Flew TAP from Boston-Lisbon-Sevilla. EES in Lisbon is a mess, but won’t go into detail. Will not do that again until Lisbon Airport is overhauled!
Met my son at the airport in Sevilla. Got a rental car from Avis. LPT – pick up the car at the exact time you make the reservation for. They’re sticklers for that. I was a little early so I couldn’t get the smallest sized 5 speed because it wasn’t available. IDP was required, fyi.
We then drove from Sevilla to Rota, where I was stationed decades ago and stayed at the Hotel Duque de Najera. Fabulous hotel; it is in old town on the beach and driving to it is rather interesting because of the one way streets. Visited some old haunts in Rota, the town has definitely been discovered by the tourists but had a great time. We stayed there 2 nights.
Drove back into Sevilla, dropped the car off at the airport. We stayed at the Hotel Fernando III in the old Jewish Quarter. Also a fabulous hotel. We only had some snacks at the rooftop bar, so can’t speak to the food. But the hotel was also fabulous, excellent customer service at the desk too.
We did the typical tourist things – Real Alcazar (including the private rooms), the Cathedral (yes, took the rooftop tour), took a river cruise, went to the Torre del Oro, Triana, the University of Sevilla, Plaza de Espana, went to a small Flamenco, took a Tapas tour and also made it to the Feria (bring toilet paper). We went specifically during Feria week so we could go to the fairgrounds and see the dresses, etc. I did know in advance that we would probably not stay too long and that it would be virtually impossible to get invited into a private caseta (and that’s ok). We did go on a Thursday but it was PACKED, so keep that in mind.
We used Freenow for the one or two times we needed a cab in the city but had an official taxi called by the hotel when I needed to go to the airport. We used the bus to go to the feria, not seamless but pretty organized when you finally figure out there’s a special area for those buses.
Everyone that advises to do the Upper Rooms at the Real Alcazar is spot on. No cameras/cell phones are allowed (there are lockers that give you your Euro back), but at one point I remember turning a corner into some amazing ante room and just being blown away by how amazingly beautiful it was.
I have no food recommendations, then again I’m not a foodie. We ate breakfast on our last day at Billy Brunch, pretty Americanized breakfast if you do want that.
The Tapas tour we booked through Tripadvisor but it’s also through Spain Food Sherpas. Would use them again.
Sevilla is branded as a walkable city and that is not at all a lie. However, it isn’t entirely true. The old town and those tiny cobblestone streets and having to go left to get right or vice versa is tiring. Plus, it was already in the 80s in April (and I know how hot it is now), I cannot imagine walking a lot during the truly oppressive 90s+, so definitely plan accordingly.