BEST THINGS TO DO IN SEVILLE; A COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE TO VISITING SEVILLE
Seville or Sevilla in Spanish is the fourth largest city, located in the south of Spain, famous for flamenco dancing, gothic architecture, and mouthwatering tapas. This beloved European city will take you to an old-time era and should definitely be on everyone’s travel itinerary. From the largest gothic cathedral in the world to the unique Plaza with its own canals and bridges, there is plenty of things to do in Seville.
My complete guide to Sevilla includes; Things to See in Seville | Where to Stay | How to Travel | What to Eat | Best time to visit
Read More; Travel Guide Madrid | Porto | Lisbon | Sintra | Budapest
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How to Reach Seville?
- By Airโ๏ธ; There is only one international airport (SVQ) which is located roughly 25 minutes’ drive from the main city and has decent connectivity to most of the European Union and within Spain. Uber operates in the city and should cost around 15-20โฌ (airport to city center). Another and cheaper option is a public bus, for 4โฌ.
Book a flight from New York to Seville for just $ 160 and from London to Seville for just $40.
- By Rail๐ ; The main train station is Santa Justa Station. If you are coming from Madrid, the train ride should take less than 3 hours and they run very often throughout the day. There is an overnight train from Barcelona and just an hour train to Cรณrdoba.
For cheap, convenient and reliable transport anywhere within Europe, use OMIO. I booked all my train and bus tickets during my travel through their website. It is really awesome.
Get Insured Before Traveling To Seville
I never ever travel abroad without travel insurance. Really! In case something goes wrong, you must have travel insurance. Frankly speaking, it will be stupid to head off to a new destination without one.
I will recommend World Nomads. Simply because they are backed by reputable insurers, 24-hour assistance providers and offer travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries.
Even if you donโt get one from World Nomads, make sure to get your travel insurance sorted before you actually start traveling.
Getting Around In Seville
Like most European cities, Seville is also best explored on foot. But there are other ways too;
- Bikes; Sevilla can be best described with relatively flat roads but narrow cobbled streets thus they are usually jammed with traffic, making it perfect for biking. There are plenty of rentals all around the town at a reasonable price. Tip; Make sure to lock your bike at all times as there is a high chance of theft here.
I took a 3-hour sunset guided bike tour. And I can’t recommend it enough, mainly because of our informed and fun tour guide. We covered all the quintessential monuments, neighborhoods and places. Plus he gave us many recommendations for food, flamenco, and some insider tips. If interested, you can book the same here.
- Metro; Frankly not the best option, as there is only one single line and tickets are relatively expensive. If you are still interested, you can learn more about the fares and routes here.
- Buses; This is probably the best, most cost-efficient and easiest option, as Sevilla has an extensive bus network covering all barrios all around the city. One way ticket( buy onboard) is 1.5โฌ. You can also get a whole day pass for 5โฌ or 3 days pass for 10โฌ. Read more here.
- Taxis/Uber; There are both local taxis (which I don’t recommend as they are relatively pricey and drivers are not very trustworthy with fare) and Uber which of course is cheaper and a better option.
Where to Stay In Seville? (NEIGHBORHOODS)
- 1. El Centro & El Arenal; El Centro as the word suggests is the historic city center. Most of the tourist attractions like Cathedral, Alcazar Royal Palace, Metropol Parasol, and few more lies here. It’s filled with tapas bars, streets, restaurants and tons of shopping. As you can see from the map above, its the heart of everything.
- Tip; Neighborhood is super touristy, prices for food and accommodation will be relatively high. I would personally avoid staying here but the streets get really lively especially at night, making it a fun place to spend your evenings in Seville.
- El Arenal; Although a separate neighborhood but its adjacent to El Centro and could be considered as part of the city center. The key attraction here is the bullring staging world’s best bullfights every spring. Just like El Centro, this is also an expensive district.
Gorgeous Luxury Hotel In El Centro: Hotel Amadeus & La Musica
Looking for an awesome mid-range option? Checkout Suites Machado. Just 200 m from Santa Marรญa La Blanca Church and 600 m from Barrio Santa Cruz, they offer mesmerizing city view from, free wifi, a fully equipped kitchen and much more. You can check the availability here.
Best Hostel In Old Town: Hostel One Catedral. Very close to Barrio Santa Cruz and Plaza de Espaรฑa, this hostel has air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge, free WiFi and a terrace where they organize many fun events, a great way to meet fellow travelers. Check the availability here.
- 2. Santa Cruz; This charming old Jewish neighborhood characterized by a maze of narrow cobbled streets and romantic squares is one of the most iconic barrios of the city. It famously touts to have Seville’s best flamenco joints (we will get into that later) and plenty of tapas bars.
