Seville is a charming city in the heart of Andalusia with incredible architecture, a rich history and a great food scene. From tasty tapas to opulent palaces and authentic flamenco shows, there’s a host of wonderful things to do in Seville.
In this post, I’ll share the hidden gems and only the very best things to do for your next Seville trip including where to eat, drink and stay. I’ve travelled to this region of Spain several times and with the addition of a few up-market restaurants and hotels, not much has changed in 2024!
Find the hidden gems and epic roof terraces in my Ultimate Guide To Seville!
Why visit Seville?
Oh, Seville, with its jasmine-scented air, orange trees and wonderful buildings, it leaves you feeling like you’ve arrived somewhere very special. Everyone seems to be enjoying life here, whether that’s sitting in a sun-filled cobbled stoned square, tasting tapas, watching a flamenco show or sipping rooftop cocktails with stunning views, it’s all very appealing!
Andalusia
Seville also makes a great base for exploring the Andalusian region including the iconic white-washed villages and stunning scenery, each city and town offers something magical. Squeezing in a day trip to your Seville itinerary would definitely elevate your trip!
In This Seville Guide:
- Best Things To See & Do In Seville Spain
- More Things To See In Seville
- Best Day Trip From Seville
- Where To Eat In Seville
- Where To Stay In Seville
- Seville Travel Tips
A Quick Look At Seville
Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick guide to Seville!
Where to stay: Casa del Rey Sabio or Placido y Grata (read the full guide here).
When to visit:
Peak months: June – September & December
Shoulder months: November, January – March
Must do’s in Seville:
Visit the Alcazar, Cathedral & Giralda
Catch an authentic flamenco show
Explore the stunning white villages
BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SEVILLE SPAIN
SEVILLE CATHEDRAL
As soon as you arrive in Seville you’ll want to put the Cathedral and Giralda Tower (lookout point) at the very top of your list of places to visit. It’s an epic historical landmark, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and a great place to begin your trip to Seville, it’s truly captivating – both inside and out. One of the best things to do in Seville is linger with a cafe latte amongst the orange trees in the charming old town where the Cathedral’s located, you can’t ask for a better view.
Don’t miss…
Climbing to the top of the Giralda Tower, (the cathedral’s bell tower) for amazing panoramic views over Seville. You access the top by walking up 34 ramps, which is well worth doing – it’s a real highlight of visiting the Cathedral!
Tickets: Book Cathedral skip-the-line tickets, which includes the Cathedral & Giralda Tower.
REAL ALCAZAR PALACE
Just a stones throw from the Cathedral is the Real Alcazar Palace, a 10th-century World Heritage Site and another extremely popular landmark in Seville. Looking around the grounds of this masterpiece for an hour or two is one of the best things to see and do in Seville Spain – despite the crowds it draws!!
You will love the intricate gold ceilings, pretty courtyards, colourful tiles, tall palms, fountains and exotic gardens – there’s even peacocks roaming the patio! Out of all the experiences in Seville, I enjoyed walking around the Real Alcazar Palace gardens the most, it’s something you absolutely cannot miss.
Tickets: This Alcazar Palace skip-the-line ticket saves waiting in a long queue!
Tip! If it’s your first time visiting Seville, the very best thing to do is explore the Cathedral (including Bell Tower) and Alcazar Palace with a 3-hour Guided tour, which is better value and also saves a lot of time as the queues for these top sights can be pretty huge! This is the one I booked – it continuously receives five-star ratings.
Top 3 Hotels In Seville
SEVILLE FLAMENCO
A proper flamenco show is a must when visiting Seville, it originated here after all! One of the best shows I’ve ever seen took place at Casa de la Memoria – a very special little theatre dating back to the 15th century, their performances are polished and professional!
A good alternative is Los Gallos Tablao in the central historical district of Barrio Santa Cruz, watch the talented musicians and dancers in an intimate venue and wonderful location. If you’re visiting in summer, the later shows are best – but arrive early as seats are first come first serve and you can only really buy drinks before the show starts.
Note: A flamenco show is 1.5 – 2hrs and performed in cosy traditional theatres, it’s a totally different experience from the street acts you might come across.
Check availability & book the best Flamenco Show here
BARRIO SANTA CRUZ
Barrio Santa Cruz, also known as the medieval Jewish Quarter is the real heart of Seville and the most desirable area to walk around. You’ll find all sorts of hidden gems, it’s a typical Spanish old town with a maze of winding cobbled streets, decorated balconies and picturesque squares to get lost in.
