If I had to pick a favorite city during our 9 day trip around Spain, it would have to be Seville. Seville is the artistic and cultural capital of southern Spain. It’s a city full of gorgeous architecture, vibrant history, and wonderful food. I loved my visit to Seville.
Originally founded as a Roman city, Seville came to prominence after the Islamic conquest in 711. Today, the city is known for its flamenco dancing (which originated in Andalucía), its beautiful architecture that blends Islamic and European styles, and its scorching summers.
We spent 2 days in Sevilla, and here is everything we saw, ate and did!
Want to check out my full 9 day Spain Itinerary? CLICK HERE!
Where To Stay
Our hotel is Seville was our favorite out of the whole trip. Hotel Casa del Poeta was just stunning! A true 10/10. I highly recommend staying here while in Seville. It is quite the challenge to get to however. It is best to call the hotel once you get to the main square and they will send someone to come meet you. It is a maze through the small alleyways, but once you get there once, it is a piece of cake to find again.
Greeted by a massive courtyard with greenery, fountains, and wind chimes, it is just so tranquil. You are offered a complimentary glass of cava, and every evening there is free music in the lobby as well.
What To Do
No surprise we started our day in Seville with a walking tour. We got to learn a lot about the history of this city. We did a tour of the area across the river called Triana. It was where the gypsies and flamenco dancers lived back in the day.
Visit the Royal Alcázar
The Royal Alcázar of Seville (also known as al-Qasr al-Muriq) is the oldest residential palace in Europe still in use today. Dating to the 14th century, it’s an important example of Moorish architecture. This is a beautiful medieval Islamic palace showcasing a unique fusion of Spanish Christian and Moorish architecture. Spend time wandering the grounds (especially the massive gardens) and live your dream of being a princess! Tip: buy your tickets online early!
See a Flamenco Show
Seville is known for Flamenco dancing, and a trip here isn’t complete without seeing a flamenco show. There are tons of touristy ones that offer dinner/drinks with your show, but we wanted to go to one as local as possible. We ended up going to el Museo del Baile Flamenco for a show, and it was wonderful! We got to see 6 different styles of traditional flamenco. It was so passionate!
Spanish Cooking Class & Triana Market Tour
We love doing a cooking class when traveling to learn more about the culture and food of the places we visit. The food in Spain is amazing so this was something we were super excited about! We got a tour of the market and learned a lot about traditional Spanish food including El Jamón, which is the famous Spanish Iberian ham. We then enjoyed a cooking class while we made cold soup tomato garlic bread and olive oil, chickpeas and spinach, and then the main star: Paella! It was so fun to learn more about Spanish cooking.
Las Setas
Have you ever wanted to visit the world’s largest wooden sculpture? Look no further. For 10 Euro you can take an elevator to the top and then walk the massive structure taking in some breathtaking views of the city. I would love to come back and do this around sunset! Tip: Get a beer at the cafe across the street with the red chairs for the perfect photo op!
La Plaza De Espana
One of Seville’s most picturesque spots is La Plaza de España. The unique building mixes Baroque, Renaissance, and Moorish architectural styles, and there’s a small canal with Venetian-like bridges and gondolas.The murals along the building depict the various regions of Spain. This is such a stunning square! Just walking around, watching some local flamenco, and taking in the beauty is enough reasons to visit this square!
Aire Ancient baths
Mom surprised me with a special spa experience at the Aire Ancient baths. Where else can you do a red wine soak? The answer is no where in the world besides Sevilla. We soaked in red wine, while sipping on a glass of red wine. We then enjoyed a full body massage, followed by a soak in their rooftop hot tub. We were able to watch the sunset over the whole city. This was very romantic, definitely would do as a couple! We then got to swim in the other bathes Aire offered. They had a salt bath, hot, warm, and cold baths. This was truly an unforgettable experience!
Where To Eat
Between the cooking class, and tapas bar hopping I don’t have too many specific restaurants to try in Seville. But here are a couple that were very noteworthy!
El Librero
Our favorite tapas bar we visited during our stay in Seville. It was right down the street from our hotel. We were greeted by the most kind Spanish man who lead us through a manchego cheese tasting, and it was quite delightful! He brought us the most beautiful board. We got to try cow manchego, a black truffle, roasted garlic, rosemary honey, and a goat cheese. Our favorite was the roasted garlic and black truffle. He recommended a lovely Spanish red wine and it was the perfect meal.
Mercado Lonja del Barranco
This upscale food hall is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner or just any time you are hungry. With tons of food stalls from traditional Spanish tapas, to Mediterranean flare, we really enjoyed this spot. We got to try a bunch of little dishes, completing our meal.
El Rinconcillo
This is the oldest tapas bar in Spain and definitely worth a visit. Serving traditional Andalusian tapas since 1670 in this historic restaurant. Even if you just stop by for a beer, it is super cool to say you’ve been here!
Seville was a gem of a city. I would highly consider adding this city to your Spain itinerary. There are a lot of places to day trip to as well. But 2 days here would be enough to explore this magical city!
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