“¡Quien no ha visto Sevilla, no ha visto maravilla!“ they say! Translated: “Who hasn’t seen Seville, hasn’t seen wonderment!” And this is pretty accurate I have to say. Spectacular architecture, amazing weather, delicious food and flamenco flamboyance: Seville has it all!
There are plenty of things to see and do in Sevilla. Here is my top 10 list of the best things to see and do in Sevilla!
1) Seville Cathedral and Giralda Bell Tower
You cannot leave Sevilla without having seen the largest Gothic Church in the world. This is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. And it is also the 3rd biggest Catholic Church in the world, after St Peter in Rome and St Paul in London. The Cathedral is spectacular as the view you will get after climbing up the Giralda tower. The tower is 104m (342ft) high. This building has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Make sure to reserve your tickets online though, as the queue is long. And if you are visiting on a sunny day you do not want to be standing in the sun for long. The tickets include a visit to another spectacular church (Iglesia del Salvador) which is just 5 minutes walking distance from the Cathedral.
2) Real Alcazar
Don’t miss this amazing royal palace either. The Real Alcazar is the oldest palace in Europe. It’s a maze of patios and beautiful gardens that has recently become even more popular since some episodes of Games of Thrones have been filmed here. Originally developed by Moorish Muslim kings, this palace is renowned as one of the most outstanding examples of Mudéjar architecture in Spain.
The palace receives a huge amount of visitors every day. So I do recommend you book your tickets online. Otherwise, you may risk being denied access on the day after hours of queuing outside. An extra tip, if you are in Seville on a Monday, access is free in the late afternoon. But you must book your tickets online in advance.
3) Plaza de Espana and Parque de Maria Luisa
Built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, this square is definitely my favourite place in Seville! It’s one of the most photogenic places I have ever been to. Moreover, access to the square and to the park is free. This amazing square is lined up with 48 tiled benches each paying tribute to a Spanish province. Make sure to visit at sunset, when you get the best light for pictures.
Take a stroll through the park and reach Plaza de America, where you can visit the Museum of Popular Arts and the Archeological Museum.
This is a great spot for pics too!
4) Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)
The Metropol Parasol is a wooden structure better known as Las Setas de la Encarnación (the Incarnation’s mushrooms). That’s because the complex is located at the Encarnación Square. Designed by the German architect Jürgen Mayer, its appearance, delays and cost overruns in construction resulted in much public controversy.
I think it is a fascinating structure and the best part of it is the upper level, called the Mirador. The ticket to go up costs only €3 and from there you can get 360 views over the city.
5) Barrio de Triana
Triana is a really nice barrio (district) just on the other side of the Guadalquivir river. You get there by crossing the Puente de Isabel II (also known as the Triana bridge) and the place is totally worth a visit. Triana is popular for its streets full of colourful houses. The district also hosts one of the most characteristic markets in town (Mercado de Triana), the ceramics museum (Centro Ceramica Triana), the Castle of San Jorge and the Church of Santa Ana.
And if you are not convinced yet, I recommend heading to Calle Betis at sunset. This colourful street runs along the waterfront. It is lined up with traditional bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a drink and some tapas.
6) Basilica de la Macarena
Entry to this mustard-yellow church is free. The Basilica hosts Seville’s most revered religious treasure, the Virgen de la Esperanza Macarena (Macarena Virgin of Hope), popularly known as “La guapa”. This magnificent statue is located behind the main altarpiece and it gets taken around the city during La Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations.
7) Barrio Santa Cruz
This district is a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys. The narrow streets protect from the sun of the hot Sevillian summer. The district is the primary tourist neighbourhood of the city and the former Jewish quarter (Judería) and walking through its streets you will discover several cute little squares and find plenty of options to grab some authentic food and drinks.
8) Where To Eat In Seville
Food in Sevilla was amazingly cheap and incredibly delicious. If you want to experience Sevilla like a local, you definitely need to “tapear” (have some tapas). To find out more about what and where to eat in Sevilla, check out my article Where To Eat In Seville.
9) Aperitif with a view at EME Cathedral Hotel
Enough about food, let’s talk about drinks now. The EME Cathedral Hotel is a great choice for a romantic drink with a view as its rooftop on the 4th floor is right in front of the Cathedral and offers great panoramic views over the city. The drinks are definitely more expensive than average, but given the view, it is totally worth it! Please note that reflex cameras are not allowed upstairs (hotel policy we were told) so you will have to hand them in at the wardrobe.
10) Flamenco shows
Flamenco comes from Andalusia, so you cannot leave Sevilla without having seen at least one show. Flamenco shows can be expensive though so the best option is to get to see a free one. A friend recommended La Carboneria (Calle Levies 18), a bar that offers flamenco shows every night. It’s free entry so you can go there, order a drink and some tapas and enjoy the show!
Booking.comHow to get around Seville
The best way to explore the city is on foot. We did not use public transports during our stay, but the city offers quite new and very efficient public transport services. You can buy tourist cards for a day (€5) or for 3 days (€10) and with those you get unlimited access to all buses and the metro.
How to get to Seville
Sevilla’s airport is about 10 kilometres away from the city. There is a regular shuttle bus service and the journey takes about 30 minutes. It’s the EA (Especial Aeropuerto) bus. The final stop is Plaza de Armas, but it stops at the main station (Santa Justa) at San Bernardo Station and at Paseo de Colon too. The latest being the closest stop to the city centre. The ticket is €4 one-way and you cannot buy return tickets unless you are travelling back on the same day.
Check out Where To Eat In Seville
- Hospital Sant Pau: The World’s Largest Art Nouveau Complex - 28 March 2021
- Palau Güell: A Magnificient Example of Gaudí’s Fervent Architectural Imagination - 14 March 2021
- Casa Amatller: A Unique Example of Modernism In Barcelona - 27 February 2021
Leave a Reply