The very best thing to do in any old town is wander and admire, find local tapas bars and enjoy a nice vino in one of the pretty orange-filled courtyards. Check out Plaza Alfaro and Plaza Dona Elvira, they are two of the best.
Things to see in Barrio Santa Cruz:
- Rosina’s Balcony
- Jardins de Murillo
- Callejón del Agua
SEVILLE TAPAS BARS
Seville is famous for its authentic tapas bars, there’s something close to 3000 with new restaurants springing up all the time. With so many foodie spots and dishes to choose from that you’ve probably never heard of it’s hard to know where to begin! Luckily I have written a full guide to the best 7 tapas bars in Seville, you can read it here.
In my experience, it’s better to do a little research beforehand, you don’t want your first experience to be bland or a tourist trap! If you only go one, make sure it’s La Brundila!
LA TERRAZA ROOFTOP BAR
One of the best things to do in Seville is find a rooftop bar with an amazing view and toast the sunset! Seville is full of surprises, I would not have guessed there were so many fantastic rooftop bars hidden out of view, but I had a lot of fun finding them all.
If you only have time for one I highly recommend La Terraza at EME Hotel, it has the perfect rooftop overlooking the Cathedral with a long bar, tall stools, cocktail menu and good vibes. Arrive early though as the terrace fills up fast, but if you stay here you can enter whenever you like and also enjoy the rooftop pool, which is for guests only.
Love rooftop terraces? You can also check out my full guide to the 7 best rooftop bars in Seville for amazing views – try 2 or 3 on your trip.
PLAZA DE ESPANA
Plaza de Espana is another enormous landmark you cannot miss when visiting Seville, it’s one of Spain’s most lavish squares to feast your eyes on. Decorated with tiled alcoves and striking coral bricks created around a semi-circular design – the Plaza is a complete work of art!
The best part of the Plaza is the emerald-green canal with fountains and bridges, there’s even paddle boats for hire if you wish to float your way around for an hour or so.
CASA DE PILATOS
Casa de Pilatos is one of the best attractions in the Santa Cruz area of Seville, it’s along the same vibe as the Real Alcazar – a beautiful and relaxing place to walk around and very popular.
The Casa de Pilatos palace also blends different architectural styles, fountains and sculptures. In the courtyard, you’ll find a gorgeous Italian Renaissance fountain, sculptures and a Gothic chapel, while the upper floor houses a huge collection of Spanish tiles.
Tickets: Grab your skip-the-line tickets for beautiful Casa de Pilatos.
MORE THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SEVILLE
PLACIO DE LAS DUENAS
If you have time to squeeze in one more palace, visit Placio de las Duenas, a lovely 15th-century palace with a beautiful patio – a similar, but smaller version of Casa de Pilatos.
It makes for a nice tranquil escape – lose yourself in a maze of courtyards and beautifully landscape gardens. Spring is a great time to visit when everything is lush and green.
TRIANA NEIGHBOURHOOD
Across the Guadalquivir River is the neighbourhood Triana, it’s one of the best places to explore for authentic local arts, crafts and ceramic tiles, if you’re looking for souvenirs, this is the spot to find them.
While there you can wander the cobbled streets, take a stroll along the Guadalguivir River and find Kivir rooftop bar for drinks and river views, it’s a hidden gem.
MARIA LUISA PARK
Maria Luisa Park is a lush green botanical park filled with exotic plants, palms and orange trees and there’s a wonderful fountain in the centre. It’s all totally free to stroll or bike around and take a break from the midday heat and city bustle. You can easily visit before or after the Plaza de Espana as they are right next to each other.
HISTORICAL HOTELS
Visit, or better still stay in a former palace or historical manor house, there are many beautiful boutique hotels in Seville with amazing original features and luxurious rooms.
Hotel Alfonso XIII, and Palacio Villapanes are two of the best hotels and former palaces in Seville. If you’re not staying there, you can easily visit and check out the restaurants, roof terraces and lobby’s, they are so beautiful and characteristic.
THE REAL MAESTRANZA
Seville’s bullring, The Real Maestranza is a historic landmark dating back to 1762, it’s the oldest (and largest) in Spain and just a short walk from Plaza de Espana.
You can only visit with a short guided tour, where you’ll see up-close the beautiful baroque building and the red and yellow colours, which are absolutely striking. If you’re looking to learn more about the culture of Spain I recommend booking a 1-hour tour, I found it really interesting and if you’re going to visit one, you may as well see the oldest!
METROPOL PARASOL
Metropol Parasol, known locally as Setas de Seville, is the largest wooden art installation in the world. It sits in La Encarnación square and is a little bit like marmite due to the clash of old traditional buildings and a totally modern structure, which closely resembles the shape of a mushroom!
