Introduction
Spain has always been a favourite european destination of mine. It's vibrancy is infectious and you can't help but love the people, the food and the culture. Seville is an inland city that many overlook because they are headed to the beaches of Espana, but if you're looking for a city break for a long weekend then look no further. Seville has stunning architecture, hospitable people, classic Spanish courtyards and food, and my favourte part had to be the myriad of bitter orange trees that give off the most refreshing fragrance acting like natural air freshener.
Pricing
Out of the few Spanish cities I've visited, Seville is likely the cheapest. I'm not sure it's quite 'off the beaten track' but the majority of visitors tend to head towards the beachside resorts or bigger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. My trip was only for 2 nights, but including flights from London Stansted Airport and accommodation I spent just over £400 for the weekend. I'd say that was pretty good given it included food and entrances to all the sightseeing I did (I packed a fair bit in).
Accommodation
As a first trip post Covid, I wanted to find something that was relaxing but still in a good location for exploration. I went with Hotel Posada del Lucero which is located within a couple of minutes walking to the famous Seta of Seville (I'll come on to this later). The room was spacious and the bed was very comfortable. I ended up with a room that was on the ground floor looking into a small courtyard. You can pay extra for a better room / view but as I was mostly out exploring, I didn't see the need. I didn't opt for breakfast as usual, but I did find the smallest little cafe right next door that had the best fresh orange juice, coffee and adorable pastries that kept me fed each day. Total cost was £192 for 2 nights without breakfast booked through booking.com.
Sightseeing / Experiences
Seville is one of those places that you can just walk for miles and not get bored, or certainly that was the case for me.
Casa de Pilatos - an Andalusian palace, set in the heart of Sevilla. It cost €10 / £8.50 for entry which gets you access to a digital audio guide that you can access via a QR code on the ticket itself. Filled with beautiful bougainvillea, a stunning courtyard and exotic planting, the palace is a must visit. Make sure to explore every nook and cranny of the place because each turn brings you to a spectacular sight.
Casa Palacio de Las Duenas - because one palace in Seville is certainly not enough, here's another stunning example for you to visit. Priced the same as Casa de Pilatos, here you will find an avenue of orange trees to greet you into the warm embrace of the architecture. I found this a perfect spot to sit and soak in the atmosphere for an hour or so with my book, with minimal tourists around.
Royal Alcázar of Seville - the Alcazar is one of the last remaining palaces still in use in Europe (or so I'm told). The architecture screams of the cohesion between the Islamic and Christian heritage of the palace, with ornate carvings all across the structures, grand courtyards that remind you of the Mughal Empire alongside the gloriousness of the Spanish gold within their places of worship. The jewel of the palace though are the vast gardens. Set behind the main palace, there are what seem like acres of greenary, carved up with interesting walkways that are palm lined. Don't bother to pre-book tickets as the system means you still have to queue up when you arrive, and get there early. Tickets are €13 / £11.
Plaza de San Francisco - a street lined with homes replicating the infamous colourful decor of San Francisco homes. Grab a cocktail in the open air restaurants here and just enjoy the view
Plaza de Espana - my favourite part of Seville by far. A grand plaza set within a beautiful park, Plaza de Espana boasts stunning benches that are set into the structural columns that encase the plaza and these benches depict all 52 spanish provinces with their unique tiles inset into the seating. Pop by around sunset and take in a flamenco dance or even first thing in the morning (as I did) and find newly weds taking their photographs!
Setas de Sevilla - this is a modern sculpture is also a viewpoint for the city. You can walk along the top, or just marvel from below which is what I opted for. Set in a square with restaurants and bars, this is a hub of activity.
Food
I'm a sucker for good food so I try and do some research before I start a city break for the best spots. In Seville however, it ended up with just the luck of the draw that I found a couple of amazing spots that I highly recommend:
La Malvaloca - a slightly up market tapas restaurant located near the hotel and in the square of the Seta. I was looking for something close by on the first night and picked this spot. The price is bit higher than it's neighbouring options but the food is worth it. I opted for a selection of tapas. Make sure you save space for the dessert though, recommended by the waiter, the honey french toast is one I still dream about.
Sibuya Sushi - believe it or not, but I found an amazing sushi bar in Seville. Definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a different cuisine after 50 tapas dishes on your trip.
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