18 Best Things to do in Seville, Spain

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The best things to do in Seville, Spain? I’ve got you covered!

We recently spent over two weeks in Seville, exploring and falling in love with this charming Spanish city nestled in Andalusia.

Seville is a city that effortlessly weaves together centuries of history, vibrant culture, and modern charm. Striking architecture, colorful buildings, vibrant flamenco shows, there is so much to love about Seville.

With warm weather practically all year round, it is an ideal tourist destination.

Before we dive into the article, here are some popular tours in and around Seville if you are in a rush:

Must-do activities in Seville

Despite the city’s small size, there are so many amazing things to do in Seville. From exploring the largest gothic cathedral in the world to attending a traditional flamenco show.

Let’s dive into all of the best things to do in this amazing city in Southern Spain.

1. Explore the Royal Alcazar of Seville

If you only have time to do one thing in Seville, make it a visit to the Royal Alcazar of Seville. From the stunning architecture to the absolutely lush gardens, a visit to the Royal Alcazar is a dream.

It was originally built in the 10th century as a palace for Muslim rulers, however over the years, it has changed rulership many times. Today it is the official residence of the Spanish royal family when they visit Seville.

I highly recommend buying tickets in advance online. You will still need to queue up when you arrive for your time slot.

As of 2023, full price tickets start at 13,50€. A lot of the space is outdoors so I would avoid visiting during the middle of the day during the warmer seasons.

2. Visit the Plaza de España

The Plaza de España is easily the most popular and most iconic places to visit in Seville. The central feature of the plaza is a large building surrounded by a small canal. The building has ceramic tile plaques, or azulejos, which represent the various regions and provinces of Spain.

The best part? It is completely free to visit the Plaza de España

The Plaza de España was originally built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition, a world fair that was held in Seville. However it is most famous for its use as a filming site of the famous Star Wars movies.

Looking for something a little different? You can book a professional photoshoot in the Plaza de España.

3. Admire the Seville Cathedral

The Seville Cathedral, which took over 100 years to build, is the largest gothic church in the world. It currently holds a well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site title, alongside La Giralda. The cathedral, also known as the ‘Catedral de Santa María de la Sede’ is a must-visit attraction in Seville.

The cathedral was built on the site of the former Great Mosque after Seville was recaptured by Christian forces in the 13th century. It still has a few Islamic influences, however much of the original design was destroyed in the Lisbon earthquake.

4. Climb to the top of La Giralda

La Giralda is the bell tower, or minaret, attached to the cathedral. It is a staple of Seville’s attractions, and is currently one of the tallest minarets in the world at 343 feet.

You can climb all of the steps up to the top of La Giralda for an amazing view over the city.

5. Enjoy local cuisine (including tapas)

There are so many amazing dishes in Seville to try, from slow roasted meats and jamon iberico to tortilla de patata and roasted peppers. Make sure to try the best restaurants in Seville.

One thing to note is that paella is not typical of Seville, despite the stereotype that many Americans. While you can find decent paella here, if you’re looking for authentic paella you’ll want to head to Valencia instead.

You can also join a food tour to try the best tapas in Seville.

Here are a few of my favorite restaurants in Seville:

• Bar Alfafa – popular tapas bar in the city center, also a great spot for a drink (one of our favorite spots in Seville)
• Espacio Eslava – one of the most popular restaurants in Seville for incredible tapas (make a reservation)
• Bar Antojo – popular tapas bar north of the city center
• Las Columnas – delicious, reasonably priced tapas on Alameda de Hercules, sister restaurant in Triana
• Al Solito Posto – delicious, affordable pizza in Seville
• Marabunda – internationally-influenced small plates
• Ovejas Negras Tapas – Michelin star awarded Asian fusion tapas bar in the city center
• Heladeria Freskura – the best gelato spot with huge portions

6. Try a glass of ‘tinto de verano’ or a ‘caña

Tinto de verano translates to “red wine of summer” in English. It is a typical Spanish drink, often drank during the hotter months. You can find it on almost any menu in Seville, and I highly recommend trying this refreshing drink.

