Traveling the Iberian Peninsula: A Guide for Day and
Weekend Trips from Seville, Spain
Cádiz, Spain
Cádiz is a gorgeous city located in southwestern Spain. It is connected to mainland
Spain only by a narrow strip of land, making Cádiz almost entirely surrounded by
ocean. Thought to be the oldest city in Europe, Cádiz was founded by the
Phoenicians in 1100 B.C.E and has had a rich history of occupation by the
Romans, Visigoths, and Moors. This history has lead to a mixing of cultures that
can be seen when one walks down the quaint streets of Cádiz. The beauty of the
city makes this a wonderful place to take a day trip with friends and to enjoy the
sun and sand of Southern Spain!
Getting there:
The cheapest and most efficient way to get to Cádiz from Seville is by bus. Tickets
to Cádiz can be bought at Estación de autobuses el Prado de San Sebastián, which
is located near the University of Seville on Calle Manuel Vazquez. Buses usually
leave every hour and tickets cost between 12-15 Euros. The trip to Cádiz is only
about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
What to do:
The biggest attraction in Cádiz
for most students is the beach.
The best beaches in Cádiz are
La Playa de la Caleta, La Playa
de la Victoria, La Playa de
Santa María del Mar, and La
Playa de la Cortadura. Getting
around in Cádiz is fairly
simple, as it is a walk able city,
but if you wish to visit areas
that are farther away, the bus
system in Cádiz is great and
only costs about 2 Euros for a
ride.
Other places to see in Cádiz are in the old town area. This area has the cathedral,
which is a beautiful site to see. The winding streets of the old town have many
shops and plazas to enjoy, and this is a great place to stop for some gelato or to get
a bite to eat. As it is practically an island, expect to see menus containing mostly
seafood. Try the pescadito frito – fish fried in a unique Cádiz style.
Events:
A major event that happens in Cádiz is Carnival. Carnival in Cádiz is the second
largest Carnival celebration in the world, only behind Rio de Janiero’s in Brazil. It
is celebrated around Shrove Tuesday, and locals take to the street and enjoy
dancing, fireworks, and wine. Essentially, Carnival is one massive party, and it is
an event you do not want to miss!
Getting home:
After enjoying all Cádiz has to offer, getting back to Seville is as easy as getting
there. The bus station of Cádiz is located in Plaza Sevilla and return tickets will
cost between 12-15 Euros.
Madrid
The capital city of Spain, Madrid is a bustling city rife with Spanish history and
culture. Madrid is a modern city and the political seat of Spain, but it has any
historic neighborhoods and sites that are worth exploring.
Getting there and back:
A bus ride to Madrid takes around 6 hours, but a faster way of getting to Madrid
from Seville is the AVE train. The AVE is a high speed train that cuts the 8 hour
drive down to about 2.5hours of travel; however, tickets are a little more
expensive, costing around 80 Euros. Tickets for the AVE train can be bought
online at renfe.es, but if this is out of your budget,
tickets for the bus cost only around 20 Euros and
can also be bought online at secorbus.es.
What to do:
Madrid has many options and activities, but the
two best are visiting the El Museo del Prado and
El Palacio Real. These two sites will take your
breath away and the histories involved are
amazing! El Museo del Prado is considered to be
one of the greatest art museums in the world and it houses the best collection of
Spanish art. Many works you will see are by Velázquez and Francisco de Goya,
but make sure that you visit the museum’s most famous work of art: Las Meninas
by Velázquez. Guided tours are provided in the museum. You can choose between
a tour conducted in English or one in Spanish and they cost around 18 Euros per
person.
El Palacio Real, or the Royal Palace, is the official residence of the Spanish
monarchs; however, it is only used for state ceremonies today. It is located in
downtown Madrid, and is a must-see site. The construction of the palace began
under Kind Philip V in 1738. Today it is the largest palace in Europe and contains
2,800 rooms. You can take a guided tour of the palace for the low ticket price of
just 10 Euros.
Where to stay: Although the AVE train makes it possible to go to Madrid for just
one day, staying more than one day will allow you to experience more of the city.
Therefore, a great hotel in the heart of Madrid is the NH Paseo del Prado hotel. A
room for one night here can cost around 89 Euros, but it is in a great location and
the accommodations are excellent.
