Ready to visit Seville, or Sevilla in Spanish?

Here’s a breakdown of how to spend a holiday in Seville. Let us start by saying that this was our first visit to a Spanish city, and the bar has now been set very high. We immediately fell in love with Seville and hope you do too! If you’re looking for a fun day trip from Seville, we recommend exploring Cordoba, learn about the best things to do in Cordoba in this post here.

To our surprise, Seville was enormous – in fact, it’s one of the largest cities in Spain with over 700,000 inhabitants. This is why this post cannot possibly be a comprehensive guide to Seville. Instead, this is more of a detailed travel itinerary on what do and see in El Centro, the heart of the Andalusia.

The most prominent influence you’ll see today is that of the Arab-Andalusian domination period. Visiting Seville is a lot like going back in time, just by walking around the city you can sense how certain traditions have been preserved. Even simple things like the availability of carriages to take you around or the simplicity of the locals’ daily life are all pertinent aspects of the Andalusian history.

What you should know before visiting Seville…

This probably applies to many cities in Spain, if not all, but be aware of siestas. A siesta is a sacred Spanish mid-day break where most establishments close somewhere between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. This is good to know so you can plan your day, and meals, around siestas.

Where to stay

Because we’re focusing on El Centro, here are our top picks for where to stay in the heart of Seville. You should know that the main neighborhood around the center is called Barrio Santa Cruz, home to many landmarks in Seville and the historic Jewish quarter. Similar to many historic quarters, you can easily witness the authenticity of architecture in Santa Cruz.

Everything from the colorful buildings, the narrow streets (so narrow certain cars are not even allowed to drive through), the intricate courtyards and the distinctive windows – this Barrio or neighborhood is one of a kind. Obviously, we really enjoyed Santa Cruz, so let’s get to the point – here’s where you should stay in Seville.

These hotels are handpicked for those of you who want to be close to the major attractions and the main restaurant strip. Check out, Casual Don Juan Tenorio, La Abadia de Giralda, Hotel Alminar, or Da Vinci Boutique which are literally steps away from the Cathedral.

What to See in Seville

Starting with El Centro and venturing outwards, the first site to visit is Cathedral de Santa María or locally known as the Seville Cathedral and its accompanying Giralda Tower. The massive structure is 23,500 square meters, making it one of the largest churches in the world. What started as a grand mosque in the city in 1172, was later “Christianized” into a gigantic gothic cathedral. Its tower was actually the minaret of the mosque and has a steep 35-floor ramp – so be ready to burn those calories to reach the top.Keep reading to see how you can get a multi-guided tour ticket to enter the Cathedral!

A ten-minute walk from the center is the Plaza de Espana, yet another symbol of the Andalusian city. Technically located in the Parque de María Luisa, the plaza itself is one of the most stunning landmarks we’ve ever visited. In fact, we loved it so much we went back every night to catch the sunset there.

If you’re lucky you can catch a street performance of Flamenco.

Fun fact: you’ll see several bridges connecting the different parts of the plaza, with a canal running underneath. The four bridges represent the four ancient kingdoms of Spain. Speaking of the canal, you can actually rent a paddleboat to enjoy a calm tour in it.

Onto even more magnificent architecture in Seville, which trust me you will not get enough of – The Real Alcázar de Sevilla. We were continuously impressed by the many Arabic words that are still used today in Spanish. Alcazar for example is Al-Qasr in Arabic, also meaning palace!

Let us warn you that you can spend days touring this palace. Absolutely everything was distractingly beautiful – no wonder both Lawrence of Arabia and several Game of Thrones’ episodes were shot here! The grand gardens, the elegant rooms, the fusion of Muslim and Christian architecture… we can keep going but the takeaway is that you must visit for yourself!

We highly recommend getting tickets before hand. We cannot stress this enough as it gets packed and there’s a limit to how many visitors are allowed entry each day. Here are a few ways you can do that. You can get your tickets directly from their website here,or opt for what we think is a much better deal and purchase a combined entry ticket to Alcazar, the Cathedral as well as a guide for a comparable price here.

Consider strolling a bit further out of the center and visit Las Setas De Sevilla. It’s quite the modern structure surrounded by historic Sevillan buildings. In fact, the architecture of this sculpture is so unique that it’s referred to as the mushroom! If you aren’t afraid of heights, take a stroll on the rooftop walkway.

Whether you’re walking towards or away from Alcazar, you’re probably going to end up on Calle San Fernando without noticing. You will however, notice the tram tracks and the historic buildings that line the street. We can’t even begin to name all of the cool buildings you’ll spot. This strip is justly a great place to get lost, as there are many hidden gems and designs that you can appreciate.

Now again, Seville is huge and there’s plenty to see outside of the city center. Here are some highlights. As you exit Santa Cruz, head over to the Guadalquivir River (or Wadi Al-Kabīr in Arabic). Take some time to enjoy the pedestrian walkway along the river. From this side you can see the façade of Barrio de Triana, the neighborhood where Flamenco originated.

At the beginning of the boardwalk, you’ll see Torre del Oro. The tower is a 13th century military watchtower and its observation deck is still open for visitors.

Just a few steps away from the tower is the Real Maestranza Bullring. Now, ethics aside this structure is magnificent and worth touring. All tours are guided which is a plus! And yes, bullfighting still exists but you don’t have to attend a show.

If you’re up for a walk, make your way to Mercado Lonja del Barranco, essentially a massive food hall to enjoy local dishes and try a little bit of everything that is authentic to Seville. We recommend tasting Spanish gazpacho or cold soup – a staple Sevillian treat with interesting toppings.

Fun things to do in Seville

History and architecture might not be for everyone, but we bet delicious tapas and good ambience are. Seville’s city center is over packed with great restaurants, rooftops, and music halls. Here are our favorites!

Where to eat in Seville? We’re focusing on food in and around Barrio Santa Cruz. If you’re looking for gastro-centric restaurants, then we highly recommend Anibal or El Pinton.

If you’re in the mood for more “divey” street restaurants, then head over to Calle Mateos Gago– the options on this bustling restaurant strip are endless. We asked the locals what their favorite here was (one that’s not a tourist trap) and they steered us to Ovejas Negras and it did not disappoint!

Where to watch an authentic Flamenco show in Seville? There is one straight answer for this and it’s La Carboneria. It’s completely free to enter, although the show is very prompt starting at 9:30 pm and another at 10:30 pm every night. Make sure to arrive early to grab a good seat.

Looking for a fun rooftop in Seville? Let me tell you about the absolutely stunning, Pura Vida Terraza at the Fontecruz Sevilla Seises hotel. Actually, let me show you some photos.

Another amazing rooftop, and one that will keep showing up online, is La Terraza at Hotel Doña María.  

                                                               

How to get to Seville from Portugal

We’re leaving this until the end because it doesn’t apply to everyone visiting Seville, but more and more we’re seeing travelers combine Portugal and Spain trips. Here are the different ways you can get from Porto or Lisbon to Seville.

Whenever we’re traveling in Europe, we use Omio to plan out the best method of transportation. If you’ve got some time or traveling on a budget, consider taking the 6-hour bus ride from Lisbon to Seville– use our direct link to get a discount on your travel fare! If you’d rather fly, or get there faster, then there are plenty of direct flights from Lisbon or Porto to Seville that will only take one hour. And if you do visit Portugal, make sure to read our tips on traveling to Porto or discover Portugal’s Algarve!

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