Everyone has their favorite travel websites. Some of us like Travel & Leisure, while others prefer Rick Steves. Honestly, I prefer to follow other bloggers for my travel advice, but if I had to choose a main stream travel resource, Lonely Planet would be it. Lonely Planet comes up with a suggested list of places to visit each year, and this year Seville was the at the top of the list. So naturally, I had to visit Seville to find out why:
Unlike Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, Barcelona and Madrid, Seville feels more authentic.
Major parts of Barcelona and Madrid are overtaken with cheesy tourist gimmicks and street side souvenir shops, while Seville feels more “real”. There are ton’s of tasty local restaurants, small street side cafés, and cultural activities to divulge in rather than falling into traditional tourist traps. For now, Seville is still keeping hold of it’s charming neighborhoods, sidewalk markets, and tiny corner bars.
The culture of Seville will suck you in the moment you step foot in the city.
Between the lively streets full of locals during Happy hour and curb side Flamenco shows, Seville sets itself apart from other areas in Spain that you may have visited. Not to mention, the people of Seville are awesome and love showing off their traditions and way of life. Whether your sitting in the small crowd at the Flamenco museum or drinking and dancing with locals at a dimly lit bar, Seville will make you feel like one of it’s own.
It’s starting to gain traction.
While Seville has plenty of tourists every year, it still doesn’t have the influx of other cities in Spain, meaning that it’s not too over crowded and still feels genuine. However, in years to come, Seville is only going to get more and more popular, meaning in terms of visiting, the sooner the better.
It’s still wildly affordable!
Even though Seville has some of the most charming accommodation, places to stay are still wildly affordable compared to the rest of Europe. Check out this Airbnb for $89/night or my favorite hostel. Food is cheap too, with one plate of tapas for ~3 Euros.
Some of the most breathtaking architecture is located here.
The city of Seville is centered around the Alcazar and Seville’s Cathedral. Maybe you haven’t heard of the Alcazar yet, but chances are you’ve seen it on Game of Thrones.
Seville’s art is incredibly accessible.
While the Alcazar and the Cathedral can get pretty crowded, the rest of the art in the city is easy to capture without being surrounded by people. Colorful tiles and large beautiful doors are around every corner, making this city an Instagram Dream. Not to mention, Plaza de Espana may be the most photogenic plaza in Europe.
Have any questions about visiting Seville? Feel free to comment below!
