Wondering how to spend 3 days in Seville, Spain? Here’s all you need to know!

Seville is one of my favorite cities in all of Europe. The charming capital of Andalucia is known for its stunning Mudejar architecture, lively atmosphere, charming orange-tree lined streets, and truly authentic Spanish feel. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Seville is the perfect destination for a weekend city break. It’s an absolute must if you are planning a larger trip throughout Spain. 

Before you book your tickets, I must warn you. Seville is absolutely spellbinding. After my first visit to the city, I found myself so enchanted that I spent the following two years teaching English in this Andalusian paradise. 

With this 3 day Seville itinerary, you’ll be well on your way to feeling just like I did with this captivating jewel of southern Spain. 

Tips for Visiting Seville

When to Visit

One of my favorite things about Seville is the fact that it is sunny nearly every day! While it does rain more in the winter months, you’ll find that temperatures remain very mild, making it a great destination year-round. In the winter, temperatures range between 40-60°F, but in the summer you’ll find temperatures as high as 100°F (or more)! If you struggle with the heat, I’d avoid visiting during July/August, the city’s hottest months. 

Seville Fair

If you are planning to visit Seville in April/May, be sure to check the dates of the Feria de Abril. This annual festival is held two weeks after Holy Week (Semana Santa), and is a time when the whole city puts daily life on pause, dresses up in their Feria finest, and prepares to party!

This is an excellent time to visit if you love attending local festivals and witnessing traditions. However, if you would rather see the city’s museums and landmarks, you’ll find that this is not the best time to go. The city becomes crowded and expensive, and many restaurants, shops, and attractions close or have limited hours. If you are planning a visit during the Feria de Abril, be sure to read my guide to attending the festival here! 

How Long to Spend in Seville

Seville is a very walkable city, so you’ll find that it is quite easy to see most of the highlights in just a few days without feeling overwhelmed. You can, of course, book a guided tour to see them too. I recommend spending 2-3 days in Seville to cover everything, and this itinerary includes two full days in the city and one day spent on a day trip. If you are looking for a more relaxed visit, you may wish to forgo the day trip and see the sights at a more leisurely pace.

You 3-Day Seville Itinerary

Day 1: Seville’s Highlights

Today is all about getting out and exploring Seville’s most iconic sights. Grab yourself a cafe con leche and get ready for a day spent taking in some of the city’s most famous and beautiful locales.

Plaza de España

Your first stop of the day is the Plaza de España. This massive square is, in my opinion, the most beautiful in all of Spain, though it is not the most historic. The plaza was actually built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929, making it a relatively new addition to the city. Spend some time wandering around this semi-circular neo-mudejar construction as you admire the intricate tile work which depicts different cities throughout Andalucia.

If you’d like, you can even spend a few euros to paddle around the small “river” running through the square. An equally fun and cheesy activity I 100% recommend. Be sure to bring your camera, as this square is picture-perfect! If you’re a Star Wars fan, you might recognize the location from Attack of the Clones.

Parque de María Luisa

After you’ve explored the Plaza de España, you’ll want to head next door to the Parque de María Luisa. This beautiful park is the perfect place for a stroll or even a picnic.

You’ll find exotic trees, blooming flowers, lovely landscaping, interesting water features, and even a pond filled with birds and other animals. This public park is rather large, so be sure to check out the maps from time to time to ensure you aren’t missing any of the tucked-away treasures you’re bound to stumble upon! 

Royal Alcázar of Seville

Your next stop of the day is the Royal Alcázar of Seville, one of the city’s most famous and visited sites. This gorgeous and historic royal palace dates back to the 14th century, and features Mudéjar architecture and Muslim influences which are hallmarks of Andalucian architecture. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as you navigate through the palace and its gardens taking in the detailed tile work, extravagant rooms, and ornate details throughout. The location is so impressive that it was featured on “Game of Thrones!” Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance, as the entrance lines can be very long. In the summer months, tickets can even sell out! Book skip the line tickets here

Catedral de Sevilla

Nestled in the heart of the city and quite near to the Alcázar is Seville’s impressive cathedral. This massive gothic structure is actually the largest Cathedral in the world, making it pretty impossible to miss when visiting Seville! Don’t just settle for viewing the Cathedral from the outside. Even if you’ve seen more European churches than you’d ever care to, you’ll want to step inside. Not only is the Cathedral’s sheer size absolutely astounding, but you’ll find Christopher Columbus’ tomb here, and it’s one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen.

The Giralda

The Giralda is another reason to venture into Seville’s Cathedral. This former minaret today functions as the Cathedral’s bell tower and offers some of the best views of Seville! You’ll find that the panoramic city views are well worth the climb. I also appreciate that the walkway up is far less narrow than most other bell towers I have climbed, making the walk up more pleasant and less crowded and claustrophobic than other towers. Book Catedral and Giralda tickets here

Barrio de Santa Cruz

The Barrio de Santa Cruz is the city’s former Jewish Quarter and the most historic and touristy neighborhood located just next to the Cathedral. Spend some time enjoying the labyrinth of narrow streets and the lovely squares within. If you have time to join a walking tour of Seville, you’ll be able to learn more about the Barrio Santa Cruz and its history. Book a walking tour here

Tapas Time

After a busy day exploring some of the city’s main highlights, it is time to try some of the Seville’s best tapas! Be sure to do as the locals do and hop from tapas bar to tapas bar in search of the most delicious small plates in town.

You won’t want to start your evening too early, as most restaurants don’t open up until 7:30 or 8:00PM! While you’re in the Santa Cruz neighborhood, try starting your tapas tour at Casa Morales, the second-oldest tapas bar in town and favorite among Sevillanos.

For tapas-themed tours, check these:

• Islamic City Tour with Tapas
• Tapas Route in Sevilla
• Gourmet Wine and Tapas Tour
• Private Wine and Tapas Tour

Day 2: Sightseeing

Now that you’ve discovered some of Seville’s most famous landmarks, it’s time to see what else the city has to offer! From beautiful riverfront walks to tucked away historic homes, you’ll have lots to explore on your second day in this magical city! 

Enjoy the Guadalquivir riverfront

During the summer months in particular, you’ll find locals and tourists alike enjoying the Guadalquivir riverfront. The river separates many of the tourist sights from the Triana neighborhood and used to be a part of my daily commute! Whether you simply walk along the river (there are promenades on both sides) or decide to have a picnic along the shore, the riverfront is an excellent place to spend the morning! 

Torre del Oro

As you walk along the riverfront, you’ll find the Torre del Oro, a 13th century watchtower which overlooks the Guadalquivir. If you’d like to visit, there are a few military exhibits housed within the tower, and of course an excellent view of the river. 

Explore Triana

As your morning already includes a walk along the river, you’ll want to cross the Triana Bridge, Puente de Isabel II, to explore the Triana neighborhood of Seville. This authentic area is not only beautiful, but it is a favorite among locals as there aren’t as many tourist attractions on this side of the river. You’ll really be able to see the traditions of Seville come to life here in the bars, restaurants, and squares. If you are looking to purchase some tile work or ceramics, then this is an area where you’ll find a variety of shops perfect for souvenir hunting!