- The neighborhood surrounds the wall of the famous Alcazar. The best thing, in my opinion, is to get a gelato and wander around the streets of Santa Cruz. You will get lost but its an experience in itself.
PS- If it is your first time booking at Airbnb, you can use my code and get $40 off their first trip.
El Rey Moro is a luxurious boutique hotel located in Santa Cruz. It has a pleasing traditional patio-courtyard, perfect to sit out and enjoy the peaceful ambiance. They also have a jacuzzi on the rooftop, which is perfect to relax your body after a long day of walking, exploring Sevilla. Check the availability here.
Best Budget Hotel in Santa Cruz: Hotel Murillo. With comfortable rooms, a terrace rooftop with a seasonal bar overlooking the city, its a great value for money. You can check the availability here.
Best Hostel In Santa Cruz: Sevilla Kitsch Hostel Art. Book here.
- 3. Macarena; Historically a poor neighborhood infamous for drugs and prostitution, Macarena transformed its identity in the late 2000s. Today, it’s one of the trendiest and hippy neighborhood of Seville. Its LGBTQ friendly and has a great vibe to it. It’s not very far from the city center and has plenty of budget hostels and hotels. It also has the largest remaining section of the original Moorish city wall, giving the feel of what it was like living in Islamic Spain.
Beautiful Luxury Hotel In Macarena: Exe Sevilla Macarena. Set in a typical Sevilla style patio, opposite Macarena basilica, it features a rooftop pool with panoramic city views, comfortable beds and all you can eat buffet. You can check the availability here.
Nice Hostel In Macarena: Macarena Triple
- 4. Triana; Located on the other side of the river, historically known as working-class neighborhood Triana is a former gypsy quarter but today it’s famous for the most influential flamenco artists and bullfighters. It is also known for lovely handmade ceramics, whitewashed houses, traditional family-style tapas bars, and one of Sevilleโs best and most lively markets, the Mercado de Triana.
- I would really recommend staying the night here as its cheaper, away from the usual touristy chaos and you can find great value for money on food and accommodation here.
Best Luxury Accommodation In Triana: Casa del Poeta Triana Suite & Homes
Cozy mid-range accommodation in Triana: Petit Palace Puerta de Triana. It features rooms with modern Andalusian dรฉcor, lounge, library and all you can eat buffet. The location is very lively as there are many restaurants, bars, and shops in the surrounding streets. You can check the availability here.
Best Hostel In Triana: Triana Backpackers
Best Time To Visit Seville
- Not So Good Months; July and August. Mainly because of the temperature. It gets extremely hot during the day (temperature averaging around 50′ C) and most of the locals leave the city, so If you don’t want to burn in the sun, please avoid these months (unfortunately I visited in August and it wasn’t very pleasant, to say the least lol)
- Best Months; March to June. The weather is pleasant, less touristy so you can get a great deal with accommodation and food. Plus Seville’s two most famous celebrations Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Feria de Abril happen during these months. So along with tourist attractions, there would be plenty of other things to do.
How Many Days In Seville?
Ideally, I will suggest 2 full days and 2 nights in Sevilla. If you can squeeze an extra day, there are numbers of day trips options from Sevilla like the wonderful city of Cรณrdoba and Carmona.
If you are short on time, you can still cover the main attraction in two full days and a night. Having said that I do feel this city definitely deserves more. There are so many hidden charms that could be explored with more leisurely days.
What to Eat? Vegetarian & Vegan Food Guide
Despite its meat-loving exterior, Seville is quite vegetarian friendly. To be honest I found it to be more open to vegan/vegetarians than Madrid. Even in local cuisine, you can find a lot of vegetarian tapas.
- Vegetarian Tapas ;
- Tortilla de patatas: This is the Spanish version of Omelets, making them fluffier, with potatoes and onions. Its a beloved food and could be found anywhere in the city. I will recommend trying them at La Taberna.
- Patatas bravas: It’s for sure one of the most delicious ways of having chips. Come in a spicy or cheesy sauce. Also my favorite tapas. You can try them at Bar Salomรณn El Rey de Los pinchitos.
- Espinacas con garbanzos: Its basically a spinach and chickpeas dish. It sounds simple but is delicious. It goes really well with any drink and could be found in most of the regular tapas bars.
Vegetarian/Vegan-friendly Restaurants
- La Chunga: This is my favorite little restaurant in Seville. Three reasons; the atmosphere is very lively, mostly locals come here and the best part its really good value for money. I will recommend trying zucchini risotto and roasted vegetables. Delicious! Official Website.
- Gaia Centro Ecolรณgico: This is a 100% meat-free restaurant. A delicious and healthy variety of vegan dishes and the best part; there is also a small grocery store full of plant-based products. For more details like timings and products, check out their website.
