As a mom of a toddler, I know the value of a good playground. Every night as I am tucking Jimmy into bed, I always ask him what he wants to do the next day. Most often he replies, "Go to a park!," which translates from toddler language into English as, "Go down slides, swing on swings, and climb lots of things." When the sun is out and it's not nap time, we are usually "parking-it," at a playground of some sort. This is where Jimmy is most content. Seville has its fill of good playgrounds. I made a list of my favorite ones along with a close-by food recommendation to go with each playground. I hope you enjoy!

Plaza de la Concordia

This is a great playground that my whole family loves. Jimmy would play here all day if we let him. It is a very relaxing place with lots of trees and benches. The playground is safe enough for toddlers but also exciting enough that older kids could enjoy it as well. They have two swings and a teeter-totter. Jimmy loves pretending to cook on the toy kitchen. He makes us food and then brings it to us to “eat." More than not, his restaurant menu serves strictly pancakes and waffles. He's a breakfast food fanatic. Right next to the park, there is a little water display with fountains and a small pond. Jimmy loves watching the water and running back and forth between the water area and the playground area. 

Where to Eat?

El Corte Inglés has great options for lunch or a quick snack. If you head to the 5th floor, the very top level, there is a gourmet food section with some fun and unique grocery items to browse through. There are a couple of great restaurants as well as some options for coffee or tea. There is an Amorino if you’re craving some sorbet. The best part is the open terrace area, where you can eat your food outside on tables while enjoying the warm weather and great view. Just tell whoever is serving you that you would prefer to dine outside on the terrace and they will bring your order out to you. Also, in the basement of El Corte Inglés is a supermarket that is huge. You could buy some prepared foods and snacks and take it across the street for a picnic in the park!

Location

This playground is located just North of the El Corte Inglés Supermarket on Pl. del Duque de la Victoria, 8. There are two El Corte Inglés stores, so make sure that you go to the correct location to find this playground.

Plaza de La Concordia

Plaza de la Alfalfa

This park is definitely one of my favorites. It is really inviting, and I find myself coming here quite often. It has two sections which allows the children to spread out when they play. There are lots of manipulatives for kids to play around with and keep their hands busy, including zigzag cutouts. The kindergarten teacher in me loves this part of this playground. Jimmy calls it the, “Shapes Park,” because of the shapes that he can move back and forth on zigzagged horizontal metal poles. There is a cute art display painted on the fake grass area of different colored balloons that Jimmy enjoys interacting with. For parents who want to relax a little, there are a lot of seating options that outline the play area. It is also very toddler friendly, everything being low to the ground so if a little one were to fall, it wouldn’t be too damaging on them. Plus the fake grass padding layer does a great job at cushioning their fall. 

Where to Eat?

There are so many great choices for food in this area. One of my top ranked ice cream shops, Grazie Mille Gelateria, is right next to this plaza. But, if you are looking for a healthier choice for you and your child, then go check out Milk Away. It is just south of the playground, right below the main square. They serve acai bowls, smoothies, and fresh juices, as well as other things. I guess I am partial to this type of menu after living in Hawaii and having a love affair with acai bowls. They are just so good with almond butter and honey drizzled on top. It’s a nice alternative from the typical Spanish cuisine, especially on a hot summer day.

Grazie Mille Gelateria- Calle Odreros, 11, 41004

Milk Away- Calle Pérez Galdós, 32, 41004

Location

This playground is located in one of my favorite areas of Seville. There is always so much to see and do here in Plaza de la Alfalfa. The architecture in this area is beautiful and so Spanish looking. In the evening in this square, it isn’t uncommon to see Flamenco dancers performing and musicians playing live music. Jimmy loves to stand on the fence bordering the playground and watch them perform.

