Seville holidays

Popular holidays

City breaks to Seville are a masterclass in architectural sightseeing, and the tapas scene is first class.

Big-name city

Seville is one of Spain’s big-hitters on the city break scene, and the numbers are there to back it up – it’s the third most visited place in the country, behind Barcelona and Madrid. The city’s set in the south-west, just over an hour’s drive from the coast. The centre’s pretty tight-knit, so it’s a great one for ticking off lots of sights without the step count getting out of control. There are three UNESCO-accredited bits to make a beeline for, which all have their roots set in centuries gone by. Seville Cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in the world, the Royal Alcazar is grandiose enough to a favourite of the King of Spain, and the General Archive of the Indies takes you through Spain’s history of exploring.

Architectural gem

Aside from its collection of UNESCO sites, there’s a hatful of have-to-see landmarks dotted around the city. Plaza de Espana is decorated vibrant Andalucian tiles, and was once used to shoot scenes from a Star Wars movie. The Torre del Oro – or Tower of Gold – is a 12th century structure on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, and in the Santa Cruz district you’ll find the city’s lesser-known palace, the Casa de Pilatos. It’s just as beautiful as the Alcazar, but flies under the radar a little more. At the modern end of the spectrum, the futuristic Setas de Seville look like giant wooden mushrooms, and have a panoramic elevated pathway where you can soak in views of the skyline.

Home of tapas

Lots of places claim to be the inventor of tapas, but more fingers seem to point to Seville than anywhere else. These famous small-plate dinners are the most common restaurant fodder in the city, with local delicacies cropping up on loads of menus. Hearty bowls of gazpacho soup, pork cheek bites known as carrillada, and fried croquetas with fillings like Serrano ham and creamy Manchego cheese. After you’ve polished off a few plates, follow the locals to one of the many flamenco bars – this style of dancing is a bit of a Seville signature.

Popular hotels in Seville

Top things to see and do in Seville

Shopping

Bargain buys

It’s no surprise that the best bargains are to be found at the city’s oldest market. Stalls are stacked high with souvenirs and fresh produce every Thursday on Feria Street, and pop-up food vendors are on hand to keep you fed and watered on your way around.

Mid-range buys

For something with more of a high street feel, Sierpes Street steps up to the plate. Spanish clothing brands share the stretch with handbag, jewellery and perfume shops, and the surrounding streets are just as well stocked with shopping spots.

Designer buys

You don’t have to venture far from Sierpes Street to find the real budget-bludgeoning retailers – Tetuan Street is just around the corner. Fashion-first clothing shops and extravagant jewellers make up some of the clientele.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

For something that’s at the classier end of the scale, set your sights on the Alameda neighbourhood. It’s known to be a bit more top-end, with rooftop terraces and panoramic bars that show off the city skyline while you relax.

Lively evenings

Discos and dancing are the order of the day in the Triana area, particularly if you plot a course for up-tempo Betis Street. After you’ve caught a live flamenco show, there are plenty of nightclubs waiting in the wings to keep the good times rolling.

Food & drink

Jamón Ibérico

If one of your neighbours is a leading producer of Iberian ham, it’d be silly not to make the most of the situation. And that’s exactly what Seville has done – first-in-class cuts of this meat are brought in from Huelva, just down the road, and it’s used to populate tapas menus around the city.

Salmorejo

If you’ve heard of gazpacho, then you’ll have a good idea of what salmorejo is. This soup is a slightly thicker and creamier take on the better-known classic, but it’s still served cold like its sibling. You’ll see more people picking it from the menu when the weather’s hot, as it’s seen to be pretty refreshing.

Pringás

This stew is often one of the options on a tapas menu. Andalucian meats are the standard ingredient, with options like pork, chorizo, beef and spicy sausage slow-cooked until they fall apart. A bread roll is an essential part of the dish, as it’s used to soak up the broth or turn the fillings into sandwich.

Torrijas

Seville’s tasty take on French toast is a simple but lip-smacking snack. Hunks of bread are dunked in a mixture of milk and eggs, fried and then topped with a sprinkling of sugar, cinnamon and a knob of butter.

Orange wine

This tipple isn’t uncommon around Spain, but in Seville it’s prepared a little differently. Usually you can expect a slight variation on a standard white wine, but here it’s more like a sweet dessert aperitif. The locals usually sip on one with a platter of after-dinner cheeses, or to toast the end of a meal.