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General
The center of Seville is one big attraction with fabulous highlights. It is full of Highlights or sights. Beautiful ancient buildings, romantic squares and alleys, all with their own history. Seville has the oldest and largest historical center of Europe. Even without a map or without a purpose it is wonderful just to walk around or to stroll. But what do you really need to see in Seville? Here is a small selection of our highlights top 10 (ten):
Plaza de España
A gorgeous and impressive square in the parque Maria Luisa. Completed in 1928, after a construction period of almost 15 years and built for the Ibero-American exposition in 1929. The square is completely decorated with 52 alcoves or niches, covered with colorful tile mosaics who represent the provinces of Spain. The spacious square is half surrounded by what looks like a huge castle built in a semicircle in the typical Mudejar style. Sit down to read a book or enjoy the sun on one of the ceramic benches or rent a little boat and paddle through the canal around the square. A Must Do and See!
• € Free1) • Jan-Dec/Mon-Sun/9:00-22:00 • website • location
💡 Tapas Picnic in the park!
A pick basket richly filled with delicious tapas that you can enjoy on one of the many, idyllic and shady spots in the María Luisa park. For more information see Tapas Picnik Seville.
💡 Free city map of Seville
Click here to download the city map of Seville's most famous sights and highlights (Casco Antiguo and the familiar surrounding neighborhoods).
Real Alcázar
Another A Must Do and See highlight is the Royal Palace, the Real Alcázar, the lesser known counterpart of the Alhambra in Granada. However, this palace is actually still in use by the Spanish King and authentic where restoration has been done. This is in contrary to the Alhambra which for large parts has been restored according to the romantic ideas of the restorers. Enjoy strolling through the beautiful, landscaped gardens, along the centuries-old trees, colorful flowers, ancient statues, fountains and courtyards after you have admired the impressive palace. The first stones were ever laid by the Romans, but the Moors have made it really grand and beautiful. After the conquest of the Moors the palace was further expanded by the Catholic Kings in the 14th century but entirely in the Mudéjar style. Certainly take at least two hours to see everything.
• € 11.501) • Oct-Mar/Mon-Sun/9:30-17:00 Apr-Sept/Mon-Sun/9:30-19:00 • website • location
💡 Did you know...
• Access in Apr-Sep/Mon/18:00-19:00 and Oct-Mar/Mon/16:00-17:00 is free? (very limited!)
• You must not forget the Royal quarters on level 1 (max. 15 pers. per shift and seasonal).
• You definitely have to visit the Baño de Doñas (bathroom) underneath the palace to visit (through the side yard).
• Order your tickets online one day in advance (website) so that you do not have to stand in the heat in the long line. The waiting times can be up to 3 hours!
Triana en Santa Cruz
Your visit to Seville is not complete if you have not tasted any atmosphere in the Triana district and the neighborhood Santa Cruz (in the district Casco Antiguo). Through the former Jewish quarter (Judería) Santa Cruz, you can wander around the many narrow and dark alleys everywhere with idyllic squares, beautiful patios, nice bars and shops. Full of typical, exciting legends and stories where the Jewish population was loved, reviled and killed.
The district of Triana is just across the river Guadalquivir. The river has caused for centuries a natural separation of Seville. As an old gypsy quarter, Triana is the birthplace of Flamenco. An artists district with its own history and story. You have too be there for delicious, traditional tapas and with some luck live flamenco dance and music.
• € Free1) • n.v.t. • n.v.t. • n.v.t.
💡 Sevilla by Night
Experience and discover the secrets and legends of this city with an unforgettable Sevilla by Night tour.
Cathedral and Giralda
At the end of the 13th century the Catholics wanted to build the largest cathedral in the world. This is what you feel and see when you're in and walking around the Cathedral. The Cathedral is within 127 meters long, 83 meters wide and 43 meters high. Nowadays Maria de la Sede (the official name which is never used), is the largest church in Europe after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's Cathedral in London. But it is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.
The construction lasted about 100 years. First it was a Mosque which is still visible to the Giralda (tower), the former minaret of the Mosque. With your entrance ticket you can also visit the tower of 96 m. As a reward you get a magnificent view of Seville.
Inside you see of course Christopher Columbus's tomb which in 1492 left from Seville for a new route to India but came across the new world, America.
• € 9.501) • Oct-Mar/Mon-Sun/9:30-17:00 Apr-Sept/Mo-Sun/9:30-19:00 • website • location
💡 Did you know...
• The entrance fee includes access to the beautiful Iglesia del Salvador is?
• If the queue for the Cathedral is very long? Then get your ticket at Iglesia del Salvador and walk past the queue.
• The Cathedral is the starting point of Via de la Plata, the longest Pilgrimage in Spain to Santiago de Compostela?
Other churches in Seville?
Remember that Catholic Seville, besides the Cathedral, has a lots of beautiful, other churches with their own parishes and fraternities which among others participate in the Semana Santa. An overview of a view churches in the old town which are definitely worth to see:
• Iglesia del Salvador
• Iglesia de Santa Ana
• Basílica de la Macarena
• Iglesia de Santa Maria la Blanca
• Capilla de San José
• Iglesia de Santa Cruz
Metropol Parasol and Antiquarium
This is something else than the rest of the historic city. Most modern, artistic and futuristic. Finally completed in 2011, after it's construction had begun in 1998(!). It is, according to the Sevillians, the largest wooden structure in the world and it looks like to each other grown mushrooms. That is why it is also called 'Las Setas'. The Spanish word for mushrooms. With the elevator (at the bottom of the basement) you can go up. There you have a wonderful view over the city. Perhaps more beautiful than the view of the Giralda.
• € 3.501) • Jan-Dec/Sun-Thu/10:30-00:00 Fri-Sat/10:30-01:00 • website • location
💡 Did you know...
The entrance on presentation of your entrance ticket, includes a drink in one of the bars upstairs?
Be sure to see the Roman and Moorish sites in El Antiquarium right under the Metropol Parasol, which were found during the construction and caused the huge delays. While walking you can see the centuries with remnants of their former residents come along. Every nation and century shows that the natural environment of Seville changed and other techniques were used.
• € 3.1) • Jan-Dec/Mon-Sat/10:00-19:30 Sun/10:00-13:30 • website • location
Bullfighting ring (La Maestranza)
The Real Maestranza, as the arena is officially called, is after the one in Ronda the oldest bullring in Spain. If you're curious about a fight, then pay a visit between April and October (tickets from € 25.).
You are for or against bullfighting but it is certainly not the simple killing of a bull (El Torro) in the bullfighting ring. It is for the Sevillians top folklore where a lot is involved to understand it a little.
For tours the arena and museum open daily. You will see a beautiful building with a rich, traditional and cultural history.
• € 7.1) • Nov-Mar/Mon-Sun/9:30-19:00 Apr-Oct/Mon-Sun/9:30-21:00 • website • location
💡 Did you know...
Access every Monday from 15:00 - 19:00 is free? (Very limited and seasonal!)
Parque Maria Luisa
Need a break from the bustle of the city and perhaps even sunbathe or enjoy a delicious tapas picknick? Then go to parque Maria Luisa, the most beautiful, historic park of Spain or perhaps in Europe. From the sweltering heat to the lovely cooling shade and quietness. A beautiful and large park once created by the Duchess Maria Luisa. Early twentieth century, the park was donated to the city of Seville. An oasis of beauty and tranquility with stunning pavilions (of the participating countries), got from Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The highlight, of course, is the Plaza de España. Here you must at least walk or cycle through and have a cozy picnic with tapas! Or enjoy a delicious tapas high tea!
• € Free1) • Oct-May/Mon-Sun/8:00-22:00 Jun-Sept/Mon-Sun/8:00-24:00 • website • location
Casa de Pilatos
Are you affected by the Mudéjar style that makes Seville so famous? Visit definitely Casa de Pilatos. A excessive but authentic aristocratic palace. Still partially inhabited by descendants of the original nobility. In this palace you can see the rich art styles such as Gothic, Mudéjar style, Renaissance and Romanesque. This opulent palace is a typical example for the excessive equipped residences of the noble families during the Golden Ages of Seville.
