In this “Travel SMART” series of articles we discuss real-world travel plans for exploring popular locations in a cost-effective manner. SMART evaluates the Staying options, Mobility, Attractions, ROI (Return-On-Investment) and Transport options for planning the trip. This article focuses on travel plan based from Seville, Spain.
Seville is the capital of Andalusia region in Southern Spain and the 4th largest city in Spain. The city flourished during the Spanish golden age in 16th century, evident in it’s historic city center that includes UNESCO heritage sites – Real Alcazar, Sevilla Cathedral and Library. The Guadalquivir River divides the city into two halves: Sevilla and Triana.
Transport options – Most travelers arrive in Seville by air to Seville Airport (SVQ). The airport is well organized and have a delicious restaurant right next to the security checkpoint!. A 30 min, quiet affordable, taxi ride from the airport will get you to the city center. Another major transport hub is the Santa-Justa train station with direct trains to Madrid, Lisbon and other major regional destinations.
Staying options – Staying in the Historic District of Seville is a great choice due to variety of shopping, dining options and proximity to attractions on foot. We stayed at the Murillo Apartments, historic location of the famous Spanish Artist Murillo’s residence from Seville’s 17th century golden age, now renovated to comfortable hotel apartments with amazing rooftop view of the Cathedral. For a location near the airport the Hilton Garden Inn, Seville Airport is a great choice with affordable rates.
Mobility – Much of the historic district in central Seville are only accessible on foot. While Seville has decent bus service, most of the UNESCO designated historic city center are within walkable distance and the Hop-on, Hop-off sightseeing tour buses are a good option to explore places of interest on both sides of the river outside the city center. For driving outside of the city to nearby places of interest like Granda, Cordoba, Ronda or the White villages you can rent a car from the airport or use a guided tour service, most of which typically departs from the city center on a day trip.
Attractions – The Casco Antiguo (Spanish for Ancient District) is the historic old town of Seville, located on the east bank of the Guadalquivir river. Just walking around the old town enjoying the crowd, shops and historic buildings while watching street performance of Spanish guitar and flamenco dancers is quiet a treat! Use following link for a tour of the old city center – Seville Walking Tour – 4 sites. Some key attractions in Seville are also listed below.
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower: As the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, it’s a testament to Seville’s religious devotion and history. Don’t miss climbing the Giralda Tower for panoramic views of the city.
- Alcázar of Seville: A stunning royal palace showcasing a mix of Christian and Mudéjar architecture. The gardens are equally breathtaking, offering a peaceful retreat.
- Plaza de España: Built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, this impressive square features a semi-circular brick building, bridges, and a canal. It’s a favorite spot for both tourists and locals.
- Metropol Parasol (Las Setas): This modern architectural marvel in the old quarter is known as “The Mushrooms” due to its unique design. The structure offers an archaeological museum below and a walkway above with fantastic city views.
- Barrio Santa Cruz: The historic Jewish quarter of Seville, filled with narrow winding streets, charming squares, and hidden patios. It’s the perfect place to get lost and soak in the city’s ambiance.
ROI (Return On Investment) – Some important factors when evaluating Seville are the close proximity to major attractions in the walkable old town, historic charm of the city and affordable prices for transportation and meals. We found the following steps in our travel plan for using Seville as a base yielded a high ROI!
- Rent a car from the Seville airport if planning to take road trips outside the city. You can also opt for a guided tour departing from the old town city center that can be purchased online via travel portals like Expedia or Viator. Otherwise, public transportation and Google Map is sufficient for exploring most attractions.
- Use a credit card online or in Seville for your purchases that avoids international fees.
- When exploring central Seville, keep your belongings at a safe place and avoid too much crowd when possible. High crowd concentration typically occurs around the 3 UNESCO Heritage sites by the Cathedral. Use small travel handbags and phone wallets and secure your phone with a neck-chain or belt-lock. Avoid responding to strangers and panhandlers in these areas. Rest of the city on both sides of the river are relatively safe and tourist friendly.
- Save on meals by choosing a hotel with free breakfast options. For example, Hilton Hotel chains have free breakfast for Hilton Honors members (free program with a downloadable app). Staying in the old city center can give you better variety and choices for meals, shopping and transport.
- Save on Overall transport cost by using a combination of bus, sightseeing tour buses and walking in and around the city
Enjoy the video below for an audio guide to Seville’s cultural bounties!