Hidden Gems and Popular Places to Go in Seville, Spain

If you're heading to southern Spain, Seville is a city that simply can’t be missed. Robin and Arlene Karpan take you on a tour of the city’s blend of history, culture, and modern flair, highlighting the best places to go and how to get around.

A beautiful street view in Seville. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Seville ranks among Spain’s most celebrated cities, and it’s easy to see why. It’s the cultural and artistic capital of Andalucia that includes much of southern Spain. Lying along the Guadalquivir River, the city brims with historic buildings, magnificent churches, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and attractive parks, all accompanied by the sweet fragrance of thousands of orange trees.

It’s a place to not only see the famous sights, but to leisurely wander the pedestrian-friendly streets, soaking up the rich heritage full of photogenic possibilities and pausing for a tapas-style lunch and amazing local wines while gazing over the river.

Please note this post contains affiliate links. Simply put, this means we may receive a small commission for recommendations shared in this article, at no additional cost to you.

Getting Into and Around Seville

Seville’s San Pablo Airport (SVQ) is about 10 kilometres east of the city centre. While there are flights to and from national and international destinations, many overseas visitors find flying to Madrid Airport (MAD) more convenient, and usually cheaper. Connections are easy from Madrid airport to Atocha Railway Station. From here, several fast and comfortable high-speed trains per day cover the 300-kilometre trip to Seville in just over 2.5 hours.

Getting around Seville. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Seville is a hub for overland travel by train and bus throughout Andalucia. It’s only an hour or so east to Cordoba, or south to Jerez, and just over an hour west to Huelva, to mention only a few possibilities.

With pedestrian-friendly streets throughout the historic centre, it makes sense to explore Spain’s fourth-largest city by walking. Almost all of the top attractions are either in or close to the centre, with many pedestrian-only streets or roads where vehicle traffic is restricted. If you stay near the centre, you likely won’t have to worry about other transport. Guided excursions abound, with the most leisurely and romantic option being a tour by horse-drawn carriage.

Where to Stay in Seville, Spain

Close to the centre is ideal but not essential. We stayed in the Hotel Inglaterra, which is as close to the centre as you can get, looking over a park in Plaza Nueva and only a five-minute walk to the Cathedral.

If your accommodation is farther from the centre, you can use the network of buses, metro, and trams, or consider cycling. Bike lanes are everywhere, and with the municipally-run bike-sharing service called Servi, you can rent bikes throughout the city for both long and short trips.

When to Go

Summers can be sweltering hot, sometimes topping 40 degrees C. Winters are cool but still mild by European standards, with the coldest months of December and January averaging between 6 and 17 degrees C. Prices often drop in the low winter season, and crowds thin out with fewer visitors.

A view of the Guadalquivir River. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Our most recent visit was in April, and it proved to be an ideal time to go. The weather was summer-like, and we were ahead of the main tourist season. One thing to be aware of in spring is Semana Santa, or Holy Week, during the week before Easter and the Seville Fair two weeks later. World-famous celebrations in Seville attract hordes of visitors. While this is a great time to experience the festivities, you can expect higher prices and limited choices for accommodation, and you will have to plan far in advance.

Must-See Locations in Seville, Spain

Cathedral of Seville

The Cathedral of Seville is practically a destination on its own. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the massive building is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third-largest church of any kind. Built between 1403 and 1506, it is so immense that you can’t see everything from one vantage point. Inside are five naves, gargantuan columns, intricate carvings, and gold everywhere.

The cathedral was constructed on the site of a 12th-century mosque and incorporates some architectural elements from that era, such as El Giralda, now the bell tower, which was initially the mosque’s minaret. You can climb to the top of the tower for fantastic city views. Instead of taking steps, you walk up a series of 34 ramps, which is easier than taking the stairs, but you’ll still feel the effects of the climb as you near the top.

The Cathedral houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. For many years, there was uncertainty as to whether or not the famous mariner really lay in this tomb. Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic also claims that Columbus is buried there. So, who is right?

The story, at least from Spain’s point of view, is that Columbus was indeed buried in Santo Domingo, but as the Spanish started to lose control of the Dominican Republic, they moved his body to Cuba. Then, as they lost control of Cuba, Columbus’ body was moved yet again to Spain. A recent detailed DNA analysis of bones in the tomb finally confirmed that Columbus lies in the Seville Cathedral.

Booking tickets in advance to visit the Cathedral is highly recommended to avoid line-ups.

Real Alcazar (Royal Palace)

Almost next door to the Cathedral, the Real Alcazar (Royal Palace) is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This castle-like masterpiece was first built by Islamic rulers who dominated much of southern Spain for many years, then was enhanced by Catholic monarchs who took over in the 1200s. It’s considered among the best examples in Spain of Mudejar architecture, which melds Islamic and Christian influences.

Real Alcazar. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Muslim leaders dating back to the 10th century used the Alcazar as their residence, as did the Christians who captured Seville in 1248 as part of the Reconquista. Today, Spain’s royal family continues the tradition by staying in their private apartments in the Alcazar when visiting Seville.

