Seville

Those in search of Andalusian glamour should consider booking into the Hotel Alfonso XIII, built by King Alfonso for VIP guests to his Expo in 1929. Hotel Alfonso XIII is just a five minute walk from the cathedral, making it ideal for sightseeing, and it even boasts an outdoor pool if you fancy relaxing away from the hustle and bustle. Alternatively, the Casa de Colon is more affordable for thrifty travellers while still featuring a location in the heart of the city. For a more unusual experience try the Hotel Amadeus which offers its guests musically themed rooms at a reasonable price.

Seville’s shopping district is centred around Calle Sierpes and offers everything from boutiques to big-brand chain stores. Among the big stores, there are plenty of souvenir shops where you can pick up mementoes including fans and shawls. If you fancy a little shopping spree, the El Corte Ingles department store and Nervion Mall are perfect places to start.

Seville is world famous for its incredible tapas, nearly every bar and restaurant serves tapas, from the typical croquets and chorizo to the more local oxtail and fried fish. While most bars serve great tapas, a top pick must be Bar Alfalfa with its traditional décor and party atmosphere. If you fancy a slightly different take on tapas make a booking at Bartolomea, where the traditional tortilla and albondigas are swapped out for grilled duck with caramelised onion or bass with potato and lime puree. As for fine dining, La Petite Comite offers French and Asian twists on typical Spanish dishes including yakisoba noodles with chicken and salted shredded beef toasts.

Seville might not offer the bombastic celebrations of Barcelona or the scale of Madrid but its Andalusian background offers plenty of events unique to the city. If you’re interested in making a festival the centrepiece of your holiday we have a few suggestions guaranteed to create unforgettable memories:

Feria de Abril

Celebrated in April, Feria de Abril sees Seville transformed as over 1,000 temporary bars take to the streets and fairgrounds pop up around the city. This marks the start of a week-long party featuring flamenco dancing, traditional costumes, bullfights and plenty of drinks.

Bienal Flamenco

One of Seville’s largest festivals, Bienal Flamenco is held every two years and is possibly the largest festival of its kind in the world. The best dancers, singers and guitarists overrun the streets, performing everywhere from tiny squares to the Royal Alcazar. There are even Flamenco workshops in the city, making this the perfect opportunity to try out your dancing feet.