Things to do · Seville · Spain
19 best things to do in Seville
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Seville are Real Alcázar, Seville Cathedral and the Giralda and Plaza de España. Of the 19 picks below, 7 are free, 6 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Real Alcázar
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- Seville Cathedral and the Giralda
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Alcázar | Barrio Santa Cruz | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Seville Cathedral and the Giralda | El Centro | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Plaza de España | Parque de María Luisa | 1 hour | Free |
| Flamenco in a tablao | Barrio Santa Cruz | 1–1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Parque de María Luisa | Parque de María Luisa | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Metropol Parasol (Las Setas) | El Centro | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Barrio Santa Cruz lanes | Barrio Santa Cruz | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Triana and the Mercado de Triana | Triana | Half a day | Free |
| Torre del Oro | El Arenal | 30–45 minutes | Low cost |
| Casa de Pilatos | El Centro | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Palacio de las Dueñas | Macarena | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla | El Centro | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Plaza de toros de la Maestranza | El Arenal | 45 minutes | Mid-priced |
| Basílica de la Macarena | Macarena | 45 minutes | Free |
| Hospital de los Venerables | Barrio Santa Cruz | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Archivo General de Indias | El Centro | 30 minutes | Free |
| Alameda de Hércules | Alameda | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Isla Mágica | Isla de la Cartuja | A full day | Expensive |
| Guadalquivir river cruise | El Arenal | 1 hour | Low cost |
The 19 best things to do
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Palace · Barrio Santa Cruz
1.Real Alcázar
Built largely for King Pedro I in the 14th century by craftsmen from Granada and Toledo, the Alcázar is the finest Mudéjar palace in Spain, with the Patio de las Doncellas, the gilded Hall of Ambassadors and acres of gardens with pavilions, fountains and peacocks. Its upper floors are still used by the Spanish royal family, and it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Cathedral.
Book the first entry slot of the day and save the gardens for the end, when the palace rooms get crowded.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Timed tickets sell out days ahead in spring and autumn; buy on the official site in advance.
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Religious site · El Centro
2.Seville Cathedral and the Giralda
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world was built on the site of the Almohad great mosque, whose minaret became the Giralda bell tower. Inside are a vast gilded altarpiece and the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus. Instead of stairs, the Giralda is climbed by 35 ramps wide enough for a horseman, leading to views over the old town.
Climb the Giralda early in the visit, then rest in the Patio de los Naranjos, the orange-tree courtyard of the former mosque.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Buying a timed ticket online avoids the long queue at the entrance in high season.
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
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Architecture · Parque de María Luisa
3.Plaza de España
Aníbal González's semicircular brick-and-tile complex was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. A canal crossed by four tiled bridges curves in front of it, and along the walls are tiled alcoves representing Spanish provinces, each with a map and historical scene. You can rent a rowing boat on the canal.
Come in the early morning or the hour before sunset, when the light warms the brick and the crowds and heat ease.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Kids
Experience · Barrio Santa Cruz
4.Flamenco in a tablao
Seville is one of the heartlands of flamenco. Intimate tablaos in Santa Cruz and the Museo del Baile Flamenco stage nightly shows of song, guitar and dance, while Triana's bars and peñas host more informal performances. A good show lasts about an hour and is intense, not touristy cabaret.
Choose a small venue where you sit close to the stage; dinner shows in large halls tend to be less authentic.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Small venues sell out on weekends; reserve a day or two ahead.
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
- Rainy day
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Park · Parque de María Luisa
5.Parque de María Luisa
Seville's main park is a shady landscape of palms, orange trees, ponds, tiled benches and fountains laid out for the 1929 Exposition. The Plaza de América at its southern end holds the Archaeological Museum and Museum of Popular Arts, and the doves in the square are popular with children.
Use the park as a cool, shady route between Plaza de España and the river on hot afternoons.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Architecture · El Centro
6.Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)
Jürgen Mayer's giant timber canopy over Plaza de la Encarnación, opened in 2011 and nicknamed 'the mushrooms', is one of the largest wooden structures in the world. A paid rooftop walkway winds over the top with views of the old town, and the Antiquarium in the basement shows Roman and Moorish remains found during construction.
Go up around sunset, then eat at the tapas bars around nearby Plaza del Salvador and Calle Regina.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Barrio Santa Cruz
7.Barrio Santa Cruz lanes
The old Jewish quarter is a maze of narrow streets such as Callejón del Agua along the Alcázar walls and the tiny Calle Susona, opening onto squares with orange trees and tiled benches. Its layout keeps the lanes shaded in summer, and the Murillo Gardens on its edge offer a green break.
Explore after dinner, when day-trippers have gone and the lanes are lit by lanterns.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
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Neighbourhood · Triana
8.Triana and the Mercado de Triana
Cross the Puente de Isabel II to Triana, where the covered market on the riverbank sits over the excavated remains of the Castillo de San Jorge, once the seat of the Inquisition. Calle Alfarería and Calle Antillano Campos still have tile workshops, and the Centro Cerámica Triana museum occupies an old pottery with kilns.
Have a mid-morning snack at a market stall, then walk Calle Betis for the view back across the river to the Torre del Oro.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
Landmark · El Arenal
1.Torre del Oro
The 13th-century Almohad watchtower on the riverbank once anchored a chain across the Guadalquivir to protect the port. It now houses a small naval museum, and its terrace looks over the river towards Triana.
