Places to Visit in Europe

City Guide

Seville, Spain

Seville (Sevilla) is the soul of Andalusia — a city of blazing orange-tree courtyards, flamenco that echoes off tiled walls, tapas bars that spill into cobblestone streets, and an architecture that mixes Moorish palace with Catholic cathedral in a way nowhere else on earth manages. It is the city that inspired Carmen, Don Juan, and countless painters. And it is hot — brutally, beautifully hot in summer, which is why the best time to visit is April, May, or October.

Best Places to Stay

  • Luxury: Hotel Alfonso XIII (the landmark), Hotel El Palacio de San Telmo, Estandarte
  • Mid-range: Hotel Amadeus, H10 Corregidor, AlmaSevilla
  • Budget: Camel Home Stay, Oasis Sevilla, Kreuz

Best Places to Eat

  • Tapas: El Rinconcillo (the oldest tapas bar in the world, est. 1849), El Gordillo, La Brunilda Tapas
  • Fine dining: Abantal, Mariscoco
  • Markets: Mercado de Triana (the authentic food market on the west bank of the river)
  • Sweet treats: Churros at El Tinte near the Cathedral

Best Sites to Visit

  • Alcázar: The Royal Palace — Moorish architecture at its absolute finest. Game of Thrones filming location. Arrive before 9am to avoid queues.
  • Cathedral of Seville + Giralda: The largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Climb the Giralda tower (ramp — leftover from the minaret it once was) for the best view in the city.
  • Plaza de España: Semi-circular Renaissance building with ceramic tile benches representing each Spanish province. Stunning at sunset.
  • Santa Cruz: The old Jewish quarter — narrow lanes, whitewashed walls, orange tree courtyards. Beautiful to wander.
  • Triana: Across the river — the authentic working-class neighbourhood famous for ceramics and flamenco.
  • Metropol Parasol (Setas de Sevilla): The giant wooden mushroom structure in the Encarnación square. Striking, and best viewed at night.
  • Archivo de Indias: Extraordinary building housing documents from the Americas era. Completely free to visit.

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Historic Centre

Morning: Alcázar (arrive at opening, 9am — typically 1–2 hour visit). Afternoon: Cathedral + Giralda tower climb (another 2 hours). Evening: Santa Cruz neighbourhood for dinner — the narrow streets are magical at dusk.

Day 2: City Centre

Morning: Plaza de España (best in morning light), María Luisa Park adjacent. Afternoon: Metropol Parasol rooftop walkway — stunning city panorama. Evening: El Rinconcillo for tapas — book ahead or arrive at 7:30pm sharp.

Day 3: Triana + Flamenco

Morning: Cross the Puente de Isabel II bridge to Triana. Walk the ceramic-lined streets. Visit the Triana market for breakfast. Afternoon: Mercado de Triana for lunch. Evening: Flamenco show — the Casa de la Memoria is the most atmospheric.

Getting There and Around

  • By air: Seville Airport (SVQ) — direct flights from most European capitals. Metro connects the airport to city centre in 30 min (Line 1, €1.40).
  • By train: Santa Justa station, high-speed AVE from Madrid (2.5 hours) and from Córdoba (45 min).
  • Getting around: The historic centre is entirely walkable. Rent a bike — Seville is remarkably flat. Taxi is cheap.

Travel Tips and Practical Info

  • Best time to visit: April (Semana Santa is extraordinary but hotels double in price) or May for cooler weather. October is excellent — warm days, smaller crowds.
  • Summer: July and August are very hot (40°C+). Sightsee early morning and late afternoon; hide at lunch.
  • Free or cheap: Plaza de España, María Luisa Park, Santa Cruz neighbourhood, Triana ceramics walk.

Where to Next?

  • Córdoba (45 min by train): The Mezquita — one of the world's most extraordinary buildings.
  • Granada (3h by bus): The Alhambra — Moorish palace at its absolute peak.
  • Cádiz (1.5h by train): The oldest city in Europe, coastal, completely beautiful.