It is typically made with light to medium-bodied red wine and a lemon soda, served over ice.

It is a great, light beverage for an afternoon drink on a hot day.

If beer is more your style, you can order a caña, or tiny beer, in Seville.

Here is a list of my favorite bars in Seville:

• Cafe Santa Marta Bar – a local bar known for their flamenquin casero
• Vinoteca Lama La Uva – a bar in the city center with a small selection of local natural wines
• Hops and Dreams – craft brewery
• Bar El Badulaque – a lively bar on Alameda de Hercules with standard Spanish drinks and a full bar
• Cafeteria Piola – cafe by day, full bar by night
• Vegani – technically a vegan restaurant, but we only stopped by to enjoy their excellent selection of natural wines

7. Take a stroll through Maria Luisa Park

Once you’ve had a chance to visit the Plaza de España, make your way to the beautiful Maria Luisa Park just next to the plaza. The park itself is huge, covering approximately 100 acres of land.

The park is home to plant species from all over the world, including palm trees, orange trees, and Mediterranean plant varieties. There are plenty of areas to stroll and hang out, with benches and fountains scattered throughout the park.

Maria Luisa Park is a popular place to walk, jog, or bike, especially in the evenings and early mornings when the temperatures are cooler.

8. Head across the bridge to Triana

One of the best things to do in Seville is to head across the Guadalquivir River for a visit to Triana and the Mercado de Triana.

The Mercado de Triana is a great place to shop for local produce, meats and cheeses, and well as some small souvenirs to bring home.

The market is open daily until siesta startts around 2 or 3pm, however some tapas bars in the area will stay open later. The prices tend to be on the higher side, but its a cute market to check out before strolling through the rest of the Triana neighborhood.

9. Visit Las Setas

If you’re exploring Seville, it is hard to miss the large honeycomb looking structure that is Las Setas, or the Metropol Parasol. This modern installation is quite the contrast to the original architecture in the city.

“Las Setas,” translates to “The Mushrooms,” which is precisely what this unique site looks like.

You can climb to the top for a great view of the city of Seville below.

Full price tickets costs 15€, with reduced tickets for 12€ for children and adults 65+.

10. Attend a flamenco show

One of the best things to do in Seville at night is to attend a flamenco show. The flamenco performance typically consists of three distinct parts: the guitar (played on a flamenco guitar), the song, and the dance.

We booked our show at Casa de la Guitarra, which I highly recommend. Tickets cost 20€ for the 1 hour performance. They have two performances per night at 7:30pm and 9pm. There are a number of other venues that offer later shows as well, some even include dinner and drinks. We loved our experience at Casa de la Guitarra because the show was in an intimate setting, where you are literally a foot or two away from the performers

11. Go thrifting

For my fashion-forward travelers, be sure to check out Seville’s amazing thrift stores. There are so many amazing thrift shops across Seville where you can find great pieces and low prices.

Here are a few of my favorite thrift stores in Seville:

• Piel de Mariposa (Store Solidarity Butterfly Skin)
• WONDER VINTAGE SEVILLA
• Gorgeous Vintage
• Pipa Vintage
• Flamingos Vintage Kilo Sevilla

12. Join a free walking tour with GuruWalks

One of the best things to do in Seville, or any new city for that matter, is to join a free walking tour. A free walking tour, or more appropriately named a way-what-you-wish walking tour is an amazing way to get to know a new city.

These tours are an excellent way to discover a city through the eyes of a local.

The tours can be booked through GuruWalks.

13. Brush up on your Spanish

One of my favorite things that I did in Seville was to use my time to brush up on my Spanish skills. While you can definitely get some practice chatting with locals at restaurants and bars, another great way to practice is to sign up for one-on-one Spanish classes.

I took classes at Spanish Ole for 20€ an hour for private lessons and Teresa was incredibly helpful. This is a great thing to do in Seville for Spanish speakers of all levels who would like to practice their skills.

