Seville travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Seville, Andalusia, Spain.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Seville.
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1
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
The Alcázar began as a Moorish Almohad fortress and was rebuilt from the 1360s onward by Pedro I using Mudéjar craftsmen, producing a palace of carved stucco, horseshoe arches and tiled courtyards that sits directly beside the cathedral. It remains an official residence of the Spanish royal family when they visit Seville, so parts of the upper floor are closed to the public. The Patio de las Doncellas and the gardens, with their pools, fountains and citrus trees, take up as much of a visit as the palace rooms themselves.
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2
Seville Cathedral & La Giralda
Seville Cathedral was built from 1401 over the site of the city's Almohad mosque, making it one of the largest Gothic churches anywhere, though it still holds Islamic-era elements from the original structure. La Giralda, the bell tower, was the mosque's minaret and keeps its square Moorish base under a later Renaissance belfry added after the tower was adapted for Christian use. Inside, the cathedral holds a monumental gilded altarpiece and a tomb attributed to Christopher Columbus, carried by four bronze figures.
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3
Plaza de España
Plaza de España was built as the centerpiece of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, a vast curved building in brick and tile that wraps around a canal crossed by four bridges. Along its base, painted tile alcoves represent each Spanish province with a map and a historical scene, a detail most visitors only notice once they start walking the curve rather than viewing it from the center. The building now houses regional government offices, so the interior is not open to the public, but the plaza and surrounding Parque de María Luisa are.
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4
Barrio Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz was Seville's Jewish quarter (judería) until the expulsion and pogroms of 1391, and its layout of narrow, deliberately irregular streets survives largely intact, originally built that way to stay cool and to slow movement through the quarter. Today it sits directly east of the cathedral and Alcázar, filled with small plazas, wrought-iron window grilles and orange trees, and it has become the city's densest concentration of tapas bars and souvenir shops. There's no single sight to tick off here; the value is in the walk itself and in using it as a base for eating.
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5
Torre del Oro
The Torre del Oro is a 13th-century Almohad watchtower built on the bank of the Guadalquivir to control river access to the port, originally paired with a second tower on the opposite bank with a chain strung between them to block ships. Its name comes either from the golden-hued tiles that once covered it or from gold shipped back from the Americas that was stored there after Seville became the hub for that trade. It now houses a small naval museum with maps, models and objects tracing the city's role as a river port.
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6
Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)
Metropol Parasol, known locally as Las Setas ("the mushrooms") for its shape, is a 2011 wooden lattice structure built over Plaza de la Encarnación after construction there uncovered Roman and Moorish remains. Those remains are preserved underneath in the Antiquarium, a small archaeological museum separate from the rooftop walkway above. The structure itself was controversial when built, dropped into a historic square with a frankly contemporary design, and it still divides opinion among residents.
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7
Museo del Baile Flamenco
This museum was founded by the flamenco dancer Cristina Hoyos in an 18th-century house near the cathedral, and it covers the dance's origins among Andalusia's Roma, Moorish and Jewish communities rather than just displaying costumes. Exhibits include video of historic performances and explanations of the different palos (styles) within flamenco, which is useful since the form is often shown to tourists stripped of that context. The same building hosts evening flamenco shows in a small courtyard, separate from the daytime museum visit.
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8
Casa de Pilatos
Casa de Pilatos is a 16th-century noble palace built for the Ribera family, later Dukes of Alcalá, mixing Mudéjar tilework and carved ceilings with Italian Renaissance elements the family brought back after travel to Italy. Its name comes from a legend that the first Marqués modeled it on Pontius Pilate's house in Jerusalem after a pilgrimage, though the actual architecture is pure Sevillian-Italian hybrid rather than any attempt at a literal copy. The main courtyard, lined with classical Roman statues collected by the family, is the clearest single image of the house's style.
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9
Parque de María Luisa
This is Seville's main city park, laid out from gardens donated to the city by the Infanta María Luisa in the late 19th century and redesigned by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Shaded by palms, orange trees and mature plane trees, it's laced with tiled fountains, ceramic benches and pavilions built for the Exposition, and borders the Plaza de España. Walking or cycling through it is the natural way to cool off between monuments in the old town.
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10
Archivo General de Indias
Built by Juan de Herrera, the architect of El Escorial, as a merchants' exchange (Casa Lonja) for Seville's trade with the Americas, the building has held Spain's central archive of colonial-era documents since the late 18th century. Its collection includes correspondence, maps and reports relating to Spanish exploration and administration in the New World, some of it on public display in the exhibition halls. Together with the Cathedral and Alcázar next door, it forms part of Seville's UNESCO-listed monumental core.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Book Real Alcázar and Seville Cathedral tickets online well in advance
ideally 2–3 weeks ahead in spring and summer. The Alcázar opens at 09:30; arriving at opening avoids the worst heat and crowds. The cathedral roof is a separate ticket (€5 / ~$5
and sells out quickly. Most national museums in Seville offer free entry on Sundays
Frequently asked questions
What is the best attraction in Seville?
The Real Alcázar is considered Seville's crown jewel — an extraordinary royal palace with Moorish gardens still used by the Spanish royal family. Book tickets well in advance at entradas.alcazarsevilla.es.
Is the Seville Cathedral worth visiting?
Yes. It is the world's largest Gothic cathedral and contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Allow 2–3 hours including the Giralda tower climb (35 ramps, no stairs).
How long do you need in Seville to see the main sights?
Three full days covers the main monuments. Five to seven days allows time for day trips to Córdoba, Jerez, or the white villages.