Plaza de la Alfalfa

Parque de los Descubrimientos

This is an amazing playground that would be practically impossible to know about unless a local told you about it. Luckily, my Sevillian friend, Lara, filled me in. Since then, we checked it out and have been back several times. What makes this park stand out is its size. For Spain playground standards, it is huge. There is so much room for Jimmy to run around and be free, kicking his soccer ball as he goes, without any worry of run-ins with cars or pedestrians. And I love it because I know he is safe – its completely fenced in. If your toddler is into pirates, they will love this playground. It has a giant pirate ship to explore and play around on, with slides going down on both sides. Jimmy calls it the, "Pirate Park." There is also a separate play structure that uses water and another that uses rocks, both equally fun and great for encouraging teamwork among children. Both get them thinking with the left side of their brain, using engineering skills to play. Besides all of this, there are also two sets of swings, and another small playground area with typical playground items.

Where to Eat?

Unfortunately, there aren’t many food choices in this area of town that are very close or that I would recommend. Instead, I would suggest stopping at a local grocery store (Mercadona is near the river and would be a good choice) before you head to the park and packing a picnic lunch or some snacks. It is the perfect area for a picnic, with lots of open grassy areas and trees for shade. Bring a blanket! If you don’t have a blanket with you, no worries, there are lots of benches.

Mercadona- Calle San Laureano, s/n, 41002

Location

The location of this park is so picturesque, right on the River Guadalquivir. After we are done playing, we usually go for a walk along the river. It’s fun to watch all the boats go by – the big site-seeing tour boats as well as the kayaks and rowing boats. There is so much energy in this part of Seville, with all the bikers, runners, and dog walkers. This playground is tricky to find but worth it. It is located just North of the González Márquez Public Library. The closest crosswalk over to that area from the main part of town is from Calle Juan Rabadan. Another entrance to the walkway along the river is from Calle San Laureano, and then when you hit the river, you turn right and it's a about a six minute walk going North. If you have a stroller with you, an FYI, just North of the park is a ramp that heads down to the river. A lot of other entrances are stairs only.

Calle Torneo, 17

Metropol Parasol

I didn’t know this playground even existed. We live so close to this area and walk by here almost everyday. One night we decided to explore it a little more and headed up the escalators. We were so surprised when we saw a playground! If you head up to the upper level from the stairs or the escalator, there is a playground up there that is perfect for toddler aged children. It is a small and simple playground but very cute. It has a slide with a little house and a couple of different teeter-totter options.

Where to Eat?

One of my favorite cafés in Seville is near here called, Caótica. It is completely quirky and so fun to visit. Snag a comfy chair if it’s available. They have great coffee, juice, and small things to eat like toasts and different kinds of cake sold by the slice. It is a bookstore as well as a cafe, with many levels to explore. It's a short 1-minute walk away from this playground. 

Caótica- Calle José Gestoso, 8, 41003

Location

The thing that makes this playground fabulous is the location. The wooden structure known as, Metropol Parasol, is also called by the name, Las Setas. It is a gorgeous site to see while visiting Seville. In Spanish, “setas,” means, “mushrooms.” This structure is referred to by this name because of the look and shape of the design – it was built to resemble mushrooms. There is always so much going on in this area. There are often people skate boarding, break dancing, playing games, and hanging out.

Pl. de la Encarnación, s/n

Parque Infantil Cristina

This is a fantastic playground and very popular. It is surrounded by lots of trees and a nice garden area. It is a pretty good size for kids to run around and play tag or any other type of outdoor games that need a larger amount of space. The standout of this playground is the cute little bus that has steering wheels and a gearshift. It’s great for kids with imaginations and who like to play pretend. Jimmy loves anything with wheels right now and also currently loves playing pretend, so he gets particularly excited when he gets to play around with this bus. You can often find him singing, "The Wheels on the Bus," as he plays here. The climbing area near the slide is high and dangerous for toddlers to do alone, so if you have a toddler, make sure to keep your eye on them. That part is built more for older children. 

Where to Eat?

My favorite coffee shop is very close to this playground – Torch Coffee. I’d say it is the best in Seville. It isn’t very Spanish at all, and is mostly full of people who speak English, but I love it still the same because of their high quality products and professionalism. They have amazing drinks and great options for kids too. Jimmy loves their smoothies, particularly the Sunshine Smoothie. Last time we were there, half of it spilled on the floor, as he anxiously grabbed for it before I noticed and could properly assist him!