- Taj Mahal; If you are a sucker for Indian food like me then go to the Taj Mahal. Its located in Santa Cruz, little pricey but justifies its name. It is the closest to desi cuisine you can get in Seville (I have tried at many places but this one wins). Official website.
Top Things To Do & See in Seville?
- 1. Plaza de Espana (Maria Luisa Park)
Plaza technically means an open square. Sevillians proudly call their plaza as the most beautiful in the entire country and I don’t differ. This Magnificent piece of architecture is located inside Maria Luisa Park.
The red brick structure is painted with colorful azulejos ceramic tiles that are popular in Seville and can be found all across the city. Its one of the most Instagram-able spots in the town, so don’t forget to get some beautiful travel pictures here.
Cool fact; The famous Hollywood movie The Dictator was shot at Plaza de Espana.
Entrance; Entrance to the Plaza and the park is free.
Best time; Go early morning to avoid heaps of tourists or in the evening around 5-7pm when the whole plaza comes to life with street artists, flamenco dancers, and performers.
Pro-tip; Be very careful with your belongings. This city is infamous for pickpocketing and thefts.
Surrounding the plaza is the impressive and lush green Maria Luisa Park. A good place to take a stroll and give your feet some rest from all the walking you will probably do.
- 2. The Royal Palace of Alcรกzar ;
It’s a palace built for Christian king on the sites of Muslim residential fortress and is the most visited place in Seville. Another top Instagram worthy location in Spain, it should be a must-visit while in Seville. The palace itself has two floors, upper-level of which is still used by the royal family as a residence.
Cool Fact; This palace is Hollywood’s royalty. Lawrence of Arabia, Reds, 1492: The Conquest of Paradise, and the Kingdom of Heaven and many other films were filmed here. And yes you Game of Thrones fan, remember those scenes of water gardens of drone from season 5? Well, they were shot here.
Entrance; 12.5โฌ.
Pro-tip; They only allow 750 visitors at a time. Thus line to the entrance can be really long and exhausting. I strongly recommend buying tickets online in advance. You can purchase it here.
- 3. CATHEDRAL AND LA GIRALDA
Seville’s cathedral is the largest gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. It is also the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. So it won’t be wrong to say that this is the most prominent tourist attraction of Sevilla.
Cathedral also has a tower called La Giralda which is a former minaret. If you don’t mind climbing 28 floors, go to the top of the tower for stunning views of the city.
Entrance; 9โฌ (for both the cathedral and the tower)
Pro-tip; Entrance is free on Mondays from 4;30- 6;30pm ( but do reserve your spot online as it gets filled pretty quick). You can book it here.
- 4. The Royal Tobacco Factory
- The today’s university of Sevilla but formerly the largest tobacco factory in the world. In the 18th century, it produced almost 75% of European tobacco. It’s an off beaten thing to include in your itinerary but the entrance is free and lies in the city center. If you have extra time, pop into the building and have a look. It’s quite interesting.
- 5. METROPOL PARASOL (Las Setas de Sevilla)
Locals call it “the mushroom” (probably because of the shape), its a wooden, waffle-like structure made in 2011, located above the La Encarnaciรณn square in the center of Seville. Go there for excellent views of the city and sunset.
Entrance; 3โฌ
Pro-tip; There is a small restaurant at the top and if you buy a drink, you won’t have to pay an entrance fee. Official website.
- 6. FLAMENCO
Any trip to Spain is incomplete without authentic flamenco experience and there ain’t a better town to enjoy true flamenco than Sevilla.
I went to 4 different types of flamenco shows and loved all of them. But the one that stood out was at La Carboneria (Calle Cรฉspedes, 21A, 41004 Sevilla, Spain). It’s popular among the locals so you know its good. There is no admission fee but you will need to buy a drink (so worth it).
Pro-tip; Since flamenco is popular among tourists, making it a huge tourist trap. Don’t pay extravagant fees for flamenco. Check with locals for suggestions or go for the one I mentioned. Promise, you will have a great time.
If you visit Plaza de Espana in the evening, (5-7 pm) you will most likely find street flamenco performers. I am not exaggerating if I say it was the best flamenco I saw. My mind was blown by the intensity and passion of those dancers. A BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF THEM!
The performance is free but they rely heavily on your tips( please pay them well, they so deserve it).
- 7. Biking Tours
As I mentioned earlier, Sevilla is extremely bike-friendly and also it is super fun to bike around the narrow cobbled streets of this mesmerizing town. If you are looking for a guided tour, why not do it on bikes? There are many companies offering such tours, you can get more information online. I booked mine through get your guide and totally loved it. You can book the same here.
Check out my recommendations on the best travel apps to help you save time and money.
So now you are all set! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Hop on the plane and start exploring this magnificent small old town of Spain.
If you have any travel-related queries don’t hesitate to write them to me or leave a comment down below. I read all of them haha ….
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