Seville Luxury Travel Guide
Seville turned out to be one of my favorite places. It had everything: fantastic food, stunning architecture, gorgeous gardens, friendly people, and endless things to do. We could’ve stayed an entire year and still barely scraped the surface of everything to do in this incredible city, the capital of the Andalucian region. I hope my Seville Luxury Travel Guide helps you plan the best vacation ever!
*Please note, the regional spelling of Seville is “Sevilla” (pronounced seh-vee-ya), whereas the English/international version is Seville. You’ll likely see these used interchangeably when researching your adventure. They’re the same splendid city, just different languages!
Reasons to Visit Seville
The capital of Andalucia is on the Iberian Peninsula near the Straights of Gibraltar. It’s an incredibly historically significant city with a history predating written records. Ruled by Moors, Muslims, Romans, and many more throughout history, the juxtaposition between cultures, religions, and even architectural styles and cuisine make Seville a city unlike any other.
There was never any shortage of wonderful places to visit, things to do, and food to eat. Seville is also the most affordable city we’ve ever been to. Some of our organic, locally sourced meals were under twenty euros total, which is incredible given how much seafood, fresh, seasonal vegetables, and rich herbs and spices they cooked with. Whereas some cities like Atlanta, London, and Paris are expensive in comparison, we enjoyed our week in Seville for less than a single day in any of those other places.
I couldn’t believe it!
How to Reach Seville
We took a direct flight from Munich, Germany, and arrived in under 3 hours. As one of Spain’s largest and most deeply inter-woven cities, it’s no surprise that they offer countless direct & connecting flights from around the world.
It’s also possible to drive to Seville from various parts of Europe if you’re looking for road trip ideas, and it’s connected to much of Europe and Asia via train.
When to Visit Seville
We visited in early August when it’s hottest and slowest. We had a splendid time. Temperatures soared into 105ºF+, and when factoring in other atmospheric conditions, the real feel temperature frequently rose above 110ºF. Even so, we headed indoors in the middle of the day, stuck to the shade, wore sun-protective clothing, and took advantage of the ubiquitous misters around the city and didn’t have any trouble.
Every other season in Seville is beautiful. Its position means the temperature almost never drops below freezing, and we saw the other extreme, which wasn’t unbearable by any means. Next, we’d love to visit in winter!
Where to Stay
We stayed at the beautiful 5-star Palacio Villapanés in their Palace Suite. It was a perfect stay. The air con was frigid, the room was spacious, we had a private balcony, and its location meant we could easily walk anywhere in the city. The hotel’s food was excellent, the staff were incredible, and the hotel itself, a historic palace, was gorgeous. We truly felt like royalty here, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Seville.
Hotel Casa Palacio Don Ramón
Another beautiful 5-star property in Seville, this was such a great place to lay our heads. We loved every moment of our stay, from swimming in the rooftop pool to enjoying a fantastic dinner at El Limón.
Hotel Alphonso XIII
This beautiful, stately, 5-star hotel is located right in the city center, making it easy to hit everything in my city guide and beyond.
Where to Eat
Seville has some of the best food I’ve had anywhere in the world, right up there with Charleston, Seattle, Tulum, and Kyoto. It’s fresh, flavorful, organic, and a delightful blend of numerous cultures.
Ananás
We enjoyed a splendid breakfast here. They had lots of gluten-free, organic, and vegan options.
El Limón
This is a great introduction if you’re curious about Iberian and Andalucian cuisine! Located inside Don Ramón Hotel.
El Pintón
This was my favorite meal in all of Seville. We liked it so much we went back twice! It’s technically three restaurants in one, and their menu is ever-evolving.
La Comisura
This café had amazing smoothies that were a perfect pick-me-up after running ourselves ragged in the 105ºF+ heat.
Naturamente Organic Café
Another great spot for brunch, this place had lots of fresh, local, and delicious options. They’re perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch and have heavier options alongside plenty of lighter fare.
Sibuya Urban Sushi Bar
We love sushi, so we had to try the city’s highest-rated sushi place. Spoiler alert: It was delicious!
What to Do In Seville
We were never bored in Seville. In fact, it wasn’t a matter of figuring out what we wanted to do. Rather, we struggled to fit everything we wanted to do and see into our week-long itinerary. Here are some of our favorites.
Admire the Breathtaking Architecture
Seville has some of the most gorgeous architecture I’ve ever seen. Simply walking downtown showed us plenty of gorgeous balconies, bell towers, doors, and architectural styles ranging from ancient to modern.
AIRE Ancient Baths
This is like the dreamiest spa you’ve ever been to, times a million. It’s truly relaxing and restorative—the perfect way to tend tired muscles weary from traveling. Read about my visit to AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago to get a feel for this one! They were both amazing!
Casa de Pilatos
This beautiful palace is full of incredible works of art, lovely gardens, and unmatched architecture. It’s a can’t-miss spot in Seville!
Eat Authentic Tapas
Gods, I love food! Seville had some of the very best food I’ve ever eaten. Tapas are phenomenal and I’m of the opinion that everything should be served tapas style. That is, smaller portions are meant to be shared. You can try a little of everything this way without being wasteful.
Explore Mercado de Triana & Take a Cooking Class
Their food stalls are famous for a reason, so bring your appetite! Besides, what’s a better souvenir than a new skill?
Go Palace Hopping
Seville is famous for its palaces, or palacios, and you can make a day (or more) hopping between them!
Royal Alcázar Gardens & Palace
This was one of the most gorgeous spots in all of Seville. It’s also where they filmed many of the Dornish scenes in Game of Thrones!
Seville Museum of Fine Arts
The Seville Museum of Fine Arts is full of beautiful garden alcoves, paintings, sculptures, and even the use of lighting and tiled flooring, which makes it seem like it deserves its own gallery.
Take a Photo with (or of) Setas de Seville
This strange and thrilling work of modern architecture certainly sticks out from the rest of Seville’s skyline, but that’s part of the city’s charm. It’s a blend of everything that’s existed within its walls.
Tour the Guadalquivir River on a Private Yacht
Food, information, and fun, all on a private yacht. What’s not to love?
Visit Plaza de España
Plaza de España is a great place to take photos, learn more about Spain, and grab a snack.
Watch Flamenco Dancers
Seville is famous for its graceful, energetic flamenco dancers. No visit to the city is complete without watching them perform!
Safety
We never felt unsafe in Seville. Use common sense, follow local laws, and you’ll be golden. If you visit in summer, stay hydrated, protect your skin from the heat, and plan to move a bit slower because it’s hotter than an oven in Seville in summer. Literally. I think I’ve pulled out muffins from the oven and felt cooler breezes than what we experienced here! Haha.
Wow, this is so cool Annie! You probably don’t remember me, but we were in GPHIB together, and I have been following you on IG ever since (I voted for you for our president too haha, wish you would’ve accepted the role still bitter lol), anyway, this is really cool! How long did it take you to be able to do this? How did you get so good at photography? Let’s stay in touch, maybe we can hang out soon or even go on a little sorority sister road trip the next time you go on one of the trips. You can teach me what you know!
This looks incredibly stunning! Definitely on my list