Essential Wine and Food Lover’s Travel Guide Seville, Spain

We just came back from a magical few days in Seville, Spain. Last year, I really fell in love with Spain while visiting Madrid and the northern wine regions of Rueda and Rioja. I’ve been a few places in Spain but this was my first time to the Andalusia region. Seville is even more enchanting than the pictures, with so much history, beautiful architecture, things to do, restaurants, bars, etc. The only downside to this beautiful city is the heat, so choose the time of year you visit carefully! Keep reading this travel guide to Seville, Spain for all of the details on our trip!

When to Visit Seville

We visited in early June which was warm (high 80s) but not unbearable. All of the locals said that July and August are extremely hot so I would avoid going that time of year! If I’m able to visit in the future, I’d try to go in April for the Feria de Abril. Not only is the weather supposed to be perfect, but it’s the time of year when orange blossoms are in bloom around the city! It takes place two weeks after Easter and everyone is dressed up in their Flamenco dresses and dancing in the streets. We learned all of this from our guide Maria during our Tapas tour, more on that below 🙂

Where to Stay in Seville

There are many hotels and rentals to choose from in Seville. When it comes to choosing where to stay, I’d recommend staying close to the Cathedral in city center so you can easily walk to most things. We traveled there with friends so we opted to stay in a luxury, boutique airbnb in the city center.

Hotels

• Hotel Alfonso XIII – stunning moorish architecture with large pool and beautiful rooms
• Hotel Colón Gran Melia – a leading hotels of the world property with a rooftop pool and 5 star service

Our Airbnb

If you look far enough in advance there are tons of gorgeous airbnbs in Seville. We got super lucky and found a stunning 4 story apartment that had 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a rooftop deck. We stayed here with another couple so it made the price worth it! It also came with housekeeping each day so it felt like our own boutique hotel versus an airbnb. This place was 2 minutes from the Cathedral and close to tons of other great spots and shopping in Seville.

Where to Eat & Drink in Seville

Rooftop and Cocktail Bars

The moorish and gothic architecture in Seville is incredible, so what better way to see it than from the rooftops with a drink in your hand? I highly recommend visiting these before dinner to catch the sunset.

• La Terraza de EME – This place has an amazing view of cathedral and delicious drinks in EME Catedral Hotel
• Terrazs Dona Maria – Another great view of the Cathedral with nights of live music and flamenco
• The Premier Garden Cocktail Bar was also a really fun spot for drinks after dinner. It felt like a very local crowd and it was a great atmosphere in the park.

Restaurants

Abantal is an elegant michelin-star restaurant with a creative menu. I loved trying the unique Andalusian cuisine with Spanish wine pairings! It’s about a 10 minute uber from the city center but worth it for a fine dining night out.

Within the Alfonso XIII Hotel is Restaurante San Fernando. It is situated in a beautiful courtyard and has exceptional service. While the food here is pricier, the ambiance and quality is well worth it.

If you find yourself out walking during golden hour looking for a place to eat, try a spot on the river for a beautiful view. There are many chic spots with traditional tapas and dinner menus to try out. We did this one night and it was the perfect casual meal!

Nightlife

There are quite a few nightclubs in Seville if you are interested in a late night out. Even though I feel like my clubbing days are wayy behind me haha, we did enjoy one night out at Rosso Antique Night Club. Pro tip – ask your local servers and bartenders for the best recommendations of fun places to go!

Things to Do in Seville

Tapas Tour

If you are looking for a daytime activity and are wanting to explore some hidden gems around Seville, a Tapas Tour is the perfect option! This was actually my first food tour and I’m so glad we opted to do it. Tapas culture is so unique, the foods we tried were delicious, and these were things I definitely would not have thought to order. We had a great guide, Maria, who taught us so much about Spanish culture, foods, and more.

Did you know Sevillians don’t actually drink Sangria? Tinto de Verano, red wine and Fanta, is more their speed. If you’re even a tiny bit of a foodie, I highly recommend adding a tapas tour to your travel guide to Seville.

Flamenco Show

Attending a Flamenco Show is a must do in Seville. Since Flamenco originiated in the Andalusia region of Spain, Seville has many options of theaters where you can attend an hour long show. Although you may see some Flamenco dancing in the streets, I think it’s worth it to see it done in a professional setting. Be ready to be wowed by incredible singing and passionate dancing.

Seville Cathedral and Real Alcazar

While walking around Seville, you are sure to pass the Cathedral a handful of times. No travel guide to Seville is complete without paying a visit to the Seville Cathedral. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest gothic church in the world and the fourth largest cathedral in the world. You can even climb the Cathedral bell tower! Requirements online for the Cathedral say no shorts or tank tops. It’s true you must have your shoulders covered but because it was so warm out they let many people in with shorts on.

After touring the Cathedral, spend some time touring the Real Alcazar. The moorish architecture here is stunning and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. You might even get lucky and spot some peacocks in the garden!

Sherry Tasting in Jerez

Take a day trip to Jerez for Sherry tasting! Even if you aren’t the biggest Sherry fan, getting to Jerez is quick and easy and it’s so fascinating to learn more about the Sherry process. The town of Jerez is also adorable! Check out my separate blog post on our day to trip to Jerez and where to taste wine.

Explore Parque de Maria Luisa and Plaza de España

This is a beautiful area! For any travel guide to Seville it’s worth the visit just be prepared for it to be a bit touristy. You can easily walk here from the Cathedral area in about 15 minutes.

Things on my list for next time:

• Boat Tour on the River
• Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza
• Mercado de Triana
• Day trip to Cadiz

What to Wear in Seville

Just like many other European cities, there is lots of cobblestone so flats in this travel guide to Seville is recommended. However, I did get away with wedges or block heels sometimes because the city is super flat so you don’t have to worry about hilly areas! If you are going in the summer, you’ll want to wear shorts, flowy dresses and tank tops. It’s hot! Be prepared to buy an adorable Spanish fan on your first day to use throughout the trip. Again, if you plan on going into the Cathedral make sure you have something to cover your shoulders.