I will let somebody else comment on Semana Santa, which is on over some of the days you are there and I'm guessing may affect accommodation prices and availability.

Aside from this, I would make the following random comments:

- Be sure to explore Barrio Triana. It is across the river from Santa Cruz (where you will probably be staying), but is very nice and has a much more local feel. It also contains the best tapas bar we ate in (and that is saying something) - Las Golondrinas.

- By all means do a day trip but we did not find five days too much in the city. If you do one then I don't know if it is necessary to rent a car just for this purpose. Also, don't be too ambitious and choose somewhere like Cadiz or Ronda. I would suggest Cordoba or Carmona.

- Head in to El Centro for breakfast (churros with chocolat). We found lots of good options there - only 10/15 mins walk from Barrio Santa Cruz.

- Avoid Bar Giralda like the plague, it is horrific junk they serve in there.

- Plaza De Espana is a great place to relax with a book.

Have a great time, it is definitely one of the best cities in Spain, if not Europe!

Lidyia-- are you talking Easter 2014? Because people who go to Seville for Easter typically have to plan it a year ahead....that's how crowded it gets. Easter in Seville is one of the most iconic celebrations in the world and therefore, everything is booked months in advance. If you do find a place you will pay a substantial premium. I do not recommend renting a car at all, maybe for one day trip from Estacion Santa Justa. This transaction on Easter week will possibly consume half your day, so make it to a place you can enjoy the afternoon. My favorite day trip from Seville is Vejer de la Frontera and Ronda.

Best of luck because I agree that Seville is one of the most beautiful, enchanting, interesting cities in Europe.

Here you'll find lots of info about the spectacular Semana Santa in Sevilla, devotion and fiesta hand in hand almost 24/7 for the whole week. http://www.exploreseville.com/events/semana-santa.htm

The absolute main event is the processions Thursday night into Friday morning (the so called La Madrugá/ "into the dawn"), with the procession of the deeply beloved Virgen de la Macarena as the absolute highlights of the highlights. Here she's on famous, narrow and central Calle Sierpes (1min). After 3 mins you can hear a saeta, a typical, mournful a capella flamenco style song of probably Jewish origins which is sung all over the south during Semana Santa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_LexfD5yIQ

About the saeta, in my opinion a highlight of the celebrations: http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/saeta.htm

.. and here are some hotels in Sevilla for your dates during Semana Santa.

Not unique, but we were perfectly happy staying in fine standard Vime Corregidor a couple of years ago. Great location, in the local feel Alameda/Centro area, and just some 15 minutes walk to the cathedral and the Santa Cruz district. 665€/860$ for your five nights:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/vime-corregidor.en-gb.html?aid=355028;sid=84f095274324473fdc984553bbd55d0d;dcid=1;checkin=2013-03-28;checkout=2013-04-02;srfid=739c17ce37e16b0ce04f4c4f76c961dd76321aecX49

More upscale and expensive options (some 106 Sevilla hotels still have availability on your dates on booking.com):

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/suite-alcazar.en-gb.html?aid=355028;sid=84f095274324473fdc984553bbd55d0d;dcid=1;checkin=2013-03-28;checkout=2013-04-02;srfid=739c17ce37e16b0ce04f4c4f76c961dd76321aecX1

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hotel-las-casas-de-la-juderia.en-gb.html?aid=355028;sid=84f095274324473fdc984553bbd55d0d;dcid=1;checkin=2013-03-28;checkout=2013-04-02;srfid=739c17ce37e16b0ce04f4c4f76c961dd76321aecX30

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/solmeliacolon.en-gb.html?aid=355028;sid=84f095274324473fdc984553bbd55d0d;dcid=1;checkin=2013-03-28;checkout=2013-04-02;srfid=06dadfed902e6b8abcc3d37c6040c41e046c458aX5

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/itaca-sevilla.en-gb.html?aid=355028;sid=84f095274324473fdc984553bbd55d0d;dcid=1;checkin=2013-03-28;checkout=2013-04-02;srfid=06dadfed902e6b8abcc3d37c6040c41e046c458aX6

And you should definitely see flamenco in intimate Casa de la Memoria in Calle Cuna, 6 in the centre of town (they recently moved here). Could be a great introduction to this wonderful art so important for Sevilla and Andalucía.

