Seville may have been our favorite city in Spain. The food wowed us, and there was an endless supply of things to do and places to see. You’ll fall in love with the warm weather and culture, and you’ll leave wishing you had more time to explore the colorful streets.
Where to Eat
La Brunilda: Everything here is fantastic. The lamb leaf salad. The solomillo de ternera. The Iberian pork and sweet potatoes. You really can’t go wrong with anything on this menu, so order a number of plates to share. We recommend going at an off hour over lunch to avoid long waits.
Catalina Casa de Comidas y Más: This restaurant has a nice outdoor patio that will let you enjoy the cool evening weather, and the service is fantastic. Oh, and the food is delicious. We loved the Mexican style shark tacos, the mini chicken cannelloni au gratin, and the bread pudding dessert.
La Trastienda: This seafood tapas bar had an amazing local feel with an incredibly friendly owner. He wanted us to try all of the fresh seafood he had, so we kept getting small portions of a variety of fish and dishes. We could see why there was a large local crowd that seemed to be best friends with the staff. You can’t go wrong with any of the seafood here, so take advantage and try something new.
What to Do
Real Alcázar: Game of Thrones fans will love this spot. The Real Alcázar was used in a number of scenes, and you’ll quickly recognize the spots as you walk around the palace. Make sure you book tickets for this attraction at least a couple weeks in advance, as it sells out quickly. We did not follow this advice and ended up having to book a group tour last minute to get in. You’ll want to spend at least 3 to 4 hours exploring the grounds, so budget enough time to truly immerse yourself … and take some good photos. The palace is beautiful.
Flamenco: Andalusia is regarded as one of the homes of flamenco, so there is arguably no better place to catch a live show than Seville. We chose to watch a performance at La Casa del Flamenco, and it surpassed our expectations. The dancing was great. The live music was phenomenal. The atmosphere felt cozy. With nightly shows, you shouldn’t have any difficulty getting tickets for this venue while you’re in town.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España: You have to see this plaza to truly appreciate it. Rather than a square surrounded by a number of buildings, this plaza is essentially a semicircle bordered by one MASSIVE building that curves along the circumference. If you’re feeling especially touristy, they even offer gondola rides here that go back and forth across the creek that runs along the plaza. We can see this being a perfect spot to hang out with some street food.
View from La Giralda
Catedral de Sevillaand La Giralda: The Catedral de Sevilla is one of the main attractions in Seville, and for good reason. It is huge, impressive, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll need at least a few hours to truly take everything in and climb the tower (La Giralda), which offers some fantastic views of the city. Just be ready for crowds at the top of the tower. You’ll need to get your elbows out to fight for a proper spot along the exterior wall.
Plaza de Toros: This tour wasn’t our favorite in Seville, but it is still interesting if you want to learn more about the tradition of bullfighting. You’ll also get to see some Spanish art and walk across the stadium where the action takes place. One thing to note is that lines for this attraction can get pretty long, and you may need to get there early to book a tour for later that same day. As of now, you cannot book tickets online.
Las Setas De Sevilla
Las Setas De Sevilla: These sculptures are … interesting. Essentially, they look like giant wooden mushrooms. You can stroll by quickly to get a photo, but it may be worth sticking around to people watch for a bit. We stumbled upon a dance battle between high school students, which was entertaining as it sounds.
Other Tips & Tricks
Hospes Las Casas Del Rey De Baeza: We used our Marriott points to stay at this hotel in Seville. A converted convent, this hotel had really interesting rooms, a cool layout with a rooftop pool, and a central location with easy walking access to great restaurants. The service is also great, and you may even get greeted with a welcome drink.
MAKE RESERVATIONS: It warrants repeating. There is a lot to do in Seville, so save yourself some headaches by making reservations and allocating plenty of time for everything.