Seville, Spain - Review and Pictures

Every year I go on holiday with my mum, for some “mother & daughter time”. This year I decided to go to Seville in Spain as I heard it’s the “real” Spain with both Spaniards and local friends (who’ve visited) highly recommending it.

Day 1:

We had an early morning flight from Gatwick North Terminal (more like Gatshite Terminal), with a fairly smooth journey to Seville courtesy of Easyjet. I have a love/ hate relationship with early morning flights; on one hand you arrive to your destination early and can experience a full day, but on the other hand, you normally have to get up at unGodly hours! During the flight, there was a mixup as the same seat had been double booked by two different people - didn’t know that was a thing - but as you can imagine, it caused some pre-flight drama. This is not what you want to experience with a nervous flyer (ie. my mother) in tow. It got solved in the end, thank God. Whenever I fly, especially with a bitchy Air Steward, I always recall that funny scene from the film Bridesmaids. If you know, you know!

Upon arriving in Seville, we grabbed a cab from the airport to our hotel Gran Melia Colon which is in the city centre, and close to all the touristy stuff. I always try to grab a hotel in the city centre as it makes travelling so much easier, as you can pretty much walk to most places and save traveling costs/ cab fare.

Gran Melia Colon (GMC) is a 5* hotel, and this was reflected in the plush hotel lobby, amenities (gym, pool, spa services, etc) and most of the customer provided. There was a weird and overpowering perfume lingering in the hotel lounge area, as well as the bedroom which was stifling. I’d compare it to Oud, which is a bit like marmite, you either love it or hate it but mostly the latter. Once we requested it, the cleaners stopped spraying it into our carpets facepalm.

The funky hotel doors!

By the time we checked in, we didn’t want to do anything too exerting therefore decided to go for a slow stroll in our local area and see what it had to offer. As always, I always seem to sniff out El Cortes Ingles (famous department store) whenever I’m in Europe, especially as it always stocks Sephora goods - and this trip was no exception. The Sephora counter was small (as per my expectations) but I still managed to grab a basketful of makeup products including S.Korean face masks (love), Fenty beauty and Sephora own brand goodies.

For dinner, we ate at a local restaurant and as always, my mother and I ordered uno cervesa por favour (one beer please). I normally don’t drink beer back in the UK but something about being abroad, especially in Europe, makes me want to drink it as it always tastes nicer!

On the way back to the hotel, I noticed this bakery/ chocolaterie place and stopped to window shop. As I was admiring their big Easter eggs (with an Angry Birds design - don’t ask!), I noticed these suspicious characters in the window display, with only their eyes on show and long conical pointy hats. I was instantly alarmed as it reminded me of the KKK’s and I thought surely not! It is a Christian symbol of the Nazarenes, but still… I’m not sure about it…

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Day 2:

Our first stop of the day was to book tour bus tickets and we decided to get the 48 hours option for €59 (£51 for 2 people). I normally like going on these ‘hop on, hop off’ type tours as it gives you a feel of the whole city (in 1 hour 20 mins), and drops you off at all the main tourist attractions. This can work like free transportation too as often, the bus service runs until 8pm or later at night. You have to make sure you sit at the top, to get the best views. I love the feeling of being on holiday, feeling the warm air and breeze flowing through your locks as you take everything in.

There's nothing like palm trees, to make you feel all summery and shit.

Our first stop of the day was the famous Plaza de Espana which was so beautiful. Firstly, it’s fricking free to look around (which in itself is mind blowing), the architecture is amazing with different designs and colourful tiles everywhere. There are free flamenco shows going on throughout the day (although it’s always polite to tip), where the dancers are so passionate, it makes me want to take up flamenco dancing again. There is a huge gypsy community here from the street vendors (flamenco souvenir), to the flower/ curse givers, and to the beggars.

Plaza de Espana

We watched a hilarious grandmother doing flamenco moves whilst watching the professionals. She would move her hips, and twirl her hands with enthusiasm but at times, she would then suddenly collapse on a column. There were moments where I thought she had died, and wondered whether to call 112 (999 equivalent), but then she’d bounce right up and start shaking her hips and stomping her feet again. It was too much for my heart to take, so we moved on.