Visit a market or two

Try popping into the Triana Market for a chance to see where locals do their grocery shopping (outside of the city’s supermarkets). Here you’ll find fresh produce, meat, and other goods all sold by local vendors. If you are looking for a more trendy market to grab a snack, then simply walk across the bridge to the Mercado Lonja del Barranco, a gourmet market with a variety of offerings from smoothies to more traditional tapas. The 19th-century building was originally a fish market, but today is an excellent gathering spot or place to grab a drink as you enjoy views of the river! 

Try these Triana tours:

• Triana Market Tour with Tastings
• Walking Tour of the Triana District
• Tapas Like a Local: Triana Tapas Tour

Plaza del Toros

Another sight you’ll pass on your walk along the river is the Plaza del Toros, Seville’s bullring. Personally, I have opted not to attend any bullfights while in Spain, as six bulls are killed during the fights and they are very violent. That being said, you can opt to simply tour the bullring and learning about the history of bullfighting in Seville.

Visit a historic home…or two!

There are several impressive and beautiful noble homes that one can (and should) visit when in Seville. I highly recommend paying a visit to the Palacio de las Duenas or the Casa de Pilatos to get a sense of the city’s stately past. If you have time or love historic homes, then try to squeeze in both! These former residences are impeccably preserved and feature antique artifacts, gorgeous grounds, and highlight the beautiful tiles that Seville is so famous for.

Visit the oldest tapas bar in Seville

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Palacio de las Duenas you’ll find the oldest tapas bar in Seville, El Rinconcillo. The bar dates back to 1670 and still offers some of the best tapas in town, in addition to its amazing authentic atmosphere! Another great thing about this bar is that it’s open all afternoon and evening, so you don’t have to wait until late to sample the delicious food and drink within! I highly recommend the croquetas, and of course some jamon iberico!

Enjoy sunset at Las Setas

The Metropol Parasol, known to locals as Las Setas (the mushrooms) is a modern structure that certainly sticks out among the older structures in Seville. For just a few euros, you can purchase a ticket to the top, where you’ll follow the pathways around this cloud-like grid as you take in the city. Try to coordinate your visit so you can watch the sunset, as this is certainly one of the best views in town! The juxtaposition of the modern and historic truly shows the city off, and the pinks and purples of the setting sun and yellow city lights highlight Seville’s best features. 

Alameda de Hercules

After sunset, it is time to enjoy even more tapas and some of the city’s famous nightlife in the Alameda de Hercules. This large, bustling square is a favorite among locals, particularly a younger crowd, and it was my go-to when searching for a place to meet with friends, grab a drink, or enjoy some tapas. Spend a couple of hours doing as the Spanish do, hopping from bar to bar enjoying tapas, conversation, and the lively atmosphere. 

See a Flamenco performance

Andalucia is famous for its Flamenco dancing, so be sure to catch a performance while you are in town! A flamenco performance is the perfect way to cap off a busy day touristing, or it is a great way to start an evening spent dancing the night away! You can choose to purchase tickets to a Flamenco show, or if you are on a budget there are several bars which offer free performances. If you do opt to visit a free performance at a bar (one popular spot is La Carboneria) be sure to check online to see what times and days these performances are offered. 

Day 3: Day Trip from Seville

Today is the perfect day to choose your own adventure! Whether you stayed out late dancing and are ready to relax, have a few highlights from previous days you weren’t able to squeeze in, or are looking to hit some of the city’s museums, today is the day to do just that!

That being said, if you’re like me and are trying to squeeze in as much as possible, you might be ready for a new adventure! One of the best things about Seville is its location-you’ll have easy access to a variety of amazing day trips! From Roman ruins to the beach, here are some of my favorites:

Italica

Just 20 minutes outside of Seville, these incredible Roman ruins are easily accessible via public transportation. The amphitheater was even featured in Game of Thrones! Italica is an excellent choice for a half-day trip from Seville, especially if you are on a budget or there are a few things you’d still like to see in the city! Click here for more information on planning a visit. 

Cadiz

Looking to hit the beach? Simply hop on a train and in less than two hours you’ll find yourself in beautiful Cadiz. The city is quite walkable and centralized, making it easy to see in just one day. Even if it isn’t quite swimming season, you’ll find lots of history here (from phonecian ruins to 17th century fortresses) in Spain’s oldest city! Check out my favorite things to do in Cadiz here. 

Cordoba

Cordoba is one of my favorite cities in Andalucia. It makes for an excellent day trip as it is less than an hour from Seville by train. The city is home to the famous Mezquita (a must see!) among other historic buildings and even a palace. The city especially comes to life in May during the festival of the patios, so if you are planning a may visit, the town is not to be missed! Learn more about visiting the city here, and if you’re in town during May, be sure to check out the unforgettable flower festival. You can also see what the festival is like on my Instagram highlights @missadventuresabroad. 

Ronda

If you have a rental car and are interested in heading a little further afield, consider visiting scenic Ronda. This charming pueblo blanco is considered to be one of the most beautiful “white towns” in Spain. Plus, the cliffside views certainly make it one of the most unique. The drive is just under two hours, and is worth every minute! Read all about why you should visit Ronda in this post! 

As you can see, there is no shortage of things to do in Seville! Whether you spend your time wandering from tapas bar to tapas bar, visiting historic palaces and churches, marveling at Mudejar architecture, or adventuring on day trips, you’re bound to fall in love with this city, just as I have! Vamos a Sevilla!

Have you spent time in Seville? What did you think?

Our Other Spanish Guides:

• Sailing the Balearic Islands
• Luxury Guide to Barcelona
• Tips on Backpacking Madrid

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The post How to Spend 3 Days in Seville in Southern Spain appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Wondering what the best things to do in Tenerife are? Here’s all you need to know on where to go, what to eat, and more from a former expat!

Beautiful beaches and sizzling nightlife are two of Tenerife’s main draws – but there’s also the colonial charm, unique cuisine, and varied topography that can allure even the pickiest traveler. Known as “the island of eternal springtime,” Tenerife is the perfect destination to visit all year long.

As a nine-month resident of Tenerife, I spent a good amount of time traveling around this tiny paradise, and have compiled up all of my recommendations about the very best the island has to offer. 

I’ve divided this guide up into a few different sections:

• Food
• Drinks
• Experiences
• Hikes 
• Cities

What to Eat in Tenerife

I love food, and tasting the local cuisine is definitely a top priority when I travel anywhere. Spanish food is famous the world over for being delicious, and Tenerife’s island food is definitely no exception. If anything, I liked it more than the rest of Spain! Because it’s an island, Tenerife’s food focuses more on what’s local, easily available, and fresh. They grow tons of their own fruits and vegetables, which you can find either at a grocery store such as Mercadona or at any local market.

Goat and Goat Cheese

Tenerife is a mountainous, volcanic island, so animals such as cows aren’t much of an option. However, goats are perfectly happy to scamper up and down cliffs that would give anyone a serious case of vertigo. For this reason, skip any beef entrees you might find and order the cabra you see on a menu. It’s local, stewed for a long time in a mix of spices until it’s fork-tender and delicious. The goat cheese is also fantastic. You can find a wide range of varieties in both markets and supermarkets. My favorite was a slightly aged cheese with pimientos, but everyone has their own tastes!

