Both Milan and Seville are fantastic cities, but which is better for your city-break or holiday?

We understand your dilemma. There is a wealth of information about both cities, but little stating which is the better destination and more suited for your trip.
This article will provide our unbiased opinions, and hopefully help you to choose the best city to visit.

The article is divided into the following sections, and can be jumped to using the links:
• Introduction to the cities
• Scores and ratings
• Which one should I, friends, or family visit?
• When to visit and weather
• Who is the city suited for?
• The perfect 48hours (with map)
• Tourism details (where to stay? airport details?)

Seville as a destination reflects that of the city’s famous dance, the flamenco; it is hot, passionate and instantly captivating. Seville boasts exceptional tourist attractions , and it’s rich cultural heritage will leave you longing for more.

Modern Seville is the interplay of its turbulent past, blending together Moorish roots and Christian influence in a city which wants to enjoy and embrace the present. Seville’s heritage is proudly displayed throughout the city, from the magnificent Alcázar palace, to the towering cathedral, mouth-watering tapas restaurants and impromptu flamenco dances.
Strangely, Seville typically lacks the appeal to the younger generation of tourists, but chance a trip and fall in love with the flare of southern Spain.

Milan is inexplicably connected to fashion and high-end shopping.
This is a city where looking your finest is an obsession, and even the main tourist attraction, the Galleria, is shopping arcade. Luxury brands and designer boutiques may fill the historic centre but out on the outskirts are edgy districts, where this creativity originated from.

As a visitor, you should realise that Milan does not have the breadth of monuments and standout tourist attractions as of other Italian cities. This is primarily a business focused city, which reveres in sophistication and looking good.

The gothic Duomo in central Milan – a highlight is the view from the roof

The Torre del Oro once guarded the Guadalquivir river and Seville

Summary
Which city would I go to?
Seville
Which one would I recommend to my parents?
Seville
Which location for my 19-year-old cousin?
Seville
Which for my food obsessed friend?
Seville
Note: The above comparison does not consider the weather, and assumes travel at the best time of year - which is detailed later in this article.

The following sections compare the two cities and considers; how long to spend in them, when to visit, and provides suggested 48hours in each city (along with an interactive map).
The final section is tourism practicalities and includes which airport to fly into, what district to be based in and how best to explore the city.

We hope that you find all of this information useful, in planning your next exciting trip!

The main sights of Milan can be easily seen in a single day of sightseeing.
A second day allows time to explore the more atmospheric districts (Navigli, Zona Tortona) or provides extra time for shopping.

To capture the essence of the city, you need to experience the early evening drinks culture and the evening strolls where everyone wears their finest clothes. Milan may lack many tourist sights, but there surrounding region certain compensates with many enjoyable day trips.

This includes the historic towns of Bergamo, Brescia and Pavia, the beautiful lakes of Garda, Maggiore and Como, plus the Italian Alps. It is even possible to visit Verona as a day trip.

Seville is a city not to rush, but to embrace the relaxed pace of life and tapas culture.
For sightseeing, two days are sufficient to explore the entire city. It is possible to see Seville in a single day, but this involves a lot of walking at pace and this rushed approach means you miss the allure of the city.
If you visit during the summer, be aware of the extreme weather. You’ll need to take things quite a bit slower, and get going much earlier in the day when it’s a fraction cooler and less busy.

Popular day trips from Seville include the historic Cordoba and the coastal city of Cadiz. The Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) are dramatic, but a rental car (or guided tour) are needed as public transport is limited. Granada is a wonderful tourist destination, but we feel it is too far for a day trip from Seville. Combining Seville, Granada and Málaga is a great itinerary for a week long holiday.

The Naviglio Grande canal runs through the heart of the Naviglio district

The Plaza de España is always a highlight of Seville

For the real Milan experience, you want to visit during the summer or winter fashion weeks (Sep/Oct or Feb/Mar), to mingle with models, stylish and Aficionados.

For a city break, Milan is almost year-round, but it is cool and possibly wet in the winter, while in hot August most residents head to the beach for the whole month.

One of the quirks of Milan is at the weekends, most of its affluent or mobile residents leave the city for the coast (summer), the Alps (winter) or lakes (Spring/Autumn), leaving the city to tourists and foreign shoppers.

The best time of year to visit Seville is during the two festival periods of Semana Santa (held in the week before Easter) and the Feria de Abril (starting two weeks after Easter).
For a regular trip, late autumn and early spring are the best seasons, as during the long summer (June-September) the city is oppressively hot. Winter provides good value and fewer tourists but there is always the potential of rain.

Seville is a pleasure to visit, so long as you can either handle (or avoid) the extreme heat. This is a city for a slower paced trip, to enjoy time in the open-air cafes and to embrace the culture of Andalusia. This makes the city ideal for a break from a stressful lifestyle or hectic work schedule back at home.

The ambience typically appeals to a slightly older visitor, but to assume Seville is a mature destination would be completely wrong. There are exciting tourist attractions, a colourful nightlife and a social atmosphere. One of the appeals of Seville is that it is not a common city break and few of your friends will have been there.

If you adore fashion, embrace style, and willing to spend a little extra, then Milan is calling you. The city excels in designer shopping, trend-setting, and simply looking good.
Many visitors leave Milan slightly disappointed; it is without the flare of Rome, the culture of Florence, or the photo opportunities of Venice. Milan is a business city, where the reward for the industrious attitude of its residents, is cutting edge fashion and sophisticated nightlife.
Insight: There are few historic buildings in Milan, as many were destroyed by the extensive bombing of the second world war.

The distinctive Castello Sforzesco castle in Milan

The Gothic Catedral de Sevilla

Seville airport (SVQ) is 10km northeast from the city centre, and is connected by a regular bus service (35min €4.00). Many of the low-cost airlines focus on the coastal cities of southern Spain instead of Seville, which means the cost of flights can be surprisingly high - plus there are fewer departures. This means that demand for flights can be very high in summer (when the city is best avoided).

This high level of tourism also means that hotels tend to be more expensive than much of Spain, and it’s likely you will spend much more than you anticipated! If you are lucky enough to visit during the two festivals, book your accommodation well in advance. Seville is compact and very easy to explore on foot.

The Torre del Oro once guarded the Guadalquivir river and Seville

There are three airports for Milan; Linate (small dated, 7km to centre), Malpensa (main international airport, 50km from west of Milan) and Bergamo (Ryan air hub, 50km from north east of Milan). There is a bus from Bergamo to Milan (60minutes €6.00), train from Malpensa airport (50minutes €13.00) and from Linate just take a taxi (€12-15). There is no shortage of flights and departures to or from Milan, and fares, if booked far enough in advance, can be very cheap.

Milan has ample hotels and accommodation options, but these obviously need to be booked far in advance during the two fashion weeks. For your first visit you would want to be based close to the historic centre (Centro Storico) or for a more lively and authentic experience the Navigli district. For cheaper accommodation look to the Citta Studi, the main student area of the city. Milan has very good public transport, and is easy to travel around the city.

The Arco della Pace, in Milan