How to Study Abroad in Sevilla, Spain

This is the first post in EDUinReview’s new series, The College Budget Traveler. This series will help students who want to travel to different cities learn how to do so, while still remaining within their college-kid budget. Currently, I am living in Sevilla, Spain, and that’s where this post is about visiting.
Sevilla is in the south of Spain and is the fourth largest city in Spain. As such, it has many historical and cultural offerings, as well as a happening night life. In other words, it is a great destination for anyone to study abroad or visit while they are in Spain.
So, how can you visit the city where Christopher Columbus told the Spanish King and Queen that he found America while still staying within a budget? Here are some tips for the best places for students to stay, eat, and visit in Sevilla, Spain.
1. Stock up on the staples! There are some things that you have to have in your apartment if you are not living with a host family. For furniture, you should hop on a bus to Castilleja de la Cuesta where there is an IKEA. For a relatively cheap price, you can find dishes, furniture, and decorations for your apartment. Most apartments in Spain should come with furniture, but IKEA is a great place to get the things you are lacking. Once you have dishes to cook on, you need something to cook. So hit up a SuperSol grocery store. These are the cheapest grocery stores in Sevilla, in my experience, and they usually have a pretty good selection. If you are looking for something that you can not find in a SuperSol, you should go to an OpenCor, which has longer hours and more variety, but is also more expensive. For school supplies, go to a chino (just ask anyone where a chino is). Most of these stores sell supplies for less than $1.00, but you might end up being the proud owner of a Disney Channel pencil case or SpongeBob SquarePants backpack.
2. Take a walk through history in the Barrio de Santa Cruz. This neighborhood was established in the 1400s as the Jewish quarter of the city. Today, it is home to endearing little streets that wind through beautiful plazas and past historical markers that tell stories of people who lived in the Barrio years ago. There is no fee to visit the Barrio de Santa Cruz; however, you might end up spending some money on souvenirs here. The Barrio is home to many souvenir shops and the prices are fair, so it’s a great place to get a gift for your friends and family.
3. Visit La Catedral de Sevilla and Alcazar. With a student ID, visiting both of these historic monuments will only cost 2 Euros. La Catderal is one of the largest cathedrals in the world and is absolutely breathtaking to see. Plus Christopher Columbus is buried here, so you can pay your respects to the famous explorer while you are at La Catedral. You can climb to the top of the Giralda tower at La Catedral to see a stunning panoramic view of the city. Then climb back down, walk across the plaza, and visit the ancient wall fortress Alcazar. Year-round, the gardens of Alcazar are beautiful to see and the tile-work inside the building is also very impressive.
4. Take a boat ride at La Plaza de España. Built in 1928, the Plaza de España is a perfect example of the Renaissance Revival architectural style. Since the Plaza absolutely gorgeous (especially if you go before dawn and watch the sun rise over the towers), it should come as no surprise that it has been used for on-scene filming for two movies, Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. There is no fee to visit La Plaza de España.
5. Walk along El Rio Guadalquivir. During the summer months, everyone heads to the river to enjoy the beautiful weather in Sevilla. If you are of legal drinking age (in Europe, it’s 18-years old), you can take a bottle of wine with you and join a “botellon,” where you can make new friends with locals who can show you the rest of the nightlife in Sevilla. A drink at a club usually costs under $5 in Sevilla, and admission to a club costs around $10, so this nightlife activity can be included in your budget if you plan accordingly.
6. Grab a delicious meal in Bar Alfalfa. This tiny little bar has been ranked the 9th best restaurant in Sevilla by TripAdvisor.com. You can grab lunch and a drink for about $5-$10, depending what you order. I have eaten there many times and have never been disappointed.
Have you studied abroad in Sevilla? Do you have any tips for other students who are planning on studying there? Share them with us in the comments section below.
See All Our Study Abroad City Guides: How to Study Abroad Without Breaking the Bank