Seafood

You’re on an island! The seafood in Tenerife is fresh, plentiful, and relatively cheap. Octopus especially is a popular dish here. Pictured above is one of the tapas they served at one of my favorite local joints. It features octopus, pimientos, a quick-pickled onion, and drizzled with a vinaigrette made with the fruity local olive oil. It’s just about as perfect a dish as you can imagine.

Mojo

Mojo is a sauce that comes in both red and green varieties (mojo rojo and mojo verde, respectively) that is delicious on e v e r y t h i n g. It is truly the Ranch Dressing of the Canaries. The green sauce has a cilantro base, while the red sauce is slightly spicy, with a pepper base. It’s often served with salty boiled potatoes (another specialty of the island, but nothing to write home about).

Ropa Vieja

Not to be confused with that bag of clothes you’ve been meaning to take to Goodwill, ropa vieja is a delicious, slightly spicy dish you’ll actually enjoy getting. It’s made of oh-so-soft shredded meat, garbanzos, potatoes, and (occasionally) red peppers, all swimming harmoniously together in a thin but rich broth. As an alternative, you can also try carne fiesta, grilled meat which normally comes served up with a side of fries.  

Just like, all the fruits and vegetables

Contrary to what you might believe so far in this post, I don’t eat a lot of meat usually. In fact, at home I normally only cook vegetarian dishes. During my time on Tenerife, I’d normally go to the market at the beginning of the week and stock up on whatever local produce was in season. At Mercadona, the local grocery store, they marked where the foods came from, so in an effort to be eco-conscious I’d try and pick the ones that were from Canarias. I was never disappointed with my decisions: the volcanic soil makes for some seriously delicious produce. I’d especially recommend the bananas. There are tons of banana farms all around the island!

What to Drink in Tenerife

As most mom memes on the Internet will tell you, drinks play an essential role in y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶b̶u̶r̶g̶e̶o̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶l̶c̶o̶h̶o̶l̶i̶s̶m̶ staying sane. On vacation, you can indulge even more with that treat yo’self mentality popularized by t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶a̶n̶c̶i̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶s̶e̶l̶f̶-̶d̶e̶s̶t̶r̶u̶c̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶d̶u̶l̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶ “Parks and Recreation. “(P.S. no judgement here this is actually a lot of self-deprication).

Vino Tinto (and maybe a caña)

As mentioned before, the volcanic soil on the island produces a lot of delicious fruit, including grapes. Want to know how to make grapes even better? Smash ‘em up, ferment for a bit, and then drink. The wine on Tenerife is delicious, dirt cheap, and available everywhere. Most restaurants (especially guanchinches) produce their own wine! If you want to take some home, they don’t sell it by the bottle. Instead, you’ll have to bring your own container and they’ll fill it up. I once saw a woman in my hiking group arguing with a waitress for a good five minutes because she only had a plastic bottle with her. She eventually managed to convince the waitress to give her the wine, but with the strict promise that she’d drink it by that night. (This was the best hiking group I’ve ever been in.) Beer is also widely available, and it’s one of life’s greatest pleasures to sit on an outdoor terrace on a warm day and sip a nice, cool caña (because nobody says “cerveza,” gringo).

Mixed Drinks

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should include this one, as, for me at least, it left me wishing for the sweet embrace of death. However, if you have a bit more self-awareness than me (and the bar you go to isn’t manned by a friggin psychopath) there is no reason you shouldn’t enjoy a nice mixed drink at the end of a long day watching Teen Wolf with your German housemate. The picture you see here is not a tiny bottle of Coke, but rather a full sized bottle of Coke with enough rum for a full-sized Koi fish to swim through. Don’t be like me and take it as a challenge. Sip wisely. Oh, and BTW rum is also produced on the Canary Islands so you can make your binge drinking a cultural experience!

Coffee

Coffee is something else you can find locally produced in the Canaries. There are plenty of coffee shops everywhere, ranging from bars where have to stand to slurp your java to chain coffee joints in the more tourist-y section. You can even buy the local beans at the grocery store! Coffee is also drunk after meals often; I guess this is to negate the effects of some of that vino you had at lunch.

Fruity frozen drinks

At my heart, I am but a mere white girl trying to make my way through this life. And I love me a fruity frozen drink. If the fruit is good and fresh (like it is on Tenerife), the day is warm (like it is on Tenerife), and there’s a beach nearby (like there is on Tenerife), it creates the perfect environment to sit back and slowly savor something delicious.

The Local Liquor

There’s plenty of local liquor (like the rum I talked about earlier) to try on Tenerife. The most popular and well known, rum miele, is a honey rum produced on the island. However, there’s a plethora of different types out there. The one pictured above is a small shot that a grandpa gave me after I’d eaten at his restaurant, to drink as a digestif. Let me tell you, it was a way to finish out a meal.

Sightseeing Things to Do in Tenerife

Stargazing

The Canary Islands are a starlight preserve, meaning that light pollution is severely restricted. Coming from the neon-lit nights of South Korea as I was, this was incredible. At night sometimes I’d go up on the roof of my apartment building just to look at the sky. The stars are even more incredible if you escape from a city or town and head out into the wilderness. You can check out the tour below for an idea of what you’ll get, but basically you’ll be taken out by professionals with professional equipment to see all the celestial bodies at their best. Note that even though the days in Tenerife are warm, the nights can get chilly so make sure you dress appropriately! Book a tour here

Surfing

The sea swirls fiercely around the Canary Islands, making them the ideal spot for surfing. My unathletic self went exactly once, at the request of my much more athletic friend, and let me tell you, although it wasn’t the sport for me (and I was, tbh, hungover and exhausted from staying out the night before with the aforementioned friend), that the instructors we had were excellent. They made sure we slathered on sunscreen and stretched out before we got into the water, and provided boards and wetsuits (that water is cold but wetsuits are actually amazing) for us. If you already know how to surf, there are plenty of shops and even hotels and hostels that will rent you out a board, if you didn’t bring your own.

Beaches

Did you think you could read a listacle about a paradise island and not hear about the beaches? The beaches of Tenerife range from small, scrubby local beaches to sprawling, beautiful black sand beaches packed with German tourists trying to pack on a tan. I will warn you that quite a few of the beaches are nude beaches, which shouldn’t be a surprise for those of you acquainted at all with beach culture in Europe. If you don’t feel like your birthday suit should be shown off to the sun gods, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear clothes: my poor white ginger body was guarded by an enormous hat, a sun shrug, and further hidden under an umbrella. My friend told me I looked like a middle-aged lady, but I’d rather look like that than a lady bug.

Getting out to the Ocean

There are a lot of different tours you can do out in the bright blue seas surrounding Tenerife, ranging from fishing to dolphin watching! As with the beaches, you might as well make the most of your time on (or rather, off the coast of) an island. 

Road Tripping

It’s both cheap (starting at 15 euros a day) and easy (so long as you have an international license) to rent a car on Tenerife. Car rental shops are in virtually every city, and the people working there are often trilingual, able to speak English, German, and, of course, Spanish. I will warn you that most of the cars available are manual and that renting an automatic is almost double the price, but some are available. When my friends visited me, we would always rent a car to make our way around the island. Buses on Tenerife are pretty bad, and it can be hard to get to a lot of places. It’s also really nice to take your time and pull off at any interesting places you see. 

