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rashport

travel blog for budget travelers

rashport

Backpacker seville sevilla spain travel blog budget solo traveler
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SPAIN

 Places Visited 

  • Spain is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited, no wonder why it is among the top 10 tourist destinations in the world

  • Plan ahead and bear in mind that a visitor cannot cover everything in Spain

  • Generally speaking, Spain is better visited between September and April, unless beaches are on top of your list

  • Travel by bus is very efficient between cities. Budget airlines are available with good connections between cities. Flights are probably the best mode of transport (cost versus time). I also met travelers who used blablacar App for carpooling but didn't recommend it

  • Want to avoid crowds? Drop Ibiza and Barcelona

  • Andalusia is sizzling hot in summer, especially July & August, however it is my favorite region in the country

  • If I were to choose between Ibiza and Mallorca, I would certainly pick Mallorca

 Barcelona 

Activities, tours and attractions

  • Even if you are not a big fan of Barcelona FC (like me!), a visit to Camp Nou is a must to admire the history and achievements. Book your admission ticket online. The basic ticket costs €26 online (€30 from box office) grants access to visit the museum (club’s trophies, history and milestones, Messi dedicated area, dressing room, press conference hall, and a section of the stadium, and there is a little chapel!). Booking online is restricted by date and timing  

  • Walk along the popular Las Ramblas Avenue and don’t miss La Boqueria Market for fresh juices and snacks. Kiosks inside Bouqeria sometimes have better deals than the ones closer to the entrance

  • Park Güell is one of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces. I personally thought the admission ticket price was too expensive. If you are on a tight budget, stroll around the free section of the park. Main tower/buildings of the park can also be seen from outside. In winter (November-March), on the first Sunday of every month, a limited number of free tickets are given out at the box office until supplies last and during summer (April-October), free admission is every Sunday from 17:00 to 20:00

  • Best views of Barcelona can be taken from Bunker del Carmen. Take public bus line #22 to the last stop. It drops you few meters away (10 minutes on foot) from the main viewpoint. It is a common spot for locals and tourists to come here to watch the sunset and bring food and snacks

  • Palau de Music has fascinating interior design. Take your photos in the main Sala and between the decorative columns. Admission ticket is €8, price decreases for a pack of 5, 10 or 15 tickets  

  • Barceloneta beach is the most popular in the city, packed with tourists and sellers. It is definitely not the best one in the city. Stay somewhere far away from W Hotel. Wear water shoes, there are sea urchins in the area close to the rocks  

  • Casa Batllo is one of Gaudi’s masterpieces. It’s beautiful but may not justify the price. The best part is the roof. The ticket includes interesting audio interactive tool to better understand Gaudi’s architectural philosophy. Book your ticket online as early as possible as they sell out fast

  • I thought that Barcelona Cathedral was much more beautiful than Sagrada Familia. Arrive before 12:30 for free access. Climb the towers for 3 euros for fascinating views of the city. Don’t forget to meet the royal ducks residing inside the cathedral

  • If you are on a super tight budget, skip all Gaudi's expensive attractions! You can still enjoy the beauty of Barcelona in the streets, beaches, plazas and public squares. Most of Gaudi's attractions can be fairly seen from outside

  • In my opinion, La Sagrada Familia is one of the least attractive cathedrals I had ever visited. For me the cathedral was a major disappointment, especially the interior which looked like an exhibition for modern art! Best photos for the exterior of the cathedral can be taken from a little park called Placa de Gaudi. Book your ticket way in advance as tickets sell out so fast especially the towers. Basic ticket (only access to the cathedral without an audio guide or access to towers) costs €20, with €2 discount for students. Book your tickets from www.sagradafamilia.org

Transportation

  • Visit Barcelona's main attractions by public transport (metro or bus). Save some cash, purchase the 10-trip ticket, valid for buses and metro

Restaurants and cafes

  • La Flauta II: excellent Spanish tapa, liked the fried zucchini with honey and cheese and the spicy shrimp. Majority of the restaurant's guests were locals

