The Guadalquivir River is central to Seville, and was fundamental to the development of the city. We became so familiar with crossing it while we were in Seville that we became curious about the solar powered boat that we frequently saw driving up and down the river. We loved the concept of cruising the river without the associated emissions and cost to our carbon footprints, and we were suitably intrigued and excited to learn more about the stunning city of Seville. So, looking for a cute date night activity in Seville, we decided to book onto the Guadalquivir River Eco Cruise. Read on to find out what we thought of the experience!
How was the boat?
The boat itself was really comfortable, with good views of the river (and the sights on either side) from wherever you're sat. Admittedly the day that we joined the cruise there weren't too many people on board, so I can't speak for the experience when it is busy. But we were easily able to take a bench and table for ourselves, stretch out, and enjoy our trip down the river!
The staff are friendly, though interactions are brief. There is a bar on board, though nobody ordered a drink on our cruise, with many people bringing snacks and drinks of their own. And, being solar powered, the boat itself was really quiet! It was a comfortable and relaxing place to spend some time!
What was the tour like?
The hour-long boat tour takes you along a short stretch of the Guadalquivir River before turning round, going further the other way, and then back to the dock. I had expected to see a little more on the tour, but what we did see was from a very nice vantage point.
Though there is no tour guide, the trip includes audio commentary in several languages to give information on some of the famous buildings and areas as they go by (including the Torre del Oro, Triana neighborhood, Cartuja de Sevilla, and Maria Luisa Park), as well as commentary on the various bridges the boat passes under.
There was also some international rowing teams practicing on the river while we sailed along, which was impressive and a pretty cool thing to catch sight of!
What were our lasting impressions of the eco boat tour? Would we go back?
We really liked the concept of the eco cruise, and hope that this is the future of boat tours in cities! Though it was a little bit short for us, and the commentary didn't give us all the information that we would have hoped for, it was a pleasant evening activity and a nice way to get to know the riverbanks of Seville a little better. There were people of all ages on our boat, and everyone seemed entertained.
Some things were a little odd: you have to meet at a tourist information spot 15 minutes before the cruise, and the staff then send you down to the boat, where you have to wait for more staff to check your tickets and admit you to the boat. Our cruise also ran a little short, I presume because there wasn't much traffic on the river! And a word of warning: bring that bug spray for the time you'll spend waiting on the riverside! Especially in the evening when we were there, we were swatting away flies left right and centre!
The cruise cost €16 per person (approximately £13.81 or $17.48). For the cruise itself we thought that this price was a little steep. Maybe if there was a drink, or a real tour guide, included it would feel like good value for money. However, to support a more environmentally friendly tour, I don't mind paying a little more. So while we wouldn't go again, since we have already seen the sights and heard the commentary, it wouldn't be a bad idea for a relaxing hour on the river to enjoy the sights and tranquility of this beautiful area of Seville.
Recommendations
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Where should I stay?
After our trip to Barcelona, we were relieved to discover that accommodation is much more affordable in Andalusia! Seville is full of quaint hotels with great reputations, at reasonable prices. One of these is the family-run Hotel Goya, which offers private, en-suite accommodation in a traditional Andalusian building, only metres from the cathedral and Alcazar! For even more affordability, there are lots of great hostels in Seville. New Samay Hostel is really highly rated across the board, and are particularly known for their modern facilities, excellent staff, location, and cleanliness. A great place to make friends!
Tours & Experiences
You can see and book the solar boat river cruise we took by clicking here! I believe that you can also book this tour in person, at the tourist office, but this was the only place online that we could find to book it!
While you're in Andalusia, you absolutely have to go to a flamenco show! This traditional art form came from the villages of the region, and is particularly famous here both for its history and its quality! This flamenco show gets consistently high ratings, is choreographed by legendary flamenco dancer Cristina Hoyos, and is set in the Flamenco Dance Museum, so is definitely one of the best and most authentic performances to see.
There's so much to see and do in Seville though, so if flamenco isn't for you, why not check out some of the top-rated Viator tours displayed in the widget on the left!
Please note that the tours displayed on the left are automatically selected for their popularity by Viator, not chosen or recommended by us. Please check whether any food or drink based tours are suitable for your dietary requirements, and any animal-based experiences are ethical, before booking!
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