14. Learn how to play flamenco guitar

Another great skill to learn while in Seville is traditional flamenco guitar. Jon took classes for a few weeks with Discover Flamenco Guitar and improved so much throughout our stay.

Classes cost 50€ an hour for private lessons.

15. Take a day trip to Córdoba

One of the best, and most popular day trips from Seville is a trip to the charming city of Córdoba . Home to the famous Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral), it is a city that you’re not going to want to miss.

You can reach Córdoba from Seville in as fast as 45 minutes by train, or an hour and a half by car.

Here are the most popular things to do in Córdoba:

• Visit the Mezquita 
• Explore Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos
• Wander through La Juderia (the Jewish Quarter) of Córdoba 
• Walk across the Roman Bridge

16. Take a day trip to Ronda

Another great day trip from Seville is to the historic town of Ronda. Just under a two hour drive from Seville, it is the perfect small town to explore for the day.

Ronda is located in the province of Málaga in the southern region of Andalusia, Spain.

It is best known for its dramatic views surrounding El Tajo Gorge and the Puente Nuevo bridge that falls over it.

17. Enjoy a traditional breakfast

One of the most popular things to eat for breakfast in Seville is ‘pan con tomate,’ or bead with tomato, often accompanied with a ‘cafe con leche’. Our apartment was above Bar Norte Andaluza on Alameda de Hercules and it was packed every day of the week for a long, lazy breakfast.

18. Visit the Sunday antique market at the Cabildo Square Flea Market

Another fun thing to do in Seville is to shop around at the Cabildo Square Flea Market.

Open only on Sundays, you’ll find antiques including old postcards, artwork, old coins, and more. It’s a great place for collectors.

Where to stay in Seville

During our two week stayed on Alameda de Hercules, a lively local area about a 15-20 minute walk from the main tourist center. It was the perfect base for us since lodging was more affordable, we were close to everything, and our area was super lively with tons of bars and restaurants that weren’t only geared towards tourists.

Here is a link to the airbnb that we stayed at.

Some other top-rated hotels near Alameda de Hercules:

• Patio de La Alameda
• OMM Suites Sevilla by Magno Apartments
• Opera Apartments – Alameda

Top-rated hotels in the city center:

• Indulge en Sevilla Cuna
• Hotel Boutique Casa de Colón

Getting to Seville

Seville is well-connected to Spain and the rest of Europe through flights, buses, and trains. And of course, it is a great destination for a road trip in Southern Spain.

Seville is served by Seville Airport (Aeropuerto de Sevilla), also known as San Pablo Airport (SVQ). The airport is conveniently located just 6 miles outside of the city center.

Seville’s main train station is Seville Santa Justa, which is well-connected to major Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

You can also reach popular destinations in Spain and Portugal by bus.

Getting around

Seville is not a particularly large city, so in my opinion the best way to get around is on foot. Throughout our two week stay in Seville, we visited the city on foot the majority of the time.

If you are traveling further distances, the local bus is super affordable and easy to navigate. This is a great option for getting from the main train station to your lodging, especially if you have luggage and don’t want to walk or spend the money on a taxi.

There are also street trams available throughout the city.

If you are planning any day trips outside of Seville then I highly recommend renting a car. Renting a car is always the best way to explore a new area in my opinion. I recommend booking a manual car for much cheaper rates. If you only drive automatic cars, be sure to book well in advance.

Rent your car here

If you aren’t comfortable driving in Spain, there are tons of local trains available to visit nearby destinations like Grenada, Cordoba, and Malaga.

Book your train tickets here

Best time to visit Seville

Seville is hot, that is for sure. We spent two weeks exploring this city in late September and early October and the temperatures hovered around 95 F (35 C) most days. If these were the temperatures in the fall, you can only imagine was the city feels like in mid-summer.

You can technically visit all year round, but the best seasons tend to be in the spring and in the late fall.

Temperatures in the winter are also nice, and very mild compared to other European destinations. Average temperatures in the winter months hover in the 50s and 60s.

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