A day in Seville for $200
Iwould start my day in Seville just exploring the town, getting lost in its little streets. It’s a pretty small city so you can’t get lost, really. The Triana market is located in the Plaza del Altozano, next to the Triana Bridge, with an awesome atmosphere. The main shopping area in the centre are the two parallel streets, Sierpes and Tetuan. Here you will find stores for just about everything and the local souvenir shops are awesome. Stores are typically open from 9.30am2pm, then open again from 5pm-8pm. Set aside $30 for a cafe that you discover yourself and a treat or two for home.
The Alcazar (or “the water gardens of Dorne” if you’re a Game of Thrones fan) is a palace built by Castilian Christians on the site of an Abbadid Muslim residential fortress after the Christian conquest of Seville. From March to October you can visit at night. There are no advance ticket sales during the months of November to February and alcazarsevilla.org is the only official site for buying tickets ($16).
In its time, the Giralda was the tallest tower in the world and now is one of the most famous Arabic monuments in the world (with a massive Renaissance-style top added by the Catholics, who expelled the Muslims from the area and stole their mosque). Make sure you go up, the views are incredible and the church is worth a look too. Entry to both sites are free on Mondays from 4.30pm-6pm. On other days, $14 will get full access. Plaza Espana and Metropol Parasol are within close proximity of everything else and easy to walk to. It costs about $6 to get on top of the parasol and the view is lovely.
Taberna del Alabardero is a great intimate lunch spot (8 tables) with very refined dining. If you’re blessed with good timing you may even be able to score a really delicious multicourse meal prepared and served by students at Taberna’s school for aspiring professional chefs, servers and foodservice managers. At a weekday bargain price of 14 euros, plus beverages. Budget $40.
Mariatrifulca restaurant is perfectly located with a gorgeous view of Seville, truly a pleasure on a sunny, summer’s evening (book to get a decent seat overlooking the river and old town) and the food is excellent. The quail egg and black truffle nigiri is fantastic, the artichoke dish amazing, the anchovy dish awesome, the steak perhaps world-beating — but don’t take the service too seriously. The heaters and blankets on offer make it very pleasant in all weather but you absolutely must book ahead. Around $100 for an unforgettable feast, but alcohol could blow that right out.
TOTAL: $206