Flamenco performance

The highlight of my entire trip was the horse carriage ride which takes you from Plaza de Espana to the cathedral and is only €45. This was completely worth it! The carriage and horse were so beautiful and it made me feel like Cinderella for the afternoon. It’s hilarious when you go on the main road and you have all the regular Spaniards thinking “not this fucking touristy lot again” but you don’t feel like a knob doing it, as there are so many people who take these rides. It’s also one of the only activities you do where random people wave at you and you wave back, like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Very un-British! :)

Horse & carriage ride around the Plaza de Espana

Day 3:

We went to the main Seville Cathedral, including The Giralda (bell tower) and I was impressed the queue wasn’t that long. Entry was €9 per person, but you have to pay an additional €3 for an audio guide. It is worth it if you want more cultural information about the Cathedral. After a tour of the Cathedral, we went up the bell tower (that sounds like a euphemism) but let me assure you, try to wear study shoes and not flimsy sandals like I did, as it’ll make the climb easier. Practicality over fashion! The ascent is easier than I thought as there are hardly any stairs, and instead the walkways are all slanted. Plus because there are always crowds, you can walk at their pace (there’s always one slow coach at the front, holding everyone else up) and pretend you’re going slow because you have to, rather than because you’re unhealthy Hilary. At the top of the bell tower, you get to enjoy great views of Seville if you can elbow some annoying people out of the way first!

Seville Cathedral entrance

Views of Seville from the bell tower

After a much deserved tapas and sangria break, we walked to the local Jewish quarter which has the most Instagrammable houses and buildings in general. There were many independent silver jewellery businesses, as well shops selling the expected flamenco and Seville souvenirs. I bought this beautiful plum-coloured fan and my mum, a slightly loud and gaudy flamenco apron. If it makes her happy, it makes me happy!

Seville’s Jewish Quarter

Instagram friendly walls in the JQ

Beautiful patios

Day 4:

Since we had seen most of Seville, we decided to go on a day trip to Cordoba. We grabbed a taxi from our hotel to the main station in Seville (Santa Justa) for €10 approx. and purchased train tickets to Cordoba. It cost a whopping €90 for return tickets for 2 people, which is pricey for just a 45 minute journey. Going to Bicester Village from Marylebone station is half of that! Anyway we decided to still journey there and have to say it was worth it. The weather firstly was much warmer in Cordoba (almost 27 degrees in March!) whereas it was gloomy in Seville that day. Secondly, there is also a lot of history with the Mosque of Cordoba, the Roman Bridge, amongst other attractions.

JQ in Cordoba, Spain

Instagram friendly walls in Cordoba

We entered the Mosque of Cordoba (Mezquita-Catedral de Cordoba) for €10 per person. You could pay an additional €2 for the bell tower, but honestly one bell tower per holiday is frankly enough! It’s history began as a small church, before being constructed into a mosque, with great expansion, and then finally returning to the rule of Catholics which it now remains as. It’s a beautiful and large structure, with both Islamic and Catholic influences which is very unusual.

Mosque Cathedral of Cordoba

We finally took a walk on the Roman Bridge of Cordoba, which felt like we had entered the realm of an ancient city. Funnily enough, I told my mum the bridge would be the perfect location for an epic scene in a historical movie, and later found out it was featured in Season 5 of The Games of Thrones.

The Roman Bridge of Cordoba

Final Thoughts

Though our trip was short but sweet, four full days was ample time to see the city, and a close neighbouring one. The people of Seville are generally very friendly, and although English is quite poor, they’re willing to help you to the best of their ability (especially if you’re lost), which I very much appreciated!

The city has so much history, and is the home of flamenco. If you visit Seville, it is mandatory to see a flamenco show, and buy flamenco souvenir! The architecture is stunning, and it’s a very Instagrammable city. Try out their tapas, which is lacking in seafood sadly, but delicious nonetheless.

If you would like to stay in a bit of a fancy hotel, I would recommend the Gran Melia Colon but request one that has windows facing outside, otherwise it will feel quite stuffy and dark.

Until next time xo

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