Food: Simply walking down the streets in the downtown area, one can find many
great places to sit down for a bite to eat. While in Madrid, I recommend trying the
tortilla de patatas, a typical Spanish omelet made of eggs and potatoes. For dessert,
try porras, which are a thicker version of churros and are served with hot chocolate
for dipping. These are foods you cannot pass up on while experiencing Madrid!
Toledo
Toledo is quaint, small city located along the Tagus River in Spain. In Toledo, the
mixing of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures is extremely apparent, and this is
what makes Toledo such a beautiful and unique city. It is also the residence of the
famous artist, El Greco
Getting there:
Traveling to Toledo and back
to Seville is best done by bus.
The main bus station in
Seville is Plaza de Armas and
the ticket costs around 20
Euros. The trip is fairly long;
however, and takes around 5
hours.
What to do:
Toledo once was a rare site in
Spain, as it was a city where 3
cultures combined: Jewish, Christian, and Islamic. The mixing of these cultures
has made Toledo a magical place to visit, and there are several sites worth seeing.
Probably one of the most beautiful sites in Toledo is the cathedral. Built in the first
century, the cathedral became a mosque under the occupation of the Moors and
was restored into a Christian church after the Moors were expelled. Tours of the
cathedral are offered for between 5-10 Euros.
Another site to see in Toledo is the Museum of El Greco. Toledo was once the
residence of El Greco, so visiting his former home is a great activity to do while in
Toledo. The museum houses many of his works of art and admission to the
museum is inexpensive – a ticket for one adult is 5 Euros.
Food: typical dishes in Toledo include Cuchifrito (lamb, tomatoes, eggs, and olive
oil), and Pisto Manchego (cold dish made of tomato, onions, olive oil, egg plant,
and zucchini). These are great local dishes to try, and after your main meal, Toledo
is known for its sweets. One notable dessert you can get is a batido, which is much
like an American milkshake.
Italica
Although a small town just 15 minutes away from Seville, Italica is a great place to
go on a day (or half-day) trip. Italica was one of the first Roman settlements in
Spain during the Roman Empire and was the birthplace of three Roman emperors,
including Trajan. For this reason, if you are interested in history and the Roman
Empire, Italica is the perfect place for you to visit!
Getting there: As Italica is only 15 minutes from Seville, taking a bus is cheap and
easy. Buses from Plaza de Armas run every 30 minutes, and they drop you off and
pick you up right on the edge of the town. The trip will cost you around 5 Euros.
What to do: truly, the only activity to do in Italica is to explore the Roman ruins.
Entrance into the ruins costs only 1.50 Euros for nonresidents of the European
Union (it is free for EU
citizens). While in the ruins,
you will see many Roman
statues, the mosaic baths, and
a large amphitheater. Slowly
walk through the ruins and
take time to explore all that
Italica has to offer!
Food: Italica is a small town
with few options for dining.
After leaving the ruins, you
can walk down the street that
runs by the ruins and grab a
bocadillo (sandwich) if you are hungry. Otherwise, it is probably best to wait until
you return to Seville to grab a bite to eat.
Ronda
Ronda is a spectacular site for a day trip from
Seville. Located on the edge of the El Tajo
canyon, it offers a great view and majestic
scenery. A town of about 35,000 residents,
Ronda is a good place to get away from the
hustle and bustle of Seville and to relax and
enjoy the view.
Getting there: There are no trains or flights to Ronda from Seville, so the only
options are by car or bus. The bus is probably the cheapest and most efficient way
of getting there. The bus for Ronda leaves from the Prado de San Sebastian station
in Seville. It takes about 2.25 hours to reach Ronda and a one-way ticket costs 9
Euros.
What to do:
Other than taking in the breathtaking view, Ronda has other activities you can
enjoy. To begin, a site that you must see in Ronda is Puente Nuevo. A beautiful
bridge, Puente Nuevo stands 390 feet tall over the canyon and was built in 1751. It
is a gorgeous monument that every visitor of Ronda must see. In addition to Puente
Nuevo, there are two other visit-worthy bridges in Ronda: Puente Romano and
Puente Viejo.
