Adventuring Through Seville Spain
When to go:
The great thing about Southern Spain is that it is wonderful to visit year round. We were here in July and let me tell you, it was HOT!!!! Like REALLY HOT. During the day it would reach highs of 111 degrees F (44 c). Many people told us it was unseasonably hot when we were there which doesn’t surprise me. Even though it was so hot, it didn’t put a damper on our time there. We still loved every moment and it was just another reason to eat gelato all day long! If you are planning on going to Spain in the summer, make sure your lodging has air conditioning. Winter in Southern Spain is a wonderful time to go as well. Temperatures are mild around 68f (20c), and the air is tinged with the aroma of orange trees heavy with fruit.
Where to stay:
Seville is full of wonderful Airbnb options all over the city. We chose as a family to stay at an Airbnb in the heart of Barrio Santa Cruz, in the historic quarter. From Barrio Santa we were able to access all the sights within walking distance of our Airbnb. Here’s a link to our Airbnb that was perfect for our family with one queen bed, and a set of bunks for the kids. There are so many options for Airbnb’s in Seville. From one room cottages that are easy on the wallet, to luxury estates with all the amenities! If you would rather stay in a hotel while visiting Seville you have lots of options. booking.com and hotels.com are great resources when you are looking for places to stay.
Eat All the Food:
If you are anything like us, one of the best parts of traveling is eating as much local cuisine as possible! There are innumerable tapas bars on every main street, side street, and alley way. There is no shortage of amazing food anywhere in Spain! As far as tapas bars go there are over 3,ooo in Seville alone! We had great food at each tapas bar we tried. While you are in Spain, do like the locals. Have a glass of wine, eat a couple of tapas and then head down the road and do it again. We found that kids were welcomed everywhere we went which took the guess work out of taking our kids into a bar.
Side Note:
One thing to keep in mind while traveling in Spain is that the regular eating hours are pushed much later into the day. Don’t wake up at dawn and expect to find much open for breakfast. Spaniards live a more relaxed daily schedule than most of the world. The general idea is to sleep in and stay up late. All that being said, not only are you going to have a hard time getting breakfast early in the day, you are also going to be hard pressed to find somewhere serving dinner before 8:00pm, and probably more like 9:00pm. So if you tend to be an early riser, make sure to grab some breakfast food at a local market, and prepare to do like the locals and take a siesta during the middle of the day to prepare you to stay up late.
Flamenco:
After you have had your fill of amazing food and wine, it will be time to find a place to watch some flamenco dancing! This was definitely a highlight for our entire family. There is no shortage of places to take in some flamenco. Just walk around and someone will hand you a flyer advertising a show.
La Carboneria:
If you have read any travel book about Seville and flamenco you will come across a recommendation for La Carboneria. La Carboneria is not super easy to find, but well worth the search. The bar was packed with tourists from all over the world! We happened to show up between shows and snagged great seats in front of the small stage. The talent was amazing and atmosphere left a lasting impression. Drinks at the bar are reasonably priced, but the food is not note worthy. Order some drinks and enjoy the show!! Most shows happen nightly between 9:30-11:30 kids welcome. You can find La Carboneria at Calle Levíes, 18
Barrio Santa Cruz:
Barrio Santa Cruz is a wonderful neighborhood to wander around and get lost. Take a carriage ride through the cobblestone streets, visit the little shops for souvenirs, enjoy a cup of coffee with the locals, and get lost. Spaniards are some of the friendliest people we have encountered in all of Europe. They are eager to answer your questions and help you have the best time possible.
Plaza De España:
Make sure you set aside some time to visit the Plaza De España. If it looks familiar to you it might be because it was a filming location for Lawrence of Arabia, and also Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones . This impressive square was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 and is a beautiful sight. Take some time to wander around the square stopping to take pictures on one of the bridges over the canal and in front of the fountain. Grab some gelato, or a book and enjoy some down time on one of the benches. Grab some shade under the patio roof, or just enjoy watching people. If you are lucky you might be in the right place at the right time and get a surprise flamenco show!
María Luisa Park:
After taking in the sights of the Plaza, head across the square into María Luisa Park. If you want you can grab a carriage and take a tour through the park with a local carriage driver. Ours was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot on our tour. If you would rather experience the park on your own there are tons of paths that lead to duck ponds, play areas, sculpture gardens and more! There are also little food carts for snacks and ice cream scattered throughout.
Catedral de Seville:
Many people rave about visiting the Cathedral de Seville and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. While we didn’t go inside the great cathedral, we did enjoy the views of the church from the outside. Our kids loved walking along what they called “the moat” counting how many cats we could find hiding in the little nooks and crannies of the old walls.
Guadalquivir River:
One of sights not given much attention is the Guadalquivir river. There is a path along the river where you can ride bikes, go for a jog, or enjoy a nice walk. Seville is relatively flat so it’s easy biking, especially for the little ones. There are places along the banks of the river to rent pedal boats, and many grassy park areas to enjoy a picnic. We walked down to the river one evening and had a great time people watching along the banks.
Alcazar of Seville:
The Alcazar of Seville is a royal palace thought to be one of the most beautiful in Spain. The upper levels of the palace are still used by the royal family as a residence. If you are planning on visiting the Alcazar of Seville, make sure to get tickets early to avoid waiting in long lines. We didn’t know this before we arrived, and honestly it was too hot for us to wait in line. I guess we will have to go back again!
Have you ever thought about visiting the Alhambra in Spain? Check out our post all about Granada!
