27 Mar Andalucia Travel Guide (Part 1) – What to See in Seville
It is raining outside. It is raining so hard that from my window I can’t see more than 30 meters away.
The streets are flooded, my article on Milan has started, and my mind runs back to Andalucia.
From the moment I posted the first photo I started getting questions. Did you like it? What did you visit? Was it expensive? How did you manage without a car?
So starting today I will begin writing about the places that impressed me in Andalucia. Each place that made me smile and take extra pictures. Each place that pops into my mind when I think of Andalucia.
As you probably know by now, I have visited quite a few places, so my to-see guides will also include links to my tapas articles, details about transport and prices for the things I visited.
And my posts will contain my favorite pictures from all locations.
Better not keep you waiting, so let us start in…
Seville
After visiting Barcelona for the third time, I never thought another city would have such a big impact on me.
But then Seville appeared on my map and I was hooked from the moment I set foot in it.
I flew from Bucharest to Malaga with Wizzair and from the airport I took a train to Malaga train station.
From the start I must tell you that I used this amazing site and app, Loco2, for all my trips. The train ticket from Malaga Airport to Maria Zambrano (Malaga’s train station) cost a few euros and the line was direct and fast. The train ticket to Seville cost 43.60 euro and I bought it online from Loco2 before reaching Spain.
From the train station in Seville I took a taxi to the hotel and that cost me about 10-11 euro.
I could have taken a bus, then a cheaper train and walked or waited for the bus in Seville, but I had already been awake for about 16-17 hours and it was around 22:30, so I just wanted to reach my bed and sleep so I could start fresh the next day.
You can easily do this at a lower cost depending on your flight time to Malaga, but I chose the fastest way to reach Seville, not the cheapest, I admit that. Still, I was in Seville in 1:55 hours, so that was all that mattered to me.
I spent four amazing days in Seville, I saw amazing places, I ate delicious meals and I fell in love with the city.
What I will do below is tell you only about my must-see places. The places that impressed me the most. So if you had, through bad luck, only one day in Seville, this is what I would suggest.
Start your visit with the…
Real Alcazar de Sevilla
Do you enjoy beautiful buildings? Large gardens? Amazing colors? Palm trees? Fountains?
You’re in luck because the Alcazar in Seville has them all.
This is a pretty large complex and I would suggest going there first thing in the morning.
The reasoning is simple. Other paid, important attractions open later, so you will have some time to enjoy the Alcazar in peace, hopefully with fewer tourists as well.
5.50 euro for the ticket and I must honestly say that it is too cheap compared to what you will see inside and the amazing photos you can take if you are passionate about photography.
Tickets can be bought online and you should watch out for their Monday offer when the entrance is free, from what I remember.
Even though I am a fast walker, I still managed to stay inside the Alcazar for quite some time, fascinated by how beautifully the colors of the buildings blended with the green of the trees and plants.
This place is beautifully maintained, and everything inside deserves a visit. Here you have a map of the complex and I am serious when I say you should visit this place for 1:00-2:00 hours, depending on how fast you move, to enjoy all it has to offer.
The palaces, the patio, the gardens, all are wonderful works of art and you will not regret spending time in this amazing complex.
After finishing the visit you will come out, walk a few meters and reach the…
Seville Cathedral
From the start let me tell you that this place is amazing. I rank it much higher than Notre Dame in Paris and above the Milan Duomo as well.
As usual, Mondays are free (with some conditions) and the ticket price for the Cathedral is 9 euro. You can buy the tickets from here and I would strongly advise the following: buy the first option. Cathedral, Giralda and Salvador ticket priced at 9 euros.
Not only will you get to see the Cathedral, but you will also gain access to two more amazing places: the Giralda tower, right next to the Cathedral, and the Salvador Church, which is about 500-550 meters away.
Try to pick 11:00 (the opening hour) as your visiting time. When you reach the Cathedral there will be two lines. One for internet tickets (print them at home or at the hotel before going to the Cathedral) and one for people standing in line to buy tickets. The really huge line is for people without electronic tickets, so do yourself a favor and buy yours before getting there.
I managed to be the second person inside the Cathedral and had some time to admire its beauty in silence before people started coming in.
Regarding the Cathedral, all I can say is WOW. I was used to English, French and Italian churches, but the churches I saw in Spain are something different. They are truly grand. By walking inside, seeing the paintings, frescoes, statues and elaborate works of art, you understand why Spain was such a great empire with an amazing history behind it.
After finishing your tour of the Cathedral, step out and walk inside the…
Giralda
I won’t write all the details and the history behind the tower, but I will say this: the long walk up (yes… no elevator) is totally worth it.
