Falling in Love with Seville

Have you ever travelled somewhere and just instantly fallen in love with the place? A huge smile spreads across your face and it feels like a small part of you is coming home.

That’s exactly how I felt in Seville, Spain.

Seville was the last stop on our Spain trip with my siblings in February. We started in Barcelona, headed to Madrid (with a day trip to Toledo) and ended in Seville.

I had been to Barcelona and Madrid before on my first solo Europe trip in 2012, but Seville was brand new to me. I had done a little research online and from what I had read, I thought I would like Seville.

And I was right.

Arriving in Seville

When we first got off the train and arrived in Seville, I was actually a little bit disappointed. It looked like any other city.

But after a short 15 minute walk, we were at our apartment in the Old Town and I was changing my tune.

From the moment we stepped into the labyrinth of cobblestone alleyways in the Old Town, I knew I had found the charming Seville I had read about.

By the time we reached our apartment, Seville was also impressing me with its weather. It was early February and yet the sun had forced us all to shed our sweaters and reach for our sunglasses.

Walking along the cobblestone, I couldn’t be happier. (My siblings, though, may have not been as happy with their choice to pack in rolling suitcases. Suitcases on cobblestones never goes well!)

Our perfect Seville apartment

We walked up to our apartment and I was amazed to see that it was right in the middle of the Old Town. A lot of places are described as being in the “heart of the action,” but that could not have been any more true for our place in Seville.

The apartment door opened right onto the street, no foyer or hallway first! When you opened the door, you were immediately thrown into a pedestrian street filled with shops and restaurants.

From our windows, we watched people dining on restaurant patios, waiters bustling around and people sitting back and sipping on wine.

I was working on my laptop in our living room when a beautiful Spanish band started up, the music easily floating in through our windows.

It was literally a pinch myself moment – I was sitting in the south of Spain and the soundtrack could not be more spot on!

Besides the perfect setting, our apartment itself was pretty magical too. There were exposed wood beams, brightly coloured tile and our own en suite bathroom.

The furniture was beautiful and there was lots of space for the four of us. Besides the very steep stairs, I was pretty much ready to move in and never leave.

This was definitely one of the best places I’ve ever stayed!

Exploring the Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower

Outside of the apartment, I found that there was even more to love about Seville. Our first stop was the Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower.

Having lived in Europe for almost seven months by that point, I had seen my fair share of cathedrals. But Seville’s cathedral was by far the most interesting and ornate I have ever seen.

I couldn’t stop taking pictures and being blown away as room after room offered more to gawk at (including Christopher Columbus’ tomb!).

We then ascended the 35 ramps (+ 17 stairs) to the top of La Giralda for the coolest view over the city.

The ramps made the ascent much easier than if it had been all stairs, but it was still a steep climb.

And on our way out, we walked through a beautiful orange grove. It was beautiful and smelled citrusy sweet! The whole experience was like a fairytale and it put all other churches to shame.

Sightseeing in Seville, Spain

The Cathedral was just one of many things about Seville sightseeing that totally impressed me.

During our short time in Seville, we also did a walking tour, went to a flamenco show and toured the Alcazar. Every single one of these places was amazing and so worth the visit.

Whereas in our other Spain stops I felt let down by some of the sightseeing, everything in Seville surpassed my expectations.

Flamenco show

The flamenco show we went to was another magical experience. I had never been to a flamenco show before so didn’t know what to expect.

For an hour, we were completely riveted by the steps, the songs, the stomping and the soul of this incredible performance. It was one of the most authentic cultural experiences I have ever had the pleasure to witness.

Free walking tour in Seville

As I’ve said many times, I’m a big fan of free walking tours. It’s a great way to get to know a city on a budget and much more interesting than going through a museum or reading a guide book.

I particularly enjoy when these tours are led by locals, as it brings an extra layer to the tour.

Sure, I enjoyed the Brit touring us around Madrid or the Kiwi who introduced us to Munich, but it wasn’t the same as the Viennese guide who told us about her favourite cafes growing up or the Toledo native who could explain how his generation was moving out of the city.

So I was particularly thrilled when our Seville tour guide was a fresh university graduate who was born and raised in Seville.

Besides learning more about the city, the free walking tour also brought us to some beautiful places. We walked along the river, admired the Cathedral some more, and ended in Plaza de Espana.

If you look up Seville, you’re sure to find photos of this stunning plaza. It’s so ornate with bridges, a waterway, columns and beautifully decorated facades representing the ancient regions of Spain.

After the tour, we took our time just wandering around this plaza and trying to take it all in.

The Royal Alcázar of Seville

Our last big stop in Seville was the Alcazar. I had read online that Seville’s Alcazar even rivals the Alhambra in Granada, though I haven’t been to Granada so can’t compare the two.

But I can say the Alcazar is quite impressive!

The first few rooms were just okay but then we entered the gardens and realized we were going to need a lot of time to explore everything.

The gardens go on forever – more like a manicured forest with mazes, fountains, reading nooks, gazebos, pools and more. The only thing we struggled to find? A bathroom!

After strolling through all of the impressive greenery, we went back inside and were absolutely wowed by the architecture and tile work.

It was a little taste of the Arabic style we would see a lot more of in Morocco. And it was beautiful! I couldn’t believe all of the detailing that went into every nook and cranny.

Our final night in Seville

On our last night in Seville, we headed out to grab some post-dinner ice cream. As we walked back to our apartment, we strolled through the main square in front of the Cathedral.

A quartet of clarinet players had set up and were playing well known songs such as tunes from The Lion King and The Beatles. We took a seat by the fountain and joined the crowd listening to these impressive musicians.

It was the perfect moment. I had the biggest smile on my face as I licked my ice cream, swayed along to my favourite Disney songs, while sitting outside with a group of locals and tourists, my family by my side.

I couldn’t have asked for a better end to our time in Seville and our siblings trip!

What truly made me fall in love with Seville

Just the sightseeing alone would have been enough to make me fall in love with Seville. But the city is way more than that.

Wandering through the Old Town, it literally feels like you’re going backwards in time. Everything is cobblestone and pedestrian-only, every building is beautiful, and there are hidden courtyards around every corner.

I also fell in love with the vibe of the city. With warm temperatures in February, there was a big culture of eating and drinking outdoors. It was so nice to see the streets filled with people just enjoying their day.

Seville really is the perfect mix of small town and big city. Its size is manageable and in February, it wasn’t too crowded.

We only had eight people on our walking tour (including our four) and yet the main bar had a decent crowd outside its doors around 12AM.

The Old Town is large enough to explore, but not so large that it loses its charm. And despite how cozy and quaint the Old Town feels, there is so much to do in Seville.

I’m so head over heels for Seville, I’m already planning for when we can go back and stay even longer. I’d love to rent an apartment for a few weeks and enjoy even more of the city, while doing day trips from Seville to nearby towns in Andalucia.

Have I convinced you? Will you be adding Seville, Spain to your must-visit list?