s Plaza de EspaΓ±a offers beautiful architecture at every corner!
Where to eat
Restaurante El Pequeno Almirante
I loved this place so much that I went twice! Not too far from Hotel Don Paco, I had the best Spanish cuisine and sangria at this restaurant.