Hiking in Tenerife

When I was in Tenerife, I usually hiked at least once a week with a group I’d joined. Hiking around Tenerife is a little different from hikes in other places I’ve done. For one, the UV Index is crazy high in Tenerife, which meant that I always wore long sleeves, leggings, a hat, and, of course, sunscreen no matter how hot it was. Secondly, the hikes around Tenerife might not have as many amenities as you’re used to, such as conveniently-located information centers, water fountains, or toilets. Make sure to bring everything you need, and to pack plenty of water! Last, Tenerife has hugely different levels of hikes, ranging from a flat stroll that’s no more difficult than walking around a mall to hugely difficult, steep climbs where you will pass goats that look like they’re fearing for their balance. Make sure to thoroughly research what, exactly, you’re getting yourself into before you start a hike.

Mount Teide

Teide National Park comprised most of the center of the island, and Mount Teide – which is actually both Spain’s tallest mountain and a volcano that might explode and kill us all one day – is easy to see from almost all of the island. Teide National Park is a true nature reserve that I hiked in at least once a month.

If you hike in Teide National Park, you can also get enough elevation that you’re actually above the clouds. This creates a phenomenon known as mar de nuebes, literally meaning sea of clouds, as the clouds slowly look like they’re lapping up against the side of the mountain. Of course, being above the clouds means you aren’t even going to get the shade one can provide, so again, make sure to bring a hat.

Masca

Masca is one of the most visited spots on Tenerife, and it’s not hard to see why. The mountains and valleys here are truly gorgeous, but they’re not for the faint of heart! It’s easiest by far to get to Masca in a car – especially if you’re hiking – and the roads are steep and full of switchbacks. It can also get dangerously windy around Masca, to the point where I have struggled to open a car door and decided (along with my group) that if we tried walking any we’d likely be blown out to sea.

Anaga Forest

You might not expect a tropical island known for its massive volcano to have much in the way of forests, but Tenerife – diverse as its landscape is – has a lot to offer. The woods are cool and quiet, but often open up to let you see magnificent views. There are several sylvan hiking spots to be found around the island, but Anaga is perhaps one of the most famous, and offers several hikes that aren’t too difficult.

Guimar

Guimar offers a very easy hike that snakes from the seaside into the desert and back. The black volcanic soil, desert plants, and bright blue ocean create a scene – and unique color palette – that I’ve never seen anywhere else. Guimar is probably one of the hikes that’s easy to access without a car, as you can start hiking directly from the town instead of in the middle of a national park. 

Taganana

I’ll be straight with you. M friend and I first decided to go to Taganana just because of how so darned fun it is to say. It, like the other hikes listed here, is gorgeous but in an end-of-land type way. The sheer mountains drop straight into the ocean, and because Taganana is located on the north coast, it’s often overcast.

Towns to Visit in Tenerife

Puerto de la Cruz

Known by the locals simply as Puerto. For all of its 36-flavors-of-ice-cream-type charm, Puerto de la Cruz still holds a good sense of authenticity when compared to all of the touristic, Brit-saturated cities to the south. Puerto has one of my favorite views of the island: an old Spanish fort, peppered with palm trees, with a view of the ocean swirling down below. There’s a huge seawall that you can walk along from the fort that goes outside of Puerto a ways, which makes it a lovely walk after dinner.

La Orotava

La Orotava, the tiny town I lived in for those nine months I spent on Tenerife, is known for being one of the most beautiful on the island. Time and again I was told the same story: down in Puerto lived the poor sailors and fisherman, whereas all of the money – largely possessed by the rich farmers – made its way to La Orotava. This town truly is gorgeous. It’s painted in different colors, and the buildings have such an attention to detail. Small parks are also dotted through La Orotava, which makes it a delightful spot just to wander around for an afternoon. 

Plus, there are a lot of cats who like to hang out on the roofs and they are all pretty friendly.

La Laguna and Santa Cruz

La Laguna and Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, are so close the cities pretty much blend together. While La Laguna boasts historic, beautiful streets, Santa Cruz has more people and a bigger nightlife. 

La Laguna is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the Canaries, but unlike La Orotava, it’s much bigger. A few days could be spent wandering around these streets, especially if you take the tram over to Santa Cruz.

As the capital, Santa Cruz has a lot to offer. It has everything from dive bars (one actually owned by the only other American I met living on the island) to nice restaurants. It’s also convenient to travel not only to La Laguna from Santa Cruz but other cities around the island.

Playa Los Americas

Did you come to Tenerife to party? Have you been bored this entire time by my talks of scenic hikes and colonial architecture? Well, get ready for a TONE CHANGE because baby, it’s time to talk about Los Americas.

Los Americas is the place you want to go if you want to party and got bored of Vegas. I only really went there once, and was offered mary jane by four o’clock (in the afternoon) and coke by seven. Straight-laced teacher that I am, I went home to watch Harry Potter instead but no judgement if you want to indulge in that and ah, all the other pleasures Los Americas has to offer.

It may not surprise you to hear Los Americas is among the most touristic cities on the island, where people will speak to you in every language but Spanish because real Spaniards are nowhere to be found.

The beaches are lovely, though, and you can catch glimpses of some of the other islands.

For more posts from Spain:

• 6 Must Visit Cities in Andalucia Spain
• Renting a Boat and Sailing the Balearic Islands
• Tips on Backpacking Madrid
• Visiting Valencia
• Barcelona: tapas, sangria, and life lessons

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The post 25 Terrific Things to Do in Tenerife, Spain appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

The southern province of Andalucia in Spain has its own distinct and beautiful culture. It’s also full of rolling mountains, valleys, beautiful coastline, and national parks. It’s a must visit if you head to Spain! This post will share how to have the perfect tour of Andalucia at your own pace.

You could spend your whole trip getting to know this vibrant region. It’s full of historic cities, charming villages, and beautiful nature.

I spent almost a month visiting this region, so I want to tell you all about the best cities to visit in Andalucia Spain!

Tour of Andalucia Spain: 6 Cities to Visit in Andalucia Spain

1. Granada

The first city on the list is Granada Spain – this was absolutely my favorite spot in Spain, and one of my new favorite cities in the world!

Granada is a very old city – the area around the city has been populated since 5500 B.C.. The Moors ruled this city for centuries, and their influence can be seen everywhere – in the architecture, food, etc.

Another very interesting thing about Granada is its geography. It’s located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains – the tallest mountains in all of Europe. Yet it’s only an hour drive from the coast. This means you have access to tropical coastline and snow covered mountains for skiing all within an hour or two’s distance.

There are lots of amazing natural places to explore if you’re interested in hiking Sierra Nevada mountains and outdoor sports like mountain biking and skiing are plentiful.

The biggest attraction in Granada is the beautiful Alhambra, or the old Moorish castle and palace. Be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time as they can often sell out.

Granada also has a very fun tradition of serving free tapas with every drink order! This makes it super easy to eat your way slowly around this foodie city. I highly recommend delving into the food culture here with a Granada food tour, or just a self guided tapas tour!

Granada has endless pretty corners to explore, winding cobblestone streets, and beautiful doors. You can spend hours just taking pictures.

