Spain is by far the most popular destination for British tourists with more than 17 million visits last year alone, with many opting to visit Barcelona and Madrid.
However, travel experts are now recommending another city which has been named as Europe’s most walkable.
The airport transfer experts at Hoppa have compiled a list of the top walkable destinations in Europe. The Spanish city of Seville tops the list, closely followed by Athens, Istanbul, Krakow, and Amsterdam.
The experts note that it’s possible to visit all the city’s landmarks within half an hour.
The walking route, which includes impressive architecture such as the Cathedral and passes through Parque de María Luisa, is just 2km (1.2 miles) long and nearly completely flat with an overall elevation of 3m.
One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, also known as Seville Cathedral, which stands on the site of the 12th Great Mosque, which was converted into a church following Ferdinand III’s conquest of Seville in 1248.
Just minutes from the cathedral is the historic royal palace, the Alcázar of Seville, like the Cathedral this building originates from the city’s Islamic era when it served as the city’s citadel. Following the Castillian conquest, this was rebuilt as a Mudéjar-style palace.
Both the cathedral and castle were registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the nearby General Archive of the Indies, which dates back to the 1500s.
Other must-see landmarks include the Torre del Oro Tower, or Gold Tower, which forms part of the city walls, the Giralda Tower, a belltower that was once the old minaret of the Arab mosque, and the traditionally Andalusian 15th century Casa de Pilatos House.
Matthew Hall, Managing Director at hoppa said: “Our ranking showed that some places are more suitable to be explored on foot than others, so doing your research before booking your flights is essential so you can properly enjoy your city break.
“Seville is a great alternative to the more popular Spanish city destinations Barcelona and Madrid. You can visit the top sites in less than thirty minutes.”
Matthew added: “Even though you will mostly walk when you arrive, don’t forget about getting to the city from the airport first. Booking an airport transfer in advance ensures peace of mind so you can focus on other tasks like planning your walking routes instead.”
Highlighting Seville’s walkability, Spain.info writes: “Even though Seville has the biggest old town in Spain, it is easy to get around on foot. However, you also have the choice of hopping on a tourist bus or using the public bicycle rental service (there are more than 180 kilometres of cycle lanes).
“You can also sail down the Guadalquivir, the only navigable estuary in Spain.”
