The Spanish city of Seville stole our hearts, and we’re sure you’ll feel the same way after visiting this diverse city. Think delicious tapas, countless orange trees and flamenco dancers. Just a 3-hour flight from Brussels or Amsterdam, Seville is the perfect destination for a city trip. Thanks to the Moorish influences, you will be taken into Spanish and Arabic influences with a modern touch here and there. Its Mediterranean climate makes it an ideal city to escape our cold climate for a while in winter. In this article, we give you the 10 best attractions for a city break in Seville to make your trip unforgettable!
10 best things to do in Seville, Spain
A city break to Seville in Spain promises to be a fantastic getaway! From the impressive architecture like Real Alcazar or Las Setas to the many, cozy tapas bars in Barrio de Santa Cruz. There is a lot to see and do in this vibrant city, and we’d recommend you stretch out at least 3 days for Seville.
1) Free walking tour
To get your city break in Seville off to a good start, we recommend a Free Walking Tour. During this 3-hour walking tour, a local guide will take you around the main attractions in the center. This is often accompanied by interesting explanations and historical facts. This will already give you a good first impression of this beautiful city. As the name suggests, this walk is completely free, but it is recommended that you tip your guide afterwards. Trust us, it’s well worth that tip! We booked our tour through Free Walking Tours Seville and would do it again in a heartbeat!
2) Cathedral & Giralda tower
The “Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede” is the second largest cathedral in the world and a true icon in Seville. This magnificent building is a beautiful confluence of religions, as it was built over the remains of a Moorish mosque. You can still see this clearly from the accompanying Giralda Tower, which in Moorish times was a minaret. Now it functions as a bell tower. You can go all the way up the bell tower, which gives you breathtaking views of Seville. In addition to its unique architecture, the cathedral is also famous because the explorer Christopher Columbus is buried here. You can visit both buildings by buying a combined ticket. Get there early to get ahead of the crowds or buy your skip-the-line ticket in advance online here.
Opening hours cathedral & tower: Monday through Saturday from 10:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | price: from €18
3) Real Alcazar royal palace
The Royal Palace of Seville or ‘Alcázar Real de Sevilla‘ is one of the highlights during your visit to the city. Here again you can see typical Mudéjar style returning: a nice mix between Christian and Moorish influences. Inside the palace, you wander through beautifully decorated rooms with colorful mosaics and courtyards with geometric figures and fountains. Once outside, you find yourself in what may be the most beautiful palace gardens in the world! Clearly characterized by a Moroccan style, these gardens make you forget for a moment that you are in Spain. You can easily spend hours here, so be sure to take your time exploring this beautiful building and its gardens.
Opening hours Real Alcazar: April through mid-September daily from 9:30 am – 7 pm & mid-September through March daily from 9:30 am – 5 pm | price: €18.50
TRAVEL TIP!: This palace is still one of the only palaces in Europe in use when the royal family is in Seville. That makes the palace have a maximum capacity of 750 visitors, which can make waiting times enormous. It is therefore better to buy your ticket in advance online and thus avoid surprises.
4) Plaza de España
The “Square of Spain” is perhaps one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. This semicircular square with a beautiful fountain in the middle was created in 1928 to symbolically make peace with the former colonies. Throughout the plaza, you can imagine a constructed canal on which you can sail while enjoying the beautiful bridges built over it. The square also features 52 colorful benches and tile mosaics representing the Spanish provinces. Stroll around here enjoying the endless colorful details and the beautiful structure while watching flamenco dancers give their best performance. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds and then descend to Parque Maria Luisa. This park adjoins the Plaza de España and is a green oasis of calm in the city.
5) Barrio de Santa Cruz
The neighborhood of “Santa Cruz” is Seville’s old Jewish quarter. It is one of the coziest places to walk through. Here you can get lost endlessly in the cobbled, narrow streets that take you past typical courtyards with fountains and old houses with colorful mosaics. You will also find plenty of delicious restaurants and tapas bars. The ideal time to soak up the Spanish sun on a terrace with a good glass of sangria or delicious tapas.