Be sure to visit the Alhambra, see a flamenco show, wander the picturesque neighborhood of the Albaicin, and visit the many pretty churches and historic buildings. If you’re wondering what to do in Granada, there is so much! Be sure to give yourself a few days here.

2. Seville

Seville is a gorgeous and regal city. It’s also the largest city in Andalucia. While Granada feels a bit bohemian and artsy, Seville is classy and polished.

In the centro area, every building looks freshly painted in pretty soft pastels. The architecture is impressive, and the city is jam packed with great shopping and restaurants.

The crown jewel of Seville is the Alcazar – or the historic castle and palace. Every city in this region has one, but the one in Seville was the most dramatic and beautiful. The tile, the courtyards, and gardens were astounding. I could have taken pictures here for days! Be sure to make a visit here a priority.

There are lots of other beautiful historic buildings to visit like the Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador, and the dramatic cathedral. Be sure to also climb up the Torre Giralda on the side of the Cathedral. You’ll get a great 360 view of the city below.

The city of Seville is divided by the river Guadalquivir that runs right through it. This is a beautiful area to walk along and enjoy the river views. The Torre de Oro is also on the edge of the river, and offers a beautiful view from the top.

Seville has an amazing food scene. Be sure to visit the pretty Triana area, and the hip Feria neighborhoods to enjoy the delicious food and drink of Seville.

3. Malaga

Malaga surprised me. I knew it was a popular resort area for British tourists, but didn’t realize it also had such a charming and beautiful city center.

I spent 2 days here, but could have definitely stayed longer. The food here also blew me away!

Just as the other cities, Malaga has their historic castle/fortress to visit – the Alcazaba. This castle is situated on a hill and has sweeping views of the city and the Mediterranean below. There isn’t quite as much tile or colorful details as the castles in Granada or Seville, but it is still absolutely worth a visit. Spend some time wandering through these beautiful grounds.

Be sure to visit the Picasso museum here. Picasso was from Malaga, and this museum is full of his beautiful works.

It’s also just fun to wander around the narrow cobblestone streets, gaze up at the colorful buildings, and get lost in the charming centro.  Don’t forget to visit the impressive Cathedral, and take a look at the old Roman Amphitheater.

And do your share of eating. The food scene here is thriving and every meal we had far exceeded our expectations. A few great places to try are Cortijo de Pepe for lunch, or El Meson de Cervantes or El Tapeo de Cervantes for dinner.

4. Cadiz

Cadiz is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain! It’s also one of the oldest in all of Western Europe. This city is isolated on a peninsula in the southern part of Spain. Since it was a perfect place for a port in between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, it’s been an important city for trade.

The downtown Centro is full of historic buildings like the giant cathedral, the Plaza San Juan de Dios, the San Francisco church and convent, and many plazas.

Another interesting thing about the city, is that it is full of watchtowers that were used as look out points to keep the city secure. There are still more than 100 towers scattered through the city, but the most famous is the Torre Tavira. You can climb to the top of this tower and get sweeping views of the picturesque city. There is also a museum here that will tell you about the history of the city and the towers. The Torre also houses a camera obscura that uses pinhole camera principles to show you a live view of the city. The camera obscura tour is included in admission.

Be sure to also visit the Castillo de San Sebastian that is only connected to the mainland by a bridge. The nearby beach of La Playa de la Caleta is surprisingly pretty for a city beach and worth a stroll or swim.

Cadiz is also known for their delicious seafood, so be sure to stop for some tapas de mariscos.

5. Ronda

Ronda is most well known for the dramatic cliff that it sits on. The river, Guadelevin that runs through the city has carved very steep sheer cliffs and a canyon that runs through the middle of the city. This makes for very picturesque views from below or above.

You can walk along the southwestern edge of the centro and find lookout points to see views of the valley below. Then walk over the new bridge to the oldest part of the city.

You can take a pathway on the western side that leads down below the bridge. This is a great place to take a selfie with the giant and impressive bridge and canyon.

If you then walk back up and circle around to the other side of the centro, you will see the smaller old bridge – still impressive and interesting to see.

The old centro is full of pretty old architecture and cute tapas bars to stop for a glass of wine and some olives.

If you’re interested in the Spanish tradition of bull fighting, stop by the Plaza de Toros to see the world famous bull ring. You can also take a tour inside.

6. Olvera

The final city on my list is not a well known one – it’s the little town of Olvera, one of the pueblos blancos, or white towns in the Andalucia region.

Really, I just think it’s important to spend a little time in a small town in this area to balance out the experience in the big cities. Small town life is very different, and allows you to see authentic Spanish lifestyle – mostly untouched by tourism.

You can stop by any of the pueblos blancos, but I think Olvera is the most beautiful and most interesting of all.

Olvera sits at the top of a mountain with gorgeous views of the mountains, valleys, and olive farms below. The top of the town is marked by a small Moorish castle that dates from the 12th century.

A few steps from the castle is a Spanish church built in the 1800’s. Below these monuments are the steep sloping old centro streets – winding cobblestones, and historic white buildings.

Besides the historic features of the town, Olvera sits right on the Via Verde route – an old railroad path that has been converted to a bike or walking route. It’s a beautiful place to enjoy the natural scenery.

If you are short on time, you could just visit Olvera for a day or even an afternoon. But if you have enough time, it’s great to stay for a couple days, absorbing the slow pace of life, having a drink with locals at a tapas bar, and being greeted on the street.

And to top it off Olvera has some of the best sunsets I’ve seen of anywhere in the world.

And that’s it! 6 cities you should definitely see if you head to the Andalucia region of Spain.

Read More: Tapas & Sangria in Barcelona

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Seville

Tell us a little about  yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Seville.

I’m a copywriter, digital strategist, and founder of the self-improvement website Globe of Love. Whilst I was on my year abroad, I lived and studied in Seville for 4 months. Although I was (technically) a student at the time, I would say that I had my fair share of exuberant treats and outings, and I got to know the city pretty well in the process!

What makes Seville a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Seville is simply a gorgeous, gorgeous city. It is the perfect mix of the relaxed, laid-back Spanish lifestyle, combined with boutique experiences and treats. If you want to have a beautiful time in Seville, there are so many places to go and indulge in some beautiful Spanish dancing, delicious drinks and food, or some really fun activities.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Seville?

I would say that Hotel Alfonso XIII is hands down the most stunning hotel in Seville. It is right in the centre of the city, boasts a gorgeous, palatial building, and is just incredibly relaxing, even if you’re just going for a drink or a meal. Click here for rates and availability. 

What about boutique hotels in Seville, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

I would recommend either the Melia, Alfonso (of course!), or the Alcoba hotel, which offers a slightly cheaper alternative but is still a 4 star hotel!

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in Seville?

In Seville it’s fairly straightforward to hire a canoe and go canoeing along the main river. There are also some tennis courts near Plaza de Cuba, and near the bull ring you can hire bikes and go cycling around the city. Another favourite is to buy tickets to a Flamenco evening. Tickets include a meal and drinks, and are a fabulous way to spend an evening with family and friends.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Seville?

There is a park a bit further along from the Plaza de Cuba which is tranquil and quite far from the bustle of the city. I would say it’s one of the best places to go for a picnic, or to read a book. Aside from that, you can also go to the famous Parque Maria Luisa, which is right in the middle of the city and filled with beautiful places to sit and relax. During the summer, there are often festivals held in the park, which means plenty of street food and games! La Una de Delicias, near Puerta de Jerez, is also a really nice restaurant to go to for lunch or an early dinner.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Seville and what are their best dishes?