The Alcazar consists of rooms and gardens from different historical periods. A guided tour sheds light on past eras and cultures and helps you appreciate the complex with its inner courtyards, elaborate archways and domes, and decorative motifs. What we found most impressive was the intricate nature of many designs, especially the lavish Hall of the Ambassadors with its extraordinary dome dating to 1427.

Like the Cathedral, the Alcazar is always busy, so book your tickets in advance if possible.

Plaza de España

While it is widely agreed that the Cathedral and Alcazar are the top two must-visit attractions in Seville, we would add the Plaza de España as another place not to miss. Trip Advisor readers once rated it the Most Spectacular Monument in Europe.

This famous square in Seville was built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exhibition. Alcoves represent every province in Spain, along with wildly colourful tiles galore, towers, bridges over water, arcaded galleries, and a huge fountain. Not surprisingly, the location has been used for many movie sets, including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars. Best of all, it’s completely free to visit.

Plaza de España. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

You might want to set aside a few hours to appreciate Plaza de España, located in sprawling Maria Luisa Park on the southern edge of the historic centre, about a 15-minute walk from the Cathedral. Besides green space, the park is also the site of some of the city’s top museums, such as the Archaeological Museum and Museum of Popular Art. Seville has so many museums, historic sites, and heritage buildings that it is only practical to see a sample during your first visit.

Guadalquivir River and Canal de Alphonso VIII

The Guadalquivir River and Canal de Alphonso VIII, which is connected to the river, dominate the Seville landscape and history. It was from here that Magellan set sail for the first round the world trip in 1519, and for years, this was the main terminus for the maritime route across the Atlantic to Spain’s American colonies.

The 36-metre high Torre del Oro or Gold Tower on the river has long been one of Seville’s iconic monuments. Dating to the 12th century, it was part of a Moorish city wall and was used to control shipping in the river and deter attacks on the city. It is thought that the Gold name comes from the era when Spain had Latin American colonies, which they plundered for gold. Returning ships would unload their gold nearby. Today, the tower houses the Naval Museum.

Torre del Oro. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Nearby, you can visit a replica of the Noa Victoria, the first ship to sail worldwide. It was one of five ships commanded by Ferdinand Magellan to set sail from Seville in 1519. Three years later, this was the only one to return.

An easy way to get out on the water for a different taste of Seville is to take a river cruise or arrange for kayak or paddleboard excursions. A lot of people come to the riverbank in the evening to just hang out.

The Mushrooms of Seville

To see another side of Seville’s varied architecture, this modern avant-garde structure deserves a visit. Its official name is the Metropol Parasol, more commonly referred to as the Mushrooms. The massive stylized mushroom-shaped roof in the Plaza de la Encarnación is considered among the largest wooden structures in the world.

Mushrooms of Seville. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Before it opened in 2011, plans called for a parking lot to be built here, but the project was shelved when Roman ruins were discovered. The Mushroom structure, which integrated the ruins into the space, won a design award for revitalizing the square. An archaeological museum preserves and displays some of the Roman remains.

The open-air plaza always seems to be full of people, with a market, shops, and cafes. While the mushrooms are free to visit, there is an admission fee to access the walkway on top of the structure.

Experience Flamenco in its Birthplace

Seville and flamenco go hand in hand, with the city claiming to be the birthplace of flamenco. More than simply music and dance, flamenco is a passionate art form engrained into the soul of southern Spain. It is so significant that UNESCO declared flamenco an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Enjoying Tapas and Flamenco in Seville. Image credit: Robin and Arlene Karpan

Flamenco shows take place throughout Seville. Here are some top suggestions, and like with so many activities in Seville, it’s recommended to book a ticket to see a flamenco show in advance. If you can’t make it to a show, you might catch flamenco dancers and musicians giving their all at informal street performances, especially in places such as Plaza de España.

We can enjoy Seville on different levels. By all means, visit the must-see attractions that are always crowded with tourists but are nonetheless worth seeing. But also take time for the quieter Seville, where we can wander around the pedestrian-friendly streets, historic riverbank, green parks, and the labyrinth of hidden but fascinating alleys.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Seville

Our biggest takeaway from our last visit to Seville is that the more time we spend in this fascinating city, the more rewarding it becomes. By all means, give priority to visiting the must-see attractions such as the Cathedral and Real Alcazar, which are always packed with tourists but are nonetheless captivating. But we consider that just to be the beginning.

If we allow enough time, we can go beyond the obvious and enjoy Seville at a more relaxing pace. With historic sites, museums, or architectural gems around every corner, it’s easy to soak in the city’s rich heritage away from the crowds. What struck us the most was the ease of exploring Seville’s pedestrian-friendly streets despite this being one of Spain’s largest cities. An essential part of the Seville experience is just wandering through the green parks, along the historic riverbanks, and labyrinth of hidden but fascinating alleys. Endless choices await to savour the artistic and cultural capital of Andalucia.