Been to Seville or Valencia?

[Jam]

Share your experiences with me.

What did you like about it?
What didn't you like about it?
How long did you go for?
Would you go for longer or less?
How did you spend your days?
What time of year did you go and how was the weather?
How did you travel throughout (mass transit, taxi, rental)?

I'm personally leaning more towards Seville. I've been to Barcelona before and thought it was SO crowded and just too similar to NYC for my liking (crowds mostly). I fear Valencia will be similar but it's closer to the coast which I find appealing.

I want old Spanish culture, beautiful scenery, good food, good nightlife but not overpopulated by tourists. Your feedback is always appreciated

[Deleted]

I've only been to Seville.

What did you like about it?
People are so friendly and warm. The sights are great (Alcazar, the cathedral, the gardens, ...). It's also close to Granada.

What didn't you like about it?
It's very touristy.

How long did you go for?
I've been there twice. The first time was for a bout 2-3 days by myself and 2nd time was about 4-5 days with DH.

Would you go for longer or less?
I think 3-4 would be fine.

How did you spend your days?
I saw the main attractions, went shopping, people-watching, hanging out in bars eating tapas in the evening, biking around town, by the river.

What time of year did you go and how was the weather?
1st time: August, very hot
2nd time: late March, starting to get hot but still pleasant

How did you travel throughout (mass transit, taxi, rental)?
Mostly bicycle. You can get daily or weekly membership from the bike kiosks (like zip-car, but for bikes). It's very easy and affordable.

[travelingjen]

I have only visited Seville.

What did you like about it? I loved nearly everything about Seville. I happened to be there while the orange trees were blossoming so everywhere I walked the smell was amazing! The architecture was quite beautiful and I loved how easy it was to walk to all of the main sites. It was my favorite city I visited while in Spain and I actually consider it to be one of my favorite cities in Europe.

What didn't you like about it? Can't think of anything...although I can imagine that if you went in summer it would be very hot which wouldn't be appealing for me.

How long did you go for? I had two full days in the city. An additional day or two would have been nice.

Would you go for longer or less? Definitely longer; see above.

How did you spend your days? I have a blog entry that I will link below that details everything I saw.

What time of year did you go and how was the weather? Beginning of April and it was perfect; in the low 70's everyday.


How did you travel throughout (mass transit, taxi, rental)? I had a car rental when I visited Spain but the car stayed in the parking garage for the entire duration of my time in Seville. I managed to walk everywhere.

Here is my travel blog entry on Seville: wanderlusttraveler.blogspot.com/2012/04/seville.html

[gretchenindisguise]

Sevilla is my absolute favorite Spanish city. I love love love it.

[gretchenindisguise]

And I did all public transportation my first two visits, taking the Ave from Madrid. Third trip was rental car. Public transit was easier I think.

If you're going, stay in the Hotel Amadeus.

[anna7602]

I haven't been to Valencia, but I lived in Seville for a year in college. And I've been back four times since- once with girlfriends who studied there with me and the other times with DH or DD. I absolutely love it there and have loved sharing it with DH and DD. I was just there in February and it was as great as I remembered.

I have always gotten around Seville by foot or public transportation. Most of the sights are clustered within walking distance- the Cathedral, the Alcazar, the Parque de Maria Luisa, the University/old Tobacco Factory, the banks of the Guadalquivir river.

I have noticed over the years that it has gotten more and more touristy, though, so expect crowds everywhere in the spring. I wouldn't go in summer since it gets so very, very hot. Unbearably hot, IMO.

Granada & Cordoba make nice trips from Seville as well. Cordoba is an easy day trip on the bus, but I would linger in Granada a bit. It's a few hours on the train from Seville and is worth staying at least a weekend, if not more. There are tons of beautiful pueblos in the foothills of the Sierra around Granada.

[Jam]

Thanks y'all

Have any of you traveled down to Morocco from there?

[anna7602]

May 17, 2012 9:56:33 GMT -5 Jam said:

Thanks y'all

Have any of you traveled down to Morocco from there?

I did, but it was while I was living there a long, long time ago. I'm a little hazy on the specifics now. I booked it through a travel agency in Seville and they arranged for a bus that went south, we crossed to North Africa on a ferry from some port city (I can't remember which, maybe Cadiz???) and then crossed over on another bus into Morocco from Ceuta/Melilla. Again, can't remember exactly which Spanish city in North Africa we ended up in, but then the bus took us through several Moroccan cities. The tour included 4 or 5 nights of hotel and a guide during the day, plus round-trip transportation starting in Seville and going all the way down to Casablanca.

I have friends who tried to arrange things themselves (no tour) with varying degrees of success, but keep in mind we were all in college and were kind of impulsive. No one was posting questions on message boards or researching much beforehand!

[dulcemariamar]

When are you going? Are you flying in from the States?

I will probably get flamed for this (especially about Seville) but I really dont like these cities.







What did you like about it? Valencia: There is a beach. And the building of Artes and Ciencias was pretty cool. Seville: I liked the Cathedral and the Plaza Mayor.

What didn't you like about it? Valencia: The thought the city was ugly. Perhaps, I had really high expectations, but I wasnt really impressed with the city. PLUS, IT WAS HOT AS HELL.
How long did you go for? I was in Valenica for a few nights. I have been to Seville twice to spend the day.
Would you go for longer or less? I wouldnt go back. Maybe, to Valencia if I really wanted to go to the beach.
How did you spend your days?
What time of year did you go and how was the weather?
Valencia: Last week of August. It wasnt really that bad. Nice weather actually.
Seville: I went in late fall and I was dying.
How did you travel throughout (mass transit, taxi, rental)?
Mass transit.

If you want to see old Spanish culture. Go to Madrid and do day trips every day to cities like Segovia, Avila, Toledo, and San Lorenzo de Escorail. Great fun and beautiful cities.

[dulcemariamar]

If you want to catch a ferry to Morocco, they leave from the city of Algeciras

www.aferry.es/

[Guest]

May 17, 2012 11:06:40 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

When are you going? Are you flying in from the States?

I will probably get flamed for this (especially about Seville) but I really dont like these cities.







What did you like about it? Valencia: There is a beach. And the building of Artes and Ciencias was pretty cool. Seville: I liked the Cathedral and the Plaza Mayor.

What didn't you like about it? Valencia: The thought the city was ugly. Perhaps, I had really high expectations, but I wasnt really impressed with the city. PLUS, IT WAS HOT AS HELL.
How long did you go for? I was in Valenica for a few nights. I have been to Seville twice to spend the day.
Would you go for longer or less? I wouldnt go back. Maybe, to Valencia if I really wanted to go to the beach.
How did you spend your days?
What time of year did you go and how was the weather?
Valencia: Last week of August. It wasnt really that bad. Nice weather actually.
Seville: I went in late fall and I was dying.
How did you travel throughout (mass transit, taxi, rental)?
Mass transit.

If you want to see old Spanish culture. Go to Madrid and do day trips every day to cities like Segovia, Avila, Toledo, and San Lorenzo de Escorail. Great fun and beautiful cities.

Yes, the cities you mentioned are old Spanish culture, but Andalucia offers a different...type of flair, if you will.

I lived right outside of Sevilla and 2 hours outside of Valencia. I think you would be better off going to Sevilla. Like PP mentioned, you can also do a day trip to Cordoba.

And to be fair...doesn't majority of Spain get super hot? That's why everyone flees to their pueblos to relax or that's why even people like the Madrileños go off to the beaches on the East coast to get away