You can walk over the top of the structure for a different view over Seville, I recommend heading there for sunset or booking a stay at the fantastic boutique hotel Intelier Casa de Indias for a unique perspective.
WHERE TO EAT IN SEVILLE
The food in this region is as tasty as it is interesting – especially the tapas and it’s worth knowing where to eat in advance to avoid the usual mediocre tourist fare. Here’s a selection of the best restaurants and tapas bars in Seville.
El Pinton
El Pinton is a beautiful restaurant, dine on the attractive terrace after a visit to the Cathedral – just around the corner. It’s not all about looks though, the food is also presented well and delicious – I visited twice!
El Rinconcillo
El Rinconcillo is well known in Seville, dating back to 1670 it’s also the oldest tapas place and for that alone deserves a look – if you can get in! It’s busy as a tourist hotspot these days, but you don’t have to wait for a table, you can stand at the bar with a drink and tapas.
La Brunilda
La Brunilda is for classic tapas with a modern twist – and it’s one of my favourite tapas bars in all of Seville. You will find it located behind a big blue door and inside there’s plenty of atmosphere, charm, larger than normal portions and fair pricing.
Torres Y Garcia
Torres Y Garcia is another of my favourite finds, a hip restaurant serving quality food and ambience. Make sure you arrive early, this restaurant is one of the busiest in town – grab a local wine at the bar while you wait for a table.
WHERE TO STAY IN SEVILLE
Seville is a very walkable city and to be in the best possible location I recommend staying nearby the beautiful old town just moments from all the sights and sounds. Barrio Santa Cruz, Triana and El Arenal are all excellent neighbourhoods in Seville offering attractions on the doorstep and fantastic hotels.
BEST HOTELS IN SEVILLE
When it comes to picking the perfect accommodation in Seville, there’s a tonne of great options! I’ve personally stayed in three boutique hotels in Seville and had all were located well with ambiance and top facilities like, a rooftop pool, original character and fabulous breakfast! Casa del Rey Sabio is a favourite and I would book it again. Here are my top choices for where to stay in Seville.
Luxury Hotels
- Querencia de Sevilla Check Prices
- Hotel Mercer Sevilla Check Prices
- Nobu Sevilla Check Prices
Boutique Hotels
- Casa del Rey Sabio Check Prices
- Placido y Grata Check Prices
- Corral del Rey Check Price
For a full review of the best hotels in Seville, read my guide: Where To Stay In Seville: Best Areas & Boutique Hotels
BEST DAY TRIP FROM SEVILLE
Seville is well placed to visit some spectacular gems in Andalusia and there’s a host of day tours from Seville that will enhance your experience. It’s another reason to stay in Seville for an extra day or two!
WHITE VILLAGES
Set among some of the best scenery in Spain, the beautiful white villages of Andalusia are perfect for visiting in a day from Seville. Each village is unique and small enough to walk around in an hour or so, you’ll find the prettiest cobbled streets, postcard views, castles and unique buildings.
Zahara de la Sierra, Molino El Vínculo, Grazalema, Setenil de las Bodegas and Ronda are the most popular white villages and are best visited with a car due to the locations and lack of reliable public transport between them all. In a car you will see so much more and have the freedom to come and go as you please – create your own itinerary!
HIRING A CAR IN SEVILLE
A road trip around Seville is perfect, I personally always rent a car with Discovercars.com. Not only are they reliable, but compare costs across all the major rental car companies so you know you are getting the best possible deal.
BOOK A GUIDED DAY TRIP
If you don’t want the hassle of driving then book this small group White Village day trip instead, it covers transport, a guide, three stunning white villages with a local guide and gorgeous Ronda (see the image below!) – all the logistics are taken care of, you just have to go and enjoy!
Book the best guided day trip to the White Villages here.
If you’re looking for more day trip ideas, read my in-depth guide to the 7 Best Day Tours From Seville, it covers all the best places and how to get there!
SEVILLE TIPS
Now you know what things to see and do in Seville, here’s some important planning information.
BOOK EARLY
Seville is the most popular destination in the Andalusia region, so booking your favourite boutique hotel in advance is essential. Boutique hotels typically have fewer rooms and fill up fast, especially the coveted boutique hotel in Seville with a swimming pool and rooms with terraces and balconies.
ADVANCE TICKETS
Book your tickets online and in advance where possible to avoid waiting in long lines, particularly at the Real Alcázar, where the queues can be enormous! Reserve at least a week prior for Seville’s top experiences and two weeks for day trips.
