Best things to do and see in Seville

The beauty of the city of Seville is noticeable and unfolds in its many facets. A destination increasingly visited by world tourism that comes to the Andalusian capital to enjoy its history, street life, gastronomy, monuments, markets and modern buildings. Located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville has everything for all tastes and audiences.

Real Alcázar of Seville

Alcazars were the fortified castles and palaces where the rulers resided during the time of the Caliphate, during the Muslim domination of southern Spain. With the Christian reconquest, they became the residence of Catholic monarchs and rulers. Of all those still standing in Andalusia, the most beautiful and best preserved is the Real Alcazar of Seville, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many architectural styles corresponding to different periods and surrounded by beautiful gardens are the highlights of this palace complex, a must-see. General admission is 14,50 € and 7 € at a reduced price for seniors and students from 14 to 30 years old.

Torre del Oro

One of the emblematic buildings of the city, built in 1220 and 1221 on the banks of the Guadalquivir, during the Caliphate. Its original function was to be a surveillance site to protect the city from invasions. It is erroneously believed that during the years of the Catholic Monarchs, with the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the American continent, all the gold reserves obtained in America were accumulated in this tower, and that this is the origin of the name. But the real story of why it is called Torre del Oro is that it was originally covered with tiles that, when exposed to the sun, generated a golden reflection. General admission is 3 € and reduced admission, for children from 6 to 14 years, students and seniors over 65, is 1.50 €. Mondays: free access for everyone.

Plaza España

Plaza España is not only one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, but also one of the most spectacular and imposing, due to its dimensions and details. Built in 1929, when the Ibero-American Exposition was held in Seville, it stands out for its semi-elliptical buildings and for an architecture that seeks to symbolize Spain’s embrace of the American people. At the end of the square there are corners dedicated to all the Spanish provinces, with tiles that reflect the tradition and customs of each one. This is the most photographed side. If you want to learn more about this place, there are many free tours that you can access right there, with distinguished guides with colorful umbrellas and in which, at the end, you will have to leave a tip.

Santa Cruz neighborhood

Seville has many emblematic and captivating neighborhoods, but the one with the most history is Santa Cruz, located in the old Jewish quarter of the city. A stroll through its streets, day or night, will transport you to fascinating periods of Seville’s history, in emblematic points such as the Plaza del Triunfo and the three buildings declared World Heritage Sites: Cathedral, Archivo de Indias and Real Alcázar. Other fundamental corners of the Santa Cruz neighborhood are Agua Street, Las Cruces Street, Plazuela de Santa Marta, Plaza de Santa Cruz and Patio de Banderas.

Cathedral and Giralda

The Cathedral of Seville is one of the largest religious temples in the world, with 11,520 square meters and the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. It has five naves with many chapels and decorative and architectural elements of unique beauty. A curious fact is that Christopher Columbus is buried here. And the architectural emblem of Seville also arises from its Cathedral and it is the Giralda Tower, which is the bell tower of the temple and that, in Muslim times, functioned as the minaret of the ancient mosque. It stands out for its Mudejar style, very characteristic of this region, and for offering stupendous panoramic views of the city of Seville. The general price of the ticket to visit the Cathedral and Giralda is 11 € if taken online and 12 € at the ticket office, and in reduced version, 6 € online and 7 € at the ticket office, for students under 25 years and for people over 65 years.

Tapas in bars and restaurants

Gastronomy is another of the strengths of the city of Seville and traditional cuisine still reigns supreme, but modern elements are also incorporated. The dishes and tapas you will taste in Seville have that Spanish Mediterranean mix combined with Hebrew, Arabic and Moorish things in meats, fish, fruits, vegetables and spices, achieving unique flavors. The best thing is to go from bar to bar, from restaurant to restaurant, trying everything: Iberian ham croquettes, pringá montaditos, salmorejo and gazpacho, oxtail, fried fish, fried potatoes, callos, huevos a la flamenca and Russian salads of many styles. There are many interesting tapas areas in Seville, but if you are going to move only in the center, you will find great places around the Cathedral and in the neighborhoods of San Bernardo and Santa Cruz.

A stroll through history and market in Triana

Triana is one of the most authentic neighborhoods of Seville for being one of the great cradles of flamenco and for maintaining the charm and color of the Sevillian inhabitants. A stroll through its streets is ideal to feel the local life of the city and learn about other facets of its history through the Alley of the Inquisition or the Castle of St. George. The temptation to cross the Triana bridge over the waters of the Guadalquivir river over and over again is unavoidable and you can finish your walk at the famous marketwhere the freshest products of the city are sold and where you can have a good beer or a glass of wine with delicious tapas.

Archaeological Ensemble of Italica

Only 7 km from Seville, Santiponce preserves archaeological remains of the city’s Roman past, when the Empire made incursions into this region. Italica was founded in 206 B.C. by Publius Cornelius Scipio, better known as the African, as a strategic site for the recovery of troops wounded in combat. Later it became a place of residence for war veterans. Over time, the Roman city grew and two future emperors were born there: Hadrian and Trajan.

Navigating the Guadalquivir

A romantic option for couples or families visiting Seville is to hire a boat and sail the calm waters of the Guadalquivir. You will be able to appreciate all the beauty of the city from another perspective and see some of its most important neighborhoods and buildings as you would never have imagined. All boats depart from the Marqués del Contadero pier and the single ticket for adults is 18 € per person, but if you book online, the price is 15 €.

Watch a Betis or Sevilla match

Soccer in Seville is lived in a very special way, so much so that the two most important teams in the city put the colors of the booths of the Feria de AbrilRed and white for Sevilla Fútbol Club fans and green and white for Real Betis Balompié fans. If you have the opportunity to watch a Spanish League, King’s Cup or Champions League soccer match in either stadium, you can’t miss it. And much less if your vacation in the city coincides with the dispute of a derby. Depending on the date, type of tournament, opponent and location in the stadium, ticket prices can range from €35 to €100 per person.

Watch a flamenco show

Flamenco has several cradles in Andalusia and one of them is undoubtedly the city of Seville, as it could not be otherwise since it is the capital. This is one of the most authentic plans to do in the city and for which you have many emblematic sites: Casa de la Memoria, Museo del Baile Flamenco, the Tablao Flamenco Pura Esencia and many small places in the Triana neighborhood.

Visiting the Charterhouse and the remains of the Universal Exposition

One of the most different areas of Seville is the Isla de la Cartuja, so called because in the past the monks of the Carthusian order settled there, but a famous area because it was chosen for the Universal Exposition of Seville in 1992. Now it is an area where all the emblematic buildings of those years have been preserved, with contemporary art museums, restaurants, bars and attractions for the whole family.