There is a really good Mexican restaurant called Las Iguanas Ranas, right near the cathedral. L’oca Guiliva is also a really good Italian restaurant in one of the central parts of town. If you’re looking for an authentic Spanish experience, however, Los Coloniales is one of the oldest and most sought after tapas bars in Seville! You can also head to the beautiful and luxurious Rio Grande: right by the river next to the Plaza de Cuba, this place is a must see for delicious dining and unforgettable views!

Let’s talk desserts in Seville- what place makes the best?

There’s an ice cream place in Alfalfa that has the best, most creamiest ice cream in Seville. There are plenty of places you can go to get desserts and ice cream in the centre, but this one is the best!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers in Seville?

Seville is generally quite good for shopping. The main shopping area is not very far away from Las Cetas, (a mushroom-like structure in the very heart of the city), and area surrounding the football stadium is filled with designer stores. Unfortunately, many of the Seville-based designers specialise in making plates and tiles, so you may not be able to find many locally made clothing, but there are a range of very good designer brands along the main streets. Seville is also very good for boutique, artisanal jewellery.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Seville?

I would say that the best spa in Seville would have to be Aire de Sevilla. It is absolutely stunning, extremely relaxing, and just the perfect place to plan a mini-retreat. Another option would be the H20 Spa Balnearios, which is right next to the Plaza de Espana (you could even get a horse and carriage ride there if you wanted), and has a very Moroccan feel to it!

Time for a great sunset view in Seville… where would you go?

Now this one is quite special. It’s a Sevillian tradition to buy a bottle of wine and head for a riverside walk, and you will often find people siting by the river drinking in the early evening. That’s where I would go.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

I was once taken on a date to this gorgeous bar just by the river, at water level. It’s on the Calle Betis, just after the Plaza De Cuba, and it offers a really intimate, romantic atmosphere. Not many people know about it either, so you’re always left in peace!

If you don’t want something quite as datey, Fabiola is a good flamenco bar and Groucho is really good for pre-drinks and has a very strong family atmosphere!

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

I would say the best ones to go to all-year round are Bhudda, Tokyo, or Antique Theatro, which is huge but very fun! It’s usually best to go to Tokyo on Tuesdays and Alfalfa, Seville’s prime drinking area, on Thursdays, as that’s where everyone goes to party. In the summer, Babilonia is also a really fun outdoor club to head to, they hire dancers to dance on the podiums and the atmosphere is always incredible!

Rashina Gajjar is a copywriter, digital strategist, and editor-in-chief of Globe Of Love, a website she founded in 2014. She speaks three and a half languages (English, French, Spanish, and a dash of Italian) and is extremely fond of travelling, socialising, and writing about self-improvement. You can contact her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post Luxury Guide to Seville appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Barcelona

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Barcelona.

I am Meritxell and I am a tourism professional, I worked in hospitality for some time so my passion is hotels and everything related to it. Working in the industry you end up being very picky and when you like something you find time and money to enjoy it. For me, this is exploring the city and mainly through food and new restaurant discoveries. My mum always says that when I was born they left me at the wrong house. I should have been sent to the mayor’s house! She jokes about it since I am a bit of a foodie and pleasure-seeker.

What makes Barcelona a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Barcelona has everything. It’s a city full of amazing places to discover, Gaudí buildings, shopping, nights out, fancy restaurants, cocktail bars and on the seaside enjoying the breeze, can you ask for more?

Check out all Barcelona tours here

What 5-star hotel is the best in Barcelona?

My recommendation would be the Palace. It is an incredible hotel, right in the city center with a classical style, I love their lounge and the rooms are just fab with the last technology but with their own style that reminds me of lords and ladies time. 

They have my favorite afternoon tea in town and their spa Mayan Luxury is from another world. It’s won for three consecutive years the world spa luxury awards. Click here for rates and availability. 

What about boutique hotels in Barcelona, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

Hotel Mercer is right in the gothic quarter and only a 10-minute walk from Las Ramblas. The boutique hotel is set in an ancient building next to the Roman walls in a special location. Their rooms are stylish and chic and they expose the brick walls.

I love their orange garden, and it is also a good place to do your afternoon tea or drink something even if you don’t stay.

Check out all luxury hotels in Barcelona here

Are there any fun activities in Barcelona for the adventurous traveler?

If you want a more exclusive experience I’d recommend sleeping for a night in a yacht in Barcelona’s harbor. The Southern Cross, a Scottish yacht restored with 5 cabins on it is right in the Barceloneta.

If you book an apartment, you can get a chef for you that will cook and set your table with the menu you desire. With all comfort of being at home but taking the restaurant delicatessen with you, there is nothing to worry about. Be served and enjoy! Joan Gurgui is your home delivery chef!

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Barcelona?

If you are looking for a cafeteria, I would go to The Cosmos in the city center or Usagi for tea and Japanese treats and cakes. Cup and cake and their shops are also a good choice, they have salty and sweet treats for all tastes and they became the trendy place to meet in the afternoon with friends. In the center, I like Hotel Pulitzer, very comfy sofas in their lounge and good tea, I am a tea lover!

You have a big date. What are the most delicious restaurants in Barcelona and what are their best dishes?

My top choice is Kyoto Japanese restaurant, the best sushi in town and they have butterfish makis, my favorite ones. If you like Thai food, the Thai gardens is the perfect place for a romantic dinner, my choices to order would be the coconut sauce chicken and the green curry with shrimps. If you share, go for the entrées, they are very good to start with the dinner.

For Catalan food, more typical, my pick is Nou Ramonet in La Barceloneta area. Order fish or rice; they are gorgeous.

Check out food tours in Barcelona here

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best desserts in Barcelona?

As weird as it might sound, there is a restaurant that only serves desserts, all their menu is about desserts. It is called Espai Sucre, and if you like them this is your paradise. Escribà bakery in Las Ramblas is also a good place for desserts, my favorite a vanilla cake with the shape of red lips, it is incredible!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Barcelona; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Go to the Gothic, it is plenty of local designers to choose from, my favorite Ivori. Gràcia is a good place too if you are looking for artisans and designers. My favorite brand is Singular and Antonieta.

Check all the shopping tours in Barcelona here

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Barcelona?

If you want to go for a mani pedi, the Pink Peony is the most famous place in town.  If you want to enjoy a spa afternoon, the Mandarin Oriental and the Mayan Luxury Spa in El Palace Hotel are great choices. Silom spa is also one of my favorites, mid-range prices.

Time for a great sunset view in Barcelona… where would you go?

At the beach, I would recommend El Chiringuito del Escribà, right next to the sand and the sea. The W Barcelona Hotel is also a good choice to meet up and have a cocktail on their terrace overlooking the sea and good views of the sunset.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks.

You can find the best cocktails in town in Milano. It is a cocktail bar famous for its live jazz performances. My pick is their daiquiris with fresh fruit. The mango one is delicious!

The Kahiki, a Hawaiian cocktail bar in Plaça Universitat is a classic, good place for coconut cocktails.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Barcelona, which one do you head towards?