However long the walk is, there are no steps, so that makes it easier. The inclining ramps all the way up to the top of the tower are wide, so you won’t feel claustrophobic on the way up.
You will have an amazing view of Seville due to the fact that the tower is 100 meters high and has been the tallest structure in Seville for many years.
Due to its location you can see all the old neighborhoods and understand how the city is organized.
The visit is included in the ticket as I said above (if you selected that particular ticket) and it would be a shame not to see Seville from above.
After descending the tower you have two options. I will detail first the option linked to Seville Cathedral, then I will point out the other option and let you choose the order in which to see them.
Iglesia de El Salvador
Before entering this place I felt that nothing could really amaze me anymore. I had seen churches in many countries, cathedrals, Duomos, so I felt I was prepared.
I wasn’t.
Iglesia de El Salvador is unique. I never saw anything like it in my life and I seriously doubt I will again.
As you probably saw on my website, I never take photos inside churches. But here I simply had to do it.
The monumental work, the carvings, the gold, the sheer amount of work and talent left me in awe.
To make it even better, inside the Iglesia there were some of the carts used for the Semana Santa processions and I got to admire the delicate and intricate work on them from close range too.
Even if you are not a believer, even if you don’t enjoy visiting churches, this one is simply spectacular and it is already included in your 9 euro ticket, so go ahead and see it.
After this visit you can retrace your steps or you can see the next thing after exiting Giralda, before moving to the Iglesia.
The next place I loved in Seville is…
The Jewish quarter(La Juderia)
Small colored houses? Check. Twisting alleys? Check. Orange trees and palm trees? Check.
You will love it here.
I visited this area two times. Once later in the afternoon and once in the morning. My morning visit was simply great due to the fact that no tourists had arrived yet and I was able to take as many photos as I wanted from all the angles I wanted.
If you’re pressed for time or just want to see Seville in a day, you can go here anytime, but if you’re spending two whole days in this beautiful city, I would start one day with the Alcazar and the other with the Jewish Quarter.
Yes, they are only a few meters away and you can squeeze them in quickly one after the other, but if you love clear photos, no people in them or just want to see peaceful empty streets, come in the morning.
The advantage of coming later in the day is that all the shops are open, restaurants are welcoming both tourists and locals, and the place feels much more alive.
If you’re hungry after all this walking, there are a few good restaurants in the Cathedral area and you can check my experiences with them here.
From the Jewish Quarter your steps can take you to…
Plaza de Espana
I think this place is one of the most photographed places in Seville. Even before reaching the city I looked on the internet, on maps, in books, and there it was.
And rightfully so.
This place is truly beautiful. The architecture, the water, the peaceful atmosphere all come together to create a lovely place that you should try to see if you reach Seville.
Due to the fact that it was Semana Santa and the first day of processions (I think), the little boats on the water were closed, so I couldn’t row close to the buildings and study them from up close.
Even so, this place is superb, beautifully built and the colors are so alive…
There is no ticket here but, as you might have guessed, it can get a bit crowded. Don’t be upset. If you have a little patience, you will get a good place from which you can admire the magnificent architecture.
There you have it. Six places that you should visit when in Seville if you are pressed for time.
However, I would suggest you make more time for Seville. This is the kind of city you will love walking through. The streets, the colored buildings, the many places to stop and eat, Seville offers beautiful things for all kinds of travelers.
If you weren’t pressed for time, I would suggest heading over to the Macarena walls and visiting the Basilica de la Macarena. Another stunning place that you will surely enjoy.
You could also visit the Puente de Isabel II or head over for a quick stroll in Triana, maybe Seville’s proudest neighborhood.
Also, I did not know whether to bring this up here because of the mixed feelings people might have, but this is a guide to the city after all, so…
Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla
Whether you like it or not, bullfighting is part of Spanish culture. And Seville still has large bullfights a few times each year.
Since I visited the Maestranza on a Monday, I entered for free, took my ticket, got out and waited for the designated hour to go in.
A guide walks with you on a half-hour tour of one of the most famous bullfighting rings in Spain, telling stories about matadors and bulls, showing you the museum and letting you admire the arena.
I won’t insist too much on this subject, but even if I don’t enjoy bullfighting, I visited this place because it gave me a better understanding of the traditions and history of Spain.
Seville is done for now, but join me in the next parts and read about many more places in this beautiful part of Spain.
This was just the beginning of my Andalusia trip. You can continue with Part 2 where I explore Cadiz, Cordoba, Ronda and Setenil, or jump directly to Part 3 for Granada, Nerja and Malaga.
You can also find all my experiences across Spain in my Spain Travel Guide.
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