Parque de Maria Luisia & Plaza de Espana, Seville
Head next door to Parque de Maria Luisa
This spacious park next to the Plaza de Espana – comes with plenty of welcome shade plus water pools and fountains to dip hot feet into.
‘Bubble’ blowers are often in residence here and if you pop some change into their bucket, they’ll blow giant bubbles for children to burst.
You can also buy bird feed at the Plaza de America on the east side of the park, kids delight in getting the white pigeons to eat out of their hands. Although hiring a four-wheeled bike with a canopy is also a fun way to experience the 100 acre park.
Patio de Banderas, Real Alcazar, Seville
Feel really regal at the Real Alcazar
The stunning Real Alcazar dates from the 14th century and showcases a mix of beautiful Moorish and Mudejar architecture.
Roam around the cool interiors intricately embellished with Islamic plasterwork, before exploring tiled courtyards surrounded by delicately serrated arches and decorated with sunken gardens and water features.
The gardens are filled with fragrant flowers, shaded paths and ponds, and kids will especially like getting lost in the maze. Amazingly, you’ll find the Real Alcazar right in the city centre, and it’s another one to book ahead and avoid queues.
Bodega Diaz Salazar, Seville
Stop for tapas anytime on a Seville city break
Seville is stuffed full of authentic tapas bars serving delicious small dishes just begging to be washed down with a tot of chilled Manzanilla Sherry or Vermut.
They’re busy, bustling places and in some establishments you can expect to eat standing at the bar-side or balancing your plate on top of barrels that act as makeshift tables. That’s all part of the fun.
Typical tapas dishes include Espinacas con Garbanzos (Spinach and Chickpeas), Jamón Iberico de Bellota (acorn fed Iberian Ham), Cazon en Adobo (marinated fried fish) and croquettes.
Amongst our favourites tapas bars were Bar Bodega Diaz Salazar and Casa Morales, the second oldest bar in the city famous for its Montaditos (open sandwiches). You’ll have to join a queue to get in – but it’s worth it.
If you eat at the bar, the bartender writes writes your orders in chalk on the counter tops and tots up your bill at the end of your visit. However, for a more sedate sit-down meal we also liked restaurant Palo Cortao. Try the ‘tuna tomato’: tuna paté housed in an edible casing that makes it look exactly like a vine tomato!
Paddleboarding past Triana on the Guadalquivir
Soak up the atmosphere in ancient Triana
Even on the shortest Seville city break, you have to take a wander over the Puente de Isabel II to the Triana district.
The Mercado di Triana is a treasure trove of olives, cheese, fresh fruit and veg, as well as home to several superb restaurants. We particularly loved the swift, professional service and fabulous food at Cerveceria Loci. Although we didn’t, you can also take Andalusian cooking lessons, and food market or sherry tasting tours at the market’s Taller Andaluz de Cocina.
Instead we headed out into the streets shop for souvenirs at one of the many ceramic shops selling colourful hand-painted jugs, plates and tiles. A visit the Centro Cerámica Triana, a museum telling the story of the district’s long history of ceramic-making, is another must-do in this atmospheric district.
Isla Magica theme park, Seville
Cool off at thrilling Isla Magica waterpark
A theme and water-park, Seville’s Isla Magica is home to thrilling rollercoasters, water-jet battles and waterfall raft-rides.
You’ll find plenty of gentler experiences for little ones too, like giant bumblebee rides, caterpillar merry-go-rounds and a giant spinning toad. The Agua Magica part of the park is where to cool off in late spring and summer, packed with pools, splash-play and water toboggan slides, it’s open from April to October.
Real Alcazar Gardens
Discover the sweetest side of Seville holidays
One tradition not to miss on a Seville city break, is buying sweets and biscuits from nuns – dulces de conventos – to help them run their convents.
We went to the Convento de Santa Ana where Carmelite nuns of the Ancient Observance live and work. You have to ring the doorbell and a nun on the other side presses a button that allows you in. Although, as all Carmelites are forbidden contact with the outside world, you won’t get to see the nuns you’re buying from.
Instead, there’s a rotating door from which they sell their sweet treats, with a turntable inside. So when you ring the bell, the nun on the other side places a selection of sweets and biscuits on the turntable and spins it round to you. Simply choose what you want, place money on the turntable and spin it back.
Naturally, there were quite a few giggles from both sides as we tried to tackle the language and work out the system. But it was another extraordinary experience for kids, and one of many that make a Seville city break something we plan to do again, very soon.
How to plan a Seville city break
How to get there
Direct UK flights to Seville take from 2 hours, 40 minutes
Kim flew direct to Malaga from Bristol Airport in 2 hours, 35 minutes, hired a car and drove to Seville in just over 2 hours.
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