I would go for Shoko. It’s a restaurant-discotheque in the seaside. There are plenty of restaurants and clubs in the area. However, this one is very fancy so be aware of smart dress code.

If you’re interested in more luxury experiences in Barcelona, check out all these tours offered on Viator.

Meritxell is a tourism professional and a traveler from Barcelona, she loves her city and Catalonia, and in her specialized blog Tourismwithme, she explains how to know better Barcelona and Catalonia like a local. Visit her Blog and find her also on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

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There is nothing like the comforts of home. By home, I mean Anuar’s apartment in Barcelona. My superhero couchsurfing host picked me up from the police station after I was pickpocketed and filled me up with pasta and beer while I sulked that my photos were missing. There might have been a couple tears.

To recap: at the start of my 72 hours in Barcelona, my camera stolen on metro, chased down thieves, thieves deleted photos, got camera back.

There was only one way to remedy the situation: alcohol, tapas, and sangria in Barcelona.

Sightseeing and Port Olympic

It was early, and in Barcelona parties go until 6 or 7 in the A.M. We had a good 12 hours to go and since no one goes to clubs until after midnight, Anuar, our tourguide (just kidding, but one of my favorite reasons for using couchsurfing) took us on a tour of Barcelona for a few hours.

We drank a bottle of wine outside the King’s Palace and watched the fountain light show dance in tune with the music.  Street performers lined the edges as we walked on to the Olympic stadium. It was gorgeous all lit up at night.

By three A.M. we finally left the small bars, and went to the main clubbing area, Port Olympic. It’s near this artificial beach with a giant goldfish and twin towers. You can see all the boats lined up, but be careful on the sand there- it’s little rocks and my weak baby feet couldn’t take the pain.

Why was I barefoot you ask?

It was 3 A.M. I’m lucky I could even still walk…

All the bars are lined up and you can basically bounce from one to the other. Incredibly, one man that helped me during the pickpocketing fiasco was a bouncer at the last club, The Enfermia, which mean the nursery. Being a nurse, I found the place too funny: guys stripping off green scrubs on the bar, girl bartenders in slutty nurse outfits, and bartenders shooting liquor at you from syringes.

Another night out took us to Razzmataz. FYI it’s about 15 Euro to get it. So bat those eyelashes, unless you’re a guy and you’re out of luck. I’ve been nowhere like Barcelona when it comes to partying.

Megan and I danced for 4 hours straight and made it home after the sun came up. Megan was in a salsa dancing zone with 4 boys that she couldn’t decide between, I was more about vodka. Lots of vodka. Can’t even think about it now (barf).

Important lessons:

• Estrella is a horrible Spanish beer
• Mahou is a good Spanish beer
• A bacon egg and cheese club sandwich is called a bikini. There’s also a trikini. They just threw in a pork tenderloin, no biggie.
• Every city I go to in Europe, I will end up in an Irish bar
• Every club will play Grease Lightening. They are not being ironic.
• Spaghetti carbonara at 5 A.M. is the usual
• You can lay out topless here
• The jewelry shopping along the beach is the BEST!
• high-waisted short shorts scream “I’m American!”
• Russians don’t understand the concept of drinking games. They just down shots.
• NO MATTER WHAT do not fly Vueling airways unless you want hour delays, no electricity on the plane, and no luggage when you land.  

Tapas and Sangria

Thank heavens we were with a local guy who could take us to the best places for tapas. I have never had such great food, ever! I also didn’t know how much the Spanish love honey mustard. We bounced from tapas place to market, to bar, to tapas place all afternoon. We wandered around the antique looking Gothic Quarter until sufficiently stuffed and a little tipsy, it was back home to get ready for another big night out.

Where to get your Sangria fix: Black Sheep

What to get at the market: stock up on roasted almonds and peanuts, they make a great snack on trains and buses, are filling, and last a while

Sagrada Familia & Park Guell

Park Guell is not only an astounding art work by Gaudi, but it’s also where you’ll get great view of the city. He was the first person to make chairs curve to fit your back. The park is so fun to walk through; it’s like being in a gingerbread house covered in icing and colorful ceramic tiles… or Disneyland. It’s a ‘don’t miss’ in Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia is stunning as well, but was under construction. No one mentions that these ancient buildings and castles all over Europe are literally always under construction. Bummer.

Anuar had 3 other couchsurfers come the day we left. We all recovered from hangovers, they made apple strudel, and we played Guitar Hero before Megan and I headed off to Athens. My backpack headed off to Russia for all I know, but that’s another story.

If you’re spending one week in Barcelona, or more, you can check out that link for more tips instead of just reading my story from there.

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While in Spain, it’s very worthwhile to spend time in the capital, Madrid. For me, Spain was on the high end of my budget. I flew from Ireland to Spain and on to Greece before I headed north in my Eastern Europe backpacking trip. Spain was a luxurious extra that I could barely afford.

Travel like a local in Madrid

I chose to Couchsurf most of the cities I stayed in, including Madrid. I couldn’t have chosen better; my hosts were three boys my age that had the weekend of work and plenty of time to show me around. Thanks to them, I got to experience the cities’ food, nightlife, and attractions like a local- is there any better way to travel? Make sure to stay safe while couchsurfing.

Luckily enough, the boys had a car so we were saved not only lodging, but local transport as well. Much of the first two days were spent seeing buildings. This has to be my least favorite thing about exploring a new city. I am not as appreciative of architecture as some, and I find myself bored, hoping that at least I’m getting a tan or losing a few pounds while I walk.

Attractions not to miss in Madrid

We saw the Cathedral of Madrid and the Royal Palace. Everywhere you walk, it seems you come across another massive cathedral or palace. The city is full of little ponds with statues and fountains. Each moment you’ll want to capture in photo! Attractions to add to your list: Palacio Real, Palacio de Santa Cruz, Iglesia de San Jose, and Palacio de Velazquez. If you don’t have a host to show you around, join one of the free city walking tours.

Spend some time wandering through the Royal Botanical Garden and Retiro Park to wander around, have a picnic, and see the ponds and sculpted artistry in the hedges. The gardens are amazing throughout Madrid. Even the train station has a greenhouse inside.

Real Madrid

Futbol (soccer) is a huge part of life in Madrid. Bernabeu Stadium is world famous because of the soccer club Real Madrid, boasting players like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. it’s a rule that anytime D.B. is mentioned you have to add a shirtless photo (right?)

If you want to see a game, check out their website for schedule and plan your trip between the months September through April.  You can see them train at Valdebebas Friday at 1030 for 2 euros if you can’t get a ticket to the game, which I’m told is just as good! Make sure to get there early, and depending on management it isn’t always open.

Bull fighting!

In Madrid, traditional bull fighting is still happening at Plaza de Toros de las Ventas, which means the Matador kills the bull at the end of the two hour show. Is PETA freaking out somewhere? I was! I chose not to see a show like this; although I’m told May and June are the best times to go for San Izidro festival. The boys I stayed with are originally from Pamplona, where the “running of the bulls” takes place every year. They said it’s “dumb and dangerous” They never take part in the actual running, just the festivities.

Other happenings in Madrid:

There are museums to visit as well as cooking and flamenco dance classes to take- a good reason for me to plan a return trip.

