Although Seville may look gigantic at first, it can be comfortably explored by foot, especially if our focus lies in the attractions surrounding the famed cathedral. If we want to venture out further, we should be prepared for long walks along the narrow alleys of Seville. What to see in Seville? Which attractions are the ‘must-sees’? Which monuments to visit? How much time should I commit to Seville?
Well, walks are not the only way you can explore Seville. You can also use the public transport, although that can be quite tedious on its own, especially during the rush hours. In the older part of the city, there’s the C5 line. We recommend checking its usual route and basing your tour plan around it. Lines C1, C2, C3 and C4 cover the outskirts of the old city, and go south from Alcazar and to the Triana district.
But let’s cut to the chase. Here is our list of the most important attractions in Seville:
Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede de Sevilla)
This majestic cathedral stands as one of the most characteristic elements of Seville. It was built in the 15th century and it replaced a mosque. What’s more, the cathedral is regarded as the biggest gothic building and the third biggest cathedral in the world – right after St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The sheer size is sure to impress from the inside of the cathedral too.
The cathedral consists of 5 naves, arches, altars and a choir, as well as a 28-metre tall main altar. There’s also the Tomb of Columbus and art pieces from such artists as Goya, Zurbaran or Murillo. The Patio de los Naranjos orangery is the next integral part of the cathedral, just like the La Giralda bell tower, which offers one of the best views of the city. Entry to the cathedral is paid (9 EUR), making it quite pricey, but taking into account the value you get from such a ticket, it’s a no-brainer. The same ticket also allows you to visit Giralda and the Divino Salvador church (for the next 7 days after purchase).
Real Alcazar Palace
If you’re ever running out of places that you want to visit in Seville, here’s another gem – The Real Alcazar Palace, regarded as one of the main tourist attractions of the city. This palace complex, called ‘Alcázar’, comes from the 11th century, and has initially served the role of a residence for Cordoban dignitaries. Later, when the Muslims were exiled from the Iberian Peninsula, some elements were added, mainly from the Mudéjar and gothic styles.
Nowadays, the centre of this massive complex consists of:
Courtyards (Patio de las Doncellas, surrounded by rows of double columns, supporting the richly decorated arches); salons (Salón de Embajadores, with its beautiful dome); baths (Banos de Dona Maria); chapels, domes, mosaics, paintings, tapestry and gardens.
The gardens here are phenomenal. Full of flourishing orange, apple, cherry and palm trees and all of that accompanied by countless porches, pavilions and fountains. The queues in front of Alcazar tend to be pretty lengthy most of the time.
You can avoid them though, by buying the ticket online, which will grant you priority access. The ticket costs 11,5 EUR, but if you’re interested in exploring the royal chambers with a guide, that’ll cost you additional 4,5 EUR.
Casa de Pilatos Palace
Casa de Pilatos is another palace complex, built in the late 15th century, connecting the Italian renaissance elements with the mudéjar art style. The name can be translated into “Pilate’s House”, which is further mirrored in the history of its build from 1483. The legend says, that the distance between Casa de Pilatos and the Cruz del Campo Church is the exact same as the one between Golgotha and the house of Pontius Pilate. For that reason, the 14 Stations of the Cross have been placed on that path.
Casa de Pilatos’ courtyard, surrounded by two storey, richly decorated arcades and a marble fountain, is very impressive, especially with the accompanying gardens. To visit the lower part of the palace, you’ll have to pay 8 EUR, for the whole complex (alongside the chambers upstairs) – 10 EUR (that includes the guide).
Torre del Oro
The ‘Tower of Gold’, marks the remains of the 12th century Muslim city fortifications. It was supposed to protect the caliph’s residence – the Alcazar. Its walls were covered with azulejo tiles, which projected a golden shine on the Guadalquivir waters. Currently, there’s a naval museum and a viewpoint. Tickets cost 3 EUR throughout the week apart from Mondays, which are free.
Spain Square – Plaza Espana
Plaza de Espana is a huge (50 000 m2), semicircular square from 1929, located quite far away from the city’s centre. It’s adjacent to the beautiful Parque de Maria Luisa park. At its edge, a palace was built, which utilises mudéjar, gothic, renaissance and baroque styles.
This building complex is separated from the centre by a canal, with four bridges, all decorated with colorful ceramics, being the only ways through. The lower part of the palace is adorned with the azulejo tiles, which showcase historical scenes connected with each Spanish province, as well as their individual coats of arms. This square tends to be very crowded, while Parque de Maria Luisa is usually the calm, quiet part.
Real Fábrica de Tabacos de Sevilla
In the past, it served as a tobacco/cigarette factory, nowadays it’s a Seville University, an imposing edifice near the Spain Square. The building used to lead the charts in cigarette production in Europe, in the 18th century. One interesting note is that, one of the workers of the factory in the past was ‘Carmen’, a famous character of the George Bizet’s opera.
