Seville

Cathedral and the Giralda

Catedral de Sevilla y La Giralda

Santa Cruz

The largest Gothic cathedral in the world, built between 1401 and 1506 on the site of a mosque, with a main altarpiece covered in gold and the tomb of Christopher Columbus, carried by four kings. The Giralda bell tower, originally a twelfth-century minaret, stands ninety-seven meters tall.

Tip: You don't climb the Giralda by stairs but by thirty-five ramps, built so the muezzin could ride up on horseback — the climb is easy going. Buy tickets online, as queues are long. The Orange Tree Courtyard at the entrance is the mosque's original courtyard. Monday afternoons are sometimes free with a reservation, though slots are scarce.

Admission:

around 13 €

Time needed:

1.5–2 h

Royal Alcázar

Real Alcázar de Sevilla

Santa Cruz

A royal palace built by Christian kings in Mudéjar style on the site of a Moorish fortress, with the Courtyard of the Maidens, the Hall of Ambassadors with its golden dome, and expansive gardens with fountains and peacocks. It is the oldest royal palace in Europe still in use.

Tip: Tickets are timed and sell out, so book a week ahead. The first morning slot is the calmest. The upper royal chambers are toured separately with a guide, for an extra fee. Save the gardens for last — the Baths of María de Padilla and the Pavilion of Charles V are there. Game of Thrones filmed here as Dorne.

Admission:

around 15 €

Time needed:

2–3 h

Plaza de España

Parque de María Luisa

A monumental semicircular square built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, with a canal, four bridges, and benches decorated with tiled scenes representing every Spanish province. It combines Renaissance, Moorish and Art Deco elements.

Tip: Find the bench for your favorite province — they're arranged alphabetically. Rowboats can be rented on the canal. The best light is in the early evening. In summer the square is scorching at midday with no shade. Flamenco dancers often perform under the arcades for tips.

Admission:

free

Time needed:

1 h

María Luisa Park

Parque de María Luisa

Parque de María Luisa

Seville's main park, with palm trees, orange trees, fountains, pavilions from the 1929 exposition, and tiled benches. The park also holds the archaeological museum and the museum of popular arts.

Tip: In summer this is the only place downtown with dense shade — allow an hour for a stroll. Bikes and four-wheeled pedal carts can be rented at the entrance. The duck island with its pavilion is the prettiest part. The park connects directly to Plaza de España, right next door.

Admission:

free

Time needed:

1 h

Santa Cruz quarter

Barrio de Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

The former Jewish quarter between the cathedral and the Alcázar, a maze of whitewashed lanes, small squares with orange trees, tiled inscriptions and flower-filled patios. Its narrowest alley is called the Street of the Kiss, since the balconies on opposite sides almost touch.

Tip: Get lost without a map — that's the point. Plaza Doña Elvira and Plaza Santa Cruz are the prettiest squares. Mornings and evenings are quiet; daytime brings tour groups. Bars on Calle Mateos Gago serve tapas with a view of the Giralda. Casa de Murillo, the painter's former home, is in the quarter and admission is cheap.

Admission:

free

Time needed:

1.5 h

Las Setas – Metropol Parasol

Las Setas de Sevilla

Encarnación

A giant mushroom-shaped wooden structure from 2011, considered by some measures the largest wooden structure in the world. On top is a wavy rooftop walkway with views, below is a market, and underground are Roman and Moorish excavations.

Tip: Best visited at sunset, when Seville turns orange and the cathedral lights up. Rooftop tickets are timed and sold online. The Antiquarium museum underneath, with Roman mosaics, is worth a visit and cheap. Excellent tapas bars surround the Setas.

Admission:

around 15 €

Time needed:

1 h

Triana

Triana

A neighborhood on the west bank of the Guadalquivir, traditionally home to potters, sailors and flamenco dancers. Ceramic workshops with azulejo tiles, a market on the site of a former inquisition castle, and bars where flamenco singing breaks out spontaneously in the evening.

Tip: Cross the Isabel II bridge and head for the Mercado de Triana with its bars and stalls. Buy ceramics on Calle Alfarería and Callao, and stop at the small Ceramics Center museum. Calle Betis along the river has the best view of Seville and the Torre del Oro. For flamenco, seek out a local peña, more authentic than tourist-oriented shows.

Admission:

free

Time needed:

2 h

Torre del Oro

Arenal

A twelve-sided thirteenth-century Moorish watchtower on the bank of the Guadalquivir, which once guarded the harbor with a chain stretched across the river. Its name, the Golden Tower, comes from the shine of its original cladding. Inside is a small maritime museum.

Tip: The museum is small and cheap, free on Mondays. The upper terrace has views over the river and Triana. Boats leave from here for an hour-long cruise on the Guadalquivir. A riverside promenade runs from here, ten minutes on foot or by bike to Plaza de España.

Admission:

around 3 €

Time needed:

30 min

Casa de Pilatos

San Bartolomé

A sixteenth-century Andalusian palace combining Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance styles, with a central patio covered in azulejo tiles, Roman statues, and gardens. It still belongs to the Dukes of Medinaceli, who live in part of the palace today.

Tip: This is the lesser-known Alcázar, without the crowds — the ground floor is self-guided, the upper floor requires a guide. Its tiled walls form the largest single collection of azulejos in one house. Films including Kingdom of Heaven were shot here. The palace is a ten-minute walk from the cathedral.

Admission:

around 12 €

Time needed:

1 h