We cooked at home mostly. Lots of pasta, bread, and salads with oil, vinegar, and sea salt that for some reason tasted better than any salad I’ve made at home. I learned the tip to making a perfect grilled cheese. First of all use nicer bread and Gouda cheese, and don’t spread the butter. Just put a glob in the middle of each side and let it melt out. Genius.

The nightlife is almost as good as Barcelona! My encounters with men there were actually quite annoying. I found the men I was meeting to be far too forward as well as invading my personal space. Hopefully that’s just bad luck and not a indicator of the Madrid men. My hosts were respectful, kind, and friendly. Madrid is a modern city and in the summer was very hot to walk around. I found it to be equal parts historical and fun.

Tip on Spain travel: compare eurail plan prices and buses. Although I usually use Eurail, for my verison of the trip, it saved me money to travel by bus through Spain. It was comfortable and inexpensive.

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Barcelona pickpockets are notorious… here is my embarrassing story of being their target. Nothing makes you feel less traveled then getting scammed!

“Hi this is Rachel, The American girl that’s staying with you.”

CS host: “Oh great, you made it to Barcelona, where can I meet you?”

“Just, like the police station. No big deal though. It totally wasn’t my fault”

Not the best starting line to get a good review on your CS page, but it had to be done.

I had arrived at the train station from Valencia, and was on the metro to the center of the city. I hadn’t yet got the chance to SEE Barcelona. The train was packed, and I held on overhead. These 4 boys kept bumping into me and I was a little annoyed but let it go. When our stop came, my travel buddy Megan jumped off, but I couldn’t. These guys were blocking my way from getting off the train! As the doors beeped to close they jumped and took off- not expecting me to follow.

I wasn’t sure right away what had happened but once I noticed that my camera was missing from my purse it made sense. They tried to trap me on the train so we didn’t get off at the same stop. Smart fellas! I threw a mini-fit because it was a brand new Canon I’d gotten for my birthday. Then, I thought you know what I’m going to find those f*ckers. I left my bag with Megan and took off through the train station. They weren’t as smart as they thought because I spotted them too quickly. After a short chase I had one by the backpack and I started yelling. I made a very American scene, which I’m good at in moments trouble, especially here in India when I’ve feeling unsafe. “He robbed me! Check his backpack!”

I might have just gotten pick-pocketed, but above all i’m still a tourist ;)

Security held them up against a wall, all four of them, searched and found my camera… with all my photos deleted and replaced with ones of their faces. Because obviously, it was their camera, or so they claimed. But seeing the designer sunglasses, iPods, and other stolen goodies from a hard days’ work the police agreed it was mine. Buuuut they weren’t going to just give it back to me. In Spain this was a felony and I needed to fill out a report because my camera was confiscated material.

Off to the Police Station…

So I finally got to see Barcelona… from the back of a police car. Cute. I filled a report out without a translator using my poor Spanish skills to their Catalan. It went something like this: “punta… muy mal”. That’s my way of saying they’re bitches and its very bad what happened. It’s a little comical in retrospect.

“I’m trapped in a glass case of emotion”  -anchorman

My host came to get me, I got my camera back, and those losers spent who knows how many nights in jail.  I was informed they had to go to court because of the cost of the camera.  Luckily, my cousin’s genius husband found the deleted files and I got all my photos back. Luckily, my couchsurfing host was really cool and helpful. One more perk of using couchsurfing while you travel, just remember to be safe! Despite the rough landing, the rest of my time in Barcelona was spent eating tapas and sipping sangria!

Sign up for Couchsurfing ASAP! It makes traveling Europe so much more FUN not to mention lodging is free.

Anuar, our host

Travel Hint:

If you ever delete your pictures accidently, take the SD out and keep it for someone to retrieve them and GET A NEW SD. If you take photos on the same it will overwrite them. I always carry an extra SD card with me anyways in case I go photo crazy.

“PUNTA!” “FUCK YOU” … nice little souvenir

Scams happen constantly to tourists and pickpocketing happens to even experienced travelers. Thieves are good at what they do and although it’s a bummer it might happen to you. Keep an eye on all your stuff especially on transportation. Getting pickpocketed is almost as bad as losing your luggage. If it hasn’t, consider yourself lucky, but don’t let your guard down or you’ll be making out on a beach in Thailand and realize your purse is gone, clearly stolen by pirates. But that’s another story.

If you do get robbed and don’t get your things back, you can claim it and get the money back to buy new things IF you have travel insurance. It’s SO important! I didn’t have it back in these travel days but now I always use World Nomads Travel Insurance.

bye bye Barcelona!

Have you been scammed or robbed? Have you had to waste your day filing a report?

The post That Time I Called my Couchsurfing Host from Jail… appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

When booking a place to stay while visiting Valencia, you should decide if you want to stay in “Old Town” or near the beach, as the city scene is not integrated into the beach life. I was unaware when I booked and ended up in Old Town, paying quite a lot overall in bus tickets to the beach during the day (where I really wanted to be).

out shopping, not happy on bus going the wrong direction.. whoops

Where I stayed

Overall, Valencia is easy to travel cheaply so if bus tickets at around 1.50 euro aren’t a concern of yours then pick whichever hostel suites you best, regardless of location.I stayed at ABCyou B&B, which has very mixed reviews online. I thought it was great. I had a private room, scrumptious all you can eat free breakfast, fan, tv, mac computer, balcony, comfy duvet, coffee in the room, and very clean attached bathroom.

We bought a market pizza and tried to cook it in the kitchen, but there was no oven. The owner took the pizza home, and cooked it at his house. How kind! He came back with a hot pizza and complimentary bottled water. He mapped the city out for us with tips on where to go.

Click here to book a room in Valencia

Tip:

Sometimes staying somewhere with decent, but not great ratings, is good because they work a bit harder to get higher reviews. The beach was beautiful! After being in hot Spanish cities, nothing could have been more refreshing. Sunburnt and tired from playing in the waves we headed back.

Casco Antiguo

Touring Old Town through Casco Antiguo is an adventure on it’s own. The food market had stall after stall of hanging meats. I’d be grossed out if they weren’t so good. I ate ham every day in Spain! We spent the majority of the time hanging out in the main square or silk and central markets, but did see the Central Post office, Chapel of the Holy Grail, Plaza de la Reina, Serranos Towers and half a day at the Oceanogrific (aquarium).

The building of the aquarium on it’s own is beautiful sculpture that resembles a whale (or dolphin?) and it’s surrounded by cold blue water… that you can’t get in. So cruel on a hot day! There was a dinosaur museum as well.

Upon returning to our hostel, the owner informed us he’d accidently over booked and we’d have to leave. He booked us online a room three times the price of his at the Red Nest Hostel. He even tried to give us cab fare to get there. We were sad to leave, as the bed was so comfortable but we had no choice in the matter. Red Nest was mediocre.

Other options in Valencia

• tours to the hot springs (out of budget)
• renting scooters (we thought we’d wreck)
• tapas tour and the free walking tour (we did these on our own)
• For a nice night out, try Radio City in the middle of downtown, although we didn’t find Valencia to be much of a party scene like Barcelona’s raging nightlife.

It was very old fashioned and full of culture. For us, it was a nice place to enjoy the beach and relax.

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