Day 6: Seville
This morning we packed up and flew from Ibiza to Seville on Vueling airline, another budget airline. The flight was just over an hour and once we arrived we took a bus to our hostel, Samay Hostel.
Guess what we did?! Another hop on hop off bus tour through Seville. It was incredibly hot (106 degrees), so we figured this would be a good way to view the city, while getting a reprieve from the heat.
We walked around Plaza de Espana in Parque de Maria Luisa. It was constructed for the world’s fair to showcase Spain’s role in history, industry, and technology. Definitely stop here and walk around and view the beautiful mosaics.
After visiting the plaza, we walked around Parque de Maria Luisa. It’s a nice place to stop and have a snack, drink, or relax out of the sun!
The bus tour also took us to the oldest bullfighting ring, The Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla. Bullfights take place on Sundays and you can sign up to take a tour when you’re there, which is what we did. We learned a lot about this age-old sporting event, including the costumes, customs, and the pro and con arguments of bullfighting.
From here, we went to check out the Seville Cathedral and La Giralda Tower. It’s a 12th century cathedral with a dramatic, Gothic appearance. You can climb the stairs of the tower for stunning, panoramic views of Seville. You can buy tickets there, which is what we did, or purchase in advance online: Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower Tickets.
PRO TIP: Women may not enter with strapless shirts and shorts and men cannot enter wearing tank tops. A visit to the church and tower is FREE on Mondays!
Later, we got dinner then bought tickets to a flamenco show. We did not reserve this in advance, but we did a fair amount of research to find an authentic flamenco experience. Our ticket included the show and one drink at Museo del Baile Flamenco.
PRO TIP: Be careful when researching authentic flamenco shows, some can be a tourist traps, and there are a lot of people advertising for shows in the street. The show should have 3 components: singing, guitar, and dance. Look for a modest-sized, intimate venue, where you can see and feel the emotion of the performers. Avoid large venues that advertise flamenco performances as large, ostentatious theatrical productions.
Day 7: Seville
Today we took a guided walking tour of Seville. We always recommend finding a walking tour in whatever city you’re in. The guides are locals and passionate about their city!
PRO TIP: There was no plan when it came to the construction of the streets in Seville. The neighborhoods and cobblestone streets can be very confusing, very much like a labyrinth! It’s easy to get lost, but that’s the whole fun of traveling, right?
Later that night, we went to La Carboneria to see another flamenco show. We had read other travel blogs all recommending to check this place out. The flamenco theater is built in what was an old coal warehouse where the atmosphere is super chill and they serve up drinks, tapas, and a great flamenco show! Entrance is FREE, but you are expected to buy something to eat or drink.
PRO TIP: La Carboneria is tricky to find. It’s about a 10 minute walk from the Seville Cathedral, but 10 minutes can quickly turn into 20 or 30 minutes due to the windy streets. We started to wonder if this place really existed, but it does, so persevere! You will be greeted by a giant red door once you arrive!
Wow, you managed to do a lot in three days!
Pro tip:- if staying at hotel, try staying at hotel colon, exactly opposite to the cathedral , it has an amazing view.