Sevilla Travel Forum

We will celebrate my husband's birthday while on holidays in Sevilla. He just enjoys spending his birthdays abroad and every time I try to make these days even more memorable by planning something special.

We only booked the flights to Sevilla yesterday, but already I am thinking of what to do on his birthday. I usually try to do something not all that touristy, but still something very typical for that region.

Please, you experts, can you give me some ideas of fun things to do in Sevilla on September 20 ?

Ideas that pop into my mind are:

- a fleamarket
- dinner at a tiny cozy tapas bar
- a flamenco performance (but please not too touristy)
- a special guided tour
- a balloon ride (no, forget that, he would not get on, that is more MY wish than his.... ;-))
- a daytrip to....???
- a local fiesta
- a concert

Well, you probably get an idea! We will NOT have a car and will eventually move on to Cordoba and Granada.

I really appreciate your ideas and help!

I think you could do a daytrip to Vejer de la Frontera. It is a nice white village not far from Cadiz. Ask first in the forum if this is possible. I think so.

Seville is on my wish list since a looong time. I went there many years ago.

Ciao!

I've been there with my wife last Reveillon.

- Well, needless to say that you cannot miss the cathedral and the alcazar (Mourish palace): http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/

- Guided tour: bullfight ring (not that sensational..., but typical) and the

- cruise tour by Guadalquivir river (quite interesting!, with explanations in several languages):
http://www.sevillaguia.com/sevillaguia/Cruceros/listadocruceros.asp

- The main theater/opera house, "La Maestranza", has nice performances, some of them mixing classical with flamenco: http://www.teatromaestranza.com

- It's not so "romantic", but if you want to stop during daytime for a pleasant "tapa-time", with nice and helpful waitresses, try the tapa bar at Plaza de Refinadores (close to hotel Doña Manuela and the Murillo gardens, with the umbrellones opened in the square).

I think I just found the perfect birthday present for hubby:

they are playing CARMEN at the opera house that very day!!! How is that for a special event in Sevilla????

Carmen by Sara Baras?? No doubt, GO for it!

I missed her in barcelona, the tickets were sold out too quick

During the day, visit the Cathedral (I liked climbing to the top of La Giralda, great views) and los Reales Alcázares (beautiful Moorish architecture). Near the cathedral, in Plaza del Cabildo (a tiny beautiful square) you may buy typical sweets and cookies made by nuns at the monasteries of the area (great souvenirs). Get lost around Barrio de Santa Cruz. Cross the river and have some tapas at Barrio de Triana....

The church of La Macarena is a bit out of the way, but worth it if just for people watching (you may be lucky enough to witness a typical wedding there)

Plaza de España is worth seeing too.

How long you'll stay? If just a weekend, Sevilla has more than enough to fill a couple of days. For a daytrip (if you stay more days) I'd head to Cordoba

And the best thing is that you can buy the tickets by internet.
After buying them, you just have to pass your credit card by a machine, in the box office, and the tickets will be printed.

Well, I tried to buy tickets online today, but I couldn't. The link from the teatromaestrozo to the ticket office only showed a concert on August 6, but nothing later than that!!!

I did email the teatro directly, but no answer yet! I am a little nervous, because I think that these tickets (especially on a weekend) will be sold out soon!

Does anybody have an idea of how to obtain tickets now for September 20????

I checked at their site and it seems... that it's not the opera Carmen, but - as a vt-mate wrote before - a flamenco show ("ballet flamenco by Sarah Baras").
I've already gone to one of these flamenco shows at La Maestranza and I can tell you - it's very interesting, "high-class" production, and more "typical" than the opera Carmen would be. Even for someone who doesn't like flamenco specially, it was a nice night at La Maestranza.

Well, I like operas and I would be a bit disappointed, but, thinking better, maybe it will be very interesting - it's the kind of thing you won't "watch in Stuttgart" (you from KA, aren't you?).

Just like you: last year, when I tried to buy my tickets to the flamenco show I mentioned, at first it didn't appear in the "comprar tickets / buy tickets" link of the site. After a while, closer to the presentation, they "appeared" (I added the link to my bookmarks and checked from time to time).

Well, here's the link of the "XV Flamengo Bienal", in which is inserted this 20th September presentation:
http://www.bienal-flamenco.org/index.asp?language=english
There will find a .pdf file about ticket sale.
I hope it helps.

...you could also do a daytrip to Ronda. Check it if it's possible. Perhaps there are organized daytrips to that town. The old core of Ronda is really beautiful.

Ciao!

Hello,
I lived in Sevilla this past year, and I have a few suggestions:
I know you don't want to do something all that touristy, but I highly recommend taking one of the horse/carriage rides on your first night in Sevilla. (Make sure to go at night--or just as it is getting dark). I did this with all of my guests who came to visit me, and I think it is the best way to get yourself familiar with the layout of the city.
For a birthday, I would think about taking your husband to the Arab Baths called Aire de Sevilla. (There is a website that you can select your "idioma" or language, and you can see if it's something you're into). I went five times when I was living in Sevilla!! You can just get a bath, or you can get a bath along with a massage!! Make sure to bring your bathing suit!! If you're modest--don't worry...it's dark in there, and people are walking around with all shapes and sizes :)
I also enjoyed taking a paddleboat down the river. You can rent the boats for something like 10 euros for an hour at a little river bar by El Torre Del Oro--the Tower of Gold.
On Thursdays there is a great free flamenco show at the Carboneria. It's hard to find!! It is close the Calle Levies and San Jose. Take a taxi with the address, or the driver will get lost!! Make sure to order the drink, "Agua de Sevilla."