Why you should travel to Seville on a whim

The benefits of solo travel and travel on a whim are quite possibly the discoveries I value most from 2014.

For I got slapped upside the head by both in the best possible way upon arriving in Seville last autumn.

Hands down, Seville is the city that has surprised me most in Europe and I really think that was because I went on my own. I was having one of those achy, need to travel moments, followed by a “plug in the credit card details before you can regret it” airfare booking deals, concluded by a more lengthy and way-over-analyzed perusal of AirBnB flats.

And I didn’t regret it.

I selected the three things I wanted to see most upon my arrival before leaving (The Alcazar, the Plaza de España and the Casa de Pilatos). And then decided to wing it the rest of the way through.

I picked up a good local street map at the airport and had my favorite, familiar guide series with me (I like to stay consistent with Rough Guides: they have a great balance of handy maps, good recommendations and a healthy dose of geeky history I love).

I chose this lovely little flat about a ten minute walk from the centre. It had huge windows and a cozy mezzanine. It was wonderfully clean and had a opera singer practicing next door every afternoon when I came back for a pre-dinner rest.

The entire city was walkable and in early November, there was still a warmth to the air that made you want to linger as the sun went down on a large plazas. Its one of those places where you stopped on a regular basis to take it all in and people watch. One minute it looked incredibly European, one minute traditionally Spanish, sometimes confusingly Roman and then, refreshingly North African. I adored the mix. And I loved being continually surprised.

That’s the best part about solo travel: you don’t have anywhere to be. You can take all the time or as little time as you like. Its just you, your head and your heart: ready to explore.

Seville is a wonderfully gentle city. Its architecture pulls you in, its history keeps you thinking and its food… well, let’s just say you will not go hungry as Andalusia is the home of tapas. Do not skip the local gazpacho.

My advice to you? Just book. Wander. And plan to go back someday.