• € 6 - 81) • Nov-Mar/Mon-Sun/09:00-18:00 Apr-Oct/09:00-19:00 • website • location
Palacio de Lebrija
The palace of Lebrija of the 16th century is named after Doña Rule Manjon Mergelina, Countess of Lebrija, who has lived in this palace. She brought this palace to life to what you can see today. It is even one of the most beautiful and hidden palaces of Seville in the historic city center (Casco Antiguo). You'll find mosaics and rooms full of archaeological treasures such as vases, columns and statues. The walls and ceilings of this palace are beautifully embellished with decorative elements such as Moorish arches and ornaments. The palace consists of a winter house (top floor) and a summer house (ground floor). The mosaics of this palace are from the site Itálica, near Santiponce, extracted and processed here.
• € 5 - 8 1) • sept-june/mon-fri/10:30-22:00 sat/10:00-14:00/16:00-18:00 son/10:00-14:00 july-aug/mon-sat 10:00-15:00 • website • locatie
• € gratis1) • Oct-May/Mon-Sun/8:00-22:00 June-Sept/Mon-Sun/8:00-24:00 • website • location
Hospital de los Venerables
Hospital de los Venerables, originally founded in 1675 as a resting place and hospital for priests. The building is set around a patio with a fountain and arches. This property is one of the finest examples of 17th-century Sevillian Baroque. The building was designed by Leonardo de Figueroa, an important Sevillian architect of the Spanish Baroque. See inside also the small church. Particularly remarkable are the frescoes by Valdés Leal and his son Lucas Leal. Two important works are 'The Last Supper' of son Valdés and 'The glorification of St. Ferdinand' by Valdés senior. The beautiful wall paintings are also made by the son Lucas Leal.
• € 51) • ma-zo/10:00-13:30 16:00-19:30 • website • location
Río Guadalquivir
The río Guadalquivir (from the Moorish name Al-Wadi Al-Kibir) means big river and has made the city of Seville legendary. Columbus left Seville in 1492 via this river to the new world. Seville then became the trading city for ships from (South) America. The river is the largest river in Spain and almost 700 km long. It originates in Sierra del Cazorla and connects Seville with the Atlantic Ocean. There is hardly any domestic shipping in Spain, but pleasure boats can sail this river up to the city of Córdoba. Large sea-going vessels and cruise ships only to Seville.
Many Sevillans use the banks of the Guadalquivir as a wonderful place to sunbathe or relax. The best starting point for this is the Puente de Isabel II, the oldest and most famous bridge designed by Eiffel. If you walk from here with the river to the north then you will find banks of grass where you can relax. To the south the banks are equipped with various nice bars.
• € free 1) • website
💡 Boat Trip or Paddle Board
Wonderfully rippling over the calm water of the Guadalquivir with our electrically powered boat. A beautiful trip of one hour with max. 11 people. Read more...
Or do you want something more active action on the water? Then go for some adventurous paddle boarding Read more...
Fabulous museums in Seville!
Don't forget the best and wonderful museums. Maybe not for everyone but Sevilla, as a city with an ancient history, has a wide range of clear and several museums. Totally worth a visit and many are free. Listed below are the most famous and visited museums (in random order):
• Museo
Arqueológico: Archaeological museum of the history of the past Seville wealth. Objects from prehistoric
times, as the Middle Ages to modern times.2)
• Museo
de Bellas Artes: Museum of Fine Arts with an impressive collection of artworks and paintings by great Spanish
masters. According to many one of the most important museums in Spain.2)
• Museo
de Artes y Costumbres Populares: Museum of folklore, folk arts, customs and traditions of Andalusia.
2)
• Museo
del Baile Flamenco: Museum with the history of flamenco dance styles -music.
• Museo Militario:
Military museum containing parts and relics from the former arms and gunpowder factory in Seville.
• Museo Maritimo
(Torro de Oro): Maritime museum on the history of navigation and navies of Spain and Seville (€ 3 every
Monday free entrance).
• Museo de las Ilusiones
Museum of the Illusions. Enter the enchanting world of illusions, a world that will make you doubt your senses and
fascinate you; a world that will confuse you, but also educate... Visit this museum and you will be delighted,
because nothing is as it seems. Ideal for children.
• Archivo General de Indias:
One of the most important and oldest historical archives in the world with very important and unique records,
diaries (trade) documents from the Spanish colonial history in America.2)