After viewing the bridges, another fun place to visit is the bullfighting ring of
Ronda. This bullfighting ring, La Plaza de los Toros, is the oldest one in Spain and
was built in 1779. It is located about 2 blocks from the Puente Nuevo and is open
to the public. The bullring also has a museum with various relics that visitors
should observe throughout their visit.
Food: There are many good restaurants in Ronda where one should stop and enjoy
the local favorites (one of which is bull tails!). If you find yourself hungry in
Ronda, try eating at Parador de Ronda. This restaurant overlooks the gorge from
the dining room, and it is here where you can try the best of the local cuisine such
as rabbit or oxtail.
Córdoba
Córdoba was once the capital of the Islamic caliphate and shows a clear mixing of
the three cultures of Spain: Islamic, Christian, and Jewish. It is thought that the city
was the most populous city in the world in the late 10th Century, and today it is a
striking site to visit.
Getting there:
Again, a bus is
the cheapest and
most efficient
way of getting
to the city of
Córdoba. Buses
leave Seville
from the Prado
de San
Sebastian bus
station every two hours. The trip takes approximately two hours, and a one-way
ticket costs 9 Euros.
What to do:
The main attraction in Córdoba is the Mezquita. The Mezquita has a long history,
as it started out as a pagan temple, then became a Visigoth church, then an Islamic
mosque, and after the Reconquista became a cathedral. This long history has made
it into a building with unique and interesting architectural features. Exploring the
Mezquita is a great activity to do in Córdoba, and admission costs only 5 Euros.
Another activity worth doing in Córdoba is exploring the Jewish Quarter, or the
Judería. Jewish life flourished in Córdoba during the Roman occupation, and the
remnants of that can be seen in the winding streets of the downtown area. Walking
through these winding streets is a wonderful experience, as it is a less commercial
and well preserved area of the city. As you walk, you will see a statue of
Maimonides, a famous Jewish philosopher, and one of the only 3 ancient Jewish
synagogues still standing in Spain.
Food:
While in Córdoba, try a dish special to the city: caldereta de cordero. This dish is a
stew made with lamb, garbanzo beans, almonds, garlic, and paprika. If visiting
during the summer, try a white gazpacho dish called ajo blanco. This version of
gazpacho has an Arabic flavor to it with its mixture of olive oil, garlic, salt, bread
and almonds. After satisfying your appetite, try some of the desserts with an
Arabic twist like pastel Cordobes—a cake with pumpkin filling.
Granada
Granada is a city at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and it is known for its
large university, the University of Granada. This university is home to about
80,000 students, making the city of Granada largely a “college town”. For this
reason, Granada is a city filled with fun and many activities for tourists to enjoy.
Getting there:
Taking a bus from Seville to Granada is the best means of transportation. Buses
leave from the Prado de San Sebastian station approximately every 2 hours and the
trip lasts 3.25 hours. A one-way ticket to Granada costs around 17 Euros.
What to do:
The most famous site to visit in Granada is the Alhambra. The Alhambra was a
Moorish fortress built in the 14th Century. After the Reconquista, it was used by the
Catholic monarchs as a site
for the Palace of Charles V.
Today, the site is a
UNESCO World Heritage
site and is largely an
attraction for historyminded tourists. Visiting
the Alhambra takes around
3 hours (it is a large site
with many attractions), and
a ticket will cost around 13
Euros.
After visiting the Alhambra, other sites to explore are the Albaicín and the
Sacromonte. The Albaicín is the old Moorish area of Granada, and throughout this
area one can find various Moroccan tea shops and Arabic restaurants. After
exploring the Moorish area, explore the gypsy quarters located in Sacromonte. This
part of Granada has spectacular flamenco clubs and is a beautiful area of the city to
walk through.
Food: perhaps one of the best parts of Granada is the tapas. Tapas are simply just
appetizers, but they are a traditional part of Spanish cuisine and culture. In
Granada, tapas are free when purchasing a drink. Therefore, do not spend your
money on a full meal! Simply make your way through Granada and explore the
tapas bars the city has to offer.