Narrow alleys around Seville’s centre
The immense old town centre of Seville can be explored through the small alleys and narrow passages. The characteristic eastern ornaments are mixed with various styles from different periods. The centre can be fully explored by foot, giving us a proper chance to admire the old tenements and charming alleys of Regina, Santa Catalina, Casco Antiguo and Centro.
Metropol Parasol
We already wrote about Metropol Parasol earlier. It’s a very modern-looking ‘building’, with a truly unique architecture style, which was erected in March of 2011. It’s located in the very centre of the city. Although the locals had their fears, Metropol Parasol turned out to be one of the biggest attractions in Seville. It was made by a German architect – Jürgen Mayer.
Metropol Parasol’s most important trait is its unique shape (often associated with huge mushrooms), impressive size (150 m x 70 m, 26 m of height), and finally the way it has been constructed (a series of interconnected, thin wooden shields) and its location (the huge Plaza de la Encarnacion Square from the 16th century). Under its roof, there’s an exclusive restaurant and an observation deck, while underground, there’s a museum with archeological findings from the ancient times.
Entry costs 3 EUR.
Jewish district and Rosina’s Balcony
The Santa Cruz district is located to the north-west from the Real Alcazar Palace and is well known for its thicket of narrow and tortuous alleys, often overgrown with vines and ivy. The white walls of tenements look wonderful on a sunny day, while the iron balconies and shutters are decorated with flowers, creating an incredible atmosphere. On one of the squares in this district, Plaza de los Venerables, the legendary Don Juan Tenorio was supposedly born. On the Plaza Alvaro square, we can also spot Rosina’s Balcony, under which Figaro and Count Almaviva sang. In the middle of the district, there’s the Hospital los Venerables, an old residence of the clergy, a true baroque gem. Inside it, we can also find a small museum of Diego Velasquez. Entry costs 8 EUR. Even the smallest squares share the incredible charm, filled with bars and restaurants, which you should certainly visit to try the incredible Andalusian ‘tapas’.
La Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza
Another interesting attraction in Sicily is the Plaza de Toros, regarded as the oldest arena for corrida. It’s also sometimes referred to ,by the locals, as “Catedral del Toreo” – a cathedral for bullfighting. This corrida entered the works in 1749. Inside, you’ll find stone stands, decorated with bricks and tiles, which can hold 12 538 spectators simultaneously. Next to the arena, there’s a museum, dedicated to corrida and bullfighters.
Entry to the museum costs 8 EUR. The bullfighting shows are much more expensive, and much harder to get, so make sure to book tickets much earlier if you’re interested.
Puente de Triana (Puente de Isabel II)
The oldest iron construction of this type in all of Spain. Its proper name is Puente de Isabel II. On the same spot, there used to be a bridge called Puente de Barcas in 1171, built by the Almohad dynasty, which used to rule over this land at that time.
The construction was put into service in 1852, and connects the old town of Seville with the charming Triana district.
Museums in Seville
What else to see in Seville? Certainly the museums. Exploration can begin with the Museum of Fine Arts, where we can find art pieces from such famous painters like Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Velasquez, El Greco or Pacheco. Additionally, citizens of the European Union can enter this museum for free.
The second museum we’d recommend is the Archeological Museum, located near Plaza de Espana, which has series of Greek and Roman exhibits. It’s also free to enter. The third museum on the list would be La Cartuja, located on an island with the same name, inside a beautiful, revitalised monastery. It’s a Contemporary Art Museum (Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo), which, interestingly enough, has modern art collections from the 20th century. Entry costs 3 EUR.
General Archive of the Indies in Seville
We finish off our guide with the General Archive of the Indies, which is located near the Cathedral. Inside the building, which used to serve as a merchants’ exchange, you can find maps, prints, notes, diaries and journals of great travellers and explorers. Entry’s free.
Map of attractions in Seville
- Main station in Seville, Sevilla Santa Justa
- Casa de Pilatos, Pilate’s House
- Metropol Parasol, Setas de Sevilla
- Historic Centre in Seville
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda
- General Archive of the Indies
- Real Alcazar palace and its gardens
- Jewish district, Rosina’s Balcony
- The Cigarette Factory and the Seville University
- Spain Square
- Museums and Parque de Maria Luisa
- Torre del Oro
- La Plaza de Toros, bullfighting arena
- Puente de Triana – Puente de Isabel II
Tourist information office in Seville
We can encounter such points behind every corner in the city. The official tourist office in Seville is located next to Paseo de las Delicias 9, so fairly close to the Maria Luisa Park (Parque de Maria Luisa). What’s more, the place in which the main office is located in is regarded as the first neo-mudejar building in Seville. There, we can get all the necessary information, including opening hours for all the main attractions.
