10 Must See Sights in Seville, Spain

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Even if you’re just in town for a short time, you can make the most of your trip by checking out these 10 must see sights in Seville. I know you’re dying to go there after reading my post 20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Seville. Since I convinced you to start planning your trip, I’m here to help!

Here are my top 10 must see Sights in Seville

1 – Plaza de España

This is my favorite spot in all of Seville. Get here early if you want to have the place to yourself, but it gets much more lively as the day goes on. By 10 am, you can rent a little row boat for only 6 euros for about half an hour. This is a great photo op, but it is WAY harder than it looks! Around noon, there is usually someone by the fountain selling bubble machines.  They’re blowing EVERYWHERE, so this is another really cute picture spot!  Lots of times you can catch a small flamenco performance in the Plaza, too, even with guitar accompaniment. I would also recommend seeing the Plaza at night for an entirely different mood, but either way it’s a really magical place.

2 – Parque de Maria Luisa

Right next to the Plaza de España is Seville’s biggest park, Parque de Maria Luisa. It’s a great place for a quiet, peaceful stroll or a picnic. A little ways in you can find this hidden oasis, and there’s almost always swans, ducks, and an array of other birds. You can get pretty close because they’re used to all the people.  

3 – Catedral de Sevilla

The Cathedral of Seville is the largest gothic-style cathedral IN THE WORLD, and it’s the 3rd largest cathedral overall. So yea, it’s pretty big!  Mass is free for the public, and you can buy tickets online for tours of the rest of the cathedral. It’s about €9 (€4 if you’re a student or retiree), just make sure you bring some ID! This is the only way to see Christopher Columbus’ tomb. Legend has it Columbus refused to be buried on Spanish soil, so the figures hold his remains up off the ground, so he’s technically not buried on it! Sneaky, right?!  

You can also climb the 35 ramps to the top the bell tower, La Giralda, for an amazing view of the city. Getting tickets is also the only way to get inside patio de los naranjos, the orange tree courtyard. Seville is full of these delightful looking trees, but they are not for snacking! They add LOTS of sugar to combat the bitterness to make Seville’s famous orange marmalade. So despite the sweet and alluring smell, trust me on this one and opt for a gelato instead.

4 – Royal Alcázar

Lines for this get INSANE so I beg you to get your tickets online! It’s about €12, but the Alcázar is huge! It’s a little tucked away inside the center of the city; I got lost on my first trip there. I would recommend going with a guide or a group because there is so much to see inside. You probably won’t get lost, but it’s pretty hard to find everything on your own, and you don’t want to miss anything!  

Lots of cities in Spain have an alcázar – the most impressive of which is the Alhambra in Granada. The Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace built by Moorish rulers. It features a unique melting pot of islamic, gothic, renaissance, and romanesque designs and architecture. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 along with the Cathedral.

This was also the setting for a bunch of scenes for Game of Thrones. How cool is that?

5 – Las Setas 

Las Setas translate to The Mushrooms, but the official name is Metropol Parasol because it’s used as an umbrella to shade the city in the hot summer months. Personally, I think it looks like a honeycomb.

It is the largest wooden structure in the world, and there are actually ancient ruins on display underneath along with a fresh food market. They’ve got it all! It can get pretty crowded, especially around sunset. They only take up so many people at once in a small elevator, so large groups might get split up. If you don’t make it to the top, that’s ok because the plaza below is a great place to hang out, shop, and eat churros!

6 – La Universidad de Sevilla

The University of Seville was founded in 1505, and it’s one of the best colleges in the country. It’s right in the center of the city and next to the eloquent Hotel Alfonso XIII. It’s surrounded by lots of great places to eat, too. It looks more like an art museum than a school with the many statues and open concept design, meaning you can still get rained on even if you’re already inside the building – but no worries because it rarely rains in Seville!

7 – Torre del Oro

Torre del Oro translates to Tower of Gold, but it’s not really made out of gold. The name most likely came from a golden effect produced by the sun, either on the tower itself or the reflection it left on the river. It was originally a 13th century watch tower for defensive purposes and military observation. Nowadays, visitors can find a small maritime museum on the top floor. Truth be told, your €3 would be better spent elsewhere *cough cough gelato cough!* Unless you visit on a Monday because admission is free all day long on Mondays!

8 – Plaza de Toros

The Plaza de Toros is also known as the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla. What a mouthful! I think I’ll stick with Plaza de Toros. It’s a bullfighting ring that can fit about 12,000 people, and it’s one of Seville’s most emblematic monuments with it’s stark baroque design.

Although bullfighting is very controversial, it’s still an essential part of Spanish culture, just as much as tapas and flamenco. I personally never attended a bullfight because I disapprove of it, but many people want to see what it’s all about. 

Nonetheless, it’s one of the oldest and most beautiful bullrings in the world. It’s open daily for guided tours, and admission is free on Mondays from 5-7 p.m. Inside, there is also the Museum of Bullfighting showing painters of famous bullfighters and their elaborate costumes, among other things to display the history and evolution of the sport.

During the annual Seville Fair, this is the site of one of the most well-known bullfighting festivals in the world.

9 – See a flamenco show at Museo del Baile Flamenco

No visit to Spain would be complete without attending at least one Flamenco show! Surely you’ll catch a performance or two in the streets, but this is a quintessential experience for anyone who really wants to get a feel for flamenco. Housed in an 18th-century building, there is a small setting for live shows and a museum detailing flamenco history and culture.

The small setting makes for a great atmosphere to really soak in the culture, but tickets are known to sell out pretty quickly. Same-day tickets might not be available, so I recommend getting e-tickets in advance to secure your spot!

If you have some extra time in the city, you could even sign up for a flamenco dance class because there’s no shortage of those in the birthplace of flamenco!

10 – Explore Barrio de Triana and Alameda

Ok, so this is technically two things, but I couldn’t choose. These are both such adorable parts of Seville, and they each have their own unique, lively atmosphere. Either way, you’ll find tons of great shops and places to eat.

Obviously 10 must see sights in Seville barely scratches the surface, so here’s a few bonus recommendations!

If you’re more of the outdoorsy type, then I recommend renting a bicycle and touring the city that way. Cycling is HUGE is Seville, and you’ll blend right in! For more tips to blend in, check out How to be a Sevillano in 5 Easy Steps.

You can also kayak down the Guadalquivir, but your arms will probably be super sore afterwards because it’s longer than it looks! Relieve some of that tension at AIRE Ancient Baths. They have tons of different unique treatments, like a wine bath! (No you can’t drink it! Haha, unless?). I just opted for a massage, but it was easily the most relaxed I’ve ever felt.

Get lost in the tiny cobblestone streets because this is where you’ll find the best and most unique little cafes and shops – perfect for souvenirs! The farther you drift from the big tourist sights, the closer you’ll get to the local hotspots. Hello, authentic tapas!

If you’d like some helping finding the best tapas in town, you can do a food tour for a guided walking tour of the city’s hidden treasures. For my recommendations for some tasty eats, check out 12 Must Eat Sweet Treats in Seville.

And even though it’s not my style, my mom really enjoyed tours via a double decker bus and horse carriage, so there really is something for everyone!

I hope my inside scoop and 10 must see sights help you plan the perfect trip to Seville!

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*I have all the prices above in euros because that’s what’s used in Spain.

€ = euros; 1 U.S. dollar ≈ 0.9 euro, so they’re really close in value!

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