Accommodation

  • Free Hostels Barcelona: my 4-bed room relatively had good space with a hanger stand. Each bed had two power outlets, light and a curtain. The breakfast was simple but sufficient. The hostel’s communal area, kitchen and bathrooms were clean and modern. The location wasn’t central but the bus stations and metro were within walking distance. Receptionists were very friendly and cooperative

 Seville 

Activities, tours and attractions

  • Welcome to Seville... Initially, I dropped it out from my itinerary and then -fortunately- decided to bring it back. It turned out to be my favorite city in Spain

  • Visiting Seville in summer made me realize why Spaniards glorify their siesta. In August, the city is scorching hot. Wear a hat, drink lots of water and plan your visits to start after 5 pm

  • There is no need to pay for a lavish dinner with a flamenco show. A number of authentic flamenco shows are performed daily at night in bars and restaurants. Some of them are free of charge with any order

  • Visit the magnificent Plaza de España which was built in 1928 for the Iberian-American Exposition. Admire the architecture and art, and enjoy one of the live flamenco shows with traditional Andalusian music

  • Alcázar is a Moorish-Renaissance royal palace, was a Muslim Andalusian fortress, destroyed by the Christian Castilian to construct a palace for a king. I decided to skip it as I later visited Cordoba and Granada. Admission ticket is €12

  • Catedral de Sevilla is the third largest cathedral in the world, admission ticket is €9, I believe the price is too expensive for the entrance especially that it doesn’t include the roof. Roof can only be visited with a guided tour which is more expensive

  • Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is the largest bullring in Seville, the admission ticket includes a guided tour through the sections of the museum (history, costumes, art, ads). Admission ticket is €8, students below 26-year-old get discounted ticket for €5. Last bullfighter was killed here in 1929

  • Las Setas De Sevilla (Metropol Parasol) is a wonderful sculptural wooden structure with a rooftop walkway and viewpoint of the city, admission ticket is €3 including a free drink. No need to book tickets in advance

Transportation

  • Bus line EA operates between Seville Airport and Estacion Plaza de Armas, there is a bus every 30 minutes, one-way ticket is €4, tickets are purchased from the bus driver. Estacion Plaza de Armas is 20-minute walk from the old town

Accommodation

  • Hostel One Catedral: I had a great experience in this hostel. I checked in at 1 am, the receptionist asked me if I was hungry and then served me some delicious food. The room was relatively spacious, bathrooms were good, free dinner at night where all guests gather and chitchat. The hostel is located next to the cathedral and Alcazar, within walking distance. Daily tours are posted on the main board, I went with the hostel’s guests to a flamenco show at night. The receptionists are very kind and informative. There’s no breakfast, it’s mainly coffee/tea with some biscuits. Make sure that you’re given a room key and a padlock at check-in time because I didn’t get the padlock and the manager assumed that I’d lost it! The hostel might get noisy in the morning because the rooms’ windows overlook the reception and communal area, however, earplugs can be taken from the reception

 Cordoba 

Activities, tours and attractions

  • Do not miss Cordoba. It is one of the most exquisite Andalusian towns, connected by busses with less than 2 hours of travel time from Seville and Granada. A day trip from Seville or Granada is also possible, and should be sufficient to cover the major attractions of the old town

  • In the early morning, before opening hours of restaurants and stores, capture a photo of the tower of Cordoba Grand Mosque (mezquita-catedral) from the alleyway of the flower pots (calleja de las flores)

  • Free entry to Cordoba Grand Mosque (mezquita-catedral) between 8:30-9:15, however, it’s compulsory to leave at 9:20, after that, entry is permitted with an admission ticket

  • When Cordoba Grand Mosque (mezquita-catedral) is closed, walk around the periphery to take photos of the fascinating decorative massive doors and walls at anytime

  • Go to "Puento Romano" bridge to view the old town over Guadalquivir river (Guadalquivir river's name is derived from Arabic, for the Big Valley)

Restaurants and Cafes

  • Salon de Té: tasty snacks with a cup of mint tea or fresh juice in Arab-Andalusian ambience and beautiful decor 

