A city of contrast in the most intriguing sense of the word, Seville is a vacation and tourism hot spot in Andalucia, the southernmost region of Spain. Abundant in culture and nightlife, palm trees and orange trees, history and art. If you like the idea of dilly-dallying through lush green gardens abundant in aromatic orange trees, strolling down narrow streets bordered by colorful buildings with ceramic balconies, immersing yourself in the leisurely act of socializing in the name of tapas, and flirting with the seductive art of Flamenco, then you’ve come to the right place. Brace yourself, dear reader, because with all the beauty there is to experience in Sevilla, you’re definitely going to need a siesta or two.
I went to Seville in the beginning of January, looking for a city I could explore without freezing my buns off. I was not disappointed. In fact, I arrived with the intention of taking a few day trips to surrounding cities, and ended up scrapping that plan in favor of staying in Seville for all five of my travel days. I stayed in the most fun hostel I’ve been to thus far, in the center of the old town, barrio Santa Cruz. For anyone looking for a social atmosphere, I would highly recommend Hostel One Catedral, which is a one minute walk from the cathedral and Alcazar. The rooms are clean, they offer free dinners & walking tours, and everyone goes out together at night. (No one is paying me to say this btw. I just really liked this place!)
- In a word: Vivacious
- What to Eat: Churros, Jamón Iberica, Tortilla Española, Chickpeas & Spinach, washed down with Sangria
- What to Buy: Ceramics!
Discover The Alcàzar
You can’t miss a visit to this captivating UNESCO world heritage site. Come for the intriguing architecture – a blend of mudejár, moorish, and Renaissance architecture – stay for the gardens ripe with orange trees, lush greenery and idyllic fountains. Construction began in the 10th century as a fortress built in to the city walls and then it expanded into the royal palace, completed in the 12th century. It’s now one of the oldest royal palaces still in use, and has attracted a new wave of tourists after Game of Thrones was filmed on location.
Visit The Largest Gothic Cathedral in the World
A stone’s throw from the Alcàzar, the Cathedral of Seville is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest cathedral in Europe (after the Vatican and duomo of Milan). Inside you’ll find the grave of Christopher Columbus (Cristobol Colon) and my favorite part of all the Giralda Tower. I have quite a thing for finding good city vantage points and after climbing the ramps (not stairs) you can drool over the gloriously grid of the southern city. Mismatched buildings in whites and yellows with tile rooftops and grandiose mountains in the distance. I stayed up there for a long, long time.
Have Churros At Bar El Comercio
You can’t come to Spain without indulging in some churros with chocolate sauce and this is the perfect place to live out your sugar-coated dreams. This historic bar has been around since the early 1900s. They serve up everything from your morning coffee to lite lunch plates. I sat at the bar and gulped down a caffé con leche and generous serving of churros while watching the staff scurry to and fro, both serving tourists and chatting with regulars.
Explore The Museo de Las Bellas Artes
If you love art this is the place to come check it out. The museum is set in a lovely ex-convent building with beautiful courtyards and contains paintings from the Gothic period through the 20th century. Although it’s not exactly full of masterpieces, it has a decent sized collection including the likes of El Greco, Velàzquez, and Zurbarán. It’s a great place to explore if you’re like me and paintings are simply your jam or if you need to escape the heat or a sudden rain shower.
Get The Tapas Flowing
I would recommend hitting the oldest neighborhood, Barrio Santa Cruz, if you’re limited on time as there are many locales in close proximity. Make sure to stop by the Bottega di Santa Cruz where you can try a host of dishes for essentially no money – I’d recommend the chickpeas and spinach and tortilla español. It’s only 2 euros for wine and 1 euro for beer and although it’s limited seating there is usually a good size, rowdy crowd that makes you want to be on foot and in on the fun.
Revel in the Beauty of Plaza de Espana
If the grandeur of this semi-circular palace-like building doesn’t make your jaw drop, the blue ceramic details certainly will. I went early in the morning before it was crowded, but it’s a completely different atmosphere in the afternoon when flamenco dancers bust a move in the piazza later in the day. You can also rent one of the rowboats that go around the little moat in the warmer months if you want a truly immersive experience. Afterward I would recommend strolling through Maria Luisa Park right in front of the plaza. The gardens are full of lush greenery, fountains, exotic birds, and passionate musicians, so bring a book or rent a bike and enjoy the fresh air & ambience.
See A Flamenco Show
The seductive art of flamenco originated in Andalucia in the latter half of the 1700s. The Triana neighborhood of Seville was one of the first hubs of rhythmic art. I’d recommend seeing a show of some sort to feel a bit of the passion behind this cultural tradition. I went to both La Casa del Flamenco in Barrio Santa Cruz for a formal, sit-down show, which lasted about an hour. I also went to the bar La Carboneria, where you can watch a free, more informal version of flamenco depending on the night you’re there. You sit at picnic tables, grab a drink, and enjoy the sultry notes of the Spanish guitar.
Hit a Rooftop Bar
You’ve been walking around all day, your feet hurt and you need a drink. Why not kick back with a glass of sangria and a view of the city? In a city as breathtaking as Seville, you should spend as much time as possible taking it in as possible. Head up to the rooftop bar at Hotel Doña María for front row seats that look out at the Cathedral and La Giralda or treat yourself to Hotel Romana’s dual-terrace bar with 360 degree views of the city.
Visit Las Setas
You may love this modern art sculpture or think it’s a disgrace. In any case, the looming white wooden structure demands your attention, which is undoubtedly the point of art in the end. You can come and simply admire the grandness of Las Setas, which means “the mushrooms” in Spanish, or even pay the admission to walk across them for a stellar view of the city.
Explore Triana
Cross over to the other side of the river, and you’ll find yourself in the lively Triana neighborhood, characterized by a gypsy spirit and more authentically local vibe. Be sure to pop into the lively Triana market where you can marvel at all of the fresh produce, poultry, and seafood, for sale or plop down for lunch at one of the restaurants serving up local delicacies. There are also many churches worth peaking into, restaurants to try, and colorful ceramics to buy (try Ceràmica Santa Ana or Ceràmica Triana).
Walk the City Streets. Just Walk.
Often times, my favorite thing to do while visiting a foreign city, is simply stroll through the city streets and soaking up the way things look. In Seville, it seems every street corner is more beautiful than the last – each balcony more extraordinary, every pastel street more picturesque. You’ll surely get lost on the winding cobblestone streets, and you won’t be mad about it. That’s the best part about traveling now, isn’t it?
