Seville (Sevilla in Spanish) is the largest city and capital of the southern region (Andalucía 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: I went to Seville via the high-speed AVE trains. Head to Puerta De Atocha station in Madrid and take the train to the Santa Justa train station in Seville. The roughly two-and-a-half-hour 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! There’s a rooftop with beautiful views accompanied by a pool and reasonably priced drinks.
Where to play
Seville Cathedral
The third largest church in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest Gothic cathedral. You don’t want to miss this landmark! I must warn there are a series of ramps to climb to the top. But once you make it, you’ll get beautiful views of the city.
Metropol Parasol
Located in the Old Quarter, this wooden structure provides interesting and modern architecture. There are four levels to explore. The street level has a public plaza and market; while the fourth level provides a panoramic balcony that offers views of the city. I didn’t go to the top but if you’re interested, admission is only €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 España
This is probably one of the most picturesque places in the city. Not to be confused with Madrid’s Plaza de España; Seville’s Plaza de España 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.
