Where to go in Seville to discover the real Andalusia

Discover the quirky side of Seville on holiday

Famous for its flamenco parties, tapas bars and orange trees, Seville is a fantastic city break destination for budget travellers.

If you’re going on holiday to the Andalusian capital, make sure not to miss the magnificent Plaza de España and the Mudejar Alcázar palace (sometimes known as ‘Dorne’ to Game of Thrones fans).

Image by S. Hoya (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Seville is home to gorgeous tapas, limitless sunshine and rebujito cocktails - not to mention incredible architecture and culture.

Image by José Manuel Calvo (Flickr/Creative Commons)

The city has many attractions for tourists, but it has a strong local community as well, especially the Triana neighbourhood, famous for its tile workshops, and the 16th-century Alameda de Hercules, which has a fresh food market, jazz bars, and al fresco cafes for late night tapas and vino.

Just walking around the city’s compact streets will give you a feel for the big attractions, so here are some tips if you want to go off-the-beaten track.

1) Have real tapas at El Rinconcillo at the city’s oldest bar, which since 1670 has charmed locals and visitors alike by preserving the magical taste of the old Seville.

Image by Aram Kudurshian (Flickr/Creative Commons)

2) Veggie fans in Seville will love La Huerta Mediterranea - the home of veggie tapas - where you can eat croquettes made of either cauliflower or pesto. Tapas range between €2-3; three tapas and four drinks (for two people) is about €20.

Image by Sandra Vallaure (Flickr/Creative Commons)

3) Nobody wants to visit a hospital on holiday...but if you go to The Hospital of Charity (Caridad) in Seville you won't be disappointed. It’s one of the few working baroque hospitals left in Europe. The beautiful painted stories of the hospital interior tell the stories about the different works of charity.

Image by Tastwo (Flickr/Creative Commons)

4) Go flamenco shopping in Alvarez Quintero, it’s a narrow winding street just off Sierpes (main high street) and is full of traditional fabric shops. Here you’ll find Andalusian polka dot material for flamenco dresses and you can even get one tailor made to measure.

5) Explore the rough edges of Triana, the ‘real Seville’, which is famous for its 18th century ceramic factories. Today, its vibrant bars are full of energy and the views from Calle Betis towards the centre are incredible.

You won’t find many monuments or museums in Triana, but the neighborhood feels a world away from the city centre, and you’ll get the chance to eat and drink like the locals do.

Where to stay in Seville

The best way to sleep cheap in Andulusia is to book a hostel. You’ll get clean, comfortable rooms and dorms that are ideal for resting your head after a long day drinking vino in Seville's dreamy streets: