My Favorite Weekend Trips From Sevilla

If you are reading this, I´m going to guess you have an adventurous spirit. I mean why else would you be looking into going abroad? I am here to tell you that even once you begin your studies or internship, there are still more opportunities to explore beyond the city limits in whatever country you´re thinking about. In this blog post, I will talk about trips from Sevilla where I am currently interning. Whether you only have one day or you want to go away for the entire weekend, here are my recommendations and experiences for traveling throughout Andalucia and the Iberian Peninsula.

Sevilla is generally sunny and hot all year round, so many locals go to the beach to relax and cool off. For Sevillanos, one of the most popular choices is to visit Cádiz. It is just under two hours by train or car to reach there and the main city is very compact. This makes it very easy to sightsee, shop, walk the streets, and relax on the beach.

I went twice for day trips, but some people opt to spend the whole weekend there. Some highlights include the Cathedral, the Roman Theatre, the Mercado, and La Caleta Beach. As one of the oldest cities in Europe, there is no other place like it and is definitely worth visiting.

For active people who want to get away from the city and into nature, I highly recommend hiking the Caminito del Rey. For me, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience and the views alone make it so worth it to go. You can reach the Caminito del Rey by taking the train that connects Sevilla to Málaga. Or, what I did is go with a tour group that drives you directly there from Sevilla by bus. With the tour group, they also take care of registration for the hike. So if you would rather go by yourself and plan out your trip, keep in mind that everyone has to register and get a timed entry to hike the Caminito. If you do get the opportunity to go, I highly suggest you go for it. It is one of the most scenic hikes I have ever been on.

To me, Granada is one of the jewels of Andalucia. It is also home to the most visited monument in all of Spain: The Alhambra. It is one of the most magnificent places I have ever had the privilege of visiting. I was lucky enough to visit twice for two overnight trips to Granada. Granada was the last city to be conquered during the Reconquista, which is when the Spaniards pushed the Islamic Moors, originally from Northern Africa, out of the Iberian peninsula. Therefore, Granada has a lot of Arab influence and history. It is very clear when you see some of the architecture, the Moorish style tea houses, and people speaking Arabic in the streets.

Most people visit to see the Alhambra, but there is so much more to experience in Granada than only that. I recommend taking some time to wander the streets of the Albaicín neighborhood, also known as the Arab Quarter in English. At night, go to the Sacromonte neighborhood to see a traditional flamenco performance in the cave houses. Also, check out a Moorish teahouse or local markets. The entire city is a magical experience that can only be felt when walking its cobblestone streets. I would plan to stay here two to three days to really take everything in.

While in Spain, it is very easy to knock another country off your travel list and visit Portugal. Therefore, it is no surprise that another popular weekend getaway destination for interns in Sevilla is Lisbon. I made two trips while abroad, and it is super easy to get there. There are FlixBus options directly from Sevilla that are pretty affordable. Keep in mind that it is a seven hour bus ride, so be prepared. From my experience, the bus is the more popular option among students. The second time I went, I chose to fly. Sevilla Airport has multiple flights a day and the flight time is only an hour. The airport option is also very easy to navigate and is what I suggest if you have the option. 

As for Lisbon itself, it is very easy to navigate using public transport and there is so much history, culture, food, and shopping. I loved trying pasteis de nata from different bakeries, seeing the tiles on all the buildings, and going around looking at all the different shops. (Did you know Lisbon is home to the world’s oldest continuously operating bookstore? It is called Livaria Betrand and I highly recommend checking it out.) I also had time to visit Sintra which is another city only an hour by train from Lisbon. Many visitors go there for a day trip to see the castles that dot the landscape. It is another charming place to visit.

If there is time, I would also check out some of these destinations that are easily reachable from Sevilla if you have a free day.

• Málaga: Beautiful city on the Costa del Sol. It is the birthplace of Picasso and has a Picasso museum as well with some of his works on exhibition. Walking around the historic center is also a must and seeing all the streets have to offer.
• Jerez de la Frontera: A smaller city only about an hour by train from Sevilla. It is known for sherry wine and majestic horses. Check out the Alcazar de Jerez and Jerez Cathedral as well.
• Ronda: A popular place to visit in Andalucia mostly known for the Puente Nuevo or New Bridge. It is a quieter destination than Sevilla and also home to a famous bullring. The tapas there are also very cheap. I think they were the cheapest tapas I came across in Spain.

Gibraltar: A geographical anomaly, Gibraltar is a taste of the UK on the Iberian Peninsula. The drive time is a little over two hours from Sevilla. I went with a tour group that organized everything including entry to the national park to get to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar and to see the Barbary Macaques. Also, try the fish and chips if you get the chance. They are super fresh there.