In addition to the great classics such as the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Alcazar (to be discovered in our dedicated article), Seville is a city that is also experienced in the streets, in outdoor activities, in local festivals and concerts. Here are some ideas for activities to do as a family, with children.
Kayaking on the Guadalquivir
Before going on vacation to Seville, I looked for outdoor activities to do with my teenage son (12 years old) who really likes sport. The kayak immediately caught my eye. So as soon as we arrived in Seville, I went to the Tourist Office, located on the quays.
So for €60, you can book a 2-hour guided tour of the city from Guadalquivir. The Tourist Office, which works with Naturanda, directed us to the Club de Remo de Seville which is located on the same bank of the river about 1km away. And we were not disappointed by the experience.
Then, the visit took place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on a Monday morning. There were few people sailing on the river and not even any other tourists with us because they had canceled. So we had a private and very interesting visit. I admit that leaving the streets to find a form of slowness did us good. During these 2 hours, we paddled very gently to go past the Torre de Oro before turning around.
Finally, Javí, the student and kayaking fan, who accompanied us during this outing, shared his love of Seville and above all his knowledge of Sevillian History. My son took advantage of the sun while the guide spoke to me about his city (and I translated it for him afterwards). You have the choice between Spanish or English for the explanations. In short, a great experience that we will repeat at our next visit.
Discover Seville by bike
It’s by far the best way to explore the city, which is pretty big ! You have plenty of bike rental companies who charge varying prices. The first day, we rented 2 hours (for 26€) from Bike Center Sevilla which is located after the Alcazar. While on the last day, I found a bike rental company 100 meters from our hotel (NH Guadalquivir) who offered 3 hours for almost the same price. No preference between the two honestly. The main thing was to have mechanical bikes in good condition.
By the way, I’m talking about mechanical bikes because everyone also rents electric bikes, but also scooters. You can rent bikes or scooters from the city (Vélib style) but you have to download the app, insert your bank card and you receive the invoice at the end of your use (so surprise price, I didn’t want to…). Afterwards, during our tours, I saw people on bikes for €9 a day but I am unable to say which rental company…
But let’s get back to these bike tours. We covered all the neighborhoods on both sides of the Guadalquivir (and even as far as the other arm that borders the city). It’s super pleasant because you have green cycle paths that run throughout the city. Be careful to respect pedestrian priorities and traffic lights but otherwise you are free. I should point out that the parks are not open to bicycles so we had to cross them on foot.
Walk the Caminito del Rey
This site is our disappointment. Not because it is ugly but because in July, they had to reduce hours because of the heatwave. For your information, we had more than 40°C during our entire stay in July. As a result, it was impossible for us to go there. Because you have to drive 2.5 hours in the mountains before parking and walking 3km in the forest and then arriving at the via ferrata hanging in the void. Check out the presentation video on their website, it’s fantastic. I would like to point out that the site is secure. You do not take the old path on the mountainside. So nothing to worry about even for children because there are safety barriers.
Credit photo : Caminito del Rey
The Santa Ana festival the third week of July
Total coincidence but we came to Seville between July 16 and 26. From July 20 to 26, there was the annual celebration of Santa Ana, the protector of the Triana neighborhood.
Let’s explain : as it is hot during the day, celebrations take place in the evening. This is the opportunity to eat sardines or fried fish on the banks of the Guadalquivir.
Also, the neighborhood also organizes concerts in the square at the end of the Isabel II Bridge. And it’s just great. The day’s concert starts around 10 p.m.. There are chairs all around the stage, Sevillian families come to enjoy the atmosphere, everyone dances to the tunes of flamenco and other Sevillian music. The atmosphere is very pleasant for a different kin of outdoor activities.
Let’s conclude that Seville has to be experienced through its monuments but also outdoor activities. We both loved cycling, paddling on the Guadalquivir and enjoying our evenings by the water listening to Sevillian music and just experiencing this unique and very family atmosphere. And since the heat prevented us from doing the Caminito del Rey, it’s already on the agenda for a future trip.