KR5

My friends and I are renting an apartment in Sevilla and since neither of us have ever been there we need help! The one thing my friend asked for was a terrace so please keep that in mind.

We want to be near the sites and the night-life (within walking distance). I initially was looking for places in Santa Cruz but that is proving to be harder than expected. So my questions are: If you rented a place in Sevilla what website did you use and/or do you trust? If not Santa Cruz, what other parts would be close to the sites and night-light? Specific apartments that will hold 4 people and have a terrace that I should be looking into? Any suggestions for apartments? Locations? Or places and/or websites to stay away from?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated and valued. Also looking for bike rentals... thoughts?

If I want to take a day trip to Granada, whats the best way to do that?
Thank you.

WomBatt

'Holiday rentals Seville' in a search engine will give many returns like http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk. Many of these are facilitators and you deal with the owner, therefore inconsequential whether the website is trustworthy or not - you should be looking for testimonials. Working with the address or bare description of where it is and a guide book map will surely resolve whether it suits.

Seville to Granada is three hours each way, whether train, bus or car and a big day trip if that is what you are thinking.

kimhe

Stay in Arenal, Alameda/Macarena or Triana area. More local atmosphere and much more nightlife than in the more touristy Santa Cruz district (which is also very nice in its own way). Very walkable to all the main sights, Alameda de Hércules would be some twenty minutes walking from the cathedral and the Alcázar. Arenal much closer, and Triana just across the bridge over the Guadalquivir river.

Triana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw
Alameda: http://www.sevilla5.com/activities/g...-hercules.html

About Sevilla nightlife:
http://dirtcheapseville.com/nightlife/

Alec

sevilla5 quoted is a reliable local rental agent, and English-speaking.

kimhe

This might be just ideal, nice looking apartment in the great atmosphere Arenal area with balcony and roof top terrace. Sleeps four. Close to everything: sights, fabulous local tapas bars/restaurants, nightlife etc. Click on "Antonia Diaz". 120€/day-700€ pr. week. http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/seville.html

Some apartments in Calle Feria (Alameda):
http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/f...ria-attic.html
http://www.sevilla5.com/apartments/feria.html

If you stay in the bohemian Alameda/Macarena area north of the Santa Cruz district, make sure you are inside the city walls (la Muralla), as parts of Macarena is outside (the outside area is called Hospital de Macarena). The main street in Macarena within the city walls is San Luis. Also look for Plaza San Marco and Encarnación. In Alameda, look for the streets Feria, Plaza and Torneo.

In Triana, you may want to stay close to Puente de Triana/Puente de Isabel (Triana bridge). The C/Betis along the river is very popular.

KR5

Thank you so much! I really like Antonia Diaz- I have contacted Sevilla 5 about it. It is exactly what we are looking for and I truly appreciate your help!

kimhe

If you stay at the apartment in Antonia Diaz, I can highly recommend these tapas bars/restaurants close by: Enrique Becerra and Bodega Antonio Romero, and one of my absolute favourites in Sevilla, Bodegas Diaz Salazar in C/García de Vinuesa, 20. A branch of the very popular Mesón Serranito is also in your street, C/ Antonia Diaz, 11. The solomillo al roquefort tapas is to die for!

http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...rique-becerra/
http://www.bodeguitaantonioromero.com/
http://www.minube.com/fotos/rincon/1...slideshow-mode

You probably know of all the "normal" sights in Sevilla, but I will suggest you go and see the "Hospital de la Caridad", very close to your apartment. As "Sevilla" as it gets. The 17th century main sponsor of this hospital for the old and sick, the repenting Miguel Mañara, was - according to himself - "the most evil man that ever lived". All the paintings he commisioned from some of the most famous golden-age arists for the hospital and its adjoining church dealt with the theme of death and redemption. The hospital, the church, the paintings and Mañara's grave are all in Calle Temprado, 3.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville/sights/411842

Here are some very knowledgeable tapas bar suggestions in Sevilla, organized by districts: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/

This site gives wide, excellent and up to date information about Sevilla: http://www.exploreseville.com/

This site gives excellent info about Sevilla:

KR5

Kimhe: That is great-this information is what I need more of as i get deeper into my planning! I do not know anyone who has ever been there and the tapas bar suggestions and sites to see are really helpful. I want to see as much as possible and soak it all up.

Anyone take any good day trips while in Seville? Beaches maybe?

Thank you in advance.

kimhe

Go see the ruins of Roman city Itálica just outside town. Frequent buses to and from the Plaza de Armas bus station. A couple of nice tapas bars/restaurants just by the entrance. A taxi would be some 15-20€. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/seville/italica.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1....Italica..html

Relatively small Carmona some 40 km north-east of Sevilla is well worth a visit: http://www.andalucia.com/province/se...rmona/home.htm

Go down to Cádiz (some 1,5-2 hours) for great beaches:
http://www.justspain.org/spain/cadiz/cadiz-beaches.asp
http://www.whatcadiz.com/cadiz-beach.html

And a couple of specials in Sevilla:
The Arab bath house Aire de Sevilla: http://www.airedesevilla.com/

Real deal flamenco at Casa de la Memória. Popular with tourists, but some of the greatest flamenco artists in the world perform here on a regular basis. Pastora Galván was recently voted best female flamenco dancer in 2010 by Spanish critics, and she has danced here almost once a week for a long time. Watch also out for Rafael Campallo, Adela Campallo, Leonor Leal, La Choni etc. Also many up and coming talents:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalusia.html

kimhe

A couple of suggestions for great flamenco/sevillana bars in the Triana district. In both places, come sometime before midnight if you want to sit down, and it goes on into the morning.

Anselma in C/Pagés del Corro, 49:
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...fe-detail.html
Anselma herself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw1atBQq_u0

El Rejoneo in riverfront C/Betis, 31. Often Samara Amador, the flamenco singer daughter of living legend dancer Manuela Carrasco, gets into action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPZT3ADgWsw

KR5

Wow! Thank you so much.. All of this will be so helpful for when we are there and are just walking/lingering around and in my planning ahead. Quick question for you, kimhe, how should I get back to Madrid to catch my flight? Do you know how long it will take me to get there?

Do you think its worth taking a trip to Granada? I would love to see the Alhambra but it seems like it will be a lot of work and take away time from Sevilla.

kimhe

The high speed AVE train takes you to Madrid in 2 1/2 hours. Buy tickets on Renfe.es in advance to get great discounts.

Alhambra is unique, but it would require a stayover if you don't want to have a nightmare of a day-trip.

The Alcázar in Sevilla is a totally different thing, but it has got obvious architectural similarities. Most of it was constructed in Arab style by Christian rulers in the 14th Century (Sevilla fell to the Christians in 1248 but there was apparantly no question about architectural ideals), and the Real Alcázar thus stands as one of the best examples of mudejar architecture in all of Spain. Visited last fall. Stunningly beautiful. You could easily spend several hours here, and you could completely loose yourself in the gardens. It's now the residence of the king and queen when in Sevilla.
http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/

KR5

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have truly been a big help!