To book in advance:
- Alcázar, Cathedral & Giralda – top guided tour
- Casa de la Memorial – best flamenco show
- White Villages & Ronda – best day trip from Seville
HOW TO GET TO SEVILLE
Seville is a very accessible destination with good flight, train and bus connections – the beauty of travelling Western Europe. If you’re visiting from outside of Europe, you will likely have to stop in Madrid or another large airport before arriving to Seville.
BY AIR
Seville’s airport is Sevilla International Airport (SVQ) just North East of the City Centre. A taxi ride from the Airport to Seville Centre is €30 and takes 20 minutes and there’s also a 30-minute airport bus that runs frequently for €4.
RENTAL CAR
If you’re travelling around Southern Spain you can rent a car at the airport, hiring a car will be a more convenient and flexible way to do it. Discover Cars, are great they provide a comparison of car rental prices from various vendors across Seville ensuring you find reasonable rates without the hassle!
BY TRAIN
Seville’s train station is called Santa Justa it’s the third busiest train station in Spain and is well connected to the rest of the country – the high-speed train from Madrid is 2.5hrs. Reserve tickets in advance and check times before departure.
BY BUS
Seville has two centrally located bus stations, Plaza de Armas and Prado de San Sebastian. If you’re in Malaga or Madrid it’s straight forward and comfortable, plus there’s amazing countryside views.
GETTING AROUND SEVILLE
Walk: Seville is a very walkable city, you can easily walk to all the major sights listed in this guide including the best neighbourhoods of Seville, Santa Cruz, Triana and El Arenal.
Bike: To see more in a shorter time you can do a Seville Bike Tour and see the highlights in a unique way.
Horse-Carriage: Take a short trip to see the sights around Santa Maria Park via the Guadalquivir River and Plaza de Espana.
Heading to the coast next? In my latest guide: 10 Wonderful Things To Do In Marbella, you’ll discover the very best things to do from eating in the best seafront restaurants to staying in beautiful hotels.
SEVILLE FAQ
When to visit Seville?
Seville has good weather all year around with mild winters and hot summers, where temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees! Early summer, from April to June is the best time to visit Seville when the gardens are lush and green and the evenings are light, there are also fewer crowds to enjoy it! September and October are also nice months to visit with excellent weather, but be aware of festivals in September.
Good to know
Festivals can really take over the city, the prices rocket and the crowds and noise is also magnified – I accidently went to one in Ronda nearby in September. In Seville the two biggest to be aware of take place in March and April – you’ll want to avoid those.
Is Seville warm in January?
Seville city sees one of the mildest Januarys in Europe (16-18 Celsius) – it’s an attractive destination to visit all year round. Plus activities and accommodation can be enjoyed with appealingly low rates from January to March.
How many days in Seville?
You can visit Seville for a week, however, 3 days in Seville is also perfect if you only plan on seeing the highlights, if you have 2 full days this is possible, but I recommend at least 3 nights to do it justice. In 4 or 5 nights you can absorb the vibrant culture better, wander around more and include a wonderful day trip, there’s so many to choose from!
Is Seville expensive?
Seville is not expensive, in fact Seville is one of the more affordable cities in Europe, especially when compared to Paris or London. It’s possible to find quality budget-friendly options for accommodation, dining and activities – a local glass of wine in a atmospheric square is as little as €3.
Is Seville near the sea?
Seville is not near the sea and doesn’t have a beach, the nearest beach to Seville is in Southern Spain – around a 3.5 hour drive away (much longer on public transport). Feasibly you would not visit a beach from Seville on a day trip instead add a few days afterwards to Cadiz or Malaga, towards Marbella.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Seville is a stunning place to visit in Spain, with warm weather and plenty of amazing things to do, I love it so much that I have visited several times. It’s a wonderful European city break or a great addition to a longer Andalusian road trip, I hope you found this guide to all the best things to do in Seville useful in planning your own trip.
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Plan your Seville trip!
Here’s my go-to list of resources for transport, accommodation, tours and more:
- Booking.com: For the best accommodation rates
- Trip Advisor: Check out the latest reviews & trips
- Get Your Guide: For incredible day trips
- Discover Cars: Best car hire price comparison
- Rail Europe: Best routes & prices across networks
Read Next:
- Best Boutique Hotels In Seville
- 10 Wonderful Things To Do In Marbella
- Where To Stay In Marbella: Best Areas & Hotels
- Malaga Travel Guide: What To See, Do & Eat
- 7 Best Rooftop Bars In Seville For Views
- 7 Wonderful Day Tours From Seville
- 7 Best Tapas Bars In Seville
- 5 Essential Things To Do In Granada
- Travel Tips For Ronda Spain
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