Torch Coffee- Ave. Paseo de las Delicias, 3, 41001

UPDATE August 24, 2020- Torch Coffee is temporarily closed.

Location

This park is very close to the Metro station, Puerta de Jerez. It would be a great place for kids to get some energy out after visiting around the more touristy areas of Seville. It is located close to all of the main tourist sites – Cathedral de Seville, The Royal Alcazar of Seville, and Plaza de España. I don’t know about you, but Jimmy is often dying to run around and have some independence after a day of sightseeing, cooped up in his stroller. This playground has been a lifesaver to us on more than one occasion.

Av. Paseo de Cristina, 1

Alameda de Hercules

This area has two playground structures near each other – one taller and better suited for older children and one lower to the ground and better suited for toddlers. With Jimmy being only 2, we stick to the smaller one. I can easily let him play without the worry of him falling or getting hurt in anyway. I like this playground because it is shaded all the time, with the built in shade cover placed over the top of it. The paranoid mom in me can forget the sunscreen and not have to fret too much. It has two slides, which is Jimmy’s favorite part of any park. Many local families gather here to play with their children. I enjoy being engulfed in the Spanish family life culture when I am here.

Where to Eat?

There are many restaurant choices in this area. We like to go to La Sra Pop for a late breakfast choice of traditional Spanish toasts and fresh juice and smoothies. It is located just outside of the square, about a 1-minute walk away from the small playground. If you want something for lunch, I love Arte y Sabor, right behind the small playground. I have a thing for places that make vegetarian food taste delicious and this place does just that. If vegetarian food isn't your thing, the meat dishes are equally amazing. Try the goat cheese dip with toasted bread. You won’t regret it.

La Sra Pop- Calle Amor de Dios, 55, Correduría, 1, 41002

Arte y Sabor- Alameda de Hércules, 85, 41002

Location

The location of this park is one of my favorites. The Alameda de Hércules is a great hangout area in Seville. There is so much to see and do, and so much to eat; some restaurants are better than others. It is a huge area to roam around in with very few cars. We go here at least once a week because it is just such a fun spot of Seville that we absolutely adore.

Alameda de Hércules

Zona De Juegos Infantiles

We came across this playground the first day that we moved to Seville. It was full of kids of all ages having the best time. Two older girls were so sweet and helped Jimmy down the slide. It was a small act of kindness but it made a huge impact on me during a stressful and chaotic time of our lives. This playground is great because of its two big slides. One slide is an enclosed tunnel that Jimmy is a little scared of, but it’s perfect for older children. I would say overall this playground is more suitable for older kids but Jimmy still enjoys it, even though he often needs help from Mom and Dad. 

Where to Eat?

The thing that makes this playground stand out is the convenience of the restaurant that is right next to it. This is the perfect spot for parents to sit and enjoy a tapa and a cold drink while their kids play. Parents have a perfect view of their children while they eat and relax. It really can’t get any better. The restaurant is called Bodega La Plazoleta. It isn’t a restaurant that I would normally recommend because the food isn’t the best, but if you have kids, the convenience of the setting really can’t be beat. If you don’t want to eat their food, just order some drinks. Even mediocre restaurants serve good drinks. Also, they have a kid’s menu! This is unheard of in Seville. Jimmy loves their hot dog. 

Bodega La Plazoleta- Calle San Juan de la Palma, 3, 41003

Location

The location of this playground could be photographed and put on a postcard. It is nestled in a little corner that isn’t too busy, making it safe for children. It is right in front of a gorgeous church, Iglesia de San Juan de la Palma, as well as being surrounded by a few small shops and Spanish homes. If you want to feel apart of the local Spanish culture, come here for an afternoon and soak it all in. You won't be disappointed.

Calle San Juan de la Palma, 5

So there you have it! My favorite playgrounds in Seville. Comment below if there are any great ones that I have missed. I'd love to check them out!