  • La Bicicleta: my order was a fresh lemonade and hummus with vegetables. Both were delicious. Hummus plate was a big dish with vegetables and bread. In fact, it was a healthy filling meal. The restaurant is ideal for vegans and vegetarians

Accommodation

  • Option Be Hostel: fantastic accommodation, very clean rooms, cozy communal area with simple Andalusian spirit, breakfast served until midday. There’s also a little beautiful swimming pool on the roof with a bench and sun-bed. Location is very good, 10-minute walk to Cordoba Grand Mosque

 Granada 

Activities, tours and attractions

  • Alhambra Palace Complex is the main attraction in Granada. It includes three main sections: Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife

  • The general ticket includes admission to the three attractions above for €14. If tickets are sold out, you can still purchase a ticket to Generalife and Alcazaba for €7. I highly recommend that you purchase your ticket as soon as you decide on the date of visit. Purchase your ticket two weeks ahead of your visit in the low season, and two months ahead of your visit in summer, peak season and public holidays

  • Rent the audio guide at the entrance. It provides full information for every attraction within the complex

  • If visiting the Nasrid Palace is a top priority to you, and there are no tickets available, try one of the below:

  1. Revisit the website frequently, some admission tickets open up randomly

  2. check with tour operators, they organize tours but -obviously- with a higher rate than the online ticket

  • You must be at the Nasrid Palaces at least 15 minutes prior to entrance time

  • It may take you up to 20 minutes to climb the hill to reach Alhambra Palace Complex. Alternatively, take a little shuttle bus

  • It takes at least 3 hours to visit the three main attractions

  • Admission ticket is for a whole day. Visitors may exit to rest or have a meal; and come back at anytime in the same day

  • Take your reusable water bottle. Drinking water fountains are abundant, dotted around the complex

  • Walk around Albaicin old Arab quarter, stroll through the narrow alleyways such as Calle Caldereria Vieja, smoke a sheesha, sample some North African sweets or go shopping for Andalusian souvenirs

  • Watch an authentic Granada flamenco show at Tablao Flamenco Le Chien Andalou, the theater is very tiny, but the atmosphere is lively. I paid extra for a front seat which was worth it. Only cash is accepted. The female singer had a gorgeous voice, and the male dancer trembled the stage. I found out that the performers change frequently

Restaurants and cafes

  • Teteria Palacio Nazari: cozy Andalusian café with outdoor seating option, good sheesha/hookah and light bites

Accommodation

  • Lemon Rock Hostel: Be careful! This hostel is unsafe; €200 were stolen from my locked locker. Whoever stole my cash, managed to open the padlock without breaking it, and took half the amount... probably assuming that I wouldn’t notice. There were no cameras in the first floor where my room was located, hence, the hostel is dangerous as it has a bar downstairs open until 2 am, so technically anybody can come up, steal or do whatever they want. The management sent an apology email and claimed that I had signed a waiver form so they weren’t responsible for anything in the locker. However, the minimum to do was to investigate through CCTV which were not installed anyway! On another note, the bar is so loud, the room was shaking by loud music until 2 or 2:30 am

 Ibiza 

Activities, tours and attractions

  • Although Ibiza is famous for the party scene, the island has picturesque nature and beaches

  • Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni are the main towns in the island. My accommodation was in Sant Antoni but I regretted it as it is less serviced with less transport connections. I recommend staying in Ibiza Town

  • The old town of Ibiza is worth a visit. Stroll the cobblestone alleyway, climb the fortress and visit the little museums

  • Below are the best beaches in Ibiza, surprisingly not very crowded:

  1. Cala Salada is a beautiful beach. It is a short bus ride from Sant Antoni bus station. Buses are frequent. Schedule is posted in the station. Cala Saladeta is the little sister of Cala Salada, just a little trek from Cala Salada but quieter and more serene

  2. Cala Xarraca is an exceptionally gorgeous beach with shades of blue and green, however, it is very difficult to reach by public transport. Buses are slow and infrequent from Ibiza Town, and even less frequent on Sundays. I paid a fortune for taxis because I didn’t know it was so remote and badly-connected with main towns. The beach has two entrances, the main one to the restaurant and the one up the hill takes you down to a small beach with a swing. Save time and money… rent a car or a moped

  3. Cala Blanca, reaching the beach requires a difficult trek

  4. Es Portitxol lies in the north of Ibiza island, requires a trek from the parking lot, beautiful and quiet beach

  • Pacha Night Club is a tourist scam, very expensive and crowded, by 2 am there was no space to turn right or left, admission ticket ranges between €35-75!

