Last Updated: April 2022
Seeing a flamenco show in Seville is one of the most sought experiences by visitors to the city, and rightly so! Even after having travelled all around Andalusia and Spain, I do truly believe that Seville is the best place to see flamenco in Spain, not just for the city’s rich and connected history to do with flamenco, but for the quality and atmosphere of the performances available.
That being said, there are still some places that are better than others, so it is important to choose your show wisely! Below are my recommendations for the best flamenco show in Seville so that you will catch an authentic performance of Spain’s most famous song and dance, but before we get started, we should cover a bit about what is flamenco so you know what you are getting yourself into!
What is flamenco?
While most people have heard that should see flamenco in Seville, there are a lot of misunderstandings about this fascinating art form so often people don’t quite know what to expect!
Many people don’t realise that flamenco is not just about dancing in incredible dresses, in fact, the guitar and singing are just as important – if not more important! – than the dance and the dresses. Here is a bit about each of the three main elements of flamenco below.
Singing: Curiously, the singer usually is seated, which is a homage to the more casual beginnings of flamenco where it was something that was just done among family and friends. Sometimes the singing can sound pained and almost unpleasant to some as the singer has a rough, guttural voice, but this is because flamenco songs are telling passionate but sad songs about things such as hardship, love lost, and many other melancholy themes.
Guitar: The flamenco guitar is absolutely incredible and personally my favourite part of any flamenco show. It dates back to medieval Spain and is a descendent of the lute, which was brought to Spain by the Moors (who ruled Spain from the 7th to 14th centuries).
Dancing: This dance is a unique, individual dance (not a partner dance!) and was the last addition to the flamenco show (in the beginning it was most likely just guitar and music). It is believed that the dancing was a necessary addition to take flamenco from being something that people did with family and friends in the streets and at home, to a performance in a bar or other type of establishment – while the origins of flamenco date back to the 16th century, the first flamenco bars in Seville did no open until the late 19th century!
Read about how Sophie fell in love with flamenco and Seville here.
What are the origins of flamenco?
As I mentioned, the origins are a bit mysterious but it is widely accepted that the origins of flamenco were brought to Seville and Spain in the 15th century by the gypsies. Upon settling in Spain they were considered the outcasts of society and forced to work long hours in jobs like mining. In the mines, they were forbidden from speaking and so they began to sing to communicate. So if you imagine that the wailing that you hear today were the cries of their struggle, and the banging of the picks in the mine was a form of rhythm, you can begin to imagine how flamenco may have begun…
Where to see flamenco in Seville
Without further ado, here are my top five recommendations of where to see flamenco in Seville, from my favourite tablaos (a theatre-like place where flamenco shows are performed) to the best spot to catch a non-touristy flamenco show in Seville.
Casa de la Memoria
I am lucky to say that I have seen well over 50 shows at Casa de la Memoria, and counting! This is one of my favourite flamenco shows in Seville to take visiting friends and family to. They are a flamenco cultural centre dedicated to conserving the pure, traditional flamenco, and their intimate nightly shows take place in a beautiful typical Andalusian style building built around an indoor patio.
This show is highly popular so make sure you book in advance and seats are not allocated, so it’s a case of first come, best dressed! I recommend turning up at least 45 minutes before the show starts to jump in the queue as the best seats really are just the ones in front of the stage and it’s really popular as not only is this is one of the best flamenco shows in Seville, it’s also my personal favourite!
Tickets: Buy your tickets here
Price: €22 adults, €18 students & residents, €12 children
Show Times: 6pm, 7:30pm, 9pm, 10:30pm (options available may vary throughout the year)
La Casa del Flamenco
One of my other go-to flamenco shows in Seville is La Casa del Flamenco, tucked away in the winding streets of the historic Santa Cruz neighbourhood. Another intimate experience, this venue also only has a capacity of around 60 people, and works with a rotating troupe of fantastic performers, each delivering a high quality and unique show every evening.
Bookings in advance are required (though calling the same day to reserve tickets is usually fine!) and tickets cost €20 per person. Seats are also allocated here on a first come, first served basis, although it is really difficult to have a bad seat in this venue – the layout means that almost every seat has a great view of the stage, making it one of the best, if not the best flamenco show in Seville if you want to make sure you have a spectacular view!
Tickets: Buy your tickets here
Price: €20 adults, €15 students, €10 children
Show Times: 5:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm (options available may vary throughout the year)
Do you want to learn about flamenco with the experts? Devour Tours visits this venue on their highly rated Tapas & Flamenco Tour. For a taste of the two quintessential experiences in Seville, this tour is highly recommended! You can book your ticket here.
La Carbonería
While these days La Carbonería is popular with locals and visitors alike, it is still a great place to visit to get a feel for the “local” way of enjoying flamenco. The entrance is free, just turn up, grab a drink, and squeeze in wherever you find a space. It doesn’t have the drama and the flair of the other shows, but does feel authentic and real and is a great option for those who want a laid back flamenco experience or are travelling in Seville on a budget.
Their 1.5 hour show takes every evening at 8:30pm (though you can enter from 7pm to have a drink and hang out). And make sure you have dinner (or plan to go after in the case of the earlier show) as while there is food available at the venue it’s just light tapas to snack on while enjoying a drink. This is a great flamenco show in Seville to visit with a group of friends, or as part of a fun, casual night out!
Tickets: Not required! Arrive at least 30 minutes beforehand as once it’s full, it’s full!
Price: Free
Show Times: Open from 7pm, show starts at 8:30pm
Museo del Baile Flamenco
Part flamenco show, part flamenco museum, Museo del Baile Flamenco is a great option for those wanting to learn more about the art form – you can even buy a combined ticket for the museum and show together!
While not as intimate as the last two shows, the evening show here is still a great option for those wanting to catch a glimpse of an authentic flamenco performance in Seville. And if you are planning to stick around and want to really get involved with flamenco, classes in the various aspects of flamenco (singing, guitar and dance) are available here.
Tickets: Buy your ticket here
Price: €25 adults, €18 students, €12 children
Show Times: 5pm, 7pm, 8:45pm (options available may vary throughout the year)
Did you get the chance to check out a flamenco show in Seville? I would love to hear about it, so let me know how your experience was!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my website are affiliate links which means that if you purchase anything I recommend through these links, I may get a small commission, however at no extra cost to you! Please know that everything I recommend I have personally tried and tested and are experiences that I really believe are great.