Hi All,
I am traveling to Seville in late June and was wondering about the best location to stay. From what I've read Santa Cruz seems to the closest in terms of sights. I was wondering if this rings true for cultural aspects as well, like food, music, and local vibe. Just curious, thanks is advance for your help!
IMO, the best place to stay is anywhere that is close walking distance to the Alameda de Hercules. It is easily the best place for eats, drinks, music, people watching and hanging out. It's close to the Macarena, a 15 minute walk to the Cathedral, and has several bus stops along it.
I stayed at the Hotel Goya which is basically in the Barrio de Santa Cruz. Loved the location and the hotel, which was a basic budget hotel but great. I think it gets good reviews on TripAdvisor and might have been suggested by Rick Steves' also. If you desire more luxury, there are many others in that area, but I highly recommend the area in or near Santa Cruz. The Giralda, the cathedral and the Alcazar are also right there, less than a minute walk.
The Alameda de Hercules, suggested above is a bit more out of the way. I've visited there, but it's a bit of a walk from the sights. Also I much prefer the atmosphere on the area of Santa Cruz, closer to the sights. You'll love the restaurants and cafes in the little calles and plazitas. Just take a tour using the Street View feature of Google Maps.
The most convenient place to stay is the neighborhood adjacent to the Alcazar. It's a quaint area with lots of lodging and cafes. The main sights are all right there, any others are still walking distance. It's probably a little more expensive than other areas because it is the most desirable.
We stayed at a hotel by the stadium because I got a good deal on the room. We parked our car at the hotel and used a city bus to get in and out of town (It was April Fair and the buses were running virtually round the clock) in about ten minutes.
By all means, stay in Barrio Santa Cruz. We stayed in the Hotel Amadeus and loved the location, in the middle of the Juderia with its narrow alleys and shops. There are plenty of great tapas bars near the hotel, as well as different flamenco venues. It is an easy walk to the Cathedral and the Alcazar and you will pass more great tapas bars on the way. Loved Seville.
Thanks everyone!
It seems like Barrio Santa Cruz is the overall best bet especially with limited time in the city. Thanks for the heads up about Alameda de Hercules, though, Emily. I'll definitely have to look into that area a bit more before I travel.
Hello!
I have stayed in the Santa Cruz area and found it satisfactory. I also have stayed near the Plaza Alfalfa and found it to be even better, and much, much more local - while still being only a 10 minute walk from most of the major tourist sites. My point is that there are several very good neighborhoods in Seville, not just one.
Thanks Jack,
It seems like that might be a good bet. It looks like it's a bit cheaper to stay there compared to Santa Cruz, and as a lot of culture and local flair surrounding it.