6) Las Setas de Sevilla
The Metropol Parasol or Las Setas de Sevilla stands in stark contrast to the typical Andalusian architecture found throughout Seville. This modern, wooden structure opened to the public in 2011. The intention was to revitalize the neighborhood and covered the Plaza de la Encarnación plaza. The name “Las Setas de Sevilla” literally translated means “the mushrooms of Seville. It refers to the building’s resemblance to the shape of mushrooms. You can go up on the 26-meter-high structure and enjoy a phenomenal 360° view of the city. At night, Las Setas is illuminated in different colors, making the entire structure seem like it is dancing.
Opening hours Las Setas: daily from 10 am – midnight | tickets can be ordered online here
7) Tapas Crawl Tour
You cannot come to Seville without having tasted the local cuisine. Seville is the perfect city to take a tapas crawl try out. This involves visiting various local restaurants to try, you guessed it, all kinds of tapas. Think delicious patatas bravas, tortilla or gamba ajillo. While doing so, enjoy a glass of Sangria or Verdejo on a sunny terrace. We did an organized tapas crawl to learn more about the dishes and Spanish cuisine. Highly recommended for your city trip to Seville!
8) Casa de Pilatos
Casa de Pilatos is a fine example of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” When you walk past this building, you don’t expect to see a beautiful courtyard with a fountain behind the simple facade. Around the courtyard you can wander through the palace, where again you can see that typical Mudéjar style recurring. Located in the Santa Cruz district, this is one of the best-preserved palaces in Seville. Therefore, a visit to Casa de Pilatos should definitely not be missed during your vacation in Seville!
Opening hours Casa de Pilatos: April through October from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. & November through March from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | tickets can be ordered online here
9) Flamenco show in the Triana district
Across the Guadalquivir River that flows through Seville, you’ll find the Triana neighborhood. This neighborhood has a rich history and it is here where bullfighting and Flamenco originated. The Triana district is therefore the perfect place to go to an authentic Flamenco show to go watch. Let the swaying dancers and their castanets take you through this beautiful dance. This while being accompanied acoustically on guitar. Walking through the neighborhood, you’ll come across plenty of local bars offering Flamenco shows.
10) Torro del Oro
Walking along the banks of the Guadalquivir River you will come across the Torro del Oro or “the Tower of Gold. In the 13th century, this 36-meter-high tower served as a military defense for the city. It was also the a repository for gold. Today you will find the maritime museum that you can visit and tell you a little more about the history of Seville. You can go all the way up Torro del Oro where you will have a panoramic view of the river and the Triana neighborhood that lies across the street.
Opening hours Torro del Oro: Monday through Friday from 09h30 – 18h45 & Saturday through Sunday from 10h30 – 18h45 | price: €3
Where to stay in Seville
Seville has several neighborhoods and each has its own charm. In the Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz, you’re right in the historic center and close to the most popular sights such as the cathedral and the Real Alcazar palace. We stayed at the stylish Boutike Guesthouse with delicious breakfast in the heart of the city. If you like more authentic Seville then Monte Triana in the Triana district is a good option. Or stay for the best culinary experiences and nicest bars in the El Arenal neighborhood such as at the wonderful Vincci La Rabida.
How to visit Seville
From Brussels or Amsterdam you have direct flights to Seville and that from as little as €90 round trip. From the airport you can take a cab that will take you to the city center in 15 minutes. A cab ride costs about €30. Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus between the airport and downtown. The shuttle bus EA (Especial Aeroporto) will take you to the center in 30 minutes and a one-way ticket will cost you €4. Seville itself is not big and you can easily walk everywhere.
Do you like southern Europe? Be sure to read the following article about Lake Maggiore as an ideal vacation destination during the summer months.
Best time to visit Seville, Spain
Located in Spain’s warmest region, Andalusia, Seville is one of the sunniest cities in Europe. The best months to visit Seville are April through June and September through October. But thanks to its Mediterranean climate, it is a city where you can enjoy a pleasant stay for a city trip even in the winter months. We went there in January and the temperature was still around 15 to 20 °C. In the summer months, it is best to avoid Seville, as it can get scorching hot with temperatures topping 40 °C (104 °F).
Do you have any questions about the 10 best sights in Seville? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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