Combine it with a walk along the river promenade towards the Triana bridge at sunset.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Views
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Palace · El Centro
2.Casa de Pilatos
A 16th-century palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli combining Mudéjar plasterwork, Renaissance arches and some of the largest collections of azulejo tiles in Seville around a central courtyard filled with Roman statues. It is quieter than the Alcázar and still partly lived in.
Visit after the Alcázar to compare the two palaces; it is far less crowded.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Palace · Macarena
3.Palacio de las Dueñas
The Seville residence of the House of Alba is a 15th- and 16th-century palace with courtyard gardens, bougainvillea and a collection of art and furniture. The poet Antonio Machado was born here, and the tour shows the private side of an aristocratic Andalusian home.
Use the audio guide; it explains the family history behind the rooms.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · El Centro
4.Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla
Housed in the former Convent of La Merced, the fine arts museum has one of Spain's strongest collections of Spanish Golden Age painting, especially Murillo, Zurbarán and Valdés Leal, displayed in rooms around tiled cloisters. The former church holds Murillo's large altarpieces.
Visit on a hot afternoon; the cloisters and galleries are cool and rarely crowded.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
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Historic site · El Arenal
5.Plaza de toros de la Maestranza
One of Spain's oldest and most prestigious bullrings, built mainly in the 18th century with a baroque facade and an oval arena. Guided tours visit the stands, the chapel and a museum of costumes and posters, without attending a bullfight.
Tours run in several languages throughout the day; it is a short stop on a riverside walk.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Macarena
6.Basílica de la Macarena
This modern basilica holds the Virgen de la Esperanza Macarena, the most venerated image in Seville, which is carried through the streets in the early hours of Good Friday during Holy Week. A small museum displays her processional float, mantles and treasures.
Combine it with the stretch of Moorish city walls opposite and the Thursday market on Calle Feria.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Barrio Santa Cruz
7.Hospital de los Venerables
A 17th-century baroque residence for elderly priests with a sunken courtyard and a richly frescoed church. It houses the Centro Velázquez, which displays paintings by Velázquez and Murillo in a small, quiet gallery.
Visit in the middle of the day when Santa Cruz is crowded; it is an oasis of calm.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · El Centro
8.Archivo General de Indias
Built in the 16th century as a merchants' exchange, this Renaissance building between the Cathedral and the Alcázar now stores documents on Spain's empire in the Americas and the Philippines. It is part of the UNESCO site with its neighbours, and entry to the exhibition rooms is free.
Step inside for a few minutes between the Cathedral and Alcázar to see the vaulted upper gallery and historic maps.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Street · Alameda
9.Alameda de Hércules
This long, tree-lined promenade, laid out in 1574 and guarded by Roman columns at its southern end, is lined with bar terraces, cafés and playgrounds. In the evening it becomes one of the liveliest local hangouts in the city.
Come in the evening for a drink on a terrace; children play on the promenade until late in summer.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
Theme park · Isla de la Cartuja
10.Isla Mágica
A theme park on the site of the Expo '92 world's fair, themed on the age of exploration, with roller coasters, water rides, shows and an adjoining water park, Agua Mágica. It opens seasonally, mainly from spring to autumn.
On hot days, go late in the afternoon and finish at the water park.
- Time needed
- A full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
Experience · El Arenal
11.Guadalquivir river cruise
One-hour boat trips leave from the quay beside the Torre del Oro and pass the Triana bridge, the Maestranza, the pavilions of Expo '92 and the Plaza de España end of the river. Sunset sailings are the most pleasant in summer.
Take a sunset sailing in summer, when the breeze on the water is a relief from the heat.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla and Hospital de los Venerables |
| History | Real Alcázar, Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Barrio Santa Cruz lanes and Triana and the Mercado de Triana |
| Views | Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Metropol Parasol (Las Setas), Torre del Oro and Guadalquivir river cruise |
| Outdoors and nature | Parque de María Luisa |
| Food and markets | Triana and the Mercado de Triana and Alameda de Hércules |
| After dark | Metropol Parasol (Las Setas), Barrio Santa Cruz lanes, Flamenco in a tablao and Alameda de Hércules |
| With children | Plaza de España, Parque de María Luisa, Torre del Oro and Isla Mágica |
| On a rainy day | Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Casa de Pilatos, Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla and Flamenco in a tablao |
What to book ahead
- Real Alcázar: Timed tickets sell out days ahead in spring and autumn; buy on the official site in advance.
- Seville Cathedral and the Giralda: Buying a timed ticket online avoids the long queue at the entrance in high season.
- Flamenco in a tablao: Small venues sell out on weekends; reserve a day or two ahead.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Seville?
Real Alcázar. Built largely for King Pedro I in the 14th century by craftsmen from Granada and Toledo, the Alcázar is the finest Mudéjar palace in Spain, with the Patio de las Doncellas, the gilded Hall of Ambassadors and acres of gardens with pavilions, fountains and peacocks.
+What can you do for free in Seville?
Plaza de España, Parque de María Luisa, Barrio Santa Cruz lanes, Triana and the Mercado de Triana and Basílica de la Macarena. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Seville when it rains?
Head indoors to Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, Casa de Pilatos, Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla and Flamenco in a tablao.
+What is there to do in Seville at night?
Metropol Parasol (Las Setas), Barrio Santa Cruz lanes, Flamenco in a tablao and Alameda de Hércules are best after dark.