If you had the choice of spending a week in Valencia or a week in Seville (as a tourist), which would you choose and why?

Sevilla - fantastic city!!!!

Agreed no contest

I have never been to Seville but have spent several long weekends in Valencia.
I think you need to decide what you are looking for.
Valencia is a very traditional city but also has a great beach area that has improved immensely since the Americas Cup was first held there.
It also has a fantastic park created on the old Turia river bed so you are never far away from peace and quiet or to find some cooling shade.
I had a day trip there a couple of days ago and still love the place. I was also surprised that the restaurant prices seem to have come down.
It also has a good Metro and other train services to get around.

Thanks for your replies.....I guess in terms of what we are looking for - a busy, cosmopolitan town/city, with plenty to see and do and nice places to eat out. Not bothered about a beach really.

We've visited Barcelona and Madrid and loved them both, and wondered what next to put on our list of must do's in Spain? I'd heard Valencia and Seville were both nice but wondered which would be better.

We have visited both many times, and have a holiday home near Valencia, but agree that Seville would better suit your needs. If you are there and fancy a trip to the beach (Seville gets very hot in summer), there is a bus to Cadiz.

Seville in the Spring or Autumn, never in the summer.

What about a two centre holiday?

Seville everytime IMO no contest just love it. Even the graffiti is brilliant.

If you can't make your mind up between those two places, come to Torrevieja. It's not as grand as either Valencia of Seville, but it, sort of, combines what you would find in the bigger places. It's got more beaches than either, and more graffiti than both combined.

And because of a nasty experience a minute ago, it's not short of cucas either.

Thanks again to all for the advice, yes we will be going outside of summer as we know how hot it can get. 30 degrees is just about perfect for me, any hotter and it's a bit too scorcio for walking around and exploring!!

Having spent most of our holiday and leisure time in France and Italy, Spain is a relatively new find for us, to be honest I always thought it wouldn't match up to Italy or France (don't ask me why), but I have been pleasantly surprised so far and have absolutely loved Barcelona and Madrid, you wait, before long I'll be posting daft questions about learning Spanish and buying a holiday home in Spain

I personally don´t like Madrid, but love Barcelona, I also think Granada and the Alhambra brilliant, Salamanca is always a favourite and small enough to just wander around in a day. Cordoba if you can put up with the boring journey of getting there and Santiago de Compostela both lovely - I like staying in the Paradors and you can normally get good deals so work out very reasonable if you do more than one.

I can't speak for Seville, but agree that Granada is a very good place for a holiday (the day trippers disappear in their coaches each evening which makes it more of a genuine living city).

I've been to Valencia many times, and I think you'd enjoy it as a base. Not only is it on the coast so you can hit the beach, but there are places inland worth visiting such as Xativa, Sagunto and (further in) some marvellous scenery in Aragon/Teruel. Probably the cheapest place out of the big city options too, unless you go at Fallas time (in March).

As you will know Barcelona and Madrid offer very different experience.
You will have enjoyed them for different reasons?
I would suggest you would enjoy Valencia and Madrid for different reasons.