Best Things to Do in Seville

Sometimes, what we need is a scorching hot city break. Isn't it? And you will be glad to know that we have got that place. Seville is one of the hottest cities in Spain, where a 3-day trip is enough to get the most out of this beautiful city. When you visit this town, there are many things you can explore. This city is full of beautiful architecture, old palaces, and good tapas. If you are in this Spanish heaven, you must not miss exploring the top locations like bars, the Royal Alcázar, etc. So, let's dig into the article to learn the best things to do in Seville.

15 Best Things to Do In Seville, Spain:

The fifteen best things to do in Seville, Spain are as follows:

1. Visit The Royal Alcázar Of Seville:

If you have come to this Spanish heaven, you must visit the Royal Alcázar of Seville. It is known as the oldest royal palace in Europe. Royal Alcázar is full of Moorish & Christian architecture & design. The fascinating history of it stretches back more than a thousand years. While visiting here, you will like to get lost in the mesmerizing beauty of this palace, like in its high ceilings, peaceful waters & serene green gardens for hours.

2. Taste Tapas At The Oldest Bar In Seville:

This city is world famous for its flamenco dancing & architecture. But, if you visit here, tapas are something which you should not miss to taste at the bars. Tapas culture is considered an integral part of this city, which houses hundreds of tapas bars. Specifically, we can say that the "oldest tapas bar in Seville" title is worn by one with pride as they still serve the best and most traditional tapas in this city. El Rinconcillo was first opened in 1670 as a tavern, and it gradually expanded by 1858. Since 1858, the same family has owned it, and El Rinconcillo served as a tavern and corner shop selling foodstuffs in the initial times.

Along with preserving the past, the De Rueda family has managed to maintain multiple aspects of the original building, which was more than 300 years old. The main attractions of El Rinconcillo are marble tabletops, a mahogany bar, and Arabic brick walls. You will be glad to know that tradition doesn't end with the decor only. Even now, maintaining the tradition, staff members track the customer orders in chalk using mahogany as the tablets. Tapas is offered on the ground floor, whereas

El Rinconcillo offers full-sized dishes upstairs. The menu is highlighted more because of the classic Seville tapas, such as Iberian jamon, spinach with chickpeas, & various croquettes. El Rinconcillo, one of the oldest bars in this city, is lined atmospherically with dusty bottles & hung with hams. If you come to Spain, you should visit the spot to watch the aproned waiters who deftly dish up tapas & ice-cold fino. If you want to have a glass of sherry and a plate of wafer-thin ham, don't forget to visit this bar.

3. Take A Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour:

If you are willing to see the highlights of this city, then don't forget to take a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour. Through this tour, you will be able to discover stunning monuments and beautiful gardens at your own pace over twenty-four hours.

4. See The Metropol Parasol (Las Setas):

Although its official name is Metropol Parasol, people know it universally as Las Setas ('the mushrooms'). It is popular as the largest wooden structure in the world. German architect Jürgen Mayer designed this structure, which was completed in 2011. During that time, the residents of Seville had a mixed reaction. But nowadays, the eye-catching wooden structure has got a place in the heart of Seville, and tourists love to visit this spot.

This giant art piece is about 150 meters long & about 25 meters high. It consists of 6 connected parasols. In order to form a shape and texture, the wood is crossed together. So, it looks a lot like a collection of mushrooms.

The area around the Metropol Parasol is mainly designed for the public's use. In the basement, a small museum with some ruins & artefacts from the Roman & Moorish period attracts the tourist's attention.

The structure has made spaces to sit in the shades on the ground level. If you come here, don't forget to taste the delicious foods and drinks at the local market. You can even walk around the top of the mushrooms. In order to get to the top of Metropol Parasol, you need to spend €3. But the cost adds a free drink. When you look under the birch parasols, you can find a great produce market where some cafes are located. Besides, there exists a museum of Roman and medieval finds.

5. Visit Cathedral And La Giralda:

As it is the largest church in the world, it can make you swoon — no matter whether you are a seasoned churchgoer or not. Sevillanos made this with a specific purpose so that it would be massive, and everybody would think that "they were mad". Columbus' tomb is something that grabs the attention of the tourists. But it can't be confirmed whether his actual skeleton is there or not. This tomb is also surrounded by picturesque orange trees. If you want, climb the Giralda bell tower to get outstanding views of the city. 

6. Visit Museo De Bellas Artes:

This one is a museum of fine arts. It has well-organized, high-ceilinged galleries around the elegant courtyards. This museum is housed in the 1600s Convento de la Merced. If you are looking for a spot to explore Spanish paintings and sculptures, then it is where you should come. These paintings carry the heritage of 15-20 centuries. It is popular as the largest fine art museum in the country. The huge collection of this museum includes works by El Greco, Velázquez, and Murillo.

7. Visit Barrio De La Cruz:

It is the city's old Jewish Quarter that everybody dreams of. This one is popular for its excellent balconies spilling over with scarlet geraniums, whitewashed lanes, fountains, etc. Barrio de la Cruz is the place where you can abandon the map, as you will want to wander at will. Don't forget to explore the whitewashed maze of narrow alleys & pretty squares. You must visit Tortilla De Camarones at the Bodega Santa Cruz, which is called 'Las Columnas'.

8. Visit Parque María Luisa:

It is an Andalusian park made for the 1929 Exposición Iberoamericana as the focal point. You can explore shady walkways here, which expand around the central Plaza de España. You can see here two pavilions serving as museums. These walkways are covered in colorful tiles & dotted with fountains. This one is a mesmerizing oasis in the heart of Seville. If you want, you can rent a bike. Are you feeling cultural? Then, you need to visit the museums of archaeology & folklore.

