One of the warmest and sunniest cities in Europe, and brimming with food, wine, culture and history, Sevilla is hard to beat for a city break. Just like my adopted hometown of Manchester, it has everything but a beach! Sevilla is the fourth largest city in Spain and the capital of the Andalucía region, famous for tapas and flamenco.
Sevilla is great if:
· You’re open to experiencing the Andalucían food and culture
· You like to explore on foot
· You want to try out speaking Spanish – I find the locals here are very friendly and patient and its so lovely to connect through language.
· You want a nice mix of quiet days exploring and evenings with a bustling-but-not-too-busy vibe in the local bars and restaurants.
· You need some space to reflect
Things to do in Sevilla
La Plaza de España
No Sevilla guide would be complete without it, La Plaza de España is truly breath-taking and such a relaxing place to spend a couple of hours. Even though it can become very busy at times, in my experience it is usually possible to find a quiet spot somewhere and just take it all in. La Plaza is situated in Maria Luisa Park which is very pretty and full of orange trees. It’s worth allowing yourself time to explore both.
Eat tapas at Calle Mateos Gago
This street is lined with tapas bars and having tried most of them, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that you try any one of them! As is the case in most of Spain, food and wine are generally delicious and reasonably priced. My favourite drink with tapas is Cava, especially Cordorníu, which you can buy in small 200ml bottles known locally as a ‘Benjamin’.
Flamenco, Flamenco, Flamenco
The art of Flamenco consists of music played by guitar, singing and dancing. The street performers in Sevilla are often good and will give you an idea of what to expect but I’d recommend going to a scheduled performance.
The Spanish term ‘duende’ refers to the feeling that you experience when you really connect with the emotion and expression in a flamenco performance. I think its probably easier to experience then to explain in words!
If its your first experience of Flamenco then I’d recommend La Casa del Flamenco which is very close to the Cathedral and main tourist areas. The show is very polished and I have enjoyed it very much each time I’ve been.
If you’re looking for an experience that feels a little more authentic, head over the river to the Triana district and to Baraka sala Flamenca. The experience here is perhaps a little less polished, but in my opinion feels more authentic, and you´re more likely to be able to connect with the ‘duende’. While you’re over in Triana you can check out the market, and one of the many local bars that have a traditional feel to them.
To learn more about Flamenco visit the The Flamenco Dance Museum. The museum has a variety of interactive and interesting displays and provides a deeper understanding of the performances as well as the history. They also hold regular shows and offer a combined ticket which includes entry and a performance.
Las Setas
The metropolitan parasol of Sevilla known locally as Las Setas (‘The Mushrooms’) is a wooden structure, shaped like a mushroom. Its perhaps not the most beautiful sight in the city but has great views and is a little bit different!
La Catedral
The biggest Gothic Cathedral in the world, the Catedral de Sevilla was reportedly built to be so beautiful that anyone who saw it would be in a state of disbelief. It is certainly pretty spectacular and its very difficult not to be in awe of its beauty. There is a lot of history to this place and if that’s your thing you’ll enjoy a tour and finding out more. If like me you just like to take it all in then its great for that too!
Alcázar de Sevilla
The Real Alcazar of Seville is another interesting place to visit and includes beautiful buildings, courtyards and stunning gardens. Despite being in the middle of the city, there is a definite quietness to this place.
Last but not least:
If you’re feeling hedonistic – have a ‘meal’ by eating tapas in several restaurants over a few hours, picking the tastiest dishes on each of the menus.
If you want a sense of accomplishment – Climb the steps to the top of the ‘Giralda’, the Bell Tower of the Cathedral. The climb is almost 100 metres high so make sure you prepare yourself!
Reasons to feel optimistic – In recent years, Ryanair have started to fly directly to Sevilla from Manchester, so if you live in the North of England its almost too easy to get there!
Places to stay – I’d recommend Hotel Alcántara, which is conveniently located next to La Casa del Flamenco. For a little more luxury check out Hotel Rey Alfonso X . Both are located right in the heart of the city in the Santa Cruz district, perfect for exploring. Like in many places, hotel breakfasts can be a little pricey so if a coffee and pastry is sufficient for you, it will be cheaper and perhaps preferable to eat in on of the many cafes locally.
Please note our destination guides contain personal recommendations and not professional advice
If you liked this article check out My top 10 things to do in Spain