We're in the initial stages of researching a trip to Portugal, focusing on the Alentejo region....Seville is just a 2.5 hour drive to the west of here. We are trying to decide if we should include Seville in our trip as well...or save it for an all Andalucia trip.

Time in Seville would take away from time spent in Lisbon, so I would like to get some first hand impressions of which city Fodorites prefer.

Thanks

ttt
(I'm curious about this too ) Anyone?

If I had the option, I'd take Seville for holidays.

ttt

crusinred,
Several years ago my wife and I spent a week touring the Andalusia area in Spain. Our only regret was spending just a day in the fabulous city of Seville. So, on our 2 1/2 week trip to Portugal this September we're planning on a side trip to Seville for a two day stay to savor it more properly. Andalusia is still worth a separate trip, but as you're only 2.5 hrs away, be a shame not to experience it.

Both are beautiful cities, but I prefer Lisbon for two reasons: the Gulbenkian Museum (one of the great art collections of the world) and the close proximity to Sintra, a veritable Garden of Eden.

Thin

Lisbon is a sea port, with a hilly landscape that is very attractive. Seville is very much inland, notwithstanding its riverside location, and quite flat.

You don't mention how much time you've allocated to Lisbon. If it is for fewer than 3 days, skip Seville. Otherwise, I suspect you will need to satisfy your curiosity by spending at least a day there.

You can easily spend one week in Lisbon and surroundings and not get bored, plus it has beaches. Seville, whilst interesting, is much smaller and can be "done" in one/two days. But the atmospheres are totally different: Lisbon subdued, "saudade" and Atlantic, Seville Mediterranean, much hotter in all meanings of the word!

We all have different experiences. I love Seville, and the surrounding Granada, Cordoba,etc and would love to return. When we went to Lisbon it was New Year's, and we were unimpressed, getting there after Madrid and Barcelona. We even tried to leave early, but changing flights was too costly. Sintra was OK.

I prefer Lisbon for a lot of the reasons mentioned here. Ultimately though, I just think it is a friendlier city. We did an Andalucia trip last August and enjoyed it very much. We did Seville for 3 days, as well as many surrounding areas. It is beautiful and historical with a wonderful musical tradition. Contrast that with Lisbon, also beautiful, historical and with a wonderful musical tradition, but add to that the water, hills, and hospitality of the Portuguese.

I suppose I am in the minority but I found three things to be the most interesting in Seville:

the cathedral
the Alcazar
the flamenco

I had seen the "Spanish Colonial" architecture in lots of other places to include the US.

personally, I'd spend my time in Portugal and save Seville for another trip.