Popular with tourists but only absolute top artists perform here. No, drinks, no food, only flamenco and half the price of the more touristy flamenco restaurants (tablaos). Shifting artists every night, and two nightly performances at 7.30 and 9. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187443-d539294-Reviews-Casa_de_la_Memoria_de_Al_Andalus-Seville_Province_of_Seville_Andalucia.html

These dancers perform on your nights:

Thursday 28:
Marta Arias and Juan Carlos Cardoso: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDZE03AGHkw

Friday 29:
Pilar Astola: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUCLImmr5Q4
Oscar de los Reyes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjQrjuveEkI

Saturday 30:
Almudena Serrano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_oq4drnxIA
Felipe Mato: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMDSWOvcpz0

Sunday 31:
Marta Arias and Juan Carlos Cardoso again.

The program for Monday and Tuesday is not set yet.

More info: http://casadelamemoria.es/

Sorry, to ask a question on this thread (i promise it's relevant): How do you book a night at casa dela memoria ? Do you have to call or email them? Is it possible to book online?

Thanks to all the responses! We decided on hotel inglaterra fit our stay in a couple if weeks and will most probably enjoy Seville as much as possible and try a day trip to cordoba of carmona by train. All your suggestions made us decide against car so thank you

We also have decided on casa memoria for flamenco, the lady emailed me back straight away when enquired. Thanks for all the restaurant ideas, will definitely not do bar giralda. Finally, has anyone been to abades Triana? I booked this for Friday 29th but think Thursday night after watching the precisions we will want something locally around the cathedral.

>We decided on hotel inglaterra fit our stay.

I'd stay at Las Casas de la Juderia. Beautiful place. I'd also consider spending a night at the parador in Carmona.

> cordoba of carmona by train.

Carmona is an ok little town except for but the beatiful parador. For a daytrip, Cordoba would be very nice. All the things you want to see are close together and a short walk from the train station. It's a long day trip, but if I were you I'd go to Granada to see the Alhambra. To me, it the greatest sight in Spain and possibly in all of Europe.

>your suggestions made us decide against car

Good choice. Due to the narrow, confusing one-way roads and the utter lack of street signs, driving in Spain is a nightmare.

>We also have decided on casa memoria for flamenco, the lady emailed me back straight away when enquired.

I'd go to Ls Gallos.

>Thanks for all the restaurant ideas, will definitely not do bar giralda.

Ignore the negative opinion. Bar Gilalda is perfectly fine, but nothing special. I'd suggest Bar Miami. Overall, Spain isn't a place to good expecting great food. Not bad, but it isn't France, Italy or London.

Actually Los Gallos is not a bad alternative for flamenco these days. Intimate Casa de la Memoria is consistently high quality, but Los Gallos currently advertises some fabulous artists. If El Junco dances and José Anillo sings on one of your nights, I would strongly consider going here, even though it's more than double the price and a totally different setting with drinks/dinner option etc.
http://www.tablaolosgallos.com/index.php/en

El Junco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs
José Anillo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AJjjFm19Qw

And you can have great food experiences in Sevilla (and in Spain in general, for example 3 Spanish restaurants among the ten best in the world in the prestigious S. Pellegrino ranking for years). Azahar lives in Sevilla and has got some great suggestions: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/about/

And agree, Cerveceria Giralda is perfectly fine, but I would perhaps recommend traditional, no fuzz and very popular Bodega Santa Cruz (Las Columnas) 50 meters up the street: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/category/bodega-santa-cruz/

Another vote for Casa de la Memoria, I would also recommend an afternoon at the arab baths http://www.airedesevilla.com/movil/aire_de_sevilla_en. Very relaxing, atmosphere inside is amazing and the view from the rooftop terrace is spectacular.
My favorite tapas bar during my trip was Bar Estrella. Even though it was a few years ago you may find my trip report useful

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/trip-report--madrid-and-seville.cfm

Imhornet and kimhe - you are both entitled to your opinion on Bar Giralda but you don't need to be so dismissive of mine. From a quick scan of TripAdvisor I am not the only one with a strong negative view on this place.