9. Visit Eslava:

If you are looking for tapas bars serving contemporary cuisine, then Eslava is one of them. Although it can be a squeeze to get into a blue-painted bar, local people still prefer to visit this bar. The signature dish of this bar is a slow-cooked egg with caramelised wine reduction on a wild mushroom 'cake'. Eslava is mainly famous for serving creative tapas.

10. Visit Triana:

It is popular for its ceramics and flamenco taverns. This traditionally humble neighbourhood is located across the Guadalquivir, retaining plenty of authentic charm. If you are looking for a spot to cool off on hot summer nights, its riverfront bars always welcome you.

Visit the fantastic food market where you can find potters. So, don't forget to pick up a few ceramics. You can have your lunch at the century-old Mariatrifulca or other places. Crossing the Guadalquivir River to go to Mercado de Triana is one of the best things to do in Seville.

Locals of this place argue that it isn't part of Seville. Instead, it is a distinct city. Because of its location along the river, Triana becomes an ideal stop for visitors to the Andalusian capital. When you enter the market, you can find plenty of things to explore. Like vegetable stalls, a variety of fruits, authentic cured meats, cheeses, freshly caught fish, and so on.

Several restaurants are there where visitors are able to enjoy tapas or have a sit-down lunch. In addition, there is a flamenco theatre and a cooking school from where you can learn a few mouthwatering Spanish dishes. You should spend some of your time exploring the Castillo de San Jorge, which is a fortress underneath the Mercado de Triana. A small museum is also there where entry is free. Triana is open regularly with reduced hours on Sundays. In most cases, stalls & shops shut down by around 2-3 pm. However, restaurants remain open later.

11. Visit Casa De Pilatos

This Andalusian palace of the 15th century is the residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli. Visiting here, everywhere you turn, you will get to see the exceptional woodwork, dazzling ceilings, azulejo tiles, and stucco.

The beautiful palace can give you the feeling of a secret oasis. The courtyard gardens of this palace are ablaze with colorful flowers. Sculptures, paintings, objects, and other Medinaceli collections are shown in the sumptuous salons.

12. Visit Alameda:

The city's alternative neighbourhood is Alameda, which is packed with many bars and shops. Alameda de Hercules is the centrepiece that looks like a tree-lined square and is crowned by a pair of Roman columns. You can visit this spot for a stroll along the Alameda de Hercules. Enjoy your coffee at Gigante, which is an offbeat cafe and great for cocktails. 

13. Visit The Tomb Of Christopher Columbus:

There was evidence which says that other Europeans reached the Americas before Columbus. But he was the first person ever who came back with the news of the existence of this place. Columbus first sparked New World colonization.

It is believed that his tomb is in the Cathedral of Seville. He died in the Spanish city of Valladolid. As Columbus wanted to be buried in the New World, his daughter-in-law took his bones to the Dominican Republic. Until 1795, his body was in the cathedral of Santo Domingo.

Later, his bones came with the Spanish when they retreated from the Caribbean. Now, he is buried in the Cathedral of Seville. It is the town from where he left for the New World. You should know that the Cathedral Catafalque is a great art piece. Castilla, Leon, Navarra, and Aragon carried his coffin. These four figures represent the kings of the four regions of Spain. Each of these figures wore a tunic that depicted different arm coats of the country's component kingdoms.

14. Walk The Plaza De España:

Although the Plaza De España has little historical significance, it is listed in almost every guidebook as a must-see spot in the Andalusian capital. This one was built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exhibition. We can say that this is one of the most iconic and great landmarks of Seville.

The size of the Plaza is 50,000 square meters, and it is inside the Parque de María Luisa. This plaza is adorned with canals, fountains, and Venetian-style bridges that make it lovely & impressive. The Venetian-style bridges represent the country's four ancient kingdoms. Moreover, the colorful mosaic-tiled alcoves represent the forty-eight different areas of the nation.

Do you want to take an afternoon stroll? Or do you want to take a romantic boat ride down the canal? Then, it is a great place to do so. Moreover, you can enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the square.

In recent times, this plaza has housed multiple government offices. But it has been used for television shows and movies over the years. For instance, it is used for Lawrence of Arabia's Star Wars: Attack of the Clones television shows. Even this location was used to capture the episode of Game of Thrones. Ensures that you do not miss the place to visit while visiting the town to get a combination of artistic, cultural, and relaxing experiences. 

15. See A Flamenco Show:

If you are thinking about what the best romantic things to do in Seville are or which things you can do at night in Seville — then don't forget to see a Flamenco show. Are you planning to visit during the fall months in Europe? Then, ensure that you enjoy the beauty of the month-long Flamenco Biennial. The origin of the art of flamenco dance was Andalusia, which is on the south side of Spain. It has roots in Arabic, Indian & Spanish culture. Song, guitar, and dance are the three parts of this performance.

The Bottom Line:

Seville is popular mainly because of its tapas, toros, and Flamenco dancing. This beautiful city has a lot of interesting and mesmerizing spots to explore. The availability of multiple tourist locations makes Seville a must-visit place. In this article, you have seen some of the best things to do in Seville. So, if you are thinking of visiting Seville, make sure that you have included all of these activities in your planning. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sevilla best known for?

As a cultural centre, Sevilla was very important in history. Besides, it serves as the capital of Muslim Spain. It also served as a centre for Spanish exploration of the New World.

Can you do Seville in 2 days?

If you are planning to make a two-day itinerary, you will be glad to know that a lot of things can be done in Seville. For instance, you can enjoy the beauty of Moorish & Gothic architecture. In addition, you can have tapas and enjoy flamenco dancing to make your trip exciting.

Was Game of Thrones filmed in Seville?

A lot of scenes of the fifth season of Game of Thrones were shot in several locations in Seville.