7 Best places to stay in Seville

Seville invites extravagance, and you can go the whole hog in this palatial hotel, built by King Alfonso XIII for his fellow royals attending the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition.

Moorish opulence prevails in the public areas, while beds are king size (of course!) with rooms that combine a mix of modern, Castilian and Arabic.

The Ena restaurant on the garden terrace serves a superb fusion of Catalonian and Andalusian cuisine.

Located by the former tobacco company (where Bizet’s Carmen rolled her cigars, now part of the university), it’s a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral, but there’s a pool to cool off in, and a great art deco bar for cocktails.

Right in the heart of the action, with to-die-for views of Seville’s Cathedral from its beautiful roof terrace, this urbane, cosmopolitan five-star hotel is perfectly placed for watching the Semana Santa processions.

But it’s also ideal for the other 51 weeks of the year; for a dip in the rooftop pool, soaking up the rays or watching the setting sun bathe the cathedral and La Giralda in golden light.

The hotel building dates back to the 16th century, but the rooms are minimalist contemporary; the suites are the ones with the blow-out views. Al Lado, the street-level restaurant, is informal and fun, specializing in pizzas in a wood-burning oven.

Since it opened in 2016, this 12-room hotel on a quiet street in the central El Arenal district has earned a reputation as Seville’s top, no-expense-spared, luxury bolthole.

From its former incarnation, the 19th-century Casa Palacio Castelar, there’s a marble-paved patio courtyard, now glassed, and a welcoming lounge with a splashing fountain. A magnificent sweeping stair (and a lift) lead up to the contemporary rooms and suites, many of which have private terraces.

None, however, can match the guests-only roof terrace with its pool, bar and solarium for unforgettable views over Seville, especially at sunset.

Sip perfect cocktails in the FIZZ bar, and enjoy creative  Andalusian cuisine in the hotel’s sleek Maria Luisa restaurant. It’s a lovely hotel for a special occasion or just to feel spoiled by the superb service.

This hip hotel enjoys the most enviable, peaceful location in all Seville: in the gardens of the Alcazar. Built on Moorish foundations, with a glassed-in patio lounge, the Legado deftly combines crisp, white walls with original wooden beams and ceilings, while public rooms have stone walls dating back to the 12th century.

Each room is different; the best have private terraces overlooking the gardens and their strutting peacocks. Fresh market ingredients go into the breakfasts, staff are cheerful and helpful, all the main sights are in easy walking distance, and you can park three minutes away.

It’s a wonderful, relaxing oasis, whether on your first or tenth visit to Seville.

Centrally located in Barrio Santa Cruz, the Casa 1800 is just a three-minute walk from Seville’s cathedral and Alcazar.

This romantic, recently renovated 21-room hotel occupies an early 19th-century townhouse, where you can dream of Seville’s heyday amid antiques and beautiful parquet floors, moldings, exposed bricks and beams, wrought ironwork, murals and chandeliers.

Unwind or catch a siesta beside the pool on the rooftop terrace, while contemplating the gorgeous views of the Giralda. The big American-style breakfast, available until 11am, will keep you going until a late Andalusian lunch; add in tea and snacks in the afternoon, and lovely friendly staff, and  you have one of the finest small boutique hotels for experiencing the history and charm of Seville.

Just outside Seville’s Santa Cruz district, this 5-star design hotel occupies an 18th-century palace from the city’s glory days.

Today, it’s the perfect small luxury hotel, deftly combining 21st-century creature comforts with original features: an elegant black and white tiled central patio with marble columns, another with a seashell mosaic and fountain linked to the pilgrimage route to Santiago, and a third large patio filled with fragrant orange trees.

There’s a bar and a fine restaurant – Los Rincones del Marques – that features gourmet takes on Andalusian dishes and occasional flamenco shows on summer nights.

The roof terrace and pool have enchanting views over the Cathedral and La Giralda, and nothing is ever too difficult for the staff. The only problem is ever leaving.

The elegant 17th-century house, where poet Ximenez de Enciso was born, is now a plush boutique bolthole, only a three-minute walk from Seville’s Cathedral and Alcazar.

Visiting royals love it for the peaceful oasis it offers in the heart of Barrio Santa Cruz; the central patio, with its splashing fountain, is unabashedly romantic, decorated with trailing ivy and modern art, while the roof terrace offers a bird’s eye of La Giralda.

The spacious rooms, decorated with hand-painted murals, come in soft tones; the bar, all red and gold is irresistibly plush, and the cheerful staff couldn’t be more helpful. All in all, a perfect base for enjoying Seville in style.