Lisbon, Portugal
Although farther from Seville than most sites, Lisbon is a city worth the travel time
and money. It is the capital city of Portugal and is regarded as one of the oldest
cities in Europe, as it predates Rome, Paris, and London. It is located on the coast
of Portugal and is a scenic and beautiful city.
Getting there:
Traveling to Lisbon is slightly more complicated and expensive than getting to
other sites, as it is too far to travel by bus. Probably the most convenient way of
getting to Lisbon is by plane. Tickets can be purchased for flights from Seville’s
airport to Lisbon’s airport online through sites like, edreams.com or ryanair.com.
Tickets cost between 100-130 Euros (depending on the website and time). Getting
to Seville’s airport is simple. Buses travel to the airport every 30 minutes and pick
up passengers at most bus stops within the city. The ticket for the bus to the airport
is 2.5 Euros, and buses from the airport back into the city leave from the airport
every 30 minutes, as well. When getting to the airport in Lisbon, the best way to
get around is by taxi.
What to do:
A major attraction in Lisbon is
the Jerónimos Monastery. Today
the monastery is a UNESCO
World Heritage site and is a
symbol of the wealth and power
Portugal had during the 16th
Century. Built in 1502 by Prince
Henry, Jerónimos Monastery was
home to the monks of the Order
of Saint Jerome. Overall, the
monastery is a beautiful piece of
architecture and is a place to plan on spending hours in admiration. Entrance into
the monastery is also inexpensive, costing only 6 Euros.
Lisbon has yet another UNESCO World Heritage site, as well. The Belém Tower
was built in 1515 in the harbor of Lisbon. It was built to protect the city, and it was
the starting point for many of the world explorers. Today it is an important site to
the history of Lisbon and is the symbol of the country of Portugal. Entrance into
Belém Tower is allowed Tuesday-Sunday and costs 4 Euros.
Where to stay: As a trip to Lisbon is going to be a longer trip, you will want to find
a hotel or hostel. A great hostel to stay in is the Lisbon Old Town Hostel. This
hostel is located in the heart of the city and costs only about 15 Euros per night.
Food: The famous dish in Lisbon is salted cod—a dish every tourist must try. You
can find this dish at most restaurants in Lisbon, as well as other fresh fishes and
shellfish. Various cheeses are usually served with the meal, as well. For dessert, try
the cinnamon-flavored rice pudding or the brigaderos—chocolate truffles.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain behind Madrid and is one of the
biggest tourist attractions in the country. It is located on the northeast coast of
Spain facing the Mediterranean Sea and has a mild climate. Overall, Barcelona’s
best feature is its architecture, the masterpieces of
Antoni Gaudi.
Getting there:
Getting to Barcelona is relatively simple by plane.
Tickets are inexpensive when flying through sites
like Ryanair and probably average around 50
Euros. The flight takes less than 2 hours, and
again, you can get to and from Seville’s airport by
a bus that costs only 2 Euros. Once in Barcelona,
getting around is easiest by taxi and walking.
What to do:
A main feature of Barcelona is the Sagrada
Familia. A Roman Catholic basilica, the Sagrada Familia is Gaudi’s most famous
work in the city. Construction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and still is not
yet finished! Although Gaudi died in 1926, construction on the building is still
taking place according to his design. This amazing basilica is a site that a visitor in
Barcelona must see! Admission into this basilica is 12.50 Euros.
Another must do in Barcelona is taking a walk and enjoying Las Ramblas. Las
Ramblas are a series of streets in Barcelona that have endless activities for tourists,
including shopping, dining, and a beautiful mosaic on the sidewalk. Spending time
in Las Ramblas is a great way to spend your time in Barcelona, but be careful here.
Pick pockets often prey on the tourists in this area, and at night, Las Ramblas can
become somewhat of a red light district!
Where to stay: there are many hostels and hotels to stay in Barcelona, but one of
the best is the Yellow Nest Hostel. This hostel offers low fares, costing only about
15 Euros per night. It is a relaxed and wonderful place to stay during your time in
Barcelona!
Food:
While Barcelona has traditional Spanish cuisine, it also has its own unique Catalan
dishes. Some dishes that one must try when in Barcelona are as follows: sarsuela (a
combination of various fishes combined into a casserole with tomato, paprika,
olive oil, and lemon), fideua (like paella, but with noodles instead of rice), and
crema catalana (a custard with a sugar coating).