Transportation

  • Buses are frequent between Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni

  • Rent a car or a moped to visit the island. Buses do not cover the entire island

  • Note that I couldn’t rent a moped because rental offices required an international driving license if yours isn’t issued in the EU!

  • Ferries to main destinations in Spain are more frequent from Ibiza Town than Sant Antoni. There is one ferry daily between San Antoni and Palma de Mallorca in the peak season 

Restaurants and cafes

  • Ibiza Hunza: expensive, healthy options, suitable for vegans and vegetarians

  • S'Escalinata Eivissa: cute seating on the steps, light bites and drinks, expensive, always crowded in the high season

Accommodation

  • Amistat Island Hostel Ibiza - Albergue Juvenil: big building, busy, good breakfast, clean washroom, medium-sized room, 10-minute walk to Sant Antoni bus station

 Mallorca 

Activities, tours and attractions

  • Cala Marmols is one of the most beautiful beaches in Mallorca. You can only reach there by a car or a moped. From Plama or wherever your accommodation is, drive to Ses Salines, then drive toward the lighthouse of Cabo des Salines. There are two options to reach the beach of Cala Marmols:

  1. Short option: On your way to lighthouse of Cabo des Salines, stop in the midway in a street that has walls on both sides (you’ll see cars parking here). You will see a wall and a closed gate. This is the closest point to access the beach. Climb the wall and the fence, hike for 25 minutes. It’s better to wear sneakers not flip flops. Do not do this option if you are solo, or "maps.me" app is not installed on your phone, Google Maps does not display the route from the car parking to the beach 

  2. Long option: Drive until you reach the lighthouse of Cabo des Salines. Park your vechile and then hike north for at least one hour. Wear sturdy shoes as you need to hike on rocks

  • Visit the little mountainous town of Valldemossa. Walk the cobblestoned streets and sample the cold almond juice (granizado de almendra)

  • From Valldemossa, continue to Port de Valldemossa, pass the town, and then you’ll see a sign to the port. The road descends with some hard u-turns, drive carefully and slowly. The beach is very isolated. I spent some quality time there alone! The port has a cozy little fishing village

  • Also, from Valldemossa, continue driving to another little charming village called Deià, beautiful little houses, lush green fields, meandering alleys and few viewpoints  

  • Es Trenc beach is a long stretch of white sand, with crystal clear water, suitable for families, parking gets filled so fast, there’s a parking fee, but free for motorbikes and mopeds

Transportation

  • Public transport is efficient inside Palma de Mallorca, but renting a car or a moped is necessary to explore the island and visit the secluded beaches

  • Moped cost ranges between €35-40 per day during the summer season

Restaurants and cafes

  • Cheap eateries are available in the area of Plaza Las Columnas

  • Good halal meals with very cheap prices are available in restaurants on Carrer Joan Mestre

Accommodation

  • Singular Hostel: Hence there were 28 beds in my room, it was difficult to sleep. People were coming in and out, no space for luggage since there were at least 22 guests in the room! There was no rooftop or balcony to dry off clothes in a beach destination like Mallorca. Also, there was a €10 fee if you were above 30-year-old, it could only be paid through the international hosteling card! Photos online of the hostel looked much better than reality to a point I felt so bad that I had been deceived. WiFi didn’t cover the entire room, the beds close to the glass exit door had very weak connection. The hostel was far away from the historical and commercial center, around 45-minute walk, but very close to the harbor if arriving by ferry. The communal area was clean and tidy, bathroom had three showers and was relatively clean. Receptionists are very kind and helpful

Feel free to leave a question/comment below in English, Arabic or Spanish (hablo un poco de español). I will reply as soon as possible OR leave a comment on my Instagram page 

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