Valencia and Seville are two of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Valencia is a coastal city with modern architecture and beautiful beaches. Seville is known for its authentic Spanish culture and its beautiful architecture of Spanish and Moorish influences. Both cities are similar in size but offer very different experiences. If you are trying to decide between Valencia or Seville, this is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Valencia or Seville Overview
Valencia
Valencia is the 3rd largest city in Spain, with 800,000 people and a much larger metro area. It has one of the busiest ports in all of Europe and in the biggest in the Mediterranean. It is home to long, sandy beaches which makes it a destination for history buffs and beach lovers alike.
Today, Valencia is known for being the birthplace of the famous Spanish dish, paella. It is also home to The City of Arts and Sciences which is an area with impressive modern buildings. Valencia has hosted some of the largest festivals in Europe for centuries. It has one of the best parks in the country and has a nightlife to compete with other Spanish cities.
Seville
Seville is the 4th largest city in Spain with nearly 700,000 residents. Seville plays a large part in the history of Spanish culture. The city was once an important port before the Guadalquivir River began to fill with silt which led to most of the port’s activities moving to Cadiz. From 711 to 1248, Seville was under Muslim control which influences are still visible in the city today.
Seville was the wealthiest city in Spain during the 16th century because of it made so money off of Spanish colonies. The city has an average temperature of 67 degrees Fahrenheit making it the warmest city in continental Europe. There are many beautiful landmarks in the city, some of which are among the most famous in Spain.
Things to See
Valencia
The City of Arts and Sciences is an incredible part of Valencia, featuring some of the most iconic buildings in Spain.
Valencia Cathedral was opened in 1238 and is said to be home to the Holy Grail.
Torres de Quart is the remaining towers of the old city walls in Valencia.
Terraza L’Umbracle is a part of The City of Arts and Sciences.
America’s Cup Experience is an area in Valencia’s harbor where one of the biggest sailing races begins.
Seville
Plaza de España is the most well-known landmark in Seville. It was built in 1828 and is to this day one of the most recognized sights in all of Spain.
The Seville Cathedral was built in the 16th century and was the largest cathedral in the world at one point.
Royal Alcázar of Seville is one of the oldest structures in Seville, dating back to 913 AD and has been added onto since.
Torre del Oro is an old military watchtower that was built in the 13th century to watch over the river.
Parque de María Luisa is a public park that opened in 1911. The park is home to many famous monuments.
Food
Valencia
Easily the most famous food to come out of Valencia is paella. Because paella originated in Valencia, you can get arguably the best paella in the world here. Fideuà is a dish similar to paella but in noodle form and it originated in a town not far from Valencia. For dessert, one of the most popular foods to indulge in is bunyols which are similar to donut holes. Fartons are very popular snacks in Valencia and can be found in basically any of the cities bakeries.
Seville
Seville is where the famous tapas originated. Tapas are small plates of food that are typically served as an appetizer or put multiple together to make a meal. Another classic dish you might try in Seville is cola de toro which is bull tail, slow-roasted, and put in a stew. If you are in the mood for a sandwich, you must try Montadito de Pringa which is a small sandwich. Montadito is a small loaf of bread, like a baguette, with Pringa, stewed or slow-roasted meats, in between the pieces of bread. Sangria is one of the most popular drinks for you to indulge in during your time in Seville.
Getting Around
Valencia
The center of Valencia is quite compact and is great for walking but it is pretty far from the beach and The City of Arts and Sciences. One of the best ways to maneuver your way through the city is to rent a bike to ride through the Turia Riverbed Park, which runs the length of the city, and to explore the coast of Valencia. Buses, Trams, and the metro make up public transportation here. You may want to invest in the Valencia Card which gives you unlimited access to public transportation and gives you discounts throughout the city.
Seville
Most of the main attractions are close enough that you can just walk from place to place. If you want to go to some of the attractions towards the outskirts of the city, like Basílica de la Macarena or Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, you will want to take either the bus system or the metro. The metro only has one line but can be the fastest way to get around but the buses can get just about anywhere you want to go. The bike-sharing system in Seville has around 250 pickup and drop-off stations. You can buy a weekly membership for the bike-sharing system for 13.30 Euros.
Nightlife
Valencia
Valencia upholds the Spanish stereotype of having a great nightlife. Many of the nightclubs don’t even open until 1:00 AM! The historic center, especially Barrio del Carmen, is packed with bars, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. One of the most interesting nightclubs in the city is Mya Club which is in the Arts District and is quite a unique place to party. High Cube is a nightclub on a big boat in the harbor and is extremely popular with university students. Overall, you won’t have a problem finding fun places to go for nightlife in Valencia.
Seville
Seville has the classic Spanish party scene with the bars and clubs staying open until sunrise in many cases. The Alfalfa neighborhood is home to many bars that you can explore. Alameda de Hercules is arguably the best part of the city for nightlife. It has an abundance of bars and nightclubs all within walking distance of each other. If you want to go clubbing, Sala Cosmos is one of the best clubs for you to check out. During the warmer months (most of the year), there are quite a few open-air bars and clubs that are some of the best places to go when they’re open.
Day Trips
Valencia
Sagunto is just 30km from Valencia. It is known for its Roman and Moorish influences and because Hannibal and his army fought for the city.
Peniscola is a beach town with an impressive fortress just to the north of Valencia.
Xativa is a small city known for its impressive Xativa Castle.
Seville
Cordoba is less than an hour away by train. The city is known for its old mosque La Mezquita.
Ronda is known for its large bridge that crosses a large valley within the city.
Cadiz is a beautiful port city, sitting on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
If you decide to visit both Valencia and Seville, you may want to visit Malaga or Granada as well because they are in between the two.
Overall
Valencia and Seville are two of the largest and most visited cities in Spain. Valencia is known for its historic district mixed with impressively modern parts of the city as well as having long, sandy beaches along its coast. Seville is known for its rich history, warm weather, and beautiful architecture that has been incredibly well preserved. Both cities are similar in size but are very different when you visit.
If you want to see beautiful architecture and experience authentic Spanish culture, you should visit Seville. If you want to see modern architecture, enjoy the beaches, and party after the sun goes down, you should visit Valencia.