Valencia
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and is home to a famous festival, the
Falles (takes place in March). The city is a beautiful place to explore with its
blended architectural styles from the Roman, Arabic, and Gothic periods. While
not as popular as many other tourist destinations in Spain, Valencia is a site worthy
of a day or two of your travels.
Getting there: Like many of the other cities, Valencia can be reached by buses that
leave from the Plaza de Armas station. There are 3 buses per day, the trip takes
about 11.5 hours and costs 45 Euros for a one-way ticket. There are also high
speed trains to Valencia. One train leaves per day, it takes about 8 hours by train,
and a one-way ticket costs
43 Euros.
What to do:
Visit the Llotja de la Seda,
or the “Silk Exchange”,
which is today a UNESCO
World Heritage site. It is
one of the main tourist
attractions in Valencia and
is a perfect example of the
Gothic architectural style.
The Silk Exchange was
built between 1482 and
1533 and was used as a place of commerce and the trading of silk. Entrance into
the Silk Exchange is permitted Tuesday through Saturday and costs 2 Euros.
After visiting the Silk Exchange, taking a stroll through the Plaza de la Reina is a
perfect way to spend an afternoon. The plaza has many shops and places to eat, and
the Cathedral of Valencia is located in the Plaza. The Cathedral of Valencia is
thought to house the Holy Grail, making this an important site to see. Entry into the
cathedral is free, but there is a small fee to go up into the bell tower.
Food:
Valencia is the birthplace of the famous Spanish dish, paella. Paella is a rice dish
with seafood mixed in, and is a dish that everyone must try when traveling to
Spain. Therefore, try paella in the city where it originated! Also, try the calamares
(squid), a typical dish of Valencia.
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez de la Frontera is a city in southwestern Spain in the province of Cádiz . It is
known as the capital of sherry wine, flamenco, and horses, as its main industry
surrounds wine-making and is home to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian
Art.
Getting there:
Jerez de la Frontera is fairly close to Seville, so traveling by bus is the best way to
go. The trip to Jerez takes 1.25 hours, costs 6 Euros for a one-way ticket, and the
bus leaves from the Prado de San Sebastian station. The city of Jerez is walk able
once there.
What to do:
As Jerez de la Frontera is
known for its wine making,
wine tasting is a popular
activity in the city. One of the
most famous wineries to tour is
the Gonzalez Byass winery.
Taking the tour of the winery
takes around two hours, you
travel through the winery by
train, and it ends with tasting
the wine made there. Overall,
this is a relaxing and fun
activity to try while in Jerez.
The tour costs around 15 Euros
per person, and there may be an extra charge of 1-2 Euros for the wine tasting
portion.
When finished with the winery tour, another fun activity is to visit the Royal
Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Here, you can do several activities, like
horseback riding and watching performances by the students. Tickets for horseback
riding shows cost around 17 Euros per person and horseback riding fees vary.
Food: dishes special to Jerez and necessary to try are puchero, a stew of ham,
chicken, and pig fat, and revueltos (scrambled eggs) with mushrooms and garlic.
Also try the churros, fried dough, with chocolate.
Lagos, Portugal
Lagos is a beautiful beach city located in Portugal. While you can travel there on
your own, I recommend using a travel agency in Seville, called Discover Sevilla.
They have great all inclusive trips to many different places, but one of their best
trips is to Lagos.
How to book a trip with Discover Sevilla:
You can book one of their trips online at discoversevilla.com or you can visit their
office, which is located on Calle Joaquin (near Plaza Nueva). The office is open
from 10am- 8pm.
Dates of the Lagos excursion:
April 6th-8th
April 20th -22nd
April 27th-29th
May 4th-6th
What does the trip include?
Round trip bus transportation
A 2 night stay in a 4-star hotel by the
beach
Breakfast
An excursion to Cabo Sao Vicente
English speaking guides
A party to begin the trip in a bar in Lagos (2 drinks included)
Cost: the entire trip costs 139 Euros
Overall, after doing excursions with Discover Sevilla, I highly recommend them to
those who want a fun trip with great guides (but at a fairly reasonable cost)!