Sevilla is a beautiful ancient city in Southern Spain and is also the capital of Andalusia. It’s full of amazing food, stunning architecture and an interesting mix of cultures. One of the things that makes Sevilla so special and full of history is that Christians, Muslims, and Jews all lived peacefully together for many years in the Middle Ages.
Although not on the coast, Sevilla has a tropical feel due to the thousands of palm and orange trees throughout the city. It can also get very hot, and is typically over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The weather was perfect when I visited in February, 70 and sunny!
Sevilla is the 3rd city in Spain that I have visited and quite possibly my favorite! In this post I will share the top 10 things you cannot miss on your trip to Sevilla. I managed to pack all of these activities into just over 2 days, but you could easily find enough to do in Sevilla to keep you occupied for 3-5 days.
1) Free Walking Tour of the Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter, also known as the Santa Cruz neighborhood, is at the heart of the city, and contains many restaurants, bars, and hotels. The neighborhood is a centuries old labyrinth of narrow streets, with many of them too narrow for cars. Expect to get lost your first time walking through, but don’t worry, it’s a small neighborhood!
I recommend taking a walking tour of this neighborhood at the beginning of your trip, as you will learn a lot of Sevilla’s history from your guide (at least I did!) It was the perfect orientation to the city. There are free walking tours of other areas of the city as well (just remember to tip your guide), but I explored those areas on my own.
2) Explore the Alcázar
The Alcázar is something you absolutely have to see, even if you only have one day in Sevilla. The Alcázar is a royal palace that was built for Spanish monarchs in the 14th Century. However, it was constructed on the sight of a an ancient Muslim fortress and has Moorish influence and design throughout. The building itself is beautiful, but the gardens are what really stole the show for me.
I chose to take a guided tour, as I didn’t know anything about the Alcázar and wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. At $32 it was one of the pricier tours I took in Spain, but I enjoyed learning about the history of the site. A general ticket to tour the Alcázar on your own runs around $15. Expect long lines if you do not buy your ticket in advance online.
The guided tour walked us through all the interior parts of the palace, then we were able to explore the gardens on our own. There is also a cafe in the garden, and it’s a great place to grab a coffee, relax, and forget you’re in the middle of a large city!
If you’re a “Game of Thrones” fan, some of these pictures may look familiar to you! The “Dorne” scenes were filmed in the palace and on the surrounding grounds for season five.
3) Watch a Flamenco Show
Flamenco dance originated in the 18th century in Andalusia, and is still very popular throughout the city today. There are many options for both ticketed and free shows. I attended a free show at La Carbonería.
Arrive early if you want a table in the front. When I arrived only a few minutes before the performance started, unsurprising there was standing room only. However, I was surprised to find that drinks were cheap, especially the beer! Considering this is the only way the bar makes money, I figured the drinks would be very overpriced. Glad I was wrong!
I also saw several street performers dancing flamenco, so keep your eye out for those as well!
4) Tour the Cathedral
Conveniently located in the center of town next to the Alcázar, stands the largest Gothic church in the world. The architecture alone is worth the 10 Euro entrance fee, but there are many other attractions inside that make this cathedral worth a visit.
Some of my favorite parts of the cathedral were the ceilings (above), huge floor to ceiling altars (below) and the tomb of Christopher Columbus (not pictured.)
5) Climb La Giralda (the Bell Tower)
No visit to the Sevilla Cathedral is complete without climbing over 300 feet to the top of La Giralda bell tower! La Giralda is a Sevilla icon and looms over the city, which makes it a great landmark to orient yourself around when you first explore the city. The bell tower is attached to the cathedral and is included in your ticket.
Fun facts about La Giralda:
- The tower was originally constructed in the 12th century as a minaret for a mosque located in the spot where the cathedral now stands.
- The inside of the tower is actually one large, windy ramp, not sets of stairs. It was designed this way so people could ride their horses to the top instead of walking!
6) Canal and Torre del Oro
The canal cuts right through the city, close to many of Sevilla’s main attractions. Sight seeing boat tours are available, but I chose to just walk along the river and enjoy the sights. There are several beautiful bridges across the canal and parks alongside it. You can also tour the inside of Torre del Oro, a watchtower built in 1220.
7) Take in the Sunset from Las Setas
Watching the sunset from the top of Las Setas was one of my favorite activities I did in Sevilla. It was so relaxing and beautiful!
Las Setas is a giant wooden structure that has a walking path all around it. Its official name is Metropol Parasol, but was given the nickname Las Setas, meaning “mushrooms” in Spanish. This unique structures is certainly the newest item on this list, only completed in 2011.
I arrived about an hour before sunset, which I recommend. This allows you to to walk around and take photos in the daylight, and then you can take photos again as the sun is setting. While you wait for the sun to go down, there is a small concession area where you can buy a drink and some snacks. I enjoyed a beer and some Spanish olives and found a table overlooking the city.
The two sets of photos below were taken in the same spots, before and after the sunset, and they are some of my favorite photos from my trip!
8) Plaza de España
The Plaza de España was on every list I saw of things to do in Sevilla. I was excited to check it out, but to be honest, I was a little underwhelmed. Yes, it is a beautiful building, but there just wasn’t anything going on.
Maybe it is a little more lively on weekends or at night? There were a few people that had rented little row boats, but other than that I didn’t see anything to do. Luckily the Plaza is located in a beautiful park that you can walk around in as well.
9) Explore Triana Market and Neighborhood
Triana is the neighborhood located on the other side of the river from all the other attractions on this list. It is a more “authentic” Spanish neighborhood, where many local Sevillanos live. There are many wonderful restaurants and bars in the neighborhood, as well as the Mercado de Triana.
The market has a ton of local produce stalls, ham, fish, olives, spices and a couple restaurants. It’s also built on top of the remains of a medieval castle. In the center of the market is a big display where you can see down into the castle remains. Pretty cool market if you ask me!
And saving the best for last….
10) Enjoy the Food!
My oh my, talk about a foodie’s paradise! Spanish food is normally made with simple ingredients and limited spices, but it focuses on fresh, local, and high quality ingredients. Cuisine from Southern Spain also has Northern African influences, which adds another layer of deliciousness.
The social culture around food and drinks in Spain is also wonderful. Spaniards really use restaurants and bars as gathering places to hang out and chat. Lunch and dinner times are much later than Americans are used to, but you really need to adjust your eating times to fully soak in the culture!
Fried dogfish is a dish I enjoyed in both Madrid and Sevilla. Dogfish is actually a kind of small shark! It has a tangy, vinegary taste to the marinade, which makes it highly addicting!
Espinacas con garbanzos, or simply spinach and chickpeas, really highlights the North African influence on Andalusian cuisine. Chickpeas are not native to Europe, but were introduced by the Moors when they came to the area. This dish seems simple, but the cooking process is somewhat complicated, and involves frying day-old bread in oil, then mashing it with water and fried garlic to form a paste, which thickens the dish.
10.5) Attend a Cooking Class
If you are really interested in the food, then I highly recommend taking a cooking class. The class I took was located in the Triana Market, and I found the listing on Airbnb Experiences. The guide that took us through the market was very knowledgeable, and the chef we worked with was also great and fun!
For an appetizer we made salmorejo, which is a thick, cold soup made from tomatoes, bread, and olive oil. I promise it is much better than it sounds! It is also traditionally topped with ham and eggs.
Next we made espinacas con garbanzos, which is the only dish I have tried to and successfully made at home.
And finally, we made a traditional paella! I really enjoyed getting to learn firsthand how to make paella, and what the traditional ingredients are. Our chef also taught us how to spot traditional vs “tourist trap” type paellas at restaurants.
And there ya have it, folks, ten awesome things to keep you entertained on your visit to Sevilla! If Madrid is also on your Spain itinerary, be sure to read my post about The Perfect 4 Days in Madrid.
I really do hope to visit this city again and explore more of the region beyond Sevilla. Is there anything you have done in Sevilla that I should add to this list? What other Andalusian cities have you enjoyed visiting? Let me know in the comments below!
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14 Comments
Your photos are amazing! This is the perfect destination for a trip. Reading your blog has definitely got me thinking about coming up with a plan to visit Seville in the future at some point.
I love the sunset watching idea. thee definitely is a lot of cool architecture there too!
A comprehensive guide of Seville. The interior of the cathedral looks fabulous.
Great list of things to do in Sevilla – I think it’s one of my favourite cities to visit in Europe! Although I didn’t know much about the history when I visited so I’m glad I read your post 🙂
This post just made my heart sing as Sevilla is my favourite place in the world! I’ve been there about ten times now and still can’t get enough of it 🙂 The food, the flamenco (I took classes there several times), the atmosphere, the sights, the culture, just everything is so amazing there! Glad you got to visit and enjoyed it so much as well 🙂
Wow, that is so many visits! I really hope I get to go back, sooner than later!
I went on a few day tours from Malaga last year, but didn’t get to visit Sevilla. I’ve heard it’s worth going and your photos add to this impression. Although it looks quite similar to Marbella!
We loved Seville and the Alcázar is definitely the highlight. Like you, we also toured the old town and did many of the things you did. But I was unware of Las Setas. Those look real interesting and artistic and I can understand why you liked it.
February sounds like the perfect time to visit. The architecture looks amazing but I imagine all those beautiful old buildings don’t have air- so I would definitely want to visit when it’s cooler!
Love the tips and such gorgeous pictures here!
I love the mixture of cultures that you can experience in a city through its architecture, stories and food. I think I am going to love Seviila!
WOW, between the architecture, Las Setas and the food we’re sold!
I would definitely do as you have done and chosen to visit during “winter” season. It has been on my list to do some cold February in Canada. I haven’t heard of Sevilla, I am assuming different place than Seville, the larger city in Spain. The town reminds me of Portugal with that bright golden yellow trim on the architecture.
Yes, “Sevilla” is the Spanish spelling of Seville! I just think Sevilla sounds cooler than Seville:)