The largest city in southern Spain, Seville offers a mix of historical buildings and colourful festivals with a guarantee of good weather. Buildings worth visiting include the former La Giralda minaret which is now a bell tower for the Cathedral of St Mary, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. The Alcazar, a royal palace which houses the General Archive of the Indies which is a historical record of Spain's occupation of the Americas, is also worth visiting.

The city is also known for throwing two major festivals, both of which are held in the spring. The Semana Santa is the city's Holy Week festival, ending on the Saturday of the Easter weekend. Sevillians celebrate the festival with a procession featuring hooded penitents followed by huge baroque floats containing images of the Virgin Mary or Christ. Immediately after the spirituality of the holy festival comes the Feria de Abril, a far more raucous affair which sees the city dissolve into a festival of food, drink and dance held under the canopies of more than 1,000 tents. No doubt canny travellers will be able to combine both events with a visit.

Those looking for night life the rest of the year should head to the Triana which has never lost its step since giving birth to the flamenco. The neighbourhood is now home to the Calle Betis by the waterfront, a popular stretch of bars, pubs, clubs, cafés and restaurants.