Seville solo travel on a budget, is it a worthy trip to take? It really is.
Seville is a spectacular city in Spain’s Andalusia region. This inland city, most known for its stunning architecture, alongside palaces, gardens, flamenco shows, ‘giant mushrooms’ and more, is a step away from the beach-side destinations Spain is famously known for. Don’t worry, if you need your water fix like I do, the Guadalquivir River running through the city is there for you.
I visited Seville solo and on a budget, and loved my 2.5 day travel trip here! Honestly, I was a little apprehensive before arriving. I was vibing the beach vibes of Malaga and Nerja, where I visited before leaving for Seville, but I am SO glad I gave myself enough time to explore this unique city.
Seville really is a city worth visiting and that is whether you’re travelling solo and/or on a budget or not. There is a lot to do and see to fill a solo trip, and if you’re not travelling solo, this post is still for you! I’ll give you a little insight into a Seville trip and what to do there.
Accommodation: I always use Hostelworld and Booking.com to search for the cheapest and widest range of accommodation options.
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Travel Insurance: Don’t forget travel insurance for your trip. Whether travelling long-term or on a short trip, SafetyWing’s Travel Insurance is an excellent choice. You can check out their policies here.
Getting to Seville
Seville has an international airport, so you can easily fly into here. You can check for the best flight deals on Skyscanner.
The airport is only around 10km from the city.
So, how to get to the city from the airport?
Public Bus
- EA bus line is the public bus serving the airport-city. At just €5 and a 30 minute ride to the final stop, Plaza de Armas (the main bus station), transport is budget-friendly and quick! Moreover, the bus runs from very early morning until late night (around midnight), so it should suit even for an early morning/late night flight.
Already in Spain? Then you might want to opt to take a bus or train to Seville.
I travelled to Seville by bus from Malaga (well, actually Nerja, but I had to transfer in Malaga). The bus from Malaga can take from anywhere from around 2h30 to 3h30 – the times vary, check when booking. (Visiting Malaga and Seville in the same trip was such a great mix – I got some coastal time before heading inland – highly recommend doing both if you can!).
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Accommodation – Where to Stay on a Seville Solo Budget Travel Trip
Hostels are of course the cheapest option if travelling solo. Plus, staying in hostels makes you feel less ‘alone’ as you can easily meet other travellers. Luckily, Seville has no shortage of well-rated hostel options, in great locations across the city.
Some of Seville’s top hostel options include:
- La Banda Rooftop Hostel
- Onefam Centro
- Onefam Catedral
- The Loft House Sevilla
- Room OO Salvador Hostel
- U-Sense For You Hostel Sevilla
I stayed in Room OO Salvador Hostel, which provided a very comfortable stay in a prime location.
- A stone’s throw from the Setas de Sevilla, less than a km from Seville Cathedral, around 1.4km from the water, 2km from Plaza de España.
- The ‘good’ type of hostel beds – very comfortable bed, in, essentially, your own little cubbyhole space. Privacy curtain, personal light and plug, little hanging storage space for your essentials by your bed.
- Plenty of locker space – good sized lockers, in addition to under-bed drawer storage space.
- Towels are provided.
- Plenty of space to sit and chill around the hostel – I actually worked (teaching English online) for some hours during my stay. I was able to find a quiet a comfortable space, and the WiFi is good!
- DOWNSIDE: No kitchen but they do serve breakfast for an additional fee.
If a hostel isn’t your vibe, head over to Booking.com for the widest range of accommodation options, whatever your desires!
How to get around Seville?
Seville is a very walk-able city, making it an excellent solo budget travel destination. All of the main attractions are relatively close together. It is also a flat city so easy walking can be had!
There are trams and buses running across the city, too, with pretty cheap fares.
For an alternative exploration method, you could even go on a city sightseeing bike tour. This won’t be as budget friendly, but could be a lot of fun and let you be a part of a group if you’re a solo traveller who likes to be around others.
What to do in Seville
Seville has plenty of things to see and do, making it great for a solo trip as you won’t get bored! Just wandering around the city and exploring wherever the next street takes you will leave you stumbling upon beautiful sights! There are various attractions you shouldn’t miss across the city, though, whether that be just to go and see them from the outside, or to delve deeper and enter such.
Many of the city’s main attractions do require an entry fee, but they are all relatively reasonable. Depending on your budget and how much time you have, even just picking 1/2/3 paid options is enough to get a good grasp of what this city really has to offer. For example, view the main sights such as the cathedral from the outside, but go up the Setas de Seville, or vice verse. If you’re on a solo budget travel trip in Seville, you have the freedom to decide what suits you best!
So, let’s take a closer look at what you can include in your Seville itinerary…
– Plaza de España
Plaza de España is Seville’s most iconic square. Found within Parque de María Luisa, this crescent shaped plaza shows off with its unique architecture and canal, bringing with it bridges and boats on the water, reminiscent of Venice.
If you do wish to take a boat trip you will have to pay a likely overpriced fee, but just visiting Plaza de España is free.
I actually went to Plaza de España twice (okay three times if we count a morning run – stunning run views!), because it is just such a beautiful and famous landmark in this city that I needed more of. No regrets!! The beauty of solo travel – I had no one to tell me not to go back again and that we had to do something different!
– Parque de María Luisa
Before/after visiting Plaza de España you should take time to enjoy the surrounding gardens of Parque de María Luisa.
This is Seville’s main green space and goes down to the river. There are plenty of little walking paths within the park and despite how busy Plaza de España can get, the park is calm and just a lovely serene space right in the city.
– Real Alcázar de Sevilla
The Real Alcázar de Sevilla (Royal Alcázar) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is actually the oldest Royal Palace in Europe still in use.
The palace is a major attraction in the city and therefore you do want to book tickets in advance. You need to book a specific time slot, and it does sell out! I speak from experience on this one.. As a spontaneous traveller who doesn’t plan ahead, I missed out as it was sold out. You can book your Royal Alcázar Entry Ticket online here.
– Jardin de la Galera
The Alcázar de Sevilla is surrounded by garden space, which you can take a stroll through whether you wish to go into the Alcázar or not. I took a little walk through the Jardin de la Galera area and just thought it was a beautiful green space in the city.
– Jardines de Murillo (Murillo Gardens)
For another quieter space to walk through/chill out in your can check out the Jardines de Murillo, located also just a short walk from Alcázar de Sevilla.
– Catedral de Seville (Seville Cathedral)
Seville Cathedral is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in this beautiful Spanish city.
The cathedral is beautifully built and is actually the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe. You can admire the cathedral from the outside, but if you do want to delve deeper you can take a visit inside the cathedral and up La Giralda (the bell tower). While it’s not free to do this, it’s not overly expensive so you can still do so on a ‘somewhat’ budget!
It is worth walking by both during the day and in the evening, the Cathedral looks really cool when the lights go on as the sun is setting!
Again, this is a very popular city attraction so booking in advance is best, it also means you can avoid (likely) long queues to buy a ticket. Book you entry ticket here.
– Las Dueñas Palace
Another beautiful palace in the city is Las Dueñas Palace. This is another stunning historical sight with more amazing architecture!
This entry ticket includes an audio guide, so you can also delve into the history when visiting. The entrance fee is slightly less than that of the Royal Alcazar, so while both are completely different experiences, if you want to keep costs down but still get a great cultural experience, you may wish to choose Las Dueñas Palace.
– Casa de Pilatos
There really are no shortages of palaces with impressive architecture. Casa de Pilatos is perhaps the lesser visited of the main palace sights, which just may entice you to go there, as it’s not less beautiful. It’s also slightly cheaper! With the entry ticket you can explore the ground floor, where you will be amazed at the stunning tiles adorning the palace, and have the chance to enjoy the serene gardens.
– Setas de Sevilla
The Setas de Sevilla, the Metropol Parasol, in other words, Sevilla’s Giant Mushrooms are one of the most modern, stand-out attractions in the city. They certainly don’t blend in with the historical buildings, but they do follow with the unique architecture of Seville.
You can find the Setas de Sevilla at Plaza de la Encarnación – you will not miss them! You can buy a ticket and go up the ‘mushrooms’, where you can walk around and enjoy one of the best views of the city.
While the price is perhaps a bit steep, I did love my visit here!! To make the most of visiting the Setas de Sevilla, go a little before sunset. That way, you get to see the city in daylight, have an amazing sunset view, watch the city come to light as the darkness falls and then see the giant mushrooms light up as the light-show begins. If you do wish to go earlier in the day though, know that you can re-enter once with your ticket. So, you could always return again at night to see the lights!
Oh and the Setas de Sevilla are just a stone’s throw from the hostel I stayed in, Room OO Salvador Hostel. This was great as I ended up just chilling in Plaza de la Encarnation, by the Giant Mushrooms, until late at night both nights of my trip. As it’s busy and lit up, even as a solo traveler, this was such a good spot to just chill out, outside at night (with plenty of food options around, too!). Sitting under the giant mushrooms with a takeaway pizza is not a bad shout!
– Guadalquivir River
The Guadalquivir River runs through Seville, and makes for the perfect riverside chill-out/walking/running/boat trip/kayaking spot.
Walk/Run:
The riverside path keeps going for miles and miles so you can go for a long walk/run. You don’t need to go too far from the main city area for the path to suddenly be in this tranquil riverside setting. If you are a runner like me, you WILL appreciate this path!! I ran along the river twice, and on the Sunday morning it was like a runner’s dream – there were just so many runners (and walkers) out there and it was such a vibe!
By the river you will see the likes of Torre de Oro and Nao Victoria. And after your walk/run, or without it, you can take some time to just relax down by the water… There is no coast, but there is a river!
Guadalquivir River boat trip:
A boat trip on the Guadalquivir River is a great way to see the city from a different perspective. This boat trip lasts 1-1.5 hours and is a top rated option.
For a cheaper option lasting just 1 hour, the Guadalquivir River Sightseeing Eco Cruise is a great choice.
Kayaking on the Guadalquivir River:
If the boat tour doesn’t temp you and you want to stay active, then you may want to hire a kayak and take to the river yourself. This could be such a fun option, even if travelling solo!
– Watch a Flamenco Show
If you really wish to dive into the Spanish spirit, you can go to watch a flamenco show. Originating in Seville, there is no better place to do so. This is also a great activity to fill the evening, especially as a solo traveller!
The Casa de la Memoria Flamenco Show is a top rated option, with as budget of a ticket price you will likely to find. Show times vary on different days, and can sell out. You can check for tickets here.
If you want an option which runs later into the night, the Pure Flamenco Show has starting times at 8:45pm and even 10:15pm. It is a few euros more expensive, but would let you enjoy the city sunset and then give you a great activity to do when darkness descends! Book tickets here.
– Cross the River to Triana
Take a walk over one of the bridges, I went for Puente de Isabel II (Puente de Triana), to the other side of the river. Even just seeing the city from the bridge, is an extra worthwhile viewpoint! If you go on this bridge mentioned, you will cross directly into the popular Triana Distrcit.
I didn’t spend much time on the opposite side, but I did have a quick walk around and it was even livelier over there than I had expected it to be. I’ll let you delve deeper, should you wish!
Overall, even if you’re living the solo budget travel life, Seville is a excellent city choice. I’ll leave you to explore the rest Seville has to offer! Do some shopping if you wish, try some Spanish tapas if you’re a foodie – this is one of the best places to do such, simply wander the city and see where the next street takes you. I really don’t think you will be disappointed!
If you’re thinking of heading to the beach before/after your inland city visit, you may want to put Nerja